Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Off NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2008

3/22/08

MAYOR BLOOMBERG KICKS OFF NYC WINTER RESTAURANT WEEK 2008


City Businesses Prepare to Welcome Visitors and Couples with Special Offers and Promotions



New York City (March 22, 2008) Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today kicked off NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2008, saluting workers who help keep New York City open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Mayor greeted Firefighters from Engine 33/Ladder 9 in the East Village at a Restaurant Week lunch hosted by Amalia Restaurant Chef Adam Ross. NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2008 runs from January 21 to January 25 and January 28 to February 1. The dining promotion offers three-course prix-fixe lunches for $24.07 in honor of the City that is open 24/7 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $35 (excluding beverage, tax and gratuity) at more than 220 restaurants in New York City.


�Engine and Ladder companies usually take turns cooking for each other, but today we�re giving both sides of the firehouse a well-deserved break,� said Mayor Bloomberg. �New Yorkers and visitors can also enjoy our City�s celebrated cuisine by dining out at the more than 220 restaurants participating in this year�s Winter Restaurant Week.�


�This year�s Winter Restaurant Week salutes the men and women who work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep New York City safe,� said Fertitta. �We�re pleased to partner with Amalia and the FDNY to provide a fantastic meal and a taste of Restaurant Week for some of the City�s most dedicated workers.�


�Firefighters cook their own meals each day, working around a busy schedule in which they have to drop everything � utensils included � to answer emergency calls,� said Commissioner Scoppetta. �Today�s lunch by Chef Adam Ross is quite a treat.�


Engine 33/Ladder 9, located on Great Jones Street in Manhattan, is a designated landmark and one of the busiest firehouses in downtown Manhattan, answering more than 7,000 emergency calls in 2007.


In coordination with this year�s Winter Restaurant Week, NYC & Company and Delta AirLines will host �A Taste of Restaurant Week� at the SKY360� by Delta Lounge located at 57th Street and 6th Ave on Thursday, January 24 and Friday, January 25 from noon to 2:00 p.m. New Yorkers and visitors are invited to enjoy cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs from participating Restaurant Week locations and sample Restaurant Week menu items. Restaurants participating in the free tastings include Centro Vinoteca, Amalia, Mai House and Ruby Foo�s Restaurant.


In addition, an NYC & Company visitor counselor will be available at the SKY360� by Delta Lounge to provide information about Restaurant Week and assist diners with making reservations. More than 100 Restaurant Week menus are now available online at nycgo.com, as well as tips on how diners can make the most of their Restaurant Week experience.


During NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2008, when diners use any American Express Card to pay for their meal at participating restaurants, American Express will donate $.50 per transaction to City Harvest, up to $25,000.


Now in its 17th year, NYC Winter Restaurant Week brings together many of New York City�s top restaurants including Chanterelle, davidburke & donatella, Mai House, maze by Gordon Ramsay, Park Avenue Winter, The River Caf�, Union Square Caf� and .

NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2008 is produced by NYC & Company and supported by founding sponsor American Express and participating sponsors The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines and the �I Love NY� campaign.


For more information and a complete list of NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2008 participants, call 311 or log on to nyc.gov or nycgo.com.





About NYC & CompanyNYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.



Contacts
Stu Loeser/Matthew Kelly
tel 212 788 2958
Kimberly Spell
NYC & Company
tel 212 484 1270
kspell@nycgo.com

Tiffany Townsend
NYC & Company
tel 212 484 1270ttownsend@nycgo.com

Frank Gribbon/Jim Long
FDNY
tel 718 999 2056