• The meal Lidia Bastianich is preparing for the Pope will have to be inspected by Secret Service agents before and after cooking. [NYDN]
Related: Pope Hungers for Shake Shack Burger, Lidia Bastianich’s Cooking

• The weekend countdown to the return of Gossip Girl on Monday begins with this slideshow of restaurants the show has been filmed in. [Metromix NY]
Related: The Box Appears on 'Gossip Girl,' Officially Jumps the Shark
Gilt's 'Gossip Girl' Grilled Cheese

• A judge ordered Patsy’s Pizzeria to post signs stating, “We are not affiliated with Patsy’s Italian Restaurant.” [NYP]
Related: And the Winner in the Patsy’s-vs.-Patsy’s Suit Is … Patsy’s

• Elaine’s turned 45 on Sunday, and Woody Allen, Richard Dreyfuss, and Gay Talese were there to celebrate. [City Room/NYT]

• Tom Colicchio thinks the profanity on this season of Top Chef is “excessive.” [NYT]

• Fresh out of court, Patsy’s (the midtown one) is opening a second location in Atlantic City.
Related: And the Winner in the Patsy’s-vs.-Patsy’s Suit Is…Patsy’s

• Excessive smoke caused the FDNY to pay a visit to Artichoke Basille’s Pizza & Brewery last night. [Slice]

• “Big Lou” Elrose, late of Hill Country, has a lot of barbecue styles to juggle at Wildwood Barbeque when it opens next week. [NYP]

• Au revoir, Evian: Restaurants like Gemma and the Waverly Inn — not to mention banks, hotels, and just about everyone else — are banning bottled water. [NYP]
Related: Quenching an Ecofriendly Thirst [NYM]

• Gossip columnist Cindy Adams appeared in court on Friday as a witness in the Patsy’s-vs.-Patsy’s trial to pledge her loyalty to the midtown restaurant. [NYP]

• The Cheyenne Diner closed last night, with some of its most loyal customers sitting down for a nostalgic last meal. [NYDN]
Related: Pour One Out (a Milk Shake, That Is) for the Cheyenne

• Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall will host this year’s James Beard Awards ceremony, with the hope that she can “elevate the nation’s consciousness of America’s culinary culture.” [Eater]

• You’ve got just under five hours to cough up $2.6 million to secure the potentially lucrative pizza.com. [Slice]

• The latest development in the Patsy’s v. Patsy’s trial: Jackie Gleason’s wife and George Clooney’s father appeared in court via video to profess their allegiance to Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in midtown. [NYP]

• In an absurd bit of legal maneuvering, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant is suing Patsy’s Pizzeria for the right to claim Frank Sinatra as a devoted customer. [NYP]

• It would be one thing if the bones found in the basement of Tokyo Bar were found in the ground, but no — these human remains were found in a plastic bag. [NYS]

• In honor of April Fools’ Day, Michael’s is hiring celebrity look-alikes (Eliot Spitzer, Amy Winehouse, Paris Hilton) to dine in the restaurant during lunch hours. [NYP]