• Franklin Becker is replacing Gary Robins at Sheridan Square. According to the PR firm, “Franklin will change the menu slowly and keep anything that has become a signature item.” [Eater]
Related: Breaking: Gary Robins Out at Sheridan Square

• Union Square Cafe, Fleur de Sel, and Le Cirque will keep their Restaurant Week special deals in place even after the citywide promotion ends. [Zagat Buzz]
Related: Summer Restaurant Week Brings Back a Chance to Steal a Meal

• Now that chefs know how to actually cook octopus, it’s becoming more and more popular with diners. [NYP]

• After the obligatory cycle of rumors and denials, the partnership of Joey Campanaro and Gabe Stulman at the little owl and Market Table is officially over. [Gotham Gal via Eater]

• Nine of the 228 people who have fallen ill from eating salmonella-laden tomatoes ate at two locations of the same chain restaurant, but the FDA won’t disclose which chain it is or where the locations are. [NYT]

• Stolichnaya could become the newest spirits company to trade hands, and it may fetch as much as $3 billion. [WSJ]

• Daniel Boulud won the Bravo A-list restaurant award for Bar Boulud, beating out Joey Campanaro’s little owl. [NYP]

• Horror of horrors! Lisa from Top Chef is putting her peanut-butter mashed potatoes on the menu at Mai House. [NYDN]

• Oh, fast-food restaurants don’t make people fat? Thanks for clearing that one up. [Odd Numbers/Portfolio]

Donald Trump denies leaving a $10,000 tip for a waiter in a Santa Monica restaurant on Monday. [NYP]

No surprises, here: Masa tops the list of pricey U.S. restaurants. [Forbes]

It’s the holidays, so it’s time for the old chestnut about the popularity of fondue. [NYDN]