(Photo: Richard C. Murry/London Features)

What Will $200 Buy You at Masa, Anyway?
For his 50th birthday, Daniel Boulud called in some favors. At the $1,500-a-head party at Daniel—which doubled as a fund-raiser for the food world’s favorite charity, Citymeals-on-Wheels—the city’s top chefs cooked (braised Berkshire pig, etc.) and donated meals for an Emeril Lagasse–helmed auction. But some were more generous than others. Tom Keller supplied dinner for two at Per Se and six at the French Laundry, and full-scale meals at Ducasse, Bouley, Le Bernardin, and Vong were also on the menu. When it came to Masa Takayama, however, the man behind the $350 sushi dinner put up a $200 gift certificate—to Bar Masa. “That wouldn’t pay for my tip at Masa,” said one guest. Reached later, Takayama was contrite: “Daniel asked us to donate something. I had no idea that any other restaurant was doing dinner for two. But $200 should be plenty at Bar Masa. I am sorry.”
—Beth Landman