It's not even August, and already, planning for la rentrée has begun.  We're not headed back for another month, yet fall plans are taking hold.  Last winter was the quietest one here in recent history. Local shopkeepers were hurting.  Everyone just packed up their Farrell 'turnkey' homes and went back to Manhattan. We are beginning to think that it might be another quiet winter.

Good timing for the owners of Almond and Almoncello to open a NYC outpost. Only a few Hamptons restaurants have dared to take the west-bound route to the city—Bobby Van's and Nick & Toni's come to mind.  Along with new partner Jeffrey Chodorow, front-of-the-house master Eric Lemonides and chef Jason Wiener, plan an October opening for the yet-to-be-named Frenchish restaurant in the enormous Rocco's spot on East 22nd.  Will it be Almond22, or another nut—maybe Chestnut or Walnut?