F: Is for Food Abounding!

News in the food world is: as the NYC Marathon ends one of the most well revered and talented chefs working in the city these days Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park also finishes his first Marathon. He ran it in 28:23.

Also the hottest new place to open is The Charles which opened Halloween night. The Waverly Inn’s John DeLucie is the consulting chef. It’s a great old space, 60-some-odd seats. Rafael de Cárdenas added his touches of plush red curtains, black speckled wall mirrors, and marquee bulbs. Keith Goldston is the wine consultant, he owns the wine bar Clo located in the Time Warner Center. Chef John McAllister, who worked at the Heartbeat is DeLucie collaborator for this healthy-esque take on Mediterranean. Dishes ranged from braised beef short rib w/ swiss chard & golden raisins, to seared duck breast with roasted grapes & escarole, to diver scallops & prawns w/ fingerling potatoes & saffron The owners, a designer and a promoter, are aiming for exclusivity, so getting in may be a bitch. The Charles, 234 W. 4th St (at W. 10th St), open now, reservations only by email at reservations@restaurantcharles.com

Bloomingdale Road also just opened on the Upper West Side, Bloomingdale Road is a cathedral of comfort food and an homage to old New York. Walls are graced with art and photos of a bygone day while the menu leans towards Southern Style cooking. Smoked deviled eggs, Manhattan clam chowder, and grass-fed-beef sliders are creative but it is the substantial lamb “Julep” (ultra-tender slices) alongside semi-sweet bourbon-braised ribs that have my mouth watering. Scallops in cornmeal crust on a bed of pumpkin maple syrup with pomegranate purée, say this is the place for me. Desert peanut butter and jelly tart with marshmallow ice cream for the kid in all of us. To go and endulge go to 2398 Broadway, at 88th St.; 212-874-7400

Stocks may be falling but restaurants are still flourishing and that is a F.A.C.T.