Momofuku puts its money where its mouth is

Every New York City Momofuku restaurant — including Ko, Noodle Bar, Ssäm Bar, Fuku, and Kāwi — donated all of their profits Friday to various organizations, including women’s health care nonprofit Planned Parenthood, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), gun control advocate Everytown, and environmental organization Sierra Club, a rep confirms. The move follows controversy last week in which Momofuku’s billionaire investor Stephen Ross hosted a fundraiser for President Donald Trump.

Blowback online initially only targeted Ross’s fitness companies Equinox and SoulCycle, but soon spread to his restaurant investments in Momofuku, Milk Bar, &Pizza, and Bluestone Lane. Momofuku owner David Chang responded by imploring Ross to cancel the fundraiser, saying that he “fucking hates Trump.” Chang also noted that, “Talk is cheap, we must show it in action.” A Momofuku spokesperson did not confirm nor deny that the donations were in response to the Ross controversy.

None of Ross’s other companies have publicly made donations following the fundraiser, though SoulCycle has organized upcoming charity rides. Bluestone Lane and &Pizza have not responded to the controversy, while Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi attempted to distance the dessert bar from Ross in a statement.

In other news

— City Bakery’s iconic Soho location for sister bakery Birdbath has closed following the end of its lease. Birdbaths used to dot the city, but there’s now only one remaining location in Midtown East.

— The acclaimed BlackTail team is opening up a pop-up cocktail bar in a shipping container in Battery Park. Called the Terrace, it will be open at Pier A later this month until November and then head down to Miami.

— Celebs are dropping money all over the NYC area, with legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld ordering $500 wine in Atlantic City, and musician Drake celebrating his latest album at Lavo, Avenue, Electric Room, PHD, and Serafina Meatpacking.

— Former White House director of communications Anthony Scaramucci was spotted dining with former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley at exclusive Harlem Italian restaurant Rao’s.

— Popular vegan Caribbean restaurant Veggie Castle is adding a second location at 2085 Flatbush Ave. in the Flatlands called Veggie Castle Mini, set to open on Labor Day.

— Local American chain Five Napkin Burger is cutting back its East Village location, shrinking the size of the dining room.

— Following the departure of opening chef Greg Proechel, Nomad small plates restaurant Ferris has a new executive chef in Tyler Heckman. Heckman had been chef de cuisine, and he’s already added dishes such as cured scallop with melon, coriander, and serrano pepper.

— That angry bagel guy just won’t go away. Now he’s set to fight MLB all-star Lenny Dykstra in a boxing ring.

— It’s nutcracker season, folks:

support your local fancy nutcracker salesperson pic.twitter.com/L9B0gIuHpR — maya kosoff (@mekosoff) August 11, 2019

Disclosure: David Chang is producing shows for Hulu in partnership with Vox Media Studios, part of Eater’s parent company, Vox Media. No Eater staff member is involved in the production of those shows, and this does not impact coverage on Eater.