Ok...so the only thing to tie this joke into my post is the chef. His name is Wylie Dufresne. Pronounced 'Do - frane'. Every time I hear that name I think of that joke. Ok...moving on. Wylie was formerly the sous chef at Jean Georges and in 1999 became the chef at 71 Clinton Fresh Food. wd~50 is the first restaurant where Wylie is both the chef and an owner along with his partners, former employers, Jean Georges Vongerichten and Phil Suarez.
The menu at wd~50 is what is called molecular gastronomy. It utilizes elements and techniques from a wide array of cuisines. Both Wylie and the pastry chef, Alex Stupak, have garnered praise for their inspired culinary combinations, cutting edge culinary techniques, and innovative use of ingredients.
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Wylie and wd~50 have been honored by the following James Beard Award nominations: 2000, Rising Star Chef (while Wylie was the chef at 71 Clinton Fresh Food); 2004, wd~50 for Best New Restaurant; 2008 and 2009, Wylie for Best Chef, New York City. Restaurant Magazine (UK) voted wd~50 34th in its annual "The World's Best Restaurants" issue, 2005. In New York magazine's 101 Best Restaurants edition (January 9, 2006), wd~50 was awarded four stars (out of a potential five) and was ranked fourth restaurant in New York. Frank Bruni of the New York Times awarded wd~50 three stars in March of 2008.
In 2006, in the Michelin Guide's inaugural American edition, wd~50 received one star, which it has retained through 2009. I don't get to eat at a lot of restaurants with a Michelin rating, so this was truly a notch on the ol' belt. In fact, it is the only restaurant in the LES with a Michelin rating!