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.
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!