Paul Liebrandt has worked in some of New York's most prestigious kitchens -- from the decadent Gilt to the critically acclaimed Atlas. His sometimes atypical ingredient pairings in his early days in New York sometimes drew criticism from diners and journalists, a sore point he's still hesitant to discuss. His current post at Tribeca's Corton has earned favorable attention and may arguably be his most successful venture yet. Although getting through to the chef took some doing, we got a decent peek into the culinary mastermind's lifestyle.

It all started in the Lower East Side back in 2003 -- before the skinny-jeaned hipster invasion -- when now-celeb chef Wylie Dufresne opened wd-50. Melding science and food, the molecular gastronomer has since inspired many to experiment. Of course, not everyone's into mad food science, but most chefs like to get a little edgy somewhere on the menu.

● Cookies @ Momofuku Bakery Milk Bar (East Village) - David Chang could get a vegetarian hooked on pork belly, so imagine what the man’s dessert spot can do with a cookie. Among the most drool-worthy: cornflake-marshmallow-chocolate chip, corn, blueberry cream, and compost cookie (so fabulously odd that the chocolate chip, pretzel, potato chip, coffee ground, and graham-cracker crumb-concoction is trademarked).
● Onion soup dumplings @ Stanton Social (Lower East Side - You’ll just have to focus on its deliciousness and put aside the fact that there’s enough cheese in this dish to give you a cholesterol problem.

A few months back, we put on display New York Times chief restaurant critic Frank Bruni's knife-wielding side -- as everyone knows, he's at his best when the claws are out. This week's review of TriBeCa dining hotspot Corton, however, shows the softer, possibly Boy George-listening side of Bruni.

New York
● Corton (Tribeca) - Ambitious replacement for much-loved long-runner Montrachet.
● The Bell House (Brooklyn South) - New Bell ringing across semi-deserted streets of GoWo.

Atlanta
● East Atlanta Icehouse (East Atlanta) - Old music venue sees new life luring young and hip with step-above pub grub, and local and national indie rock acts.