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Wylie Dufresne's beloved East Village gastropub Alder will serve its last meal at the end of August. The ever avant-garde toque broke the news on Twitter Friday morning, to the further dismay of many of us who recently mourned the loss of his revolutionary Lower East Side flagship wd~50 just last year. Though the reason behind the shuttering is still unclear, some have speculated that Alder is but another victim of widespread rent hikes plaguing the neighborhood.
Over the last decade, the James Beard Award-winning chef pioneered an American movement of molecular gastronomy, gaining widespread recognition for his brainy use of modern kitchen appliances and inventive, tongue-in-cheek riffs on classic dishes. His teachings spawned a legion of powerhouse alumni—who now helm their own top kitchens—including Richard Kuo of Pearl & Ash, Alex Stupak of Empellon Cocina and Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar.
Earlier this year, Dufresne announced plans to open a new venue within the AKA Wall Street hotel in 2016, though it remains unclear what form that restaurant will take. For now, head to Alder to enjoy a revived selection of its greatest hits in addition to the prix-fixe tasting menu. With just three weeks left, don't miss a chance to experience the chef's career-defining creations like the remixed pig in a blanket (Chinese sausage in flattened Pepperidge Farm buns), pastrami-flecked rye pasta and a beer-cheese burger.