“This isn’t a giant food court,” said Batali, clad in trademark orange. “This isn’t a selection of restaurants under one roof. This is a retail store where we peddle the greatest of Italian gastronomy to people who want to eat it and know how to appreciate it. You ask any Italian and all of the smart Americans where the best meal they ever had in the last ten years was, and it was never in someone’s restaurant. It was always in the house. And with these products, and this ideology, we’re hoping that’s what we’re going to bring to New Yorkers.”

Among the gastronomic greatest hits on offer starting next week: handmade mozzarella; oysters; veal and lamb stuffed ravioli and gelato. And lots and lots of wine.

The interiors have a Whole Foods-meets-Bloomingdale’s-via-Tuscany feel, and Italian flourishes abound, from signs in both Italian and English to iPads displaying news from Corriere della Serra and other Italian papers. Another fun grace note – an ATM from UniCredit bank, based in Italy.

During Tuesday’s event, Batali, Bastiniach and partners attempted to herd dozens of reporters and publicists through the space. They were aided by the beaming Eataly team of employees – about 300 people have been hired so far – who at times seemed to outnumber guests. Some staff members, such as the pizza team, had just arrived straight from the motherland.

The crowd gawked at the maze of mostly Italian products, the bread oven from Spain, the mammoth espresso maker and the vegetable butcher. (Yes, there is a vegetable butcher.)

In a blow to lovers of Italian beer, Eataly’s planned 4,500-square-foot rooftop beer garden and brewery won’t open for another few months. Beers will be made unfiltered and unpasteurized, naturally carbonated and hand-pulled through traditional beer engines.

via

The Hi-Sun Beach Towel, which can be worn as a backpack, converts into a towel with integrated speakers that connect to an MP3 player. The manufacturers made the speakers removable, so you can wash the towel without damaging the electric components. (via)

Verizon Wireless, which is building a high-speed fourth- generation network, plans to unveil several devices that will run on the new technology in January at the Consumer Electronics Show, Chief Executive Officer Lowell McAdam has said.

Screw Hubpages…Blomberg is delivering!

God I effing hope this is true. Hubpages.com is leading us to believe that Verizon Wireless is currently testing a CDMA version of the iPhone 4G and Verizon confirms they are making network changes to bring the iphone to their network. The new iPhone 4g is going to be loaded with tons of new features like video chat, multi-tasking and extreme downloading.

Pray this is true.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid73315185001?bctid=101507741001