Tchau, Rocco

I had to laugh when I read in the New York Times tonight that

CLAUDE TROISGROS, who once owned CT on East 22nd Street, will start commuting to that street next week with the opening on Thursday of CAVIAR & BANANA BRASSERIO, a Brazilian restaurant with a French inflection. Mr. Troisgros, who owns two restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, said the name referred to his signature beads of tapioca "caviar," which he serves with plantain chips. The executive chef will be BOBBY VARUA. The restaurant, a partnership with [convicted felon] JEFFREY CHODOROW, replaces Rocco's and has been redone with cream, ocean blue and swaths of lace. Mr. Chodorow and Mr. Troisgros also work together at the Blue Door in Miami Beach.

So, the cheesy saga that was Rocco DiSpirito's "The Restaurant" is finally completely and utterly over (thank God) and is being replaced by a Brazilian restaurant, of all things.

I wonder if the food is any good--I'm curious about that tapioca "caviar". I'll have to see if I can find out if they're having any sort of preview for the press--I'd love to go check it out for Gothamist.