Danny Meyer Is Opening a Members-Only Restaurant in Manhattan
The Infatuation has the scoop on Nun Left, a new Harlem pint business that comes from Jane Brendlinger, a food writer and Per Se pastry chef, per the review. Ordered via Instagram DM, these are pricier than a supermarket brand at $15, but with extremely fun flavors such as Thai tea brownie and princess cake. Restaurant team rises again
Citroën, a bistro in Greenpoint that closed in late 2024 due to landlord disputes, has decided that instead of trying to relaunch the name elsewhere in North Brooklyn, they're opening something new. Greenpointers reports the team will debut the Sparrow, an 'Art Deco cocktail bar and restaurant,' in a kitchen led by Carlos Despradel, a Nomad and Clocktower alum. It's coming to 185 Broadway, at Driggs Avenue, in Williamsburg, in August.
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Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
She got in trouble as a teen in New York City, but in Bangkok, she became a beauty queen
Metinee Kingpayome arrived in Bangkok on her 20th birthday. Born in Maryland and raised in New York City by Thai immigrant parents, Kingpayome had only visited Thailand twice as a child. That trip back to Thailand in 1992 marked more than just a birthday milestone; it marked the beginning of her new life. "It was something special," Kingpayome, now 53, told Business Insider. "Something that would change my life forever." Troubled teenage years Raised in a working-class neighborhood in Queens, Kingpayome was around 9 when her parents separated. As the oldest of four — and the only daughter — she often took on the responsibility of looking after the house. "My brothers were still quite young, so I had to help my mom at a very young age," Kingpayome said. She spent her childhood in a tight-knit Thai-American community, and her mother enrolled her in Sunday school to help her learn Thai. At home, her mom spoke to her in their native language. "She was very traditional, and she tried to raise me in that way," Kingpayome said. "We clashed a lot. You spend 16 hours a day speaking English, living the Western life, and then you come home, and your mom is super strict." Her teenage years were especially rough. By 14, she was getting into trouble and clashing with her mother. She barely made it through high school. A wake-up call came when the boy she was dating in her late teens got arrested. Working a dead-end job as a waitress in a Thai restaurant, she knew something had to change. "I just felt like, OK, this is not working out. There's got to be more," Kingpayome said. She'd always been drawn to fashion and decided to try modeling. But in the early '90s, the industry favored blonde hair and blue eyes — a beauty standard that she didn't fit. Determined not to give up, she decided to give Thailand a whirl. Just for six months, she told herself. She booked a one-way ticket, moved in with an aunt, and entered a beauty pageant. Several months later, she won Miss Thailand World 1992. An unexpected beauty queen Kingpayome says she didn't intend to be a beauty queen, but modeling was competitive. "I thought that would be a very good stepping stone," she said. "Pageantry was huge back in the '80s and '90s. So I entered a beauty pageant, not expecting to win, but then won." Winning the crown changed everything. She was thrust into the spotlight and, at the end of the year, represented Thailand at Miss World 1992, where she was crowned Continental Queen of Asia and Oceania. The transition from being unknown to a recognizable face was tough to navigate, especially for someone still finding her footing in a new country. Thai society was more conservative at the time, and women were generally expected to be more reserved, she said. "All of a sudden, I have to be this very proper, polite woman, and I struggled with that for a year," Kingpayome said. "Being born and growing up in the States, I was very, very vocal." Once her pageant contract was up, she started modeling. In the late '90s, Kingpayome was featured in advertising campaigns for brands such as Lux Soap and Sony. Since then, she's also appeared on the covers of the Thai editions of Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar, among many others. Kingpayome says she stood out in the industry because of her bold fashion choices, such as taking part in photoshoots while wearing swimsuits. "I felt I was part of the movement where things were starting to shift from conservative to modern," Kingpayome said. 'I was always professional' Unlike the " sabai sabai" Thai way of life, where locals often adopt a relaxed, go-with-the-flow attitude, Kingpayome said her work ethic set her apart. "If the call time's eight. I'm there at seven-thirty. It doesn't matter how hungover I am. I might look like crap, but I was there," she said. "I was always professional." Still, it took time to convince her family of her career choices, as they struggled to understand the nature of her work. It was only years later, when her mother eventually relocated to Bangkok from the US, that she began to understand, especially once Kingpayome started bringing her along to photoshoots. "She's like, oh, OK. You're not actually taking off your clothes," Kingpayome said, recalling her mother's reaction. Trading covers and catwalks for motherhood and a slower life Young, independent, and suddenly in demand, Kingpayome's life in Thailand took off. "I worked hard, but I played harder because, as a teenager, I never had that kind of life. When I left New York, I was only starting to be legal to go clubbing and stuff," she said. Everything in Thailand felt so different and new, she added. "I kind of got lost in the party scene, and my career was taking off. I was in every fashion show. I was on every cover of every magazine. It was just like, wow, oh my God, I love this life," she said In addition to modeling, she also built a successful career in show business, working as a TV presenter and appearing in numerous Thai movies and TV shows. Her fast-paced lifestyle lasted nearly a decade before she began to feel burned out and decided to slow down. In her mid-thirties, she got married and later had her son, who is now 16 and a competitive swimmer. The marriage ended in a divorce, but she still co-parents with her ex. In recent years, she's served as a mentor and judge on modeling reality shows and has coached contestants in the Miss Universe Thailand pageant. In 2021, she established a modeling academy with her brother called Muse by Metinee. "We use runway modeling as a tool to help people gain confidence. So our youngest student is 4 years old, and my oldest student, who is still with us, is 59," Kingpayome said. Many of her students are kids who have been bullied or who have low self-esteem, and seeing them break out of their shells and become more confident has been rewarding, she added. Since pageantry is still big in Thailand, she also coaches men, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who aspire to compete. The academy has since expanded to include a modeling agency. Jack Titus, the winner of Mister Model International 2025, who also grew up straddling both American and Thai cultures, told BI that his training at the academy was "the backbone" of his performance in the pageant. "From the way we walked to the way we spoke, every moment was designed to prepare us for the world stage," Titus said. "The discipline, presence, and emotional resilience I gained at Muse played a massive role in that win." Thailand, always Over three decades later, Kingpayome is still one of Thailand's biggest stars. Parisa Pichitmarn, a millennial journalist based in Bangkok, told BI that she has always admired Kingpayome. "She comes across as a strong woman who's professional and also doesn't take any crap," Pichitmarn said. Manorat Sangsuk, a Thai Gen X finance specialist, told BI that in the '90s, a lot of the models were half Western and half Thai, and having someone who "just looked Thai" was refreshing. "She's pretty cool in her own way — you know, not like sweet, gentle, traditional Thai type." It's hard to say whether Kingpayome would have enjoyed the same level of success if she had stayed in the US. "Because you're a tiny fish in a big pond, whereas in Thailand, I was a big fish in a tiny pond. So it was very different," she said. These days, Kingpayome lives in Bangkok and considers herself to be more Thai than American. "When I go back to America, I feel I'm visiting. I don't feel like it's home," she said. She used to visit the US more often, especially when her son was younger. But now, with her mother and two of her brothers living in Thailand, there's less reason to return. Only one brother remains in New York, still living in the Queens apartment they all grew up in. Years from now, Kingpayome says she might end up living by the beach, running a small bed-and-breakfast. Or she might move to wherever her son decides to live when he gets older. "But I think my life is in Thailand," she added.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Move over, Dubai chocolate — we taste-tested the new angel hair chocolate bar. Is it worth the $16 price tag?
The angel hair chocolate bar contains Turkish cotton candy and pistachio cream. First, the Dubai chocolate bar sent foodies into a spiral with its crunchy kataifi and pistachio cream filling, inspiring everything from Shake Shack's Dubai chocolate shake to IHOP's latest pancake stack. But now, a new bar is here to shake up the confectionery space yet again: It's called the angel hair chocolate bar, and she's basically the Dubai chocolate bar's sweeter, girlier cousin. When I saw this bar trending on TikTok, I knew I had to see if it lived up to the hype. So, what is the angel hair chocolate bar? While many different brands make some version of the treat, Chowhound credited Belgian chocolatier Tucho with the invention of angel hair chocolate. Its version is stuffed with pişmaniye, a Turkish-style cotton candy, as well as pistachio cream, vanilla, pomegranate and raspberry flavoring. Other versions of the bar, such as a popular one from BeeMax, are made with similar ingredients. Like the Dubai chocolate bar, the angel hair chocolate bar is making the rounds on social media, with many influencers cracking it open to reveal its cotton candy inside. Many of the bars online boast bright colors and tie-dyed patterns on the outer chocolate shell, while others keep it simple with just milk or dark chocolate. And like the Dubai chocolate bar, the angel hair bar comes with a hefty price tag, ranging from about $13 to $24, depending on the brand. As for myself, I wanted to try this chocolate bar ASAP. Rather than search stores for the bar, I looked on DoorDash and found a version of it available locally. Within an hour, my very own angel hair chocolate bar, from the brand Ema Chocolate, was at my door. Ema Chocolate's version is coated in white chocolate. It's also dyed pink and green, which is super aesthetically pleasing. However, when I cracked open the bar, I was a little less than thrilled by the appearance. The candy floss looked like, well, hair. As one coworker put it, it looked like I was 'eating a troll doll,' while another declared it an 'Easy-Bake Oven creation gone wrong.' A third had just two words: 'I'm upset.' But appearances can be deceiving. When I bit into the chocolate bar, I was greeted with an immediate sugar rush — along with the unfortunate sensation that I was biting into a chunk of hair. Thankfully, the cotton candy melted quickly in my mouth, leaving me with sweetness and not a whole lot else. When I gave a piece to my husband — who was also pretty freaked out by the whole hair thing initially — he said it was 'good' but that he absolutely did not want a second piece. So, will the angel hair chocolate bar become a regular treat in my pantry? Probably not. The price point aside (this bar cost $16, not including delivery fees, but I've seen versions on the TikTok shop sell for more than $24), even I, a self-proclaimed dessert person, can't handle that much sugar all at once. Plus, the whole 'hair' thing freaks me out more than I'd like to admit — even if that hair does melt into sugary goodness the moment it touches your tongue. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
NATO Ally's Jet Fighter Rivals US F-35 Sales
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Turkey's KAAN fighter aircraft could soon rival the U.S.-made F‑35 stealth jet in arms sales to the Global South by positioning itself as a more accessible alternative. The Turkish offering is generating interest from emerging economies. In late July, Turkey inked its first export deal with Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, for 48 planes, the governments said. The Turkish Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Why It Matters Turkey's first domestically developed fifth‑generation stealth fighter was part of a major pivot toward self-reliance in defense technology. Having previously armed itself with Western military tech, Turkey is now gaining ground in a field long dominated by the United States, the Soviet Union and later Russia, European powers and China. Its arms industry has gained a following after the early success of the Bayraktar TB2 drone, used by Ukraine against Russia. People look at a Turkish fighter jet on display at Turkey's 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) In Istanbul on July 25, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish and foreign companies showcased defense technology and weaponry... People look at a Turkish fighter jet on display at Turkey's 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) In Istanbul on July 25, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish and foreign companies showcased defense technology and weaponry at the fair running from July 22-27. MoreWhat To Know The KAAN fighter, developed by state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is intended to replace Turkey's aging fleet of F-16s and is being positioned as a low-cost alternative for its neighbors, too. The aircraft is expected to be more affordable than the U.S. F‑35, made by Lockheed Martin, according to TAI's leadership. Turkey's 2019 exclusion from the F-35 program over its purchase of S-400 missile systems from Russia marked Ankara's shift toward strategic autonomy under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Before the split, Turkish firms had built over 900 F-35 parts, gaining key experience in stealth and aerospace tech. Increasing interest has emerged since the KAAN's first test flight in 2024, with reports pointing to Egypt becoming the next participant in the jet program, although no official statements have been made by Cairo or Ankara. Turkey's deal to supply Indonesia was first revealed by Erdogan in June. The agreement with Jakarta, which has a history of using NATO equipment in its armed forces, "showcases the progress and achievements of our domestic and national defense industry," Erdogan said. America's Gulf partners have also shown an interest in the KAAN, with Washington still reluctant to transfer advanced systems to the region in order to preserve Israel's military edge. The U.S. and Turkey, meanwhile, remain at odds over Gaza, in addition to existing Israel-Turkey tensions over Syria. Erdogan still wants F-35 jets for the Turkish air force, however, and recently announced progress in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, raising concerns in Israel. What People Are Saying Rear Admiral (retired) Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, wrote in an analysis on July 2: "Turkey should not get access to U.S. F-35 sales until it destroys or returns the S-400 air defense missile system it foolishly purchased from Russia, and also, not until it publicly renounces and completely ceases support for Hamas—a vicious terrorist organization that targets and kills Americans. Turkey may be a member of NATO, but it has not treated the United States with respect for decades." President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia said in April "Indonesia wants to participate in the development of the 'KAAN' fifth-generation fighter jet and submarine development with the Turkish industry." Can Kasapoglu, a senior nonresident fellow at the Hudson Institute, wrote in a report for the Atlantic Council on June 24, 2024: "Another natural target for Turkey's multirole combat solution would be militaries that want to replace their Soviet era-remnant arsenals with a defense ecosystem that is in line with NATO standards, such as the non-NATO former Soviet space, which has traditionally been Russia's markets. In this regard, Azerbaijan and Ukraine loom large as two particularly interesting potential operator nations as KAAN's export market slowly takes shape in the coming years. What Happens Next Turkey aims to begin operational deployment of the KAAN fighter by 2028.
