Michael Anthony brought his flavor of New York City — and the seasonal vegetables that go with it — last week to two sold-out dinners at Spoon and Stable (211 N. 1st St., Mpls., spoonandstable.com).

The longtime chef of Gramercy Tavern and the new Untitled restaurant and Studio Cafe at the Whitney Museum of American Art (as well as a recent James Beard award-winning author for his "V Is for Vegetables" cookbook) was the headliner in the second installment of Synergy, a four-part chef-in-residence series hosted by Spoon and Stable chef/owner Gavin Kaysen.

The series began in April with two sold-out dinners by chef Michael White of New York's Marea.

Next up is April Bloomfield, chef of the Spotted Pig and Breslin Bar & Dining Room in New York City, on Oct. 13 (tickets on sale Aug. 15). Daniel Boulud, Kaysen's mentor and chef/owner of Daniel in New York City, will cook on Dec. 15 (tickets on sale Oct. 17).

Tickets are $295 in the dining room and $395 at the chef's counter and include a multicourse dinner with beverage pairings, tax and tip; reservations are at spoonandstable.com.

Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from each dinner go to a charity. The Michael White dinner raised $13,000 for the Children's Cancer Research Fund; the donation from the Michael Anthony dinner is expected to be similar and will go to the Angel Foundation.

LEE SVITAK DEAN

A major megamall debut

How well has the Shake Shack (shakeshack.com) been received at the Mall of America?

Very, according to company CEO Randy Garutti.

"It has just blown away our expectations," Garutti told the Chicago Tribune earlier this week. "It's been crazy and nonstop. We've never done an interior mall in the United States before. And if you're going to do it, it might as well be the Mall of America."

The chain's next Midwestern outpost? Downtown Detroit.

Sunday fun day

Every Sunday now through Aug. 21, City Works (600 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., cityworksrestaurant.com) is offering this deal: Guests who purchase any food or drink item can enter a 5 p.m. raffle for a pair of VIP Twins tickets, and a bar tab gift card (up to $250). Also, look for a special $13 burger and a four-drink ($13) brunch cocktail flight.

RICK NELSON