What is it with wd~50 pastry chefs jumping ship and landing in the strangest ports? Last year then-pastry chef Alex Stupak decided to give up desserts to focus on regional Mexican cuisine, resulting in the awesomeness that is Empellón. Next we hear that Sam Mason—pastry chef at wd~50 right before Stupak took over the reins—in addition to his stint on Dinner With the Band and running his restaurant Tailor on Broome Street, now has his own line of... mayonnaise? More

A disappointing fish dinner saved by the delicious lime mayonnaise that accompanied it sparked a business idea for chef Sam Mason and designer Elizabeth Valleau. "There was no really delicious, fancy, gourmet mayonnaise company," Valleau says. And now there is. Empire Mayonnaise launched earlier this year, and rather than start out slowly, they hit the ground running with a rather staggering 25 flavors. More