The virtual ink had not yet dried on my latest Bauer 100 report when I discovered that it was already out of date. Reading Michael Bauer's latest review of Fringale, I found that there was yet another chef change. In February. Oops. Missed that one. My bad.

Because Mr. B was rather underwhelmed with his food experience, I'll retract my pimping of Fringale for next year's Top 100. At least until I've had a chance to taste for myself. And, if the new guy screwed up the calamari as badly as Mickey B suggests, I'm gonna be mighty peeved.

One thing struck me as odd about The Big B's latest pronouncement on Fringale. He wrote, "[The] desserts are the same classics that have been on the menu for years, and are good, so why change?" To me, this implies that Mikey has seen consistent excellence in Fringale's desserts.

Yet last year, M. Bauer stated, "I must have chosen unwisely from the eight desserts (all $8), because the two we ordered were disappointing, particularly the hazelnut and roasted almond mousse cake." Hmmm, so much for sustained goodness.

So, one wonders, does Michael Bauer re-read his prior reviews before writing new ones? It would seem not.

For the record, I vote for sustained excellence. Fringale serves the best desserts in the City. Try the gâteau Basque, the hazelnut and roasted almond mousse cake or the crème brûlée.