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Dizengoff planning location in NYC

Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook have signed to open their hummus stand in Chelsea Market.

Dizengoff, the Rittenhouse hummus shop opened only last year by Zahav's Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, is in expansion mode.

Cook and Solomonov are in the final stage of lease negotiations for a Dizengoff stand in the busy Chelsea Market in Lower Manhattan. (Say it "DEEZ-en-goff." It's named after a main street in Tel Aviv.)

Cook on Sunday acknowledged New York Eater's report of a liquor permit spotted at the market, at Ninth Avenue and 16th Street. The building, which houses offices and the operations of Food Network, has a slew of grab-and-go shops in its marketplace. It also is the home of Starr restaurants Buddakan and Morimoto.

Cook, who said he was waiting for a signed lease, said he and Solomonov hoped to open the Dizengoff within 90 days. The liquor-license hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10.

The proposed Dizengoff, on the market's 15th Street side, would join other new stands taking over the former location of Amy's Bread, which has moved elsewhere in the market.

The Chelsea Market location would keep later hours than the Sansom Street original because the market is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days, Cook said.

The menu is not set beyond the shop's core of different hummus varieties (which The Inquirer's Craig LaBan says has "magnetic power"), hot pita, salads, and beer, he said.

The arrival of Cook N Solo in Manhattan would follow the migration of other Philadelphia restaurateurs, including Starr (who owns a bunch), Jose Garces (an Amada, opening soon), and High Street on Market's Ellen Yin and Eli Kulp (High Street on Hudson, opening soon).

Cook also said that he, Solomonov and his partners are looking for locations in other cities for Federal Donuts, the popular doughnut/chicken/coffee concept.