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LI's SWEET GENIUSES

Long Island is fielding two contestants in Food Network's new dessert competition show, "Sweet Genius," premiering tonight at 10. Episode 1 features Michael Mignano, owner of Main Street Bakery in Port Washington. Episode 2, which airs this Sunday (it's the only episode not to air on a Thursday), features Amos Hayon, pastry chef at Lola in Great Neck.

"Sweet Genius" is modeled on the network's "Chopped" -- four contestants are winnowed down to one over the course of three challenges, each of which features a mystery ingredient. In "Chopped," the challenges are appetizer, main course and dessert; here they are frozen, baked and chocolate. But "Sweet Genius" is more than a sweet clone of the successful "Chopped." For one, the mystery ingredients are not nearly so wacky, which renders the desserts more appealing than the usual pork loin-pumpkin-Peppermint Pattie paellas on "Chopped."

The biggest difference between the two shows is that "Sweet Genius" has no panel of judges. It has only Ron Ben-Israel, a well-known New York wedding cake impresario. Ben-Israel, bald and stylishly bespectacled, acts as host, judge and executioner, doling out the challenges and then rendering terse, baleful verdicts in an exotic accent. (He was born in Israel.) He's a curiously sinister presence in a show about cake and ice cream -- like a Bond villain in a candy store. The show is a lot of fun. -- ERICA MARCUS

HEWLETT COUPLE COME TO 'EMERIL'S TABLE'

On the premiere episode of Emeril Lagasse's new "Emeril's Table," Hewlett couple James and Marianne Vilardi are among the guests who learn all about making pasta. The daily show debuts on the Hallmark Channel on Monday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. -- ERICA MARCUS

OPEN IN ST. JAMES

Ara International Grille & Bar opened recently in space that used to be Intermezzo. Chef Dino Vlacich, who earned two stars at the departed Mio in Roslyn, also is associated with the new Bin 107 in St. James. Starters include fried Peruvian bay scallops with mustard sauce and baked baby eggplant with ricotta, mozzarella and tomato sauce; main courses, herb-crusted rack of lamb, panko-crusted tuna and linguine with Manila clams. Ara is at 964 Middle Country Rd., St. James; 631-656-6363. -- Peter M. Gianotti

OPEN IN GREAT NECK

Laverne of Great Neck, which succeeds the short-lived Bangkok Station, offers Japanese, French-fusion and Thai cuisines. Laverne had earned a two-star rating in Newsday at its former site on Old Country Road in Westbury, where the kitchen specialized in Japanese and French fare. Laverne of Great Neck is at 9 Cutter Mill Rd., Great Neck; 516-829-8200. -- Peter M. Gianotti

CLOSED IN EAST HILLS

Table 9, the updated continental that changed owners more than a year ago, has closed. The restaurant at 290 Glen Cove Rd. had hosted Table 9 since 2008, when it succeeded Brivo. For decades, the site was the home of L'Endroit. -- Peter M. Gianotti