She never did drop a chicken – or a turkey – on the air.

But so powerfully did we associate Julia Child with unfussy confidence and occasional klutziness that many of us believe we saw it, just the same.

Child, who would have been 92 today JUST OPENED … 08/15/2004JUST OPENED Tia Pol

205 10th Ave.

(212) 675-8805

Appetizers: $7

Entrée: $14

Re-creating an authentic Madrid tapas bar, Tia Pol is an effortless charmer, with robustly flavored Spanish tapas like salt cod carpaccio with romesco, croquettes, gambas, and bigger plates like seared tuna filled with marinated white anchovies, stuffed piquillo peppers and a Galician-style octopus terrine.

Cru

24 Fifth Ave.

(212) 529-1700

Appetizers: $16

Entrees: $30

Cru features the haute seasonal stylings of executive chef Shea Gallante, formerly chef de cuisine at Bouley. The wine cellar comes in at 65,000 bottles, so you’re bound to find the right one for innovative dishes like fluke crudo, organic white polenta and olive oil soup, ravioli with young pecorino, spiced filet of wild European turbot.