New York foodies are notoriously hard to impress, but many seemed swayed Thursday by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart, who joined Eric Ripert, Drew Nieporent and co-host Martha Stewart at Le Cirque for lunch. The actors were promoting their new movie, "No Reservations," and had even made pies with Stewart on the "Today" show.

"I did see that Aaron had cheated on his crust," said Stewart, who herself had rushed to lunch straight from shooting a Macy's commercial, clad in a favorite pair of Gucci jeans in order to look "as tall and svelte as possible." (FYI: It worked.)

For his part, Eckhart defended himself, saying he preferred to work the grill than cook more complex recipes. "This is not a guy's film. There's no football — all they see is aprons," he joked.

The night before, the fashion troops assembled when Charlotte Moss hosted cocktails in anticipation of the upcoming Couture Council of the Museum of FIT Award in September — which this year will go to Lanvin's Alber Elbaz. Guests such as Francisco Costa, Arnold Scaasi, Mary McFadden, Zac Posen, Cece Cord and luncheon chairs Tiffany Dubin and Lisa Perry joined Museum of FIT director Valerie Steele in the garden, sipping Champagne while a roaring fire set the scene despite the 80-degree evening. Equally low-key was the evening's hostess, though she had every reason to be on edge. "I'm on deadline for a book for Assouline," said Moss. "But I wanted to have a cocktail in my garden so I might as well have it with a hundred people."

Earlier that day, in upstate New York, Marylou Whitney kicked off the 139th Running of Thoroughbred Racing at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday with a luncheon for 80 guests. "I am going to do everything this year in Saratoga. It is my favorite place to be," proclaimed the hostess of her myriad homes.