February 6, 2002

R W Apple Jr comments on succulent Cuban-style sandwich known as Cubano, and notes some restaurants, in Miami and elsewhere in country, that serve great Cubanos; photos (M)

People who knew and worked with Andrew S Fastow, former chief financial officer at Enron, and Enron's internal report on company's downfall portray him as brilliant, ambitious and hard-charging executive who grew obsessed with using complex financing techniques to supercharge Enron's earnings while inflating his own paycheck; friends say Fastow, whose wife is wealthy in her own right, was adamant in his belief that amount of money a person makes is only measure of success in business; crucial question with regard to Fastow is whether he was mastermind behind Enron's most suspect financial deals or, as he has maintained through spokesman, whether he was merely doing, with board's knowledge, the bidding of former chief executives he worked under, Kenneth L Lay and Jeffrey K Skilling; photos (M)

Amanda Hesser describes mixed experiences she had going out to lunch in New York City during Restaurant Week, where many of city's restaurants offer lunch for $20.02; cites her meals at Michael Jordan's Steak House in Grand Central Terminal, Gotham Bar and Grill, Artisanal, Rock Center Cafe, One CPS in Plaza Hotel, and Patria; photo (M)

Mayor Michael R Bloomberg turns to wealthy donors, foundations and corporations to help New York City get through its budget crisis; options would include offering corporate naming rights for areas in city parks and extending adopt-a-park concept to institutions like senior centers and to social service programs; Bloomberg is also loosening restrictions governing business improvement districts, which supplement city services, to encourage their expansion across city; photo (M)

Sec of State Colin L Powell tells Senate committee that United States expects to meet Russia's demand for legally binding agreement on reducing nuclear warheads, whether that takes form of treaty approved by Congress or some less formal document; leaves most details unspecified, and officials say they are still being worked out; Sen Chuck Hagel expresses misgivings about Pres Bush's linking of Iraq, Iran and North Korea in 'axis of evil,' and Powell replies that Bush was serious and not using rhetorical flourish (M)