The Essex House's housekeeping manager has pleaded guilty to killing a female guest in 2009. Derrick Praileau took a deal for 23 years to life for strangling Sara Bejjani after trying to rape her in condo. The victim's brother, Joe Bejjani, said, "Nothing is going to help... We lost... I don't really care about the sentence—my sister's life is gone," but added, "I'm glad he confessed—finally." more ›

Makenzie Vega, a 15-year-old actress who plays Julianna Margulies's daughter in CBS drama The Good Wife, was staying in the room directly above the one where investment executive Andree (Sara) Bejjani was found murdered Saturday. Vega says that hours before the murder she had a retrospectively scary exchange with suspect Derrick Praileau, the housekeeping manager at the Essex House who has confessed to stabbing Bejjani with a 10-inch bread knife during a violent rape attempt. more ›

A housekeeping manager at the Essex House has confessed to the stabbing murder of Sara Bejjani after investigators say he attempted to rape the woman who had been residing inside the luxury hotel along Central Park South. 29-year-old Derrick Praileau had worked at the hotel since he was 17 and is described as being known for having a "flash temper." He told police that he showed up drunk before his 6 a.m. shift Saturday, used his key to get into Bejjani's 10th floor apartment and then admits, "I just lost it." more ›

A businesswoman from Dubai was found yesterday inside a condo at the Essex House, disrobed, with her throat slashed and a jumprope around her neck. 44-year-old Andree (Sara) Bejjani, president of Royal Investments, LLC, a real estate investment firm based in Dubai, had been staying at the luxury hotel on Central Park South since August. This morning cops arrested an Essex House employee, Derrick Praileau, but have not yet charged him. more ›

Pinch & S’MAC: Dejected fans of Pinch, the defunct Park Avenue South “pizza by the inch” joint, will not only be reunited with their favorite Pinch pizza, but they can even slather it with the incredible mac-n-cheese from East Village favorite S’MAC. The new cheese and carb cartel will bring the best of both menus together on the Upper West Side, forming a single, unified, belt-busting celebration of starch. If you’ve never tried S’MAC, you’re best off staying away; those who’ve tasted their mac-n-cheese speak of it with glazed-over eyes befitting a Shake Shack devotee. Opening “soft” on Monday, Pinch & S’MAC promises a casual environment with take out, delivery, catering and a separate room for private parties. 474 Columbus Ave., between 82nd and 83rd, (646) 438-9494. more ›

There are a number of restaurants opening in 2008 that we've been eagerly awaiting and we thought we'd highlight some that particularly piqued our interest and have us drooling in anticipation. more ›

A bit of breaking food news: Doug Psaltis has left the Executive Chef position at Country restaurant after three years. Word has it that the 33 year-old chef has parted ways with chef/owner Geoffrey Zakarian to pursue other restaurant plans. While there’s no official word from the chef yet, chances are his next kitchen won’t be doing molecular gastronomy: Psaltis told Metromix in September that “I think we are getting too far away from our... more ›

Mayors from around are in the middle of the three-day Climate Summit being held at the Essex House. And Mayor Bloomberg took the time to explain why mayors must lead the effort to address environmental issues. The NY Times reports that Bloomberg strayed from his prepared remarks and said:

The world really is looking to these cities for leadership. You’re not going to get this from other government bodies. You’re going to get it from the mayors of the world and the cities of the world, where they have to make decisions, and the consequences of their decisions are visible within hours or days. We are the ones that can take this world ahead.

Eric Greenspan might be the best chef you’ve never heard of. The 31 year-old Jersey born, California raised, and one-time New Yorker spent the better part of the last decade working his way through several top-rated restaurant kitchens- Bouley, Union Pacific, and Alain Ducasse to name a few- before landing his first high profile chef’s job at Patina in Los Angeles four years ago. Later, a stint at the highly-regarded but short lived Meson G left Greenspan without a kitchen to call his own. “I was doing cookie demos in combi-ovens at trade shows,” says Greenspan, “but it paid the bills.” Now the chef will put everything he knows about food to test when he opens The Foundry on Melrose, a place that will serve what he calls “fine dining for the everyman.” This past weekend, Greenspan came back to New York to catch up with some old friends, and to survey the current restaurant scene. more ›

That would be Michelin stars. The 2007 guide was released today, with ratings for 526 restaurants, including several newcomers from the past year. Del Posto debuts with a bang: two stars, joining the ranks of Masa, Bouley, and Daniel (Danube, which also had two stars last year, dropped down to one). All of those who earned three stars last year (Le Bernadin, per se, and Jean-Georges) held their ground with the exception of Alain Ducasse at the Essex House. According to the New York Times it "was dropped from the guide this year because it plans to close and relocate in early January." more ›

As we walked through the doors of Alain Ducasse at the Essex House we were immediately greeted by a glass of 2004 Chateau Fombrauge Bordeaux Blanc – a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Semillon – served on a silver tray from a gentlemen in an impeccably tailored tuxedo. What we loved about this wine is it had the intense aromas of Sauvignon Blanc with richness on the palate from the Semillon. This wine paired perfectly with the cheese puffs, oysters and the puree of wild mushroom soup that were being passed around. After about three more glasses and more hors d’oeuvres than anybody should eat, we finally took our seat at the table.



A distinguished, older French man welcomed us through his translator. He spoke quickly making it difficult for his translator to keep up. Bernard Magrez, our host, and accomplished wine-maker and owner of Chateau Pape Clemant as well many more (32 wineries around the world), spoke about how honored he was to be a part of something with such an extensive history. He told tales of its past and spoke about visions for the future. He expressed gratitude to America, saying he will never forget how the US has helped save France’s freedom. He then turned his attention to Alain Ducasse standing to his right. Margrez praised him for the excellence that he brings to the culinary world and said how honored he was to have this important celebration here. Alain Ducasse stepped to the podium. He did not speak through the translator and addressed the crowd in thickly accented Frenglish. He expressed great admiration for Mr. Magrez and for his wine. It was short and sincere. Which was perfect because we were starting to get hungry again.

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White truffle season is upon us, so get our your wallets. It may not look like much more than an unappetizing lump, but according to National Geographic, "During the peak of the white truffle season, which typically runs from late October to early December, the tubers can fetch U.S. $1,200 to $2,300 a pound." Yes, they're expensive, but if you like black truffles, you'll absolutely flip over the white ones. Their earthy flavor permeates throughout any dish to which they're added, even in small quantities. Although in the wild, truffles are usually only found by trifolau, people who search with their trained truffle-sniffing dogs (there's actually a University of Truffle Hunting Dogs in Piedmont) to find the treasures in the woods of Italy, we've cut out the middleman and discovered several spots in New York where white truffles will be served. New York Magazine rounds up a few, including Italian grocery Sapori D’Ischia in Woodside, Queens, which is offering a $50 multi-course menu, each course featuring fresh white truffles, every Tuesday from October 18 through November 15, and Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, featuring a five couse menu for $290. more ›