A New York City waiter takes charge of burning al fresco dining structures | American crime

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A New York City bartenders star has been accused of setting fire to several outdoor dining spots in Manhattan in recent months after he was caught on CCTV.

The 35-year-old bartender, Caleb Ganzer, was named Food & Wine Magazine’s Bartenders of the Year in 2017. He recently worked as a managing partner at La Compagnie des Vins Surnatures on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, but in a statement the pub told the New York Times. He has taken leave.

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said Ganzer set fire to the outbuildings to eat at two restaurants in January and July, and in another case in June, set fire to a pile of garbage on a street corner. All three fires were set late at night in locations close to his restaurant.

He was charged with two criminal charges related to arson and several other arson-related offenses.

“Every act of arson has the potential to spread rapidly, endangering the lives of New Yorkers and FDNY members,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement. “Fortunately, there were no casualties in these incidents and the suspect was apprehended before another fire was started.”

Ganzer has previously worked at high-profile restaurants including 11 Madison Park, which was named the Best Restaurant in the World in 2017.

WABC-TV reported that surveillance cameras spotted Ganzer starting his last fire in July. Subsequently, the authorities were able to connect Ganzer with the previous two fires.

In a recent interview with Sommelier Business, Ganzer discussed the challenges of working in the restaurant industry during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There were different waves of emotion; at first, there was denial, close to feeling personally attacked, because no other industry was affected as much. He feels we weren’t really much appreciated,” he said at the time. In feeling a little extra sting knowing you can’t do what you’re doing remotely from home or whatever, so it’s kind of an existential hindrance.”

Ganzer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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