New York sommelier accused of setting fires outdoors rival companies
A star sommelier was arrested in New York Metropolis this week and accused of setting fires to outside eating constructions at rival companies, authorities mentioned Thursday. Caleb Ganzer, 35, has been charged with two counts of third-degree arson, two counts of third-degree prison mischief and three counts of second-degree prison mischief, officers mentioned.
“Each act of arson has the potential to unfold quickly, endangering the lives of New Yorkers and FDNY members,” Daniel Nigro, the FDNY hearth commissioner, mentioned in a press release. “Fortunately in these incidents, there have been no accidents and the suspect has been apprehended earlier than one other hearth may very well be set.”
Ganzer is the wine director and co-owner of La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, a French wine bar situated within the Nolita neighborhood of New York. “We as the corporate are conscious of the incident, and Mr. Ganzer is on a depart of absence,” an organization spokesperson mentioned in a press release.
Ganzer is accused of setting three separate fires. On January 8, he allegedly began a fireplace on the outside eating construction owned by Forsythia Restaurant. On the morning of June 26, he allegedly set hearth to a pile of garbage on Broome and Centre Avenue, and on July 13, he is accused of lighting one other outside eating construction on hearth, this one belonging to Prince Avenue Pizza. Fireplace officers mentioned nobody was injured by the fires.
Fireplace officers launched surveillance footage of the Prince Avenue blaze, the place a person is proven lighting either side of a construction with a lighter.
Ganzer is understood for his fast rise within the wine trade. In 2012, he was included within the Zagat “30 Underneath 30” record for up-and-coming restaurant masters. A 12 months later, he took the function of sommelier at Eleven Madison Park earlier than transferring to La Compagnie. He has acquired a number of accolades, together with a 2016 Wine and Spirits journal Finest New Sommeliers and a 2017 Meals and Wine journal’s sommelier of the 12 months.
“New York is a kind of locations the place the longer you are right here, the extra you carve out your individual area of interest, and the extra you need to make that area of interest greater,” Ganzer mentioned in a 2017 interview. “New York’s grow to be residence.”
