New York sommelier accused of setting fires exterior rival companies
A star sommelier was arrested in New York Metropolis this week and accused of setting fires to out of doors 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 fireplace commissioner, mentioned in an announcement. “Fortunately in these incidents, there have been no accidents and the suspect has been apprehended earlier than one other fireplace may very well be set.”
Ganzer is the wine director and co-owner of La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, a French wine bar positioned 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 an announcement.
Ganzer is accused of setting three separate fires. On January 8, he allegedly began a hearth on the out of doors eating construction owned by Forsythia Restaurant. On the morning of June 26, he allegedly set fireplace to a pile of garbage on Broome and Centre Road, and on July 13, he is accused of lighting one other out of doors eating construction on fireplace, this one belonging to Prince Road Pizza. Hearth officers mentioned nobody was injured by the fires.
Hearth officers launched surveillance footage of the Prince Road blaze, the place a person is proven lighting each 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 Below 30” listing for up-and-coming restaurant masters. A yr later, he took the position of sommelier at Eleven Madison Park earlier than shifting to La Compagnie. He has obtained 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 yr.
“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 wish to make that area of interest larger,” Ganzer mentioned in a 2017 interview. “New York’s develop into house.”
