Jennifer Oz LeRoy

"I refuse to sell the soul of Oz," a defiant Jennifer Oz LeRoy, the alluring 30-year-old owner of Tavern on the Green, said in an interview with Page Six Magazine.

As The Observer reported last year, Ms. LeRoy is facing a potential bidding war over the iconic Central Park eatery--the second-highest-grossing independently run restaurant in the country in 2007--which she inherited from her flamboyant father, the late Warner LeRoy.

Many of the city's most illustrious restaurateurs are said to be in the running for the lucrative concessions contract with the city's Parks Department, including Gramercy Tavern operator Danny Meyer and Boathouse owner Dean Poll.

Yet, the two possible contenders quoted by the magazine seemed hesistant at best about taking over the sprawling 23,000-square-foot culinary behemoth.  read more »

Two of the city's top banquet behemoths were honored last night at the International Special Events Society's Annual Big Apple Awards at Cipriani Wall Street:

Michael Desiderio, chief operating officer of Tavern on the Green, and Joe Cozza, vice president of sales and marketing at Cipriani USA--both of whom are facing significant challenges these days in keeping their illustrious New York institutions afloat.

Tavern, for one, faces a potential bidding war to keep its sprawling 27,000-square-feet digs at Central Park. Cipriani, meanwhile, is struggling to hold onto its liquor licenses after CEO Giuseppe Cipriani pleaded guilty to tax charges last year.

I asked the friendly Mr.  read more »