The Dope
The Meanest of Them All
Figuring that vindictive magazine editors and head chefs must rank among New York's absolute worst bosses, we polled a few experts to find out who were the most villainous of all, the ones Cruella de Vil would call out as monsters.
Head Chef-David Bouley, owner of Bouley and Danube, got several votes. One foodie, in particular, mentioned that Bouley brings his staff over from France and then threatens them with loss of their visas should they not perform as desired. Our source reports that, when aggrieved, Bouley has informed aides, with a straight face, "Well, that was your ticket back to France."
A former New York Times food critic, however, suggested Thomas Keller of Per Se. The critic mentioned that Keller supposedly once put a hot-plate on a waiter's lap as a way of getting his attention.
In the nice-guy sweepstakes, by the way, we repeatedly heard the name of Gray Kunz, the former head chef at the now-shuttered Lespinasse.
Magazine Editor-Perhaps surprisingly, neither Martha Stewart nor Vogue editor Anna Wintour got votes. Reaction was instead unanimous for Star editor Bonnie Fuller. In fact, when Dope Peddler noted that Fuller was currently working out of the Star's offices in Florida, our sources all became still more adamant. Even in Florida, she was the crummiest editor in New York!
One former Condé Nast writer noted, "Yes, The Devil Wears Prada was Anna and sure she can be mean, but what she puts out isn't shit. Fuller is even worse in the way she treats people, and she's a total idiot."
One past Glamour scribe, who worked at the magazine during Fuller's tenure, adds, "She keeps everybody waiting, has people working until four in the morning, changes things five times just 'cause she's indecisive and the magazine is still recovering from all the dumbing-down she did. [Current editor-in-chief] Cindi Leive is great, but they still aren't where they were editorially or with advertisers and readers."
They Said It?
Arts editor Jon Leaf and Dope Peddler caught up with a raft of celebs at last week's UNICEF bash at the Waldorf. Comedian Chris Rock told us that the director he most wants to work with is Woody Allen. And Designer Vera Wang said that the rival couturier whom she most respects is Muccia Prada