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Theres no need to score a reservation at one of Daniel Bouluds popular restaurants for a select group of well-heeled diners: They have brought the Michelin-starred chef to their doorstep.

Boulud whose vast empire spans from his French flagship Daniel to the recently opened Japanese speakeasy Joji will launch his first private eatery, Boulud Priv, on the 27th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Residences at 685 Fifth Ave., Side Dish can reveal exclusively. 

“We’ll provide casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, said Boulud, a recipient of Frances Chevalier de la Lgion d’honneur.

Boulud Privs indoor/outdoor space offers sweeping views of the city’s skyline to the 69 residences in the ultra-luxury 55-story glass tower, where a recently-sold studio fetched a record $3.88 million. 

The perks will now include in-residence dining and an at-home sommelier service of curated vintages to stock the condo owners wine fridge.  

“Our team can create menus from our menus. It’s like Uber Eats, but exclusively for my own offerings. I do my own Uber Eats,” Boulud quipped. 

Private restaurants — often known as ‘the dining room’ — were common among a certain set of old-school Upper East Side co-ops, but they came to be de rigueur for the city’s new crop of luxury buildings, which have become like urban country clubs with no need for its “member” residents to ever leave the premises. 

The trend started with 15 Central Park West and climbed to ever higher heights at buildings like 220 Central Park South and 432 Park Ave., the troubled 1,396-foot-tall skyscraper that once tried to recruit Boulud to helm its private restaurant. 

At the time, I was doing other projects and couldn’t, but I presented the young chef who is still running it,” said Boulud, referring to Michelin-starred Australian Chef Shaun Hergatt. 

The trick to running a private residents restaurant, Boulud said, is that “you have to be able to do dishes that change with the market, but also have simplicity.

That means a perfect spaghetti and tomato sauce and also healthy, fresh and simple options. It’s a service and convenience for residents who don’t always want to go out.” 

The ingredients are the stars, he adds, from a perfect waygu steak to seasonal vegetables and burgers. 

“We try to cook food you will enjoy — a tasty, simple, easy menu — not a multi-course experience like a Cafe Boulud or Le Pavillon,” he added. “We don’t run it like a restaurant but like a private dining room.” 

The addition of Boulud Prive caps a  stellar year for the legendary chef.

He celebrated Restaurant Daniel’s 30th anniversary, opened Blue Box Cafe by Daniel Boulud at Tiffany & Co’s flagship on Fifth Avenue and just last week reopened his iconic Cafe Boulud in a glittering new location at 100 E. 63rd St. 

“It’s a new team, a new location, and a new era. It’s really nice, like a rebirth,” Boulud said.

While Cafe Boulud — named for the chef’s great grandparents’ restaurant on their farm in Lyon, France —  in New York was a staple of the Upper East Side elite’s dining options, it shuttered in 2021 following a change of ownership at the Hotel Surrey. 

The new Cafe Boulud, where Altamarea Group’s Vaucluse once stood, will partner with Barnes International Realty, which will open Maison Barnes at the same address next year. 

The French, ‘salon style’ space will feature a bar, dining area, private dining sections, a speakeasy and a wine cellar, according to BIR’s New York director Georgette Farkas, who worked closely with Boulud for two decades.

“I am delighted to take part in bringing you this ensemble of fine dining and event experiences created by Chef Daniel Boulud and Barnes International, for a luxurious taste of l’art de vivre a la Francaise on the Upper East Side,” Farkas wrote on her LinkedIn account. 

Added Boulud: “We will pair with the best brands and hold events around wine, jewelry, fashion, cars, boats, and more.” 

Boulud and his hospitality company, the Dinex Group, have been on a roll since the pandemic ending, opening hotspots like Le Pavillon, where a swath of 42nd St. was shut down to truck in 10,000 pounds of black olive trees hoisted by crane into a window at One Vanderbilt, the $3.3 billion, 1,400-foot-high office tower.  

He also launched Joji, the killer sushi spot hidden inside Grand Central station, Le Gratin downtown and Centurion NY.

A Mandarin Oriental Residences in Beverly Hills will also house a private Boulud restaurant. The propertys rooftop terrace lounge was recently booked for an event honoring Penelope Cruz, star of the upcoming Michael Mann film, Ferrari.

Cruzs friends Salma Hayek and Kristen Stewart hosted the gathering which included celebrities Geena Davia, Eiza Gonzalez, Patricia Arquette, and Vin Diesel.

We hear … Outdoor igloo dining — which popped up during the pandemic — remains a popular option from the city to the Hamptons. On the East End, Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa is offering chic igloo dining. On New Year’s Eve, the igloos can be rented for $250 for two-hour rentals, plus a minimum of $500 for food and beverages, with sharable plates like artisanal meats and cheeses and wild mushroom arancini — for up to six people per igloo.

Meanwhile in the city, Chelsea’s Somewhere Nowhere offers eight heated teardrop-shaped rooftop igloos for up to five guests overlooking the Empire State Building. They each come with an integrated Alexa music system, so diners can control the playlist if not the weather. Their winter cocktails include a choctail made with Woodinville bourbon, Trader Vic’s chocolate liqueur, Rumple Minze, hot chocolate, butter and marshmallows and small bites curated by executive chef Sandy Hall like wagyu beef sliders and mushroom crostini.

The igloos can be booked from Wednesday through Saturday, beginning at $85 per person. Each igloo reservation for two or more includes a bottle of champagne.

We hear Upper East Side’s Mark Hotel, at the corner of 77th and Madison, has launched The Mark Chalet by Jean-Georges Vongerichten to cure your fix for Alpine fondue. The chalet, with wood paneling, gingham and old school ski vibes, is the perfect spot for people watching over Swiss fondue, Veal Zurichoise with Sptzle, mulled wine and hot toddies. It will remain open until March 1, with Pierre Schultz as executive chef.

For a more low-key holiday affair, Stretch Pizza, at 331 Park Avenue South, offers a $24 everything bagel pizza with cream cheese, aged mozzarella, everything bagel spice and chives — along with an option to zhuzh it up with caviar for $120.24 to celebrate the holidays, washed down with a triple lux for $17 — Luxardo sour cherry gin, Luxardo bitter ross, Luxardo Aperitivo and Mamatti for Stretch’s twist on a Negroni. And yes, you can also get it delivered.

Meanwhile neon pink Instagram lovers can click away at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, located at Moxy Times Square, which has created The Pink Winter Lodge: Neon Frost Edition for the holidays, featuring metallic pink fringe, neon walls, and pink trees, along with its iconic carousel and snaps inside a custom snow globe. Cocktails include the pink “boozy hot chocolate,” Aprs Ski, the All that Glitters cocktail and the Aprs Cookie Skillet — all under a retractable roof and city skyline views. 

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Fourteen children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over Gateshead fire released on bail

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Fourteen children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over Gateshead fire released on bail

All 14 children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a boy died in a fire have been released on police bail, officers said.

Layton Carr, 14, was found dead near the site of a fire at Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead on Friday.

Northumbria Police said on Saturday that they had arrested 11 boys and three girls in connection with the incident.

In an update on Sunday, a Northumbria Police spokesman said: “All those arrested have since been released on police bail pending further inquiries.”

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Teenager dies in industrial estate fire

Firefighters raced to the industrial site shortly after 8pm on Friday, putting out the blaze a short time later.

Police then issued an appeal for Carr, who was believed to be in the area at that time.

In a statement on Saturday, the force said that “sadly, following searches, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building”.

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David Thompson, headteacher of Hebburn Comprehensive School, where Layton was a pupil, said the school community was “heartbroken”.

Mr Thompson described him as a “valued and much-loved member of Year 9” and said he would be “greatly missed by everyone”.

He added that the school’s “sincere condolences” were with Layton’s family and that the community would “rally together to support one another through this tragedy”.

A fundraising page on GoFundMe has been set up to help Layton’s mother pay for funeral costs.

Pic: Gofundme
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Pic: Gofundme

Organiser Stephanie Simpson said: “The last thing Georgia needs to stress trying to pay for a funeral for her Boy Any donations will help thank you.”

One tribute in a Facebook post read: “Can’t believe I’m writing this my nephew RIP Layton 💔 forever 14 you’ll be a massive miss, thinking of my sister and 2 beautiful nieces right now.”

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, also said: “This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life.”

She added that the force’s “thoughts are with Layton’s family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one”.

They are working to establish “the full circumstances surrounding the incident” and officers will be in the area to “offer reassurance to the public”, she added.

A cordon remains in place at the site while police carry out enquiries.

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Football bodies could be forced to pay towards brain injury care costs of ex-players

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Football bodies could be forced to pay towards brain injury care costs of ex-players

Football bodies could be forced to pay towards the care costs of ex-players who have been diagnosed with brain conditions, under proposals set to be considered by MPs.

Campaigners are drafting amendments to the Football Governance Bill, which would treat conditions caused by heading balls as an “industrial injuries issue”.

The proposals seek to require the football industry to provide the necessary financial support.

Campaigners say existing support is not fit for purpose, including the Brain Health Fund which was set up with an initial £1m by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), supported by the Premier League.

But the Premier League said the fund has supported 121 families with at-home adaptations and care home fees.

From England‘s 1966 World Cup-winning team, both Jack and Bobby Charlton died with dementia, as did Martin Peters, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles.

Neil Ruddock speaks to Sky's Rob Harris outside parliament
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Neil Ruddock speaks to Sky’s Rob Harris outside parliament

Ex-players, including former Liverpool defender Neil Ruddock, went to parliament last week to lobby MPs.

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Ruddock told Sky News he had joined campaigners “for the families who’ve gone through hell”.

“A professional footballer, greatest job in the world, but no one knew the dangers, and that’s scary,” he said.

“Every time someone heads a ball it’s got to be dangerous to you. You know, I used to head 100 balls a day in training. I didn’t realise that might affect my future.”

A study co-funded by the PFA and the Football Association (FA) in 2019 found footballers were three and a half times more likely to die of a neurodegenerative disease than members of the public of the same age.

‘In denial’

Among those calling on football authorities to contribute towards the care costs of ex-players who have gone on to develop conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia is Labour MP Chris Evans.

Mr Evans, who represents Caerphilly in South Wales, hopes to amend the Bill to establish a care and financial support scheme for ex-footballers and told a recent event in parliament that affected ex-players “deserve to be compensated”.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who helped to draft the amendment, said the game was “in denial about the whole thing”.

Mr Burnham called for it to be seen as “an industrial injuries issue in the same way with mining”.

In January, David Beckham lent his support to calls for greater support for footballers affected by dementia.

One of the amendments says that “the industry rather than the public should bear the financial burden”.

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A spokesperson for the FA said it was taking a “leading role in reviewing and improving the safety of our game” and that it had “already taken many proactive steps to review and address potential risk factors”.

An English Football League spokesperson said it was “working closely with other football bodies” to ensure both professional and grassroots football are “as safe as it can be”.

The PFA and Premier League declined to comment.

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Terror arrests came in context of raised warnings about Iran, with ongoing chaos in its own backyard

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Terror arrests came in context of raised warnings about Iran, with ongoing chaos in its own backyard

These are two separate and unrelated investigations by counter-terror officers.

But the common thread is nationality – seven out of the eight people arrested are Iranian.

And that comes in the context of increased warnings from government and the security services about Iranian activity on British soil.

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Counter terror officers raid property

Last year, the director general of MI5, Ken McCallum, said his organisation and police had responded to 20 Iran-backed plots presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents since January 2022.

He linked that increase to the ongoing situation in Iran’s own backyard.

“As events unfold in the Middle East, we will give our fullest attention to the risk of an increase in – or a broadening of – Iranian state aggression in the UK,” he said.

The implication is that even as Iran grapples with a rapidly changing situation in its own region, having seen its proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, decimated and itself coming under Israeli attack, it may seek avenues further abroad.

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The government reiterated this warning only a few weeks ago, with security minister Dan Jarvis addressing parliament.

“The threat from Iran sits in a wider context of the growing, diversifying and evolving threat that the UK faces from malign activity by a number of states,” Jarvis said.

“The threat from states has become increasingly interconnected in nature, blurring the lines between: domestic and international; online and offline; and states and their proxies.

“Turning specifically to Iran, the regime has become increasingly emboldened, asserting itself more aggressively to advance their objectives and undermine ours.”

Read more:
Anybody working for Iran in UK must register or face jail, government announces

As part of that address, Jarvis highlighted the National Security Act 2023, which “criminalises assisting a foreign intelligence service”, among other things.

So it was notable that this was the act used in one of this weekend’s investigations.

The suspects were detained under section 27 of the same act, which allows police to arrest those suspected of being “involved in foreign power threat activity”.

Those powers are apparently being put to use.

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