PX This.
(diary of the potted plant), by Abbe Diaz, is the
witty, irreverent (star-studded) four-year journal of a struggling commercial-artist/fashion-designer
moonlighting as a Maître d' at some of Manhattan's most well known restaurants.
It is a lighthearted, humorous, and uniquely insightful romp through the nightly
playgrounds of some of New York's (and Hollywood's) most glamorous and elite,
as viewed from the front podium.
Written and delivered in its raw original diary-format, PX This speaks
bluntly and flippantly of illustrious restaurateurs and hundreds of their famous (and not-so-famous)
patrons; anyone who has ever walked through the door of one of Manhattan's "hotspots"
may very well find him/herself described within its pages.
"Restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten is so annoyed by the success of his former Maitre D' Abbe Diaz's new tell-all book, he is forcing his employees to sign confidentiality agreements. They were also banned from discussing the [book] at work." - The New York Post
"Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been exposed as a poor customer in a new book by former maitre d' to the stars Abbe Diaz. Diaz, who hosted dozens of top New York restaurants, says in her memoirs PX This the Oscar-winning actress wasn't the most pleasant of customers...
The book, named after the restaurant code for VIP, does praise Paltrow for her choice of men and says that former boyfriend Ben Affleck was an absolute delight to serve..."
-
The NY Daily News
"I just finished reading PX This a week or so ago, and I have to say, it's one of the most enjoyable books I've read over the last year. The book, written in a diary format, chronicles the true life and times of Abbe Diaz, a struggling fashion designer who moonlights as a sometime hostess, sometime maitre d' at some of New York's hippest restaurants. Though it's certainly fun to hear about her encounters with the rich, famous, and oh-so-hip clientele at these restaurants, those anecdotes are just a bonus. What I found so compelling about the book was Abbe's account of her dedication to her clothing line (How many clothing designers do you know who would dutifully set up camp on the streets of Soho, especially when it involves wheeling a cumbersome clothing rack over half of Manhattan, sitting in the hot sun, and then heading into the restaurant for work that same night?), her struggles in the restaurant industry (I've served my time in the restaurant industry myself, so I could really relate to her, although I count myself extraordinarily lucky that I've never had to deal with quite such a nightmare of a boss as the aptly named 'Loser'.), and her relationship with two important men in her life.
The author names a lot of names (Although she does use pseudonyms for a few people, they are not that difficult to figure out if you think about it and do your research), and there are quite a few people who aren't portrayed in a particularly flattering light. For this she earns a lot of respect from me -- how many people have the guts to tell the truth about relatively "big name" people (in Manhattan, anyway) in print, knowing that these same people will most likely be reading the book? Further, the author still sees a lot of these people. This isn't a book written by some outside observer whose assessment of people is based on second-hand information. This is a book written by someone who worked under and around these people, and that is part of the reason why this book is so enjoyable. I don't live in Manhattan, but I visit fairly regularly, so it's fun to hear about these people in a new (and more honest) light. Even if you've never been to Manhattan, however, I can't imagine it would hinder your enjoyment of the book.
I came away from the book with a lot of respect and admiration for the author -- she has attitude, a healthy dose of self-respect, intelligence, a fierce ambition, and she's immensely likable. I love that she's not afraid to stand up for herself and demand respect. Too many women in her position could have turned out differently (and often, they do). In my book, she's one cool chick. It's nice to hear of someone working so hard at their dream and having some success with it, despite the bumps and detours along the way.
I highly recommend this book, no matter where you live or what you do. It's got it all -- gossip, a commentary on the NYC restaurant scene, a heart-wrending account of the aftermath of 9/11, an honest account of what it means to be a struggling artist in Manhattan, a non-sensationalized love triangle... It's just an excellent read, and I'm glad I picked it up. The only thing I can think of that might bother some people is the writing style. I will say that it took some getting used to, but before I knew it, I was reading right along with no problem.
Some good news: If you read the book and love it, there is a sequel of sorts at the authors website, pxthis.com.
I plan on picking up a copy of this for one of my best friends...I have no doubt she will enjoy it as much as I did." Amazon Reviewer: D.Ryan [ see all reviews ]
Abbe Diaz is a freelance commercial-artist and designer/dressmaker. She has
worked in the restaurant/bar industry for nearly twenty years, with numerous
stints throughout the New York dining/party scene that include: Limelight,
Palladium, Tunnel, Club USA, Coffee Shop, Spy, Cafe Tabac, The Strand (Miami Beach), Mercer Kitchen,
Ilo, Lotus, and Theo. She served as the opening maître d' for The Park, Smith, and
66.
She is proud to have had the opportunity to work under such nightlife arbiters
as: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Brian McNally, Jonathan Morr, Peter Gatien, Eric
Goode, and Sean Macpherson.
Diaz gained a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers College, Rutgers University - New Brunswick (Class of '90). She was further educated as a non-matriculate Design student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in NYC, where she currently resides.
The current continuing "sequel" to PX This can be found on
Abbe Diaz's weblog at www.pxthis.com.
A photograph of Abbe Diaz may be found here, where she was recently nominated for the title of "Most Stylish Blogger."
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Abbe_Diaz/537424510
MySpace page: http://myspace.com/px_this_abbe_diaz