Launches & Releases: PX This "Members Only" Forum

Abbe Diaz, self-proclaimed "former maitre d' to the stars," girlfriend of Gusto and Mangia owner Sasha Muniak, current Waverly Inn staffer, and the proprietor of resto insider website PX This, launched a "members only" forum today on her website today. Here, apparently, she and her circle of industry friends will dish on the people and places of NY nightlife. We're no closer to understanding this than you are. Let's go straight to the press release for this puppy:

"Former maitre d' to the stars" and (restaurant industry "bible") PX This author, Abbe Diaz, has launched a virtual Members Only "club" via her website, pxthis.com .Modeled after "everything faboolous [sic] in nightlife," membership to the online "club" cum "forum" requires having served a reasonable stint in any capacity in the nightlife/hospitality industry, or to be referred by an existing member.

The day-one to-do is about Morandi—Abbe, again, dating Jody's former boss, seems to be accusing Jody of planting that grasshopper in the Mangia wrap, in addition to leading the charge of posters proclaiming Morandi to be a terrible. Do click through. You'll only understand every fifth word, but its the closest you'll ever get to the Waverly Inn locker room.
· PX This Members Only Forum [PX This]
· Morandi [PX This]

"Members Only" Virtual "club" -- Launched

"Former maitre d' to the stars" and (restaurant industry "bible") PX This author, Abbe Diaz, has launched a virtual Members Only "club" via her website, pxthis.com . Modeled after "everything faboolous [sic] in nightlife," membership to the online "club" cum "forum" requires having served a reasonable stint in any capacity in the nightlife/hospitality industry, or to be referred by an existing member.

The inspiration for said forum has been Diaz's recent experience as a consultant for several restaurant/lounge ventures under consideration in New York and Miami Beach.
"The hardest aspect after securing a viable location and liquor license has been staffing," explains Diaz. Most of the 'best' of the industry is already employed, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're happy in their current situation. I think it's incredible how many good, hardworking, and dedicated people would love to negotiate a new position, where they're stimulatively challenged and their skills and experience are sufficiently appreciated, if they only had the necessary connections, means, and information. 'Headhunters' in this industry are a big joke; they know nothing. But a lot of potentially great multi-million dollar projects are depending on them, and finding their prospects woefully inadequate. A knowledgeable and conscientious staff is the most durable foundation and solid backbone on which any establishment can rely. It's far more important than massive square footage and fancy architecture."
She adds, "We have to call it a 'club' because we anticipate a lot of after-work commiserating. And drinking. It's BYO."

Abbe Diaz knows of what she speaks. She has manned the podiums for such illustrious restaurateurs as Jean Georges Vongerichten, Brian McNally, Jonathan Morr, and current Graydon Carter partners, Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson. She appears as a "BFF" in Marisa Acocella-Marchetto's (wife of Da Silvano owner Silvano Marchetto) Cancer Vixen, has been "internet-rumored" to be romantically linked with Giuseppe Cipriani (due to a recent week-long visit to his private estate in Punta del Este, Uruguay, which she asserts was "purely business." Diaz laughs, "He wishes."), was engaged briefly to (celebrity shopping haven) Bagutta/BaguttaLife proprietor and Phat Farm co-founder (along with Russell Simmons), Marc Bagutta, and is currently dating Gusto and Centro Vinoteca proprietor and "Mangia mogul," Sasha Muniak.