'Stamboul Letter: Ben Widdicombe Finds It Hard to Really Leave

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is here to launch a Spice Market—direct from the Meatpacking District—at the new Istanbul W Hotel, which opens Wednesday. Mandy Moore is also here at the hotel for the opening, as is W president Ross Klein. Of course Istanbul is famous for its own Spice Bazaar, although at a pre-opening Tuesday J-G told me the inspiration was his time in south-east Asia. The main difference is that everyone smokes in restaurants here, including at the W Spice Market. The other difference is that with the weak dollar, the Istanbul Spice Market will be a lot more expensive. So waiting outside W. 13th St and breathing in cab fumes looks like it could be a good deal after all ...