Buttero Events Cocktail Party, CLAP London
London Fashion Week is always a calendar event that throws up no shortage of revelry. From the flash-bulb glamour of the various major happenings to the faux-grunge of assorted underground gatherings, there’s always something to uncover for those in search of the right here, right now in the capital.
Fungus among us… There’s a truffle in my drink
It was a balmy September evening that saw me wandering through the curlicued elegance of Knightsbridge, heading to the iconic CLAP London (surely the city’s silliest-named sushi restaurant and events space) on the beautiful Basil Street, backlit by the thousands of bulbs that cover Harrods like a year-round Christmas confection. I was invited to an official Fashion Week Italian Cocktail Party, hosted by Buttero Events for what I was reliably told was an evening in celebration of ‘Italianita’ - a decidedly Milanese-flavoured approach to savoir faire and continental glamour.
From the top floor of CLAP, the basslines thumped and the sparkling wine was in full flow. Various familiar faces flocked around the central bar - there was Simon Webbe from boyband Blue, DJ Tom Zanetti and TV’s Lucinda Light, amongst plenty of bright lights from the world of fashion, music and the international press. The mood was convivial, the conversation flowed, and all were united by an appreciation for life’s finer things. All was well in the world.
The evening was hosted by and in celebration of Martina Bonci - Italy’s multi-award-winning mixologist and bar manager of Gucci Giardino, Florence’s most famous and beloved cocktail destination. Martina had curated a bespoke cocktail list exclusively for this soiree, and her efforts were a bold and flavourful tribute to the cutting edge of contemporary mixology as well as a tribute to the finest in Italian ingredients and flavours.
Because one of the partners for the party was Trubel - a truffle merchant that supplies many of Europe’s finest restaurants and connoisseurs - this meant that truffle extract and shaved truffle featured in almost every cocktail on the curated menu. Now, I’m not used to having fungus in my drink, but I must admit I’m a sucker for the heady, musky punch of a good truffle, and the addition of this prized mushroom added an earthy, savoury and sultry depth the drinks that - while not something I’d necessarily reach for of my own volition - was certainly an experience.
Martina Bonci, Italy’s greatest mixologist
Other partners included Vetrere - a fine wine producer from Salento, specialising in organic and sustainable wines that speak of remarkable terroir - and Amaro Santoni, a liqueur crafted from 34 herbs in a secret recipe that reaches back over 60 years. Needless to say, the quality of produce on offer was utterly sensational, and the attention to detail given to each and every glass spoke to a thoroughly Italian understanding of the importance of provenance.
As the drinks flowed and the music grew louder and deeper, the night began to unveil its myriad possibilities. An Indian wedding was in full swing in the adjacent room, and I must admit at one point in the night Lucinda Light and I snuck across the velvet rope to throw some shapes on the dancefloor, then engage in deep conversation about the thoroughly human experience and importance of dancing whenever possible (those of you familiar with Lucinda will know full well just how on-brand this is).
Before long, the garden of Italian delights cultivated on the top floor of a Knightsbridge restaurant began to wind down, and a hundred or so impeccably-dressed revellers poured into taxis or wandered on to the next Fashion Week hotspot. I sauntered my way to St James’ Park, my feet aching happily and my taste buds tingling. What more could a man wish for?
