Enjoy an aperativo with Demi Perera as she checks out the new cocktails at Quaglino’s.
This is London. There’s always something exciting happening. Mostly because we’re an excitable bunch. We adore anything that delivers us from our routines and if it involves a spot of food and a tipple well, we’ll just be beside ourselves. So, here’s the thing – Quaglino’s, our favourite Mayfair wonder, is tempting us with the best tantalising Thursday offering I’ve heard of in a long while.
Head mixologist Davide Arcucci shares a slice of La Dolce Vita with his new Q-Aperitivo menu served every Thursday between 4 – 7pm. It’s a curation of five cocktails accompanied by seven dishes inspired by cities of Italy. I can tell you it’s just perfect for a little tête-à-tête after work, spending a couple of hours with your girl friends or just no reason at all. The atmosphere is simply electrifying. I stepped out of real life and in to the world of Quaglino’s where the music is live, lights are dimmed, nibbles are exquisite and the cocktails sublime.
The cocktail menu uses classic Italian ingredients such as limoncello, Campari, strega and maraschino liqueur and Vermouth. My favourite was La Scala made of Campari, Martini Rubino, Cynar and Amer Picon. La Gondola comprised of maraschino liqueur, lime, kiwi and Prosecco was a close second. Both were light and delivered the citrus flavour that I adore in cocktails. Their stylish presentation perfectly complimented the old Hollywood art deco ambience that Quaglino’s is famed for.
Accompanying dishes of calamari, Burrata Surf & Turf and Arancini di Riso were divine. However, the carpaccio of smoked beef, rocket pesto, 36 month aged parmesan and truffle has my heart. The smoked beef bound with the aged parmesan flawlessly and a whole day later I’m still longing for it.
Similarly, a black Ligurian olive tapenade served with crispy carasau bread had me dreaming of long Italian summer days spent idling away on the cobbled streets of Sardinia. It was simply magnificent. Someone take me back to Italy.
Q-Aperitivo is a triumph of a menu. It’s simple, well executed and served with the same passion with which it was conceived. As a food enthusiast and sometimes writer, I maintain that there are two secret ingredients which make food and drink special – knowledge of food and the love of food. You will find both here. Go and find it.
All cocktails on the Q-Aperitivo menu cost £12.50 and accompanying dishes range from £6 – £9. Quaglino’s is at 16 Bury Street, SW1Y 6AJ. For more information visit quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk.
