Who else wants to dine with some of the world’s most eminent chefs?

Someone left the kitchen door open and the chefs have escaped. But all is not lost; you won’t go hungry as the critics are stepping in.

Yes, that’s right. For one night only you will be served a sumptuous banquet cooked for you by a brave band of ten food critics, including Charles Campion, Jay Rayner, Matthew Fort and Tom Parker-Bowles.
But what had happened to the chefs?

They will be sat out in the restaurant with other guests enjoying the sumptuous feast prepared by the critics. As well as the feast, entertainment is key to this whole event with the kitchen being in full sight of the diners exposing every foible of the critics.

Just to increase the pressure, the master of ceremonies BBC’s Nigel Barden, will be on hand to disrupt the cooks on duty for a chat and will invite the dining chefs to pass judgement on their cooking abilities and techniques.

This is a unique opportunity to dine with some of the world’s most eminent chefs such as Raymond Blanc, Ed Bains, Fergus Henderson and Atul Kochhar. If you are a member of The SaVVy Cub® you will be guaranteed to dine with one of the chefs, plus you will be presented with an exclusive souvenir plate signed by the chefs and critics.

The event takes place at the opulent Royal Exchange Grand Café and Bar on 19th October 2008. Your evening kicks off with a Champagne Taittinger canapés reception to get the taste buds going.

This is the perfect evening to see if the old adage ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ also applies to too many critics!

Sally Ormond
The SaVVy Cub®
An exclusive social events club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places and enjoying the best and exclusive events.

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12 Top Tips for your Christmas Party

You may not want to think about it just yet. You are probably in denial that it is only three months away. But one thing is certain – Christmas is lurking just around the corner.

The festive season brings with it a myriad of parties which is great when a pile of invitations appear on your doorstep, but a nightmare when you are the one that has to organise them. Therefore, in association with Penniblack catering, we have come up with 12 top tips to help take the stress out of organising your Christmas party.

1. Start to plan your event in September or October to avoid disappointment. Book your chosen caterer and venue in advance as Christmas is a very busy time for everyone and before you know it your event is right round the corner.

2. If you are making a lovely winter hot pot for your party, ensure to cook it the previous day, as that way all the flavours marinate together, the meat tenderises, and the overall taste is much more powerful.

3. Think about the Christmas colour scheme – reds, greens, golds, silvers, oranges. Complimentary flowers like holly, sprayed ivy, berries. Book your flowers well in advance as the florists often run out of stock on the day. If you are making the food yourself, get some extra sprigs of holly, and Christmassy flowers to garnish your canapé platters.

4. Lighting is very important. I like to use little tea lights around the tables, complimented with red, orange and yellow rose petals. You could also use Church candles of different heights, tied together with Christmassy ribbon and sprigs of holly, as a very effective centre piece or even on a mantle piece. Scented candles are wonderful for achieving a warm welcoming feeling on arrival.

5. For a seated dinner, again it looks lovely if you tie red and green ribbon, along with a sprig of holly, around your napkins.

6. It is nice to offer a welcome drink for your event. A winter punch on arrival is very popular. I suggest Pimms, with warm apple juice, cinnamon and cloves, or alternatively a cool fresh Kir Royale. I like to garnish my virgin cocktails with brightly coloured edible flowers.

7. Always get your alcohol on a sale or return basis, that way you can over order, and be confident you won’t run out of anything. Remember you cannot return open or damaged bottles.

8. Allow for around 3 – 4 glasses per head, when planning your glass hire. Your guests will undoubtedly put their glasses down, forget about them, then grab another full drink

9. If you want to offer your guests a substantial meal but don’t have the capacity to seat them all, or it isn’t in the budget with all the necessary equipment hire costs, then bowl food is a very popular choice. Small rice bowls filled with mini meals, like ‘roast turkey, tiny roast potatoes, sage and onion dumplings and Madeira jus, or little brie cakes with salad and cranberry sauce to name a few. Allow 3 per head, and accompany with 5-6 canapés for the best effect. If you feel the dessert bowls are too filling you could opt for some sweet Christmas canapés like Hot Christmas pudding, with brandy sauce, served on a spoon, or shot glasses filled with hot chocolate fondant and Chantilly cream.

10. I love to wow my guests with a finishing touch of a sprinkle of edible gold on top of my dessert canapés.

11. My perfect venue for Christmas would be an old listed building with open fireplaces, situated somewhere very central to all my guests.

12. Trying to come up with a unique Christmas present for a loved one? A selection of 100 canapés delivered to your home?

Guest blogger: Charlotte Pennicard http://www.penniblack.co.uk

No matter how unusual or special your reason for a party or event, The SaVVy Club® offer a bespoke service that caters to your every need. We can arrange flowers, transport, catering, stationery and music. Simply get in touch to discuss your important occasion and we’ll get to work designing your bespoke event right down to the last detail.

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The SaVVy Club announces its September Monthly Cocktail Party

The SaVVy Club® (www.savvyclub.co.uk) – an exclusive social event club invites you to join them at Bureau on Friday 19 September for their monthly Cocktail Party Night.

As well as providing members with a bespoke calendar of exceptional events we would now like to extend an invitation to you to join us for our new glamorous cocktail evenings at Bureau. It is the perfect place to try our own exclusively created cocktail – savvystication (complimentary first drink). This top secret recipe was created exclusively for us in 2007 by Tony Conigliaro, the UK’s no. 1 top mixologist.

Whether you want to learn more about The SaVVy Club® or catch up with old friends and members, our monthly cocktail party is the place to be. If you are not yet a member but would like to come along, apply for your Guest Pass today – don’t forget the full cost of the pass is refundable when you upgrade to full membership.

Based in London, The SaVVy Club® is an exclusive social events club always delivering events that are intimate, stylish and memorable, allowing you to quickly meet a whole variety of people whilst exploring London’s finest places.

See you there!

Kim Rix

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King Tutankhamun and I

I had been looking forward to the King Tutankhamun exhibition immensely. Ancient Egypt has held a fascination for me since my school days, therefore I was thrilled to have the opportunity to actually see for myself some of the treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The rather dull and overcast day couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm as I met my fellow intrepid travellers at Waterloo Pier. The journey via the Thames Clipper lasted about 40 minutes and it was wonderful to see an illuminated London through the windows. Eventually The O2 became visible through the darkness, but before we entered the exhibition we stopped for a drink at Inc. Brasserie. I couldn’t help but wonder at the suitability of the venue for such an historic exhibition. The bright, stark interior of The O2 seemed far too modern to house 3000-year-old antiquities.

As I entered the exhibition, I donned my headphones and allowed Omar Sharif to explain the context of the exhibits. This audio tour was invaluable as it provided the historical background of not only the Royal family but also of daily life in Ancient Egypt. This included a rather compelling yet grisly description of the mummification process. The exhibits were displayed in rather plain rooms and, despite the piped Egyptian music and atmospheric lighting, I felt that something was missing. The exhibition was in two halves: the first was very much concerned with Tutankhamun’s unpopular father Akhenaten, his beautiful wife, Nefertiti, and the scandal surrounding their adoption of a new religion. The second half was dedicated to Tutankhamun and Howard Carter, including rare newsreel footage and photographs of the excavation. However the journey between the two was via stark corridors and brightly lit stairwells. I think the sheer modernity of the venue was too much of a contrast for the antiquities, however the treasures on display were breathtaking. The sheer beauty of the mini-sarcophagus designed to hold the young king’s viscera once they had been removed from his body, with its intricate workmanship and near-perfect condition, was awe-inspiring.

After the exhibition I met up with our group at Tapa Tapa, which proved to be another adventure but of the gastronomic kind. I was overwhelmed by the sheer quality and quantity of dishes that were brought before us and the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. For me, the highlights of the meal were a special oak-aged ham from Bilbao, superb large king prawns in a special ‘San Miguel’ batter and a rather delicious chocolate dessert, which were all washed down with fine wines and lively conversation.

As always, all good things had to come to an end, so at 10pm it was time to board the ferry once more and return to Waterloo Pier. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening with The SaVVy Club and was glad that I had been able to see the boy king’s treasures.        

By Sally Ormond
The SaVVy Club

 

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“Gold… everywhere the glint of gold…”

Dear friends of The SaVVy Club^®,

We’ve done it again!! Be amongst the first in London to experience Egypt’s golden age and see the treasures of the world’s most famous pharaoh, Tutankhamun.

In 1972, on a worldwide tour to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of his tomb, the treasures of Tutankhamun came, for the first time, to London and the British Museum, causing unrivalled excitement. During a 6-month stay, over 1.7 million people visited the exhibition, a record number of visitors to the Museum or any exhibition in London to this day. Tutankhamun’s spell was cast over the entire population of Britain.

Now, 35 years later, he’s back. Artefacts exhumed from the tomb of the Egyptian boy king are to be exhibited at The O2 and The SaVVy Club® Members and Guests will be able to see them in their unrivalled splendour.

For the lucky few, Tuesday 20th November will begin at 4pm:

A small group will board a boat at Waterloo pier and cruise, like Howard Carter up the Nile, to Queen Elizabeth II. There we will disembark to ward off the heat of the day and indulge in drinks at the cool, slick, good-looking, Inc. Brasserie before entering the magnificent audio-guided exhibition.

The memories are still vivid for the people who in 1972 queued around the British Museum to pay their 50p entrance charge, some of them waiting over 8 hours to get inside. Once inside the museum, the specially designed exhibition was crowded and stuffy at times, a constant movement of people making it possible to take only brief glimpses of some objects. The claustrophobia added to the atmospheric display. For once, heads of the king, and postcards of his jewellery, outnumbered Union Jack t-shirts and models of London double-deckers on the stalls outside.

This time, The O2 will stage the exhibition of a lifetime, with space and time to see and enjoy, to marvel and wonder at the craftsmanship, the opulence and the mystery of the time of the Pharaohs.And it doesn’t end there; the evening will be rounded off with a super meal at Tapa Tapa. For those still hesitant about making the commitment to join The SaVVy Club^®, here is an opportunity to enjoy a SaVVy experience at a special guest price.

Full members price is £180 (inc VAT).For this event only, guests are welcome at £195 (inc VAT).

If you are interested, please email kim@savvyclub.co.uk before Friday 16 November.

 

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The Square Mile Tour

The elaborate peal of St Paul’s signalled the start of our historical tour of London’s Square Mile. Of course London itself covers many square miles but we were only interested in the one that houses the City of London which, at one point in time, was surrounded by the old Roman city walls.Ken began our magical mystery tour inside St Paul’s itself (once we had fought our past a very dedicated wedding photographer!).

It was like stepping back in time as we left the bustling city behind us. The soft lighting created an intimate atmosphere as we marvelled at the mosaics and intricate stone carvings as delicate choral music filled the Cathedral. But soon we were outside again to begin our three hour tour. Ken led us all like the Pied Piper as we hung on his every word weaving our way through the streets of London.

Our next stop was the Merryll Lynch building under the careful eye of a very large security guard. As we left the guard behind us Ken led us to a small green area called Postman’s Park (just off King Edward Street). A sheltered area within the park houses a wall dotted with hand-lettered tiles commemorating ordinary people who lost their loves trying to save others; a wonderful little public memorial celebrating the lives of people who would otherwise be forgotten. Our first lesson was on how to spot a Rogers or a Foster building.

By the time we reached The Barbican and the old Roman wall that nestles within its shadow, we had become quite adept at identifying the architects of the buildings that we passed. Then it was time for a refreshment stop and some deliciously chilled champagne enjoyed in the shadow of Shakespeare.

Through more alley ways and back streets, we emerged by the Bank of England where Sir John Soane, forever immortalised in stone, watched us as we continued on our journey towards Leadenhall market, passed the ‘erotic gherkin’, the Lloyds building and then on to Fenchurch street station. Spotted in the surrounding stone and glass was the neo-gothic Minster Court Offices looking more like something from Gotham City – although there was no sign of Batman! As we made our way along side Trinity House, the stunning view of an illuminated Tower of London signalled that our time travelling architectural journey would soon be coming to an end.

As we crossed Tower Bridge our destination, Butler’s Wharf, shone like an oasis with its lure of a well deserved meal. What an experience. This was a truly unforgettable look at some of London’s finest architecture led by a true expert in his field.

Sally Ormond

The SaVVy Club’s members enjoy a unique calendar of bespoke social events organised just for them. They can enjoy the company of fascinating people and relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.

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Groucho Club Opera Treat

The evening began with the private use of the Royal Retiring Room allowing the SaVVy Club members the opportunity for relaxed and social pre-show drinks. Just before the performance began we made our way to our excellent seats which were just six rows from the orchestra pit.

The stage set was simple and yet effective perfectly complimenting the performance of Death in Venice – the compelling tale of Aschenbach, a disillusioned writer who falls dangerously in love with a Polish youth while on holiday in sensuous Venice. The performance was exquisite and incredibly moving. Making his debut in the lead role was Ian Bostridge while Peter Coleman-Wright took the multiple baritone roles. Britten’s seductive score was conducted by Edward Gardener in his debut as ENO’s Music Director.

Sadly, the performance had to come to an end. As the curtain fell we made our way to the Groucho Club for our long awaited supper at 11pm.

We were not disappointed as we were treated to a gourmet two course meal with wine and were joined by the English National Opera’s Artistic Director, John Berry.

A full account of this musical evening can be found in the members’ area of the SaVVy Club’s website

The SaVVy Club’s members enjoy a unique calendar of bespoke social events organised just for them. They can enjoy the company of fascinating people and relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.

 

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Wine Tasting and Private Viewing

Some weeks ago I invited a friend to join me at an arts preview and wine tasting event in South Kensington, London, organised by The SaVVy Club. When it comes to wine and champagne, I pride myself as having a good nose and an exceptional palate for fine wines. 

So, I was somewhat surprised and intrigued to be greeted with a curious selection of “boutique” wines from small vintners in France and Spain. Fred Ku-Mesu imports an excellent selection from small unknown wine growers around Europe.    Our Savvy Wine Club hosts Fred & Stuart Beitler started us off with an excellent quaffing champagne called Jean Pierre Marniquet Champagne, NV.

At a bottle price of £16.99, it was simply delicious: the perfect alternative to Pol Roger at half the price. The Spanish Rioja (Gavion Tinto, 2004) was rich, smooth and memorable.  The Domaine d’en Segur Rose was exquisite, perfect on the palate with a delicious complexity that left one’s taste buds yearning for more. There was a generous selection of excellent wines and, although some didn’t suit my palate, it was a joy to try them all. 

The final touch was a taste of Tokaji Aszueszencia 1972, quite the most delicious and perfect sweet wine that I have ever had the privilege to enjoy.  It was palatably sweet (but not sickly), enticing and satisfying.  Therefore, at £140 a bottle, it would be the ideal finale to a perfect evening.  If that’s too rich for your pocket, then try the 1995 for just £39.99.   Stuart talked us through all the wines, generously imparting his knowledge and answering any questions we cared to ask.

Just as the wine was beginning to take effect, some delicious eats were passed around that were most appreciated. I can thoroughly recommend an excellent evening to enjoy some unusual wines and the exclusive art preview that one would not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy.  

A great evening. 

M Davis   

The SaVVy Club’s members enjoy a unique calendar of bespoke social events organised just for them. They can enjoy the company of fascinating people and relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.

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