Ladies and Gentlemen,
Now I am asking for a big applaud, because finally -
after 3 years of living close to Milan and more than one year since I have
officially started this blog – I came to Milan and today I went to Principe Bar
in Hotel Savoia. But before I start with the review itself, let me tell You the
whole story, because nothing is as easy, as it seems to be…
Two weeks ago I was on the flight from Dublin to
Bergamo and I've met one student
of Fashion Management in Milan and since I have never been in Milano, meeting
students was a great opportunity to find out which places are recommendable. We
exchanged the contacts and then I chose The Principe bar. I went to the
websites of the hotel and then to the sites of the bar itself. After clicking
on button ´´book the table´´ I was staring on a blank page with a very famous
number 404 and statement ´´page not found.´´ However I didn't give up and I called
the reception and since then everything was smooth…
Principe Bar Hotel Savoia
-
When You are about to
enter a 5* hotel, You could be nervous. Sometimes
the personell may be ´´too professional´´ and those cold faces with no
expressions, together with the fact that You know that they are judging You,
may be nothing nice…. When You are about to enter Hotel Savoia, do not be
nervous. You don't have to be nervous, because the people that You will meet,
are fantastic. I didn't know if I can use the same entrance to the hotel or if
there is a special entrance to the bar only, so I have asked the first person I've
seen and he showed me the way in. He could say : ,,Go in and then right´´ or
something like that. Instead of that, he said : ,,Good evening sir, please go
in right this way, and then on the reception go to the right and on your left,
You will find the entrance to the Principe Bar.´´ This polite, kind and calm,
still professional way told me a lot about the place behind him and in front of
me. Maybe small thing, but do not underestimate the power of a detail. Or at
least be able to appreciate it.
I followed his instructions, but I had to stop at
the reception, because when I was calling to the hotel to book a table, I was
talking to the receptionist. He actually left his position behind
the desk and he took me inside the bar itself. As soon as I have seen
the bar desk and bar display and the yellow/red stripes on that bar and the big
mirror behind, I stopped right in the entrance. ..
5 years ago, we had a small school project. For
an imaginary tourist agency, I had to prepare a trip to certain destination
with certain program for certain amount of days and people. For every month we
had a different cities all around the europe and as my signature in every
single ´´homework´´ I was searching for some great bars, where to go... And one
of those months, I had to prepare a trip to Milan…..
And now, after 5 years and all the decisions I made,
here I am. Standing in the entrance, smiling like i won in
a lottery and staring at the beautiful and well designed Principe bar which
looked exactly as I remember it on one of the pictures I used at school…. with
genious atmosphere, great lightning and just incredible audio system.
The receptionist was patient and he was waiting until
I got back to myself and then he took me to the Head Bartender. Then he
introduced me to him,he whished me to enjoy my visit and then he left. The Head
Bartender shook my hand, said ,,welcome to Principe Bar´´ and introduced me my
table. However the reservation was made for two people and was there alone. He
asked me if I want the menu now, or if I will wait. I said that I can wait,
while I will have a look in the menu. He offered me a water and a newspapers. I
ordered the water and I've got automatically two glasses, which is another
great detail. Especially, because I ordered it from him, but another person
brought it to my table. That is a proof of well organized place and teamwork.
After my companion arrived, I had a quick look
into the menu again. As a first drink my choice was clear. I took Pimm's Royal
Cup.
Pimm's Royal Cup
Long time ago I have seen one Pimm´s Cup in one book,
which I consider as ´´Bartending bible´´ and I always wanted to try this
drink. In an orginal version of this drink, there is nothing with Champagne,
however I would consider it as a twist, especilly because it even respects the
rules of twisting the cocktail. (Royal in the name of a cocktail usually
indicates the use of Champagne or sekt) And as a twist, it works perfectly. It is a great drink to start – Made of
classic recipe and finished with Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne, it is a great
pre-dinner cocktail. This High-ball drink is well known for its garnish : in my
case it has been cucumber, orange, strawberry, lemon and mint leaves. Cucumber
works very well with bittery taste of this drink, but it does not interfere
with the actual taste of this drink in the glass, strawberry matches champagne
and mint leaves are adding some freshness while orange and lemon slowly infuses
all above with its taste. Served in a proper high-ball glass with a ´´finger
food´´ … As a first drink, my choice could hardly be any better. Recomended 6*/5
Bramble
Using blackberry
liqueur in a cocktail is a very delicate thing. Especially, if the drink is
based on gin. I have been experimenting with these combinantion on my own for a
while and the best combination, apparently, has a name already. My second drink
was called Bramble and it fulfills exactly what the menu says : Well
balanced, short gin cocktail with a blackberry liqueur floating inside your
glass. Well balanced short
cocktail based on gin…. Let me translate this to You : Not so sweet, not quite
sour or bitter. The recipe works perfectly as it is. Me personally, I would add
a little bit stronger gin, because the combination of the rest of the cocktail
covers the base maybe too much and I'd like to feel the character of the gin
more ... However, if You like gin cocktails, do not hesistate to take this one.
You will not regret your choice.
When I came back home, I have realized that the
´´signature cocktail´´ of that bar is a twisted Moscow Mule. I promise,
that as soon as I can, I will bring You the experience of trying this drink in
this bar. And on that one I will be strict. Hopefully it will be soon….
Experience of this bar brought to my head one
important question though:
If you have a very good 5* hotel, then obviously your
service is going to be perfect at all stages of the hotel, wether it is an
excellent restaurant, perfect room service or great wellness program or
whatever. However, do You really pay the value of the cocktail at its hotel bar, or
is it a price that You pay for another 5*
service at another stage?
16.10.2014
So I have been in Principe bar again. This time I had
no distractions, so I could clearly focus on my mission – taking the Moscow Mule….
Our Definitive Moscow
Mule
Last time I was sitting on a table close to the bar.
This time for my short visit was perfect to stay on a bar. Just after entrance
the same bartender recognized me from a far, greeted me with a big smile and
shook my hand, after I came closer. Then he invited me to the bar, let me to
choose my seat and gave me the full service as i described above. I had a quick look to the menu and
then I asked for the Moscow Mule. Bartender asked me,
if i want the original Moscow Mule, which is Ginger Beer, lime juice and a shot
of vodka or if I would like to try a twisted version of this drink, which is
the one, I could find in the menu and it is based on 100% Agave Tequila,
enriched by few drops of celery bitters and Angostura bitters. This is not the description. This is what I have been told by the
bartender. He notified me, that it is a twist and offered the original version
anyway. That's how Ii imagine the best service…
Changing the base of a cocktail is the most radical
way, how to make a twist. Technically, You are going to change the taste
of the cocktail entirely and this recipe contains two additional bitters, too. But on my last visit I didn't get
dissapointed + we live in a 21st century and twisting is popular, so staying on
a boring classic recipe, while there is a fresh and exciting new way (and maybe
improvement) would be … boring.
Ladies and gentleman, this is the most awsome and most
welcome and most epic twist of the year. Vodka does not give ANY character to
this drink. Tequila does. Especially,
if You shake tequilla with lime juice and those two bitters and then You pour a
ginger beer over it. Two slices of cucumber as a garnish and there it is. OUR
DEFINITIVE MOSCOW MULE. This drink has everything. It has a great look in the
glass, it has a great aroma, it has a great refreshing, spiced taste. It has …
a character. Way, way better than original recipe, a very risky twist
has paid off. After a first sip I have realized that this is a drink I will
remember….
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