The Iconic cigar-dinner 3.0, The Italian Job

The big moment for the 3rd Iconic Cigar Dinner arrives on Thursday, 6 February 2025, at Alexander`s cigar lounge in the Grande Bretagne Hotel. Our theme is "The Italian Job," and we are orchestrating an unforgettable experience of a lifetime!

The most exclusive dinner we organise as part of FNL events is returning for another year. This year, the theme, as the title suggests, is Italy, and from our table will march the greatest Italian wines. The culinary concept will be similar, with an impressive menu inspired by Italian cuisine but mainly follows the logic of sophisticated luxury comfort food of a very high gastronomic level that characterised the two previous Iconic dinners.


This year, however, we have a significant -gastronomic- surprise: We will be joined by the chef and owner of one of the most important and historic three-star Italian restaurants, Da Vittorio, in Bergamo, Chicco Cerea, to prepare live the restaurant`s most famous signature dish, the famous Paccheri!

But as with all Iconic diners, beyond the luxury, the fantastic atmosphere, the top-notch food, and the uniqueness of the wines set the tone, and of course, "The Italian Job" would be no exception. So we`ll start with one of the best Franciacorta, Ca del` Bosco`s famous 2015 Cuvee Annamaria Clementi, which will be our welcome. Then, we move on to arguably the top Italian white wine, which is none other than the stunning Chardonnay from Gaja, one of the two producers who established the current status of Italian wine. I`m referring, of course, to Gaja & Rey and the 2006 vintage straight from the estate`s cellars!

We continue with the Super Tuscans. We will taste the ultimate pair of the region: the legendary Solaia from a 2007 three-litre bottle (one of the wines responsible for the renaissance of Italian wine) and, of course, the top Masseto from the so-called "Italian Petrus" from the 2017 vintage.


The next stop is Piemonte and the Nebbiolo variety. The two wines we will enjoy come from the pair of the best Piedmontese DOCZ: Barbaresco and Barolo. When we refer to Barbaresco, we are again talking about Gaja, and we will have the famous Costa Russi 2016. In Barolo, the legend is the great Giacomo Conterno and his amazing "unicorn-wine" Monfortino. The 2013 vintage will be served at our dinner.

Wine closure with -what else?- Amarone! Italian wine`s super-dense, generous "steamroller" is represented here with the top Dal Forno from 2015. It will impressively accompany an equally rich dish.

In the end, along with dessert, we will enjoy another fantastic Taf coffee specially selected by Yannis Taloumis for the evening, followed by a unique and rare cigar!


The Cuban Regional for Italy are traditionally among the best every year, a tradition built by some top cigars and, first of all, by La Escepción Selectos Finos Edición Regional Italia. They released just 2,000 boxes in 2011, and since then, collectors worldwide have been looking for them. This fantastic cigar will close an evening that we aspire to make unforgettable! Accompanied by a top Scottish malt whisky, The Macallan Rare Cask 2023 Release. An ideal expression of the sherry cask that has contributed so much to the reputation of ... "the Rolls Royce of whiskies"! Each year, those few casks are selected to give the ultimate in that incredible, exuberant, and sweet complexity that is the hallmark of The Macallan and from which this limited bottling comes.

Menu

Welcome

Arancini cacio peppe with egg tarragon

Battuta di Fassona with Kaviari Paris Oscietre caviar, anchovies and grilled potato bread

Eggplant, Sicilian sausage and parmesan

The Franciacorta

Ca del` Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi 2015

*****

First Plate

Lobster cacciucco

On the occasion of the Cacciuco: Lobster and prawns from the valley, Kristal caviar from Kaviari Paris and beurre blanc sauce from steamed mussels

The Chardonnay

Gaja & Rey 2006

*****

Second Plate

Da Vittorio Paccheri

The famous signature dish of Bergamo`s iconic & three Michelin-starred Da Vittorio, performed live by chef & owner Chicco Cerea

The Super Tuscan Flight

Masseto 2017

Solaia 2007 (3lt)

*****

First Main Plate

Porchetta

Porchetta of black pig with forest mushrooms and herbs, accompanied by potato terrine and Porcini sauce.

The Piemonte Flight

Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2016

Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 2013

*****

Second Main Plate

Osso Bucco Lasagne

Lasagna braised beef with tomato, vegetables, bechamel and white truffle

The Amarone della Valpolicella

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta 2015

*****

Dessert

Tiramisu

Handmade savoiyardi syrup in espresso and bitter almond, espresso caramel, tiramisu cream with Marsala wine, and mascarpone cheese

Selection from café Taf

*****

Close

The Cigar

La Escepción Selectos Finos Edición Regional Italia 2011

The whisky

The Macallan Rare Cask 2023 Release

Migniardise

Panettone and gianduja pralines


Address: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Syntagma Square

Date: Thursday, 6 February 2025

Arrival time: 8.30pm sharp

Participation fee: please get in touch with us

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