Absolutely Crabulous: A crawsome party.

Fancy Crab | 92 Wigmore St | W1U 3RD
Wednesday, September 12th

You’ve got to be quite daring to open a restaurant serving one thing on the menu.  Rendezvous being a daresome crew were intrigued enough about swanky Marylebone eatery Fancy Crab that we decided to create an event for our fun-loving guests centred around the supreme ruler of this crustacean space; the noble Red King Crab.

Fancy Crab on Wigmore Street is just minutes away from Bond Street station and a fantastic spot to drop into for lunch, dinner or a snifter and a snack.  We were side-shuffled away to a private room tucked away under the main restaurant, with its own private bar and plenty of booths to dive (see what I did there) into for a sit down.

If guests, like me, were unfamiliar with the giant Red King Crab, fear not as we were treated to an awesome crab experience. Apparently, these fancy crabs are caught off the north coast of Russia, boiled and immediately frozen for maximum freshness.  Fancy Crab’s head chef presented us with an enormous crab – I suspect with a leg length of 30 cm – however I was informed that this was merely a youngster as they can grow to five feet across – yikes!  The leg meat is the whole point and the sweetest of them all, the Hermes of the shellfish world.

The monster crab was cut up in front of us (with a few legs that had been prepared earlier) aided and embellished by beautiful young assistant Lou Lou who keenly deciphered the chef’s Russian to bonkers English – well not really but never let a good story get in the way of a very good story.

Lou Lou being ringside to the crab show handed me a wafer of crab meat and yowser did I get an unexpected taste bud jolt.  I’ve been to gin tastings and still not liked gin, whisky tastings and still not liked whisky.  Red King Crab tasting …..and yabba dabba ding dong – I’m hook, line and sinkered.  A taste bomb like no other. Date nights do you hear me, I want to go back to Crabulous!

Thank you Evgenia and Luis for looking after us so well and for all your delicious canapes.  We really appreciated the wonderful goodie bags including crab bibs – what fun!

Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Absolutely Crabulous – Weds 12th Sept.

Absolutely Crabulous | Fancy Crab Marylebone | London | W1U 3RD
Wednesday 12th September 7pm to 10pm

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Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Aquavit – Calling the shots, 16th October

Aquavit London | St James’s Market | London | SW1Y 4QQ
Tuesday 16th October 7pm to 10pm

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Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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The football, the art, the cheese and the wine lovers.

3rd July 2018

Wine and cheese. So far, not so different.  Wine and cheese on a stonkingly warm summer evening in the middle of the football world cup and on the night that England was set to play Columbia – now you’ve got our attention.  What on earth happened you say – did any men turn up?

As it happens our chaps are rather partial to a spot of wine and cheese.  And our ladies by perfect contrast are rather partial to a spot of football.  Who was leading the charge to watch up football at a nearby pub you ask…the ladies of course.

And what a fully-charged evening we all had.  It was another sell-out event and a few people cancelling in favour of the footie didn’t faze us, we had a couple on the bench ready to take available ticket positions.  Our partygoers were on even kookier form that ever.  Balmy nights tend to do that to us and who am I to complain – you’ll never see me happier than in a room full of characters.

Character Numero Uno was quietly charming wine buff host Stuart George, who opened the proceedings wowing us with stories of his fine and rare wine business Vins Extraordinaires’ home – the gorgeous 19th Century Townhouse at 50 Brook Street, dead opposite Claridge’s.  He circled back later in the evening with another vintage for a blind tasting of what we all assumed would be table wine but was in fact a rare, and no longer in production, port – Gould Campbell 1994. You didn’t fool us Stuart – we guessed it was port all along, even if we didn’t get that it was 24 years old.  Didn’t we, our budding Oz Clarkes!

Extraordinary vineyard owners Tim and Vaughan Pearson turned up to show us what a dream of creating a vineyard in South Africa looks like.  A labour of love for them was love in a glass for us.  A Sauvignon Blanc, an unoaked Chardonnay that tasted more like a Chablis, an oaked Chardonnay, a gorgeous Pinot Noir, and a perfect cheese pairing Syrah.  Vaughan was the conveyor of imbibing knowledge and imbibe on that knowledge we did. So full of tips and stories was Vaughan that she held our attention for an inordinately long time, though with well-received pauses for football score up dates.  She had us eating, or should we say drinking, out of her hand.   Tim was busy pouring wines and imparting his wine knowledge and cheeky tales and their daughter Kim – a Harley Street nutritionist – kept us all chuckling at the entrance to 50 Brook Street as the procession of football lovers hopped back and forth from pub to venue like naughty school kids.

Now we mustn’t forget the Grand Fromage. Stuart Maclennan from Cows & Co talked us through his wonderful project of Scottish cheeses with a twist, each one more delicious than the last.  Louise and I fell in love with Nanny McBrie – a gorgeous goats cheese that tastes more like a triple cream sheep’s cheese.  I suspect if there was left over cheese on the night Nanny McBrie was not one of them!

The backdrop was Shtager Gallery’s stunning exhibition.  Already running the previous week when we stopped into Brook Street to fine-tune details, we asked gallerist Marina Shtager if it could be extended just so all of you cheese, wine and art lovers could experience the whole shebang!

So thank you Vins Extraordinaires, Seven Springs and Cows & Co.   There were special packs of discounted wine and cheese on the night – so if you would like to taste for yourselves what we’ve all been enthusing about  Follow this link.

Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Watching the Detective 27th November 2018

Smith & Whistle | Park Lane Hotel | Piccadilly | W1J 7BX London | United Kingdom

Tuesday, November 27, 2018, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM READ MORE

Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Summer Loving

Summer Loving Bernardi’s 22nd May 2018

Bernardi’s – The Dog House (private room)
62 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BN

Tuesday 22nd May 2018 7pm to 10pm

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Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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An extraordinary wine and cheese matching

Vins Extraordinaire | 50 Brook Street | Mayfair | W1K 5DR London | United Kingdom

Tuesday, July 3, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

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Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Francotastic Wine Tasting Wed. 25th April

Franco’s | 61 Jermyn Street | SW1Y 6LX 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 9:30 

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Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Garden Delights; Made in Chelsea Party

13th March 2018

Our backdrop for last week’s spring party was the ever-popular Chelsea Institution, Brinkley’s. Their restaurants and bars are the most exciting and interesting people watching venues in town.

Our party planstress Olivia (Olly) Brinkley is a delightful chip off her mother Jenny’s sophisticated and svelte block if ever your offspring could be one.   Welcoming us in her friendly and effervescent manner and cleverly coming up with the wonderful welcome cocktail of Raspberry Kiss.  Remembering back to when we first met, we literally did not come up for air, so excited was our conversation about how the dating industry works from all sides – Matchmaking, online dating, our own face-to-face parties, there was so much to discuss and dare I say divulge  – we have got to be in one of the most interesting businesses on the planet!

The evening in March was devoid of any beast in the weather description, zero Beast from the East or Mini Beast. In fact not a beast in sight, our guest list was a very well turned out crowd a point well noted and observed by our two lovely guests from Richochet TV.  Ricochet is the award-winning television company who makes First Dates, Who Do You Think You Are? and Little Big Shots.  They are creating a new show on dating and they’d heard about our famous parties and wanted to be inspired by our guests.   I wonder if they swept up any future TV stars?

Some guests who dropped in from Europe to join us welcomed us, having decided to have a late lunch before the event, they were in the spirit for a party! The room soon became tightly packed in that nice friendly way. The crowd loved the array of delicious canapes including Brie and Goat’s cheese tarts, calamari with harissa mayo and chicken gyozas as they streamed effortlessly through the room by capable pretty staff.  Our guest list mixed palatably with Brinkley’s regulars and the rest is as they say perfect-party-compatible history. The party gang moved next door to continue an impromptu session with new and old friends, we hear numbers were exchanged and laughter was heard at the bar until closing.

Now rumour has it from two of our male guests that they returned with a crowd of new friends to celebrate on Saturday. Brinkley’s is undeniably one of the best places in Chelsea, to chill, party or even dare we suggest it have a date.

 

 

Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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Lady Luck Party Feb. 2018

As the Beast from the East, the worst storm to hit the UK in decades, raged outside; inside in the unstoppably exciting Lola’s Casino – nothing was going to rain on our parade!

Thank you so much to everyone who made it through the crazy weather conditions, you are troopers!  And to those who were completely snowed in, you were missed – you know who are you!

Greeting us at the door was a marvellous 808 Whisky Caipirinha, providing a welcoming perk-up on arrival.

Over in the casino we had two private Learn-to-Play tables with Roulette and Blackjack to tempt the players and the gamblers.

808’s Brand Ambassador Andy led a tasting of 808 Whisky, so soft it was our ladies that were leading the fan club – and such an entertaining club they were that Andy stayed for the duration of the night – way to go ladies!

 

Psychic Love Coach Alison Chan Lung, had a queue back as far as the Whisky Bar and was an absolute hit.  I’d love to be a fly on the wall to hear her predictions!

We feasted on delicious canapes including USDA Beef Sliders, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Smoked Salmon Blinis, Croquettes with Parma ham and my personal favourite Goats Cheese Lollipops.  Yum!

We were all given a £50 token to go and play in the main casino, so tactile those poker chips, we all felt like the real gambling deal.

Thank you Hippodrome for being such five star professionals throughout the night – very impressive indeed, we look forward to coming back next year!

Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Barbara is a classic entrepreneur; her career has been defined by a series of iconic start-ups within telecoms, entertainment and fashion. She leads Investor Relations for a London-based consultancy raising capital for entrepreneurs. Alongside financial matchmaking she represents exclusive offline matchmaking agency Vida in London & Monaco, connecting their UHNW clients. Barbara’s innate sense of what it takes to fit people together, with a flair of hosting exquisite events, makes her a social anchor for all that know her.

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