Events

About Venus & Mars

Tuesday, February 26, Bocconcino Restaurant

What on earth was our Venus and Mars party all about, you might rightly ask.  Well, we wanted to create something to trump a Valentine’s party, throw a psychic love coach in the mix and introduce you to a fabulous Italian restaurant and gorgeous party space at Bocconcino Mayfair.

Valentine’s Day is officially the most romantic day on the calendar.  Right, but what is the most romantic day as far as the starry heavens are concerned?  It’s the day those tempestuous lovers Venus and Mars come into closest contact.  Now the chances of them doing that on February 14^th are about one in 365, but this year they weren’t far off. Having consulted the Rendezvous astrologer we were privy to the saucy fact that February 26^th was the day when Venus and Mars would be locked in their tightest embrace in the passionate, fiery sign of Pieces. So that’s the day we held our star-crossed February party.

Our party proved to be pure genius on every level. It was an unseasonably warm February night – temperatures had hit a crazy high of 18 degrees during the day.  Bocconcino’s windows were adorned with incredible pink flowers – February in Bloom! Bocconcino certainly is an absolute gem of a venue. We were provided with a great room to entertain our guests and what a guest list it was! We were looked after in the most perfect style by Bocconcino’s truly wonderful staff, Lily who curated and oversaw the entire event, Simone, duty manager. Maurizio, sommelier, Giuseppe, Debora and Luciano, bar, who helped create a delicious ambience that set us up for a splendid night.

Our club members arrived first and got first dibs for a psychic reading with Alison Chang Lung – who was very busy all night.  Please do let us know if you would like to be connected.

One guest commented that he had raced to London on the fast train from Glasgow and was rather miffed his first-class ticket included a posh meal as he was eyeing up head chef Marco’s delicious platters.  We feasted on literally a smorgasbord of Italian sharing platters, Focaccia al Rosmarino, Selezione di Salumi Toscani and the most ridiculously good Italian pizzas you’ve ever tasted.  It’s no surprise that BOCCONCINO won both the Diners Choice and Square meal Awards in 2018.

Thank you Bocconcino for treating one lucky guest who left her business card, with a scrumptious dinner for two, she couldn’t believe her luck when we announced her as winner!

And it really is kind of so many guests to ping me a quick note of thanks.

Here’s some of the lovely feedback we received…

Hi Barbara

Thank you very much for making me most welcome at the party last evening.  I met a number of interesting people and enjoyed the evening very much.

You have clearly a huge talent for putting people together and running a very good party.  Well done!

Look forward to the next one.

Best  E

Hello Barbara,

Thank you for organising another lovely evening. The venue was superb and fitted the group really well and the staff could not have been more professional. The food was delicious too!

By the way, it will be my last DD event as my experience has not been very positive – you have spoiled me by delivering exactly what you say you will deliver!

P x

Dear Barbara,

Thank you for another great evening, great atmosphere, quality nibbles and great company.  I especially liked X, lovely man, we had such a good conversation, I am hoping he will be at the next event 🙂

T x

Dear Barbara

Another great event last night!

Lovely venue, lots of new people

And good to meet up with all the regular rendezvous friends I’ve made!!

Please put me down for the next one

Love Suzanne xxx

Good evening,

I attended your wonderful event this evening with my friend X and met a lovely woman called X. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to take her number and I am wondering if you would kindly pass mine on and she can contact me if she wishes to.

Best T.

About Jazz January Whisky and Chocolate

Tuesday, Jan 15^th.  Boisdale of Belgravia

So around a windy mishmash of rooms we went – that being the eccentric approach to our private room in Boisdale of Belgravia the Auld Restaurant, its own cute stand-alone party venue within a party restaurant which was the venue of our January party. But then there’s a lot about Boisdale that’s eccentric, which, no surprise, is exactly what attracted us to the kooky-kitsch, red-walled, tartan-clad, cigar-smoking, jazz-loving group of restaurants in the first place!
With its charming and capable fun-pectation team, what could possibly go wrong?
Led by delightfully capable Head of Events, Miranda Hadsley-Chaplin, and cocktail maestro team Glen and Jose, they introduced us to a cocktail so delicious you really must try it at home.

Whisky sour with a twist
1 part Isle of Arran Whisky

2 parts lemon juice
2 dashes of Crème de Cacao

You can top up with fizzy water, if this version is too perky.
Stir, strain in a rocks-filled glass and garnish with lime

The night took off at a gallop and there were so many of us we were split into two groups. Boisdale’s Glen Collins ably stepped into the Whisky Ambassador shoes with his charming way led the assault on our palates with a glorious taste tour and masterclass. But wait, where’s the assault of Whisky proportions as we know it? This combination of whisky and chocolate is mellow – a warm, palette pleasing sensation, decidedly rich but decidedly dammed fine!
As Glen charmed our palates with his whiskey non-assault course, delightful elocutionist and Artisan du Chocolates ambassador Danny wowed us with a chocolate pairing combination that really hit the spot. She paired:

Robert Burns single malt with maple syrup sea salt caramel – No11

The Arran Malt 10-year old with Tasmanian honey dark chocolate ganache

The Arran Malt Amorone cask aged with tarragon and maple syrup milk chocolate ganache

Boisdale provided some post-whisky tasting snacks to keep the crowd er….standing, we were bolstered up with delicious Welsh rarebit bites and smoked artisan sausages with honey and mustard, yum!

Blending our two groups of 25 into one big group of 50 in our private Auld restaurant our boisterous crowd barely drew breath. Lots of new friendships were formed, numbers exchanged and, empowered with our deeper awareness of whisky and chocolat, we snuck back around the windy passageway. Eventually, that is – the party was so enthusiastic nobody (including moi) wanted to leave.  What a blast! To everyone involved in setting up this epic fun-feast, let’s do it again soon!

And some lovely feedback: –

Babs!

Thanks for last night.  Great organization and ideal venue.  It was a great evening.  Enjoyed chatting with May and Lou and X is quite a card – I must call her!

J x

Hi B

Thanks for a wonderful evening, met some interesting people!  X, a fellow Scot, was a bit of alright…..!

C x

Hello B

What a wonderful evening!!! Thank you so much although my head is a little sore as I was part of a small group that stayed on and closed Boisdale’s down! The attendees were interesting, entertaining and great fun.  Look forward to seeing the whole gang again soon!

B x

Venus and Mars Party

Bocconcino Restaurant | 19 Berkeley Street | W1J 8ED London | United Kingdom

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM (GMT)
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January Jazz, Whisky and Chocolate

Boisdale of Belgravia | 15 Eccleston Street | London | SW1W 9LX
Tuesday 15th January 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm
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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 19^th 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.

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.

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!

JAZZ UP YOUR JANUARY BLOW AWAY YOUR BLUES

Tuesday, Jan 16^th.  Boisdale of Mayfair.

So down a dark and narrow stairway we went – that being the eccentric approach to our private room in Boisdale of Mayfair and The Vinyl Bar and Groove Room the venue of our January party. But then there’s a lot about Boisdale that’s eccentric, which, no surprise, is exactly what attracted us to the kooky-kitsch, red-walled, tartan-clad, cigar-smoking, jazz-loving group of restaurants in the first place!
With its charming and capable fun-pectation team, what could possibly go wrong?
Led by delightfully capable GM Lizzie, and cocktail maestro team Stefan and Ricardo, they introduced us to a cocktail so delicious you really must try it at home.

The Dark and Stormy
45ml Chivas Regal Extra
15ml Ginger beer
10ml lime juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir, strain in a rocks-filled glass and garnished with lime

The night took off at a gallop and there were so many of us we were split into two groups. Pernod Ricard Whisky Ambassador Phil Huckle with his booming voice led the assault on our palates with a glorious taste tour and masterclass. But wait, where’s the assault of Whisky proportions as we know it? This combination of whisky and chocolate is mellow – a warm, palette pleasing sensation, decidedly rich but decidedly dammed fine!
As Phil charmed our palates with his whiskey non-assault course, delightful elocutionist and Artisan du Chocolates ambassador Danny wowed us with a chocolate pairing combination that really hit the spot. She paired:

Chivas Regal Extra with liquid Sea Salted caramels and maple syrup
The Glenlivet 12 year old with luxury ginger and lemongrass.

Skapa Skiren with a dark chocolate ganache.
Blending our two groups of 30 into one big group of 60 in our private vinyl bar in the basement our boisterous crowd barely drew breath. Lots of new friendships were formed, numbers exchanged and, empowered with our deeper awareness of whiskey and chocolat, we snuck back up the staircase. Eventually, that is – the party was so enthusiastic nobody (including moi) wanted to leave.  What a blast! To everyone involved in setting up this epic fun-feast, let’s do it again soon!

And some lovely feedback: –

Dear Barbara,

What a wonderful whisky galore fuelled evening on Tuesday, thank you so much. Lovely to see you and Lou and a host of friendly familiar faces. Great fun and a fantastic start to 2018. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

J x

Hi Barbara

This was my first Rendezvous event and after the initial apprehension and losing 5 kilos of January weight in nerves….I really enjoyed it!  Can you please send me all the details to join the Rendezvous club and I can’t wait for the next event you were telling me about in the Casino.

C x

Hello hon …

Thank you so much for your hard work in arranging a fun evening on Tuesday.

X and I really enjoyed ourselves and met some lovely people who we are meeting up for coffees/dinners.

Love

D x

Hi Barbara

Thank you very much for the party yesterday I enjoyed it immensely.

I have heard only positive comments about your abilities as hostess well done!

I have heard there is another party you are hosting the Casino night that is meant to be the best if the season…

Can you remind me about it?

Thanks

T x

HI Barbara!  Thanks for the invite yesterday.  It was a great evening.

There was a girl there I was talking to called X. Would it be possible to introduce us on email?

See you soon.

C x