PELICAN BRIEF: Il Pellicano is touching down at Claridge’s with a one-week residency at the hotel’s restaurant that runs until Saturday.
The Italian hotel, located in Porto Ercole on the Tuscan coast, has brought chef Michelino Gioia and barman Federico Morosi to add a dash of Mediterranean sunshine to chilly London.
Gioia will be delivering dishes including Il Pellicano‘s beloved dish, shrimp risotto with ginger and lime; Maremma-style ravioli with butter and sage; veal cheek with potato cream, chicory and Chianti sauce, and tiramisu for dessert.
Morosi will be shaking up his famous Teller negroni, an homage to Juergen Teller, and mixing Pelican martinis, which include Grey Goose orange vodka and lime, fresh as an early morning dip in the sea.
Il Pellicano is taking over the kitchen at Claridge’s restaurant as part of a one-week residency in London.
“I used to go to Claridge’s as a kid with my dad, and was always in awe of the hotel,” said Marie Louise Sciò, chief executive officer and creative director at Pellicano Hotels, in an interview.
She loves the idea of a residency for Il Pellicano “because it’s a seasonal hotel, and closed in the winter. We have a big customer base in London, and we want to keep our people happy. It’s the ‘Pelli’ in winter with a week of lunches and dinners and a pop-up shop.”
Il Pellicano’s Issimo shop is opening at the The Claridge’s boutique with a selection of products including blankets, cashmere pajamas, and espresso cups and saucers with the signature pelican design.
Claridge’s Flowers has created a bespoke Hotel Il Pellicano bouquet that aims to conjure the feeling of the Tuscan coast with seasonal flowers wrapped in the yellow and white striped paper, recalling the hotel’s colors.
An Issimo pop-up shop is opening at Claridge’s during Il Pellicano’s one-week residency.
CATHY KASTERINE
Paula Fitzherbert, global head of communications, said the Claridge’s team has long been admirers of Il Pellicano and its creative spirit.
“We are looking forward to their team bringing a touch of dolce vita flavor and flair to Claridge’s restaurant — as well as some much-needed sunshine this February. I can’t wait for my first Teller Negroni mixed by Frederico,” she said.
The year is a milestone for Il Pellicano, which is marking its 60th anniversary and expanding its reach.
The group includes Il Pellicano; La Posta Vecchia, just outside Rome; Mezzatorre in Ischia, and the Issimo digital shop and lifestyle platform. La Suvera is set to open outside Siena, Italy, later this year and there are more hotels to come, according to Sciò.
Claridge’s in London.
Ray Main
“We’re in expansion mode,” she said. “The plan is to scale the business — thoughtfully — and to preserve the DNA of Il Pellicano, which feels like a home. A hotel is more than just a place to sleep and every one has a story behind it.”
