THE TEMPLES OF THE COCKTAIL MARTINI

A great collector's private Martini

When in Rome do as the Romans do, my late (and much missed) friend Umberto Eco fiercely declared when asked what recipe of Martini cocktail he wanted to be served around the world. In fact a Martini in Rome can be a particularly satisfying experience if you happen to be in extremely good places like the Stravinsky bar at the Hotel de Russie; better still if you have the honour to be invited by a great martinista to enjoy his special Martini cocktail in his Parioli house, pleasantly stuffed with Martini memorabilia, glasses, shakers, mixing glasses and other exquisite items. The smallish stem glass has been chosen by this gentleman so his guests will be able to switch from one recipe to another without getting, as Dorothy Parker once memorably specified, 'under the table....or under my host.'