The POP-UP live rock’n roll – karaoke club is back in town.  Andre Balazs and Andre Saraiva are the duo behind the very eclectic live performance here today and gone to another location venue.  The club had previously been running during New York Fashion Week and in Los Angeles during the Oscars (The Standard Hollywood).

Andre Saraiva is best known for his involvement in Le Baron (global brand of lounges) and Le Bain (top of The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District of New York) which shares the top floor also with the Boom Boom Room or TOP OF THE STANDARD as some call it these days.  Andre Saraiva also occasionally performs as a celebrity DJ for high profile events as seen at an Estee Lauder/DKNY event (click here).

Billy Farell Agency partner Joe Schildhorn

Rumors of a permanent location may be coming to fruition which would make it one of the hottest clubs on the Bowery (North of Houston) competing with the already rapidly expanding area (mainly South of Houston).

No. 9 Great Jones Street, ACME was once a Cajun restaurant with fried delights, pitchers of beer and gumbo.  That’s all changed with the continental-French modern cuisine and uber chic ambiance.  ACME the restaurant has become more of a who’s who for appearances by socialites and fashionistas.  Downstairs features a late night lounge where notables are often spotted.  

Vikram Chatwal (right) and guest

with two equally attractive bars, upstairs / downstairs, locals can enjoy fine dining and then late night dancing.  the doorman has attitude but lacks the muscle to back it up, so it’s an easy in.

 http://www.acmenyc.com/

Originally founded in 1863 by such individuals as Charles Dickens and Auguste Rodin, it celebrates the arts but with a vodka dance and gourmet dinner twist.  It’s not the same venue that Sir Winston Churchill used to visit.  Nor do I imagine the members prior to the re-launch in 2011 conceived that it would be the still classy but glittery place it is today (after all, they approved the sale of the building then were all booted – paid in full of course).  With investors such as Gwyneth Paltrow (also the creative director who helped to design with people such as Stella McCartney), Gary Landesberg (not sure if he did the booting?) and Arjun Waney (probably best known for the Zuma brand – over priced Asian fusion establishments setting the new trend as “in” for those who need such reassurance) The Arts Club represents a renaissance of the private members click (or trick) in London.

One of the various sitting rooms

More than just afternoon tea, dinner and vodka sodas, the club does actually feature artists such as Phil Wagner and Jean-Luc Moulène (currently on display this Spring).  But the real inspiration isn’t so much the color of the walls or the carefully selected decor, more so it is the new members.  With the majority of London comprised of pubs and gastropubs (which originated in England) the more sophisticated and culturally diverse membership venues tend to attract global clientele or transplanted Londoners as well as locals.

Classic British bar structure with nouveau flair

But in reality, the branding and somewhat “celebritizing” (new word?) of the venue helps make it an oh so très chic place to spend those hard earned pounds.  Members and guests of members can check out some art, have a tea in one of the lounges, meet for an early evening cocktail at the bar, stay for dinner then top it all off by going to the club -a real one stop shop.

Membership is approved by a board and the fees vary (as with most members clubs the trend of offering a discounted membership fee for those individuals under 30 years of age encourages a youthful attendance).  Once checked in past the lovely desk staff and pit bull style security chiefs, you can enjoy your entire evening trotting up and down the stairs or squeezing in the elevator.

If you are living in London or travel there often, The Arts Club could be a place for you to handle all of your socializing.  The range could be from business meetings in the day impressing your counter party to impressing a significant other (or potential significant other) late night over casual sexy drinks.  Once approved, paid and in, the choice is yours.

The subterranean lounge offers late night dancing and bottle service

If you are wondering around Mayfair and happen to stumble on to Dover Street, you may want to drop in and pick up an application or make friends with a member.

http://www.theartsclub.co.uk/

Grape & Vine recently opened its doors for a selected few in the newly constructed Jade Hotel on 13th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.  Restaurateur Frederick Lesort has launched a friends and family preview.  On a quiet street with little competition around, for the both the restaurant and restaurant, it seems to make sense.  RHS was invited to sample the menu and we have to warn you, the food TASTES AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS.

N.Y. STATE BURRATA – cherry tomatoes, basil, walnut vinaigrette, crostini

UNION SQUARE MARKET SALAD – fresh seasonal vegetables

TART FLAMBEE – ONIONS, BACON, CRÉME FRAICHE

ROASTED ATLANTIC SALMON – baby spinach, quinoa, pistou

LAMB RAGOUT PAPPARDELLE – slow braised lamb, wide ribbon pasta

I wasn’t quick enough to include the Steak Tartare.  As like magic, it disappeared before my eyes and into the stomach of another.  Difficult to look at these images without picking up the phone and asking when they are officially open?  If luck is on your side, making a preview reservation is possible (just be very nice on the phone and don’t ask too many questions).  My hat off and three cheers for the chef.  The ambiance is a sexy Anglo-Franco mixture with that sort of, in the mood lighting.  At first glance one would not suspect the entire building was constructed from the ground up recently as it possesses a bit of Old World charm.  Already filling with notables, socialites and celebrities, Grape & Vine is positioned to be the next RED HOT destination.

Frederick Lesort and Elizabeth Resch

Although not officially open until late March, Grape & Vine continues to have preview dinners and a bit more of a “secret edgy” ambiance for those who are in the know.  More information can be found on their website:

http://www.grapevine-nyc.com/

]]> http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=grape-vine-jade-hotel/feed/ 0 http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=scotch-masons-yard&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=scotch-masons-yard http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=scotch-masons-yard#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:27:42 +0000 Ricardo Garcia http://redhot-society.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=8084 The secrets of Mayfair are not only tucked away in a corner location and subterranean but behind hidden streets.

The Scotch, a place that was first established in 1965.  The Beatles, Rod Stewart and The Who were all there.  Mick Jagger still goes (as well as his daughter).  Historically it is a rock ‘n’ roll venue having catered to some of the most elite musical artists from Britain and abroad.  It’s not a private membership venue which doesn’t really matter because the strict door policy might be tougher.  Private member clubs are more of an excuse these days really to politely turn away guests or extend their liquor service license (Beat is open until 7am, care for a 6:30am cocktail?)  More common these days, membership venues waive their policy for friends, vip’s and those who have the right “look”.  Non-membership lounges are in high demand and offer exclusivity through their crowd and overall ambiance of the venue itself (same as New York).

TV personality Sophia Sassoon (top) and international art collector Vanessa Wurm have the “look”

The hidden drive into Mason’s Yard where The Scotch nestles quietly in the corner

Almost stealth in appearance The Scotch draws in only VIP guests

It’s very easy to miss while driving as there is only one small passage way in or out for motorcars and in the blink of an eye, a great night could be completely missed (assuming you make it through the three SAS style door security and sexy girl with the clipboard).  Jimi Hendrix managed to find it back in the day as he performed there “live” before he was known.  Once inside, after passing through a second set of double doors, the ground floor room (won’t mention the hidden one) is a mixture of modern and traditional English lounge style with medium to high back seating decorated with half Scottish patterns and half solid.  The bar is traditional British with servers in black and white.  Downstairs is a different experience all together.

Sitting at a table where the Beatles would sit back in the 1960′s

The room is dark and appropriately the correct size for tables, dancing and checking the scene.  It’s ripped out of page of Vogue and everyone who walks through the doors understands this fact.  The music is top and the servers won’t allow their table guests to refresh even one drop of their drinks as it is all up to them.  It’s hidden, dark, sexy, top service and filled with a good crowd.  It’s everything a foreigner dreams that a London lounge should be and it’s everything many Londoners want to experience.  Hard to not want to get in right?

http://www.the-scotch.co.uk/

The Scotch, 13 Mason’s Yard, London SW1 Y6

Hard to believe, in Central London there is such a place that will make pizza lovers question if this British Italian eatery might have set a new standard for excellence in Italian food and atmosphere.  It’s an unusual concept with live entertainment, high backed leather cigar-club seating, hand painted murals, a transported kitchen from Naples and in the very much trending area of Soho.

Sipping a glass of Sangiovese, listening to live entertainment and people watching is often good enough for a Saturday night.  Similar to New York, Londoners enjoy their Monday through Thursdays and like to vegetate on the weekends.  B-Soho is definitely the place for authentic Italian food, wine and an unpretentious crowd.

It’s not the flashy “sceney” place that makes girls put on 4 inch heels, low cut tops and high raised skirts hoping that they will see Prince Harry or the next Hollywood A-lister.  It’s cool, funky and chic.  Call it “modern Bohemian with a touch of elegance” built for repeat business based on quality and ambiance.  Easy to avoid the smoke and mirrors since they import 100% of their ingredients from Italy.  Yes that’s correct, the flour, the meats, the cheeses, the produce, even the water used to make the doughs are all imported direct from Italy.  This is a place for food and wine lovers who want to spend a semi-casual evening with friends, family or future “fling” (ok, you don’t have to be flashy to impress).  This place is about the ingredients first, packaging second.

Go with the Don Piccante – bottom

Yes, it’s as good as it looks

If you are in the area, have a gander in and try it for yourself.

http://b-soho.co.uk/

]]> http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=b-soho/feed/ 0 http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=salon-mayfair&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=salon-mayfair http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=salon-mayfair#comments Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:21:22 +0000 Ricardo Garcia http://redhot-society.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=7944 Hearing the music while walking downstairs into a dark room with highlights of red realizing “this is the place.”

Salon is one of those subterranean hideaways in Mayfair that doesn’t leave a guest unsatisfied.  If you can make it through the double doors (and they are strict – regardless of it being a non-membes club) then the world of high energy music, people dancing, seduction, business mingling and figuring out where their next vacation will be, that world is yours.  The quality of music and eye candy roaming around the room are above the norm on Fridays and Saturdays, so make sure your breath is fresh and hair is neat.

Not everyone makes it in through the doors, but the staff is very kind (as are all English) about turning them away.  It’s not like New York where I often hear door persons say to desperate onlookers “you are too ugly to get in.” or “have a good night, it’s not happening.”  So don’t’ feel bad, it just might be that your hair is out of place, your shoes are wrong or you had garlic for dinner.  Professionals who go to Salon make a reservation and slap down the Amex black cards (ok so there were a few gold ones but they also accept cash) because they know once they have their corner real estate across from the DJ booth next to the baby grand piano, there is little need to travel.

It’s a place that makes a person want to have sex, right in the room with champagne, hot music, well built women (who know how to dress) and men pretending to be gentlemen (isn’t that nice ladies?)  You are going to fall victim to countless occurances of PDA all over your desired significant other after a few shots (blame that on Timo Weber and Dan Kapp).  It’s on Old Burlington Street so break out the GPS (and your wallet).

http://www.salonclublondon.com/

]]> http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=salon-mayfair/feed/ 0 http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=la-bodega-negra-soho-secret&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=la-bodega-negra-soho-secret http://redhot-society.com/?portfolio=la-bodega-negra-soho-secret#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:47:19 +0000 Ricardo Garcia http://redhot-society.com/?post_type=portfolio&p=7891 It’s hard enough to find the so called “in” places of London but when they are hidden, it makes it all the more interesting.

On the outside-street level strolling along, La Bodega Negra appears as a Mexican brasserie-grill visible to the general public.  In fact, it is exactly that above ground.  But below, in the subterranean dining area, the experience is completely different and wild.  RHS (REDHOT-SOCIETY) has found a Mexican favorite in Sloane Square which has produced some spicy salsa, tacos and nights to recommend for visitors who come in and out of London.  But not everyone who jets in and out of London has heard of Sloane Square or even knows of Chelsea/South Kensington (very attractive crowd).  The vast majority of people visiting the United Kingdom come to London and focus on familiar areas such Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Soho, Piccadilly, the tourist parts roughly.  Soho, which tends to be part of that tourist area, has produced an interesting competitor.

The front facade of La Bodega Negra off of Moor Street in London’s Soho district

The theme is a “hidden” or secret place where patrons feel special as if in some prohibition style speak easy (guess they didn’t have that in the UK-stealth tacos perhaps?  Or stealth tequila?)  Either way, it works well on the weekends (if it wasn’t so secret it might be busier on a Wednesday, but the tacos are good and that’s a plus).  But friends, this isn’t New York, this is LONDON and things are with style, class and certainly 68% more pricey.

The “secret” entrance to the downstairs off of Old Compton Street, no it’s not a sex shop

Try the upstairs and see if you like the tourist prices and daytime vibe.  If you make a friend who can get you a reservation then come back for similar food and a much more lively crowd after 8pm.  Hey, it’s Mexican food in London so what is there to lose?  Only a few pounds (financially and I guess not physically since tequila adds on a bit).

A little over a decade ago it seemed that London was the last place on the planet where a person could find a decent ITALIAN meal.  Correction, something that resembled a decent Italian meal.  Sure, there were the steak places with an odd lasagna and cafe’s here and there with some cheese and olive covered bread.  Italian cuisine was far below the mark of excellence (semi-disaster).  This fact has obviously all changed drastically and when one thinks of where to have a tasteful Italian dinner, Sette often comes to mind as one the best choices for those who are “in the know.” 

Nestled on Sydney Street just off of Fulham Road, Sette is charming and feels like a home away from home.  Interesting facts about Sette (provided by Sette’s internal marketing):

“Sette takes its name from the Italian for ‘seven’ in reference to the day in September 1996 when the champion jockey Frankie Dettori MBE won all seven races at Ascot. Wall Street, Diffident, Mark of Esteem, Decorated Hero, Fatefully, Lochangel and Fujiyama Crest as well as Dettori himself all went down in the history of racing for this mighty achievement and it will forever be remembered by bookies for the vast sums they had to pay out.  It was also memorable day for Darren Yates, a plumber from Morecambe in Lancashire, who won £550,000 on an accumulator bet of £67.58.”

Furthermore (provided by Sette’s internal marketing):

“Italian to the core, the restaurant is owned by Frankie Dettori M.B.E., Peter Burrell and Marco Pierre White, who have collaborated for the past eight years on the successful chain, Frankie’s Bar and Grill (Frankie & Marco on this venture), that has been so successful throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and the Middle East. Between them, they bring the true flavour of Italy backed up by the best chefs operating under Marco’s experienced eye with menus developed by both of them but primarily driven by their own upbringing and hereditary influences. The team are led by Roberto Marziota as manager.”

The lovely Hannah Wick of Harvey Nichols

To fully enjoy the hybrid family-cool ambiance, a Saturday brunch would be a nice way to ease into an afternoon surrounded by friends and a bottle (or two) of their Barbera Gisep Massolino 2009.  Don’t be surprised if Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, Steven Berkoff or another half a dozen notables are in the corner quietly eating away at the Branzino alla griglia or Milanese di vitello con rucola e pomodorini (we don’t have confirmation of any their dietery preferences, but a little imagination is allowed I think).  The short end of the summary for your meal – “you can’t go wrong with this menu.”  GO WITH THE DUCK FUSILLI

As mentioned, two of Sette’s owners- Frankie Dettori M.B.E. and Marco Pierre White, have been collaborating for the past eight years on Frankie’s Bar and Grill (a very successful chain).  Marco Pierre White is a very well known celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality, who has trained other chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone (to name drop).  Yes, it sounds like they know what they are doing here in London and that confirmation is defined on the plates of their guests (make reservations in advance).

Fusilli al ragu d’anatra (Fusilli pasta with duck ragu)

Salmone, punte di broccoli, pepe rosa e menta (Salmon with sprouting broccoli, pink pepper and mint)

Fegato pancetta, burro e salvia (Calves liver and pancetta, butter and sage)

Agnello con melanzane gratinate (Rack of lamb with baked aubergine and black olive sauce)

Paccheri con calamaretti, pomodorini e broccoli (Paccheri with baby squid cherry tomato, broccoli and crispy garlic)

I think this one is self explanatory, dessert!

Our generous host Matthew Steeples (head of marketing for Sette and also publisher of The Steeple Times) spared no gastronomic pleasure for his guests.  This is a mandatory repeat visit, make it happen.

It’s a late Monday night and a flock of attractive West-Enders walk down a dimly candle lit staircase into a softly colored cool below-the-street Mexican themed restaurant-lounge.  It’s Tonteria and it’s London, correction, it is the NEW London and it seems to be faring well.  Owners Marc Burton and Guy Pelly (who has the social ears of the Royals) have executed a sexy concept that has droves of people several nights a week.  The food (authentic), the ambiance, the music, the crowd, all of which represent a new chapter in London Knightlife that dare I say, puts New York to the test?  It’s not a secret that the Mexican “bug” has spread all over New York (rumors are it originated in Mexico via tequila and NOT Los Angeles as the press has suggested) and now the party infestation seems to have infiltrated London.  Symptoms of the Mexican “bug”:  abnormal amounts of tequila usually in the form of a shot or margarita, fish tacos, chicken quesadillas, guacamole, attractive crowd, sharply dressed individuals talking about some plane they purchased recently or supermodel they are dating, paparazzi nearby and some individuals may or may not experience temporary displacement of their location and a loss in their sense of time or reality (see; -”vacation syndrome”).

James Edwin Parker Birmingham & Kirsty Davies (FM Models)

Georgia Davies

Nick House (owner of The Bromptom Club, Mahiki Lounge, Bodo’s Schloss, The Punchbowl…)

Marc Burton (co-owner Tonteria) & Georgia Davies

If a short night is on the schedule, then the brasserie menu does cater to that crowd.  So early birds can still be in bed by midnight.  But if you are planning for something longer,  then this definitely is the place.  Things start stirring up around 11pm and go well into the early morning.  Order a house margarita (or five, six maybe) and chicken quesadillas.  Skip the dessert as there is plenty of eye candy around…