NEW MENU - OUR WAY

A Spirited Conversation Between a Maestro and His Protégé

 

To celebrate the launch of Our Way, a menu of thirteen new cocktails at the Donovan Bar, we invited Maestro Salvatore Calabrese and his former apprentice, Director of Mixology Federico Pavan, to interview one another. Read on for a glimpse into the new collection and the enduring bond between mentor and protégé.

Signature cocktail from the Our Way menu at The Donovan Bar, elegantly presented in Japanese glassware

“Simple is beauty.”

– Federico Pavan

Salvatore Calabrese (SC): Now Federico, before we talk about our new cocktails, you know it doesn’t really matter how many menus you create, you’ll never beat my Breakfast Martini or my Spicy Fifty…

Federico Pavan (FP): Well as you always say, every bartender’s dream is to immortalise themselves with a great cocktail – one that people talk about. So I take inspiration from the Breakfast Martini. Whenever I create a new drink, I aim for something that is simple and can travel – simple is beauty.

SC: Of course, and that is why I’m beautiful and you're not. So, tell me about a drink that you think is going to be a new classic?

FP: I’m from Veneto, where the Bellini was born. So I came up with this beautiful cocktail called the Bellini Colada. The structure is the same, but with a twist. A touch of Altamuru vodka honours the drink’s Italian heritage while adding structure, and the cucumber – an ingredient that often gets discarded at the bar – is frozen and grated to give a kick of freshness.

SC: So, fresh and sustainable.

FP: Exactly, always with respect for ingredients. You know, the Bellini was the first drink I made when I met you.

SC: Ah yes, that must have been thirteen years ago. And you’re still around…

FP: Would you believe it?

SC: So the star of our new menu is the Bellini Colada. I can see it going around the world.

FP: I hope so. With this menu, we didn’t introduce a new theme, more a philosophy. It’s about elevating a classic cocktail with modern techniques. The Eau de Martinez has a wonderful perfume twist on the original recipe while the core remains the same. The Tarte Old Fashioned takes inspiration from one of the most iconic desserts from the Amalfi Coast.

SC: Ricotta a pera. My friend, Sal De Riso, created this amazing cake.


FP: The addition of ricotta and pear adds an indulgent layer and depth to the drink – we’re excited about it. Then we have the Marimo Martini, a cocktail that is close to your style as it uses a technique you invented back in the day. It’s a Direct Martini, close to a Vesper. We distill the vodka with seaweed, to give a little salinity, exchange the lily with a cherry, and add Mancini Secco. The surprise effect, which we present before the guest, is the addition of three dashes of flavour – peperoncino, vanilla, and basil.

SC: Everyone will wish to taste something different. 

FP: Yes, we tailor the drink each time, which allows a lovely connection with the customer.

 

“The glassware, like the drinks, shows respect for the classics.”

– Salvatore Calabrese

SC: You and the team have come up with a menu that brings us together: me representing tradition, and you representing novelty. Always with a light touch, because true classics are about simplicity.

Close-up of the Bellini Colada from the Our Way cocktail menu, featuring Altamura vodka and frozen cucumber

"Tradition and novelty can co-exist"

– Salvatore Calabrese

SC: So the glassware reflects the philosophy of showing respect for the classic character of these drinks. In the bar world, we like to have fun with themes and concepts but it’s vital that the customer can connect with them. You and the team have come up with a menu that brings us together: me representing tradition, and you representing novelty. Always with a light touch, because true classics are about simplicity.

FP: To help the customer choose a drink, we present ingredients they recognise, elevated to the maximum expression. Simple, classic cocktails that everyone knows have always been our style.

SC: This is music to my ears. You know Federico, one of the things that I’m very proud of, is the way you have grown professionally. I watched you coming up as a very young guy, who used to shake the shaker.

FP: I was full of energy! I remember the first day of my apprenticeship, when you walked through the door. I thought, wow, I have Salvatore Calabrese standing in front of me. 

SC: There was something special about you, I knew you were going to be one of the world’s best bartenders. You have everything I love. Elegance, vision, when you walk behind the bar, people notice you. You took everything I taught you and made it yours. I’m very proud.

FP: Young bartenders are focused on the cocktail and the technique, but you let me discover the art of hospitality. 

SC: Yes, young mixologists today are true artists at work. You elevate everything you touch. But you can be the best mixologist in the world and not the greatest bartender. The art of knowing how to mix is just one element. If we truly want to be great at what we do, we have to master the art of hospitality.

 

“We didn’t introduce a theme—this menu is a philosophy.”

– Federico Pavan

 

FP: The best example of this, for me, is when you had Stevie Wonder in your bar…

SC: Ah yes, Stevie loved bubbles and sweetness, so I created a bespoke cocktail called the Champagne Wonder. He would order it regularly and really started to feel at home. One day I asked him if he’d like to play piano. Imagine, Federico, he played and sang for half an hour. It wasn’t good for business as no one was ordering drinks – but everyone was captivated!

FP: To have Stevie Wonder play in your bar is just unbelievable.

SC: The most unbelievable moment was when he stood up to leave and started to applaud. When I asked why, he said he was showing appreciation, from one artist to another. I was speechless. It was a beautiful moment that makes me shiver to recall it. This is why we take pride in what we do as bartenders. It really is an art.



Discover Our Way, launching May 2025 at the Donovan Bar.

 

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Located in heart of London's fashionable Mayfair district, Browns Hotel is an iconic luxury hotel where history meets 21st-century sophistication.

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Located in heart of London's fashionable Mayfair district, Browns Hotel is an iconic luxury hotel where history meets 21st-century sophistication.

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