Inspired by the elegance of Europe’s famous grand cafés, Tozi Grand Café promises Italy’s greatest treasures right here in our precious London backyard offering authentic Italian cuisine in the Taste of Tozi series of curated events. The restaurant is nearby Battersea Park station, the iconic architectural building that boasts plenty of attractions in its surrounding areas for tourists and Londoners alike.
Tozi Grand café hosts an exclusive event that might hoist them above your average Italian restaurant. An evening aptly named ‘Taste of Tozi’ promises to transport you through various regions across Italy through the food and drink pairings over several events.
Tozi Grand Café
Recently renovated Battersea is the perfect host for the Tozi Grand Café. Tozi fits right in as a stylish, modern and authentic Italian restaurant. The café is also easy to locate, found on the ground floor of the Art’otel lobby.
The restaurant serves a Venetian take on Cicchetti, also known in Italy as a small plate amongst other larger dishes. Tozi also offers an all-day dining menu, including breakfast and weekend brunch. The double-height restaurant’s décor is chic and contemporary, with a collection of modern art to match. The restaurant is designed with hanging sculptural light fittings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a number of striking tapestries by the award-winning Spanish artist and designer; Jamie Hayon. We sat close to some lovely tapestries and had a view through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Battersea Power station itself.
A Taste of Tozi
I know what you’re all wondering-how was the food? Well, just like Tozi’s Zucchini, I promise this is worth waiting for. The evening wooed guests with delectable Venetian Cicchetti with wine pairings chosen by bar manager Alessandro Manello. We went on an explorative journey from the North of Italy to the South and back up to central Italy with its wine pairings.
The evening started with a sparkling wine from Veneto paired with the best Zucchini fritti I’ve probably ever had – light, crispy, and a really generous serving. For his second wine choice, Alessandro poured us a glass of Flaneur, a white from Sicilia. The Flaneur was a tad dry compared to the Veneto; however, the wine paired handsomely with the Italian bitter leaf, sweet poached pear and gorgonzola, a flavourful mix of sweet and sour.
The third pair was a glass of orange wine, Evelyn Verdicchio Macerato from Marche, served with Culatello and Melon. Culatello is one of Italy’s best-known and most prized Salumi and is much more delicate than any other ham. The Culatello paired well with the orange wine, as the tannins make it great for pork-based dishes.
The final pairing was a glass of red, a Pinot Nero Coltrenzio paired with 36-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano and various grapes. I mean, who doesn’t love a good cheese and wine platter? The grapes’ sweetness matched the wine’s ripe berry flavours for a stylish, elegant and, dare I say, inebriated evening.
As Allesandro shared with us, the dishes were authentically Italian, most of the team is Italian, and the restaurant has really endeavoured to give their guests a truly traditional way to approach Italian flavours.
What’s the verdict?
If you’re looking for a traditional approach to Italian food, give Tozi a try. Taste of Tozi is an exclusive event that really does take guests on a journey through Italy right here in London.
The next event will be on 27 June and promises to be crisp and refreshing with servings of delicious Italian Malfy gin cocktails and delectable cicchetti followed by a Negroni & Pasta experience on 25 July.
To discover more, visit: tozigrandcafe.co.uk
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All imagery courtesy of Tozi Grand Cafe.