From the counter of China Tang in London to the recent launch of its Seatrus Gin, meanwhile serving luxury guests such as Beckham, Oasis and Russell Crowe.
In the London of the bar, the tricolour has been shining for almost 20 years now Julius Amodio. Certainly not yet another Italian who flew into the city to find success behind the counter, but undoubtedly one of the first to bring hospitality Italian style in the United Kingdom. So much so that it even created its own product. Today's story takes us to The Dorchester Hotel, more precisely to the China Tang Bar, Where Amodio has held the role of Beverage Director for 17 years.
Giulio, tell us about yourself: what was the path that brought you from your Calabria to London?
“I arrived in England in April 2006 with 1000 euros in my pocket and many dreams in the drawer. I managed to get through my first year and a half, which is always the most difficult given the initial lack of familiarity with the English language, and then I saw the job offer at the China Tang Bar at the Dorchester in London. The restaurant had been open for just over a year and I was still completely unaware of its immense potential. I never imagined that in the future it would become an icon of Chinese dining and oriental mixology in the heart of Europe. I owe a lot to my predecessors, Davide Guidi and Luca Cordillera, At that time President of the United Kingdom Bartender Guild: I learned a lot from both of them. We started with a classic mixology, but when mixology trends started to change in 2011, together with my bar team, we started researching the traditions, customs and ideologies of Chinese culture, putting them at the center of our new signature drinks. For the bar of China Tang this choice, certainly not obvious at the time, was a real success. From the beginning the customers interacted and responded very well to our new idea of Chinese inspired cocktails“.
Over the course of almost 20 years of activity, what have been the most significant moments of this London experience?
“In 17 years of China Tang I have experienced so many unique and indescribable moments. Like that evening when, late at night, he arrived David Beckham, our regular customer. Around one in the morning, he asked me if he could have the bar available to entertain some guests. At three in the morning I found myself sitting with him, Romario and Ronaldo, to have a drink like old friends. Or that night when, at 3 in the morning, I was behind the bar counter with Russell Crowe, teaching him to prepare a Espresso Martini. And these are just a few of the many extraordinary episodes I have experienced, although many others, perhaps, are better left untold. But the most indelible memory is definitely the day of my work trial, before being hired. It was my birthday, and I think this brought luck. Not knowing the bar yet, I arrived at 5 in the afternoon to start my trial shift as a bartender. At 6 we had a small party of 30 people for an aperitif. I never would have imagined that party was for Kate Moss! And I never would have thought that, on the day of my trial, I would be preparing drinks for the Rolling Stones, the Clash, Oasis and many others, all on the same day. Well, I have to say that was a truly memorable trial”.
What do you think is the secret of Italian hospitality abroad?
"There are no particular secrets, except our very nature of being Italian. The entire world appreciates us for what we are, for what we do and for how we do it. Abroad we have always stood out in this sector because we have a great culture of drinking and eating well. Italians, wherever they go, always talk about this! Therefore, the customer trusts, regardless. Added to this is our serene spontaneity in making all guests feel at ease. Even if our sector is going through a difficult time, it is important to never lose this attitude, because the customer appreciates it and always asks for it. Being authentically hospitable will never go out of style”.
From mixing you have even moved on to production: we cannot help but ask you for a final comment on your Seatrus Gin Acqua di Mare.
“Well yes, two years ago I created Seatrus Gin Sea Water, a real brand of gin made in Italy that I am particularly proud of. I have selected the best Italian ingredients and collaborated with the best companies in our country for bottles, labels, packaging and distillation. This commitment has brought results that I am proud of. Saving on quality has never been an option for me. The 100% made in Italy has a cost, but it is worth every cent of the expense. We have achieved great satisfaction abroad, also thanks to the importance of building an excellent work team. Today I can say that all this is bearing fruit, demonstrating that we are capable of being simply sophisticated and refined, just like Seatrus Gin”.
