Italian Goodness

I know of a few people who’ve made careers of hanging with embassy high-ups. But I’ve almost never gone beyond a hello. I think I made it a personal policy not to,just to make a point to myself even though no one else may have cared.

I first met Giampaolo and Elisabetta Cutillo — the Italian consul general to India and his wife — in their first couple of months in India. I had no clue who they were when I walked up to them at a party (I think it was an evening in honour of Paolo Canali) and made introductions. Elisabetta is beautiful,like a younger Monica Bellucci,and to compliment her (and her good-looking husband) seemed to be the normal thing to do.

She hugged me instantly,and blew me kisses throughout the evening. We sat next to each other at dinner and ignored everyone else at our tables. I showed off my halting Italian and we were friends,proper friends,instantly. I have invited myself over to their house and had them over at my personal celebrations too.

With them,I break another self-inflicted policy — I attend embassy parties. Theirs are never page-three affairs,even though you might see the odd famous face. They are often a (large) collection of people they’ve met and warmed up to. I am breaking yet another promise made to myself by writing about a party in this column. Last week,the Cutillos had their annual embassy party,also celebrating 150 years of Italy as a united republic,and what a party it was. More than the fabulous food,drink and pretty people,it stood for an old Italian promise the country made to the rest of the world: to show them the good life,la dolce vita.

A bright yellow Ferrari at the entrance of Tote on the Turf in Mumbai greeted you,almost showing off the Mediterranean nation’s heirloom luxury. Restaurateur Rahul Akerkar’s fine Italian fare is incomparable in the city and the selection of cheese and dessert was unfair to the main course. The wines were every bottle we’ve loved from Italian vineyards,from Chianti to Montepulciano to Valpolicella.

Chicness abounded the room. Each guest was greeted by the couple with a heartfelt hug or an earnest handshake. Whether they offered you a glass of wine or pulled you on the dance floor,they behaved like you were at their home and their chief guest.

Of course,it makes the Cutillos great diplomats,but when you can treat over 200 people like personal friends,then that’s entertaining at its finest.

namratanow@gmail.com