Q&A with Chef Barman, Roberto Catalano

Inside the world of  Roberto Catalano

Tell me a little about yourself, what ignited the spark to become a mixologist?

Since I was a young boy, I’ve always been fascinated with traveling, different cultures and languages so when the opportunity came to me I did not miss it, I moved to London – the capital city of Bartending and Mixology – to learn and develop my own style. It’s there I decided that this was my destiny.

How would you describe the cocktail menu at Rivages?

The menu is very balanced  with various options, it has a very interesting flair when it comes to elements that make our drinks so unique. Different spirits are used in order to allow people to discover flavors that maybe, if not in a cocktail, they would never try.  The concept of our menu is all about connection, the connection between ingredients, customers and stories.

What makes Rivages different from any other bar in the city?

Besides the cocktails and our food offering, for me it’s all in the vibe and atmosphere … the perfect lighting, music, decor and most importantly the team’s energy.

Which Rivages cocktail is unique and cannot be found anywhere else?

All our cocktails have an unique ingredient and twist, but if I need to choose one I would say the  Scribere  because this specific cocktail is taking form at the center of our bar with the energy of the people that decide to spend the evening with us. Curious enough? Come and visit..

Can you share one of your favorite cocktail recipes?

I love a classic Negroni:

30ml London dry Gin
30ml Italian Vermouth
30ml Campari
Stirr, ice block , orange zest…. Cheers

What was your biggest source of inspiration when creating the Rivages cocktail menu?

Connecting people,  rediscover that drinks and food are also elements that offer a full sensory experience.

What’s your favorite ingredient right now?

Always looking for the next one!

What’s the best part about your job?

People ! …. guests, my team and all the colleagues that make Rivages our home

Are you seeing a rise in non-alcoholic drinks and which are the top three most requested?

Definitely  There are a lot of new productshitting the shelves, new smells, new presentations. Our most requested cocktails are virgin mojitos, virgin piña colada and fruit creations.

Top tips for creating non-alcohol drinks at home?

Always use fresh ingredients, avoid more than 3 ingredients at a time  and divide  them as follows; 1 main flavor, 1 filler and 1 aroma. Sometimes ..less is more.

Drinking destination:

Rivages, Little Red door, Josephine Bar , Copperbay.

Dream customer:

No preference, everyone is welcome.