Style, you
either have it or you
don't. And if you have it, you have it
all the time.Chocolate Covered Rogue
by Tux Toledo
Have
you ever been to a chocolate tasting? That’s right, a
chocolate tasting. Don't worry if you haven’t because I had
never been to one either. That all changed the day I received
a hand-delivered invitation from Pierre Lupo. It was printed
on paper so thick you could have built a house with it. The
elegant tan envelope was hand-addressed in maroon ink and contained a
tiny piece of chocolate wrapped in gold foil, a nice touch that told me
Pierre had hired the best help in the City to throw his
party. Very impressive, very expensive, very Pierre.
I suppose you should know a few things about Pierre. Pierre
Lupo was an importer of snooty gourmet foods and he also fancied
himself to be somewhat of an gourmet chef. The verdict was
still out on the latter. What he was, beyond a shadow of a
doubt, was a passionate man and his invitation surely meant that
chocolate was his latest passion.
I unwrapped the small piece of chocolate. What does one wear
to a chocolate tasting? If you know me, you know that I
always dress for the occasion. So Black tie and tails were
definitely out, so too tweeds and plus fours. Perhaps one of
Savile Rows more modern cuts or one of those expertly tailored suits
from Naples - Italy, not Florida. I settled on Savile Row.
Such an occasion also required new footwear. I'm sure you
know that the purchase of shoes should not be taken lightly.
Lobb's in Paris have specific rules a gentleman should
follow. These rules begin with the three levels of broguing:
formal, town, and sportive. The more decorative the broguing
the more casual the shoe.
"James, what kind of shoe does one wear to a chocolate tasting?"
"Brown, obviously," he said.
"Obviously."
In the end my choice was untraditional: a fine pair loafers
with leather so soft you could sleep in them. Well, chocolate
tasting is a rather adventurous event where even the most casual Oxford
or Darby would be out of place. You'd understand if you had
ever been to one.
© 2008 David Biagini