ART CAFÉ EIGHT The craft of cocktails Art Café Eight is the latest addition to Dar es Salaam art hub The Drum and channels the creativity of its surroundings into its imaginative menu of freshly prepared food and drinks. Its cocktails, which look as good as they taste, are especially noteworthy. They have long been a passion of café manager Paolo Frattari, who has been a key player on the Dar hospitality scene since 2007, including a stint running celebrity favourite Elements nightclub. Here he reveals what it takes to be a mixology master and even shares the recipe for Eight’s signature cocktail to try at home. You were born in Rome, Italy, but have lived in Dar since 2007. Tell us about your culinary journey in the city. In my years in Tanzania I have been involved in different projects. I started out in charge of food and beverages at the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel (now the Hyatt Regency). I have been director of an entertainment company and organised concerts and promotions. I’ve also been in charge of sales at major
drinks companies MMI and MarkTechno (Now Bevco). I ran Elements, which is probably the most popular lounge in Dar es Salaam with all the local celebrities, and recently I left Tanzania for Nigeria to oversee the opening of Slow Lagos, which is already considered the best restaurant in Nigeria and one of Africa’s finest. Covid brought me back here and I planned the opening and launch of Art Café Eight at the Drum. Where does your passion for cocktails come from? Cocktails and cuisine are my passions and I see many connections between them. It starts with conceptualising a cocktail or a dish, then mixing ingredients to find the perfect balance. You then create garnishes to add a visual wow factor. I love to see the reactions of customers to my drinks and dishes. I have loved cocktails since I tasted my first one,
24
Paolo Frattari (right) with Hassan Athman Mwabasi
which was a caipirinha [Brazil’s national cocktail made with lime, sugar and cachaça, a spirit distilled from fermented sugar cane juice]. Eight is based within the Drum complex, which is a hub for artists in Dar. How do you feel your drinks reflect the creative environment? The menu is unique, entirely created by me. The look and garnish of every drink is beautiful, just like the art that surrounds us at the Drum. The setting for customers is quite special with an ancient tree forming a natural roof for diners and drinkers. The massive bamboo tree in the middle of Eight is our trademark along with the equally huge baobab at the gate. It provides natural shade for our customers and filters the sunlight beautifully. We also have covered areas if diners prefer. I believe your cocktail ingredients are almost exclusively locally sourced. Can you give me some examples of the ingredients used?
