La Déjeuner Sur L’herbe – Dressing for The Grand Hotel of Rimini

Last week I wrote about the luxury gastronomy event held yearly in Rimini, Italy called Al Menì. I was really impressed with the fact that it was open to the whole family and had so many great aspects to it such as the 5 euro gourmet meals and designer artisan market. The Al Menì event, however, that will stay with me for the rest of my life was the Déjeuner Sur L'herbe - Lunch on the Grass.

What I Wore - Fiorucci for Fellini

A beautiful summer day, I wanted to dress the part with vibrant, bright colors. I wore a (*short*) skirt by the late Italian designer Elio Fiorucci, whom you may have heard recently passed away on July 20th at 80 years old.

I LOVE THIS SKIRT and have styled it for every season because it is short enough to be worn in the summer, and yet also double lined in cotton so it works well with boots for the fall. I only started wearing shorts and skirts a few years ago in my late-20s (don't ask), so now I feel like I have to make up for lost time!

I paired the skirt with a fine knit top that I bought a few years ago when then Pantone color "Vivacious" was really trending. This top is by the brand Stefanel, and Italian brand specializing in knitwear that I usually buy on sale here! I've styled this top before for a visit to Ferrara and I've styled this skirt here for a Market stroll and here for Modena's Philosophy Festival.

Fellini & The Grand Hotel

I remember the first time my husband ever brought me to Rimini and we did the typical tourist rounds. Rimini was the birthplace and home to the iconic Italian filmmaker Fellini, so we paid his monument a visit and then casually strolled past The Grand Hotel.
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The Grand Hotel is the only 5 star hotel in Rimini, an immense elaborate white building set among the ancient Maritime Pine trees with a perfectly manicured garden. Build in 1908, the hotel is still decorated with 18th century Venetian and French antiques and still has the original parquet floors and chandeliers. *Swoon*

One of Fellini's most famous films of all time, Amarcord, was set in the Hotel and elaborated his fantasies of the hotel guests. Amarcord is still a cult classic and put Rimini on the map internationally. After his success Fellini spent a lot of his life at the hotel and was there as a guest the day he died!

La Déjeuner Sur L'Herbe

One of the only events of the Al Menì Gastronomy Festival that required an RSVP was the Déjeuner Sur L'Herbe, so if you are thinking of going make sure you book your spot in advance! I was invited to attend as a member of the Press, however, I would have gladly purchased tickets for my husband and son but the event was SOLD OUT! I am literally already marking my calendar for next year - June 2016 here we come!

At only 30 euro a person the 3 hour gourmet lunch, was WELL WORTH the price, people trickled in at around 11:30 am and many stayed until almost 3 pm!

The ambiance was incredible, with all of the details and finery that you would expect to find at a 5 star hotel, but with the staging of a casual picnic in the park. Along with the formal table settings there were also checkered blankets on the manicured lawn, complete with picnic baskets, pillows and paper cutlery packages.

I couldn't help myself and diverged from the rest of the press group to sit alone on the grass.... and it was so divine.

The Food

The breakfast was prepared by Claudio di Bernardo, The Grand Hotel Head Chef and Roberto Rinaldini, a Pastry "maestro"! I mentioned in this article last week that many of the Presidium Slow Food products from Emilia Romagna were available for purchase at the farmer's market. Well they were also available to taste at this lunch! Many of the delicacies like the Prosciutto di "Mora Romagnola" (I've written before about the Mora Romagnola here) and a Pecorino with chocolate were part of the buffet. They were good.... boy were they good!

At a relatively moderate price I can honestly say people will have the chance to eat some of Italy's most excellent products, in a backdrop that is second to none. I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to attend on behalf of the Emilia Romagna region.

I finally got to enter the prestigious gardens of The Grand Hotel of Rimini and feel, even if only for a few hours, like a guest in the luxury establishment, instead of holding onto the bars of the gate looking in from the outside.

INFO

If you're thinking of going to the Al Menì Event in Rimini I've written about it here. Surprisingly, you can stay at The Grand Hotel for less than the price of a three-star hotel in New York!! T his is a link to my affiliated partner where you are guaranteed to find the lowest price on the internet (often with breakfast included and no booking fee!).