Inside the Grey Goose Winter Ball for the Elton John Aids Foundation

On Saturday 10 November, GREY GOOSE hosted its annual Winter Ball to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation attended by the international A-list.

Hosts GREY GOOSE, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, David Furnish, Kevin Spacey were joined by a glittering guest list that included Elizabeth Hurley, Shane Warne, Labrinth, Emeli Sande, Eliza Doolittle, Jessie Ware, David Hasselhoff, Hofit Golan, JLS, Jay Kay, Giles Deacon, Marina from Marina & The Diamonds, Wretch 32, Angel, VV Brown, Leah Weller, Zara Martin, Gavin Turk, Theo Fennell, Tamara Ecclestone, Ollie Locke, Harriet Scott, Paco Roncero of elBulli, Suki Waterhouse, Clara Paget, Bonnie Wright, Graham Norton, Trudie Styler, Craig Roberts, Conor Maynard, Julien MacDonald, Grace Woodward and more.

Kevin Spacey replaced the usual Winter Ball co-host Sir Elton John, who is in Australia standing in for his friend George Michael on the tour dates Michael had to cancel due to illness.

Two Michelin-Starred Chef Hélène Darroze created these canapes for the event:

• Compressed heritage tomato, burrata and basil.
• Sizzled field and forest mushrooms, porcini shallots and red wine drizzle on toasted brioche
• Goats’ cheese mousse, piquillo pepper and olive dust
• Lobster crostini with girolles and crisp pancetta
• Welsh black beef fillet, served pink with béarnaise to dip

Starter

• Nicoise-style red mullet, ratatouille, pitchouline olive tapenade & basilica, bouillabaisse vinaigrette with Sicilian olive oil

Main

• Roasted saddle of lamb with sage, “crepinette” with confit shoulder, white coco beans with pimientos del piquillo & Pissalat jus with anchovies from Cantabrique

Dessert

• Manjari chocolate granache, hazelnut Gianduji biscuit, galangal cream

Following dinner, esteemed auctioneer Charlie Ross presided over an exciting auction that saw incredible lots donated by the evening’s partners being sold to the highest bidder. These included lots donated by Anderson & Low, Karun Jewellery and Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, the Toronto International Film Festival, Labrinth and Raymond Weil, and the evening’s bar design partners:

Karim Rashid Bar, Cocktail Party & Hotel Break Lot

• ‘Hatch’, a thoroughly modern portable cocktail bar designed by Karim Rashid created using state of the art moulding techniques, contemporary plastics and super high-gloss finishes. Ostensibly a smooth, glossy egg shape, the bar conceals moving shelves and drinks preparation areas that can be drawn out to turn it into a fully functioning bar
• To celebrate the arrival of the winner’s bar in their home, GREY GOOSE will throw the ultimate cocktail party featuring Karim’s bespoke cocktail GREY GOOSE L’Avenir, for up to twenty guests
• The winner will also spend two nights in a spectacular suite deigned by Karim at nhow Berlin, Europe’s first music hotel, including GREY GOOSE cocktails at Soho House Berlin

Gareth Pugh Bar, Cocktail Party, Catwalk Show & Dinner Lot (£40,000)

• ‘Monolith’, a sleek black cubic bar designed by Gareth Pugh that demonstrates the designer’s fascination with structure and the juxtaposition of light and dark. Handcrafted from ethically reclaimed black African hardwood, the front of the bar folds down to reveal a single bottle of Grey Goose automatically lit by spotlight as well as concealed drinks preparation areas
• To celebrate the arrival of the winner’s bar in their home, GREY GOOSE will throw the ultimate cocktail party featuring Gareth’s bespoke cocktail GREY GOOSE La BoÎte Poire, for up to twenty guests
• The winner will also attend Gareth’s catwalk show at next year’s Autumn / Winter 2013 Paris Fashion Week Show with a guest, before dining at Jules Verne, the Michelin-starred  Alain Ducasse restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower

Ellen Von Unwerth Bar, Cocktail Party & Portrait Session Lot

•  ‘Sugar & Spice’, a cocktail bar inspired by the female form, referencing the glamour of 1920’s cabaret in particular. Designed by Ellen Von Unwerth, the bar is watched over on either side by two angel-like figures. Completing this unique piece was a limited edition Ellen Von Unwerth photographic print hanging on the back bar
• To celebrate the arrival of the winner’s bar in their home, GREY GOOSE will throw the ultimate cocktail party featuring Ellen’s bespoke cocktail GREY GOOSE Golden Angel, for up to twenty guests
• The winner of this lot will also have their portrait shot by Ellen, who is recognised as one of the world’s top fashion photographers. The shoot will include professional styling, hair and makeup to help create the full Ellen Von Unwerth experience

RAYMOND WEIL had teamed up with Labrinth and donated a prize of the limited edition  BRIT Awards watch which went for £180,000.

Only a sensational music act could follow such a dramatic auction: luckily the three MOBO  award-winning Emeli Sandé was on hand to give a live set that included a duet with Labrinth of their number one single Beneath Your Beautiful. With Emeli’s set concluded, the After Party entered full swing, beginning with an electric musical performance by Labrinth including the All-Stars remix of his number one single Earthquake that guests enjoyed into the early hours.

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