With soothing instrumental music playing over a P.A. in the background and a plethora of beautiful (albeit artificial) floral arrangements surrounding them, an estimated 200 guests drank Champagne and nibbled at passed hors d'oeuvres as they mingled at the grand opening of the Village of Merrick Park's newest store: Emilio Robba Retail Boutique.
Adding to the 75 stores he has worldwide in places like London and his hometown of Paris, Italian sculptor Robba was on hand for this—the grand opening of his first United States boutique, a retail venue housing everything from $9 floating candles to enormous $15,000 sculptures tucked away in the back. Walking around taking pictures and chatting with his guests, the host and aptly nicknamed "Sculptor of Flowers"—whose name brands Daum crystals' newest collection, a history that also includes Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dal×made sure everybody felt at home at his minimally decorated event.
"The event was a great success. We were overjoyed with the turnout. We kept the decor minimal so the guests could capture the essence of Emilio Robba," said Leemor Rhodes of Harrison & Shriftman, the company responsible for putting the event together.
This minimalist decor consisted of hanging floral art, funky-shaped metallic tables and chairs, and lots and lots of floral sculptures from Robba's many collections, including Imag'in and Zen, as well as Illusion and Trend. This exclusive collection of silk flowers seem quite lifelike, from the soft transparency of their petals to the veins in their sap-filled foliage, and that kind of attention to detail is what defines his legacy and earned him his nickname.
Thierry's Catering was hired to provide the food for the grand opening. Served butler-style and presented to attendees on unique Emilio design trays decorated with fresh herbs and exotic flowers, the company produced 10 fabulous hors d'oeuvres, including: pan-seared foie gras on toasted ficelle, drizzled with balsamic syrup; braised beef cheeks, served spoon-style; snail pizzota; boneless frog legs with parsley jus; bresaola and arugula antipasti with goat cheese; Peruvian shrimp ceviche, served spoon-style; Mediterranean fougasse with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and arugula; crème brûlée, served spoon-style; fresh raspberry crostata; and finally, Thierry's famous "Golden Lips." - test
—Albert del Toral
Emilio Robba's newest retail boutique, his first in the United States, features branding on both the arrangements and this mirrored wall.
The artist (white shirt, right) was on hand to take pictures with guests and answer any questions they may have.
Thierry's Catering provided the food, which included things like these butler-passed braised beef cheeks, served spoon-style.
The store has a massive variety of floral sculptures available to guests, ranging in price from $9 to $15,000.
Geometric-shaped metallic benches and these elongated flat-paneled artistic photographs of plants hanging from the wall defined the night's simple, yet unique decor.
Late into the night, Thierry's waitstaff started serving "Golden Lips" to Robba's attendees.
