On Tuesday, 12th November, La Petite Maison (LPM), the renowned French Riviera-inspired restaurant group, will celebrate its inaugural World Tomatini Day with week-long celebrations in honour of the beloved signature savoury cocktail, the Tomatini. A global emblem of luxury lifestyle and emanating the essence of LPM’s French Riviera roots, the occasion will be marked across all 10 of the restaurant’s locations worldwide for the first time in 2024.
Kicking off Tomatini Week on November 12th, each LPM restaurant will be paying homage to the exquisite tomato-based cocktail through this celebratory day in partnership with Ketel One Vodka and bringing farm-to-glass freshness with Pure Harvest Smart Farms. Guests dining at LPM during Tomatini Week can expect to be fully immersed in the celebrations, with each guest dining on 12th November receiving a complimentary Tomatini or TomatiNO upon arrival.
At LPM Dubai, Tomatini Week will feature a series of celebrations for guests to honour the iconic cocktail. Following the first day of Tomatini Week, when everyone will receive a complimentary Tomatini, the festivities will continue with a special Business Lunch menu available on weekday afternoons, featuring dishes that highlight the tomato in honour of the beloved cocktail. The afternoon affair, Cinq à Sept, from 5 PM to 7 PM, will also have a touch of Tomatini with a curated cocktail menu. On Tuesday, November 12th, the creator of the original Tomatini, Jimmy Barrat, will return to the bar for an exclusive guest shift alongside the LPM team. Additionally, throughout the week, several guest shifts will take place, as LPM welcomes various bars from around town, bringing the bar community together for a Tomatini-filled celebration. This week-long event is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the vibrant flavours of the French Riviera.
In addition to the exclusive menus and offerings during Tomatini Week, the restaurant and staff at LPM Dubai will be dressed to the nines for the occasion. LPM will beautifully decorate the restaurant and bar with vases of tomatoes and flowers. Each team member will wear custom dresses, pants, and shirts to add a stylish flair to the celebration, along with an exclusive Tomatini pin, adding a playful touch to their look as they serve guests throughout the week.
LPM’s Dubai outpost was awarded 76th place in the World’s 50 Best Bars’ extended 51-100 list in 2024, with the signature Tomatini forming part of the unique bar programme’s credentials that have now been awarded the impressive global accolade. With Tomatini sales across LPM’s 10 global restaurants increasing around 30% since 2023, the beloved cocktail is on its way to becoming a modern classic on cocktail menus globally. The Tomatini was created by 2011 Diageo WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year UAE Champion and 2012 Global Runner Up, Jimmy Barrat, for LPM Dubai in 2010, leading the way for the savoury cocktail trend that has now ascended to fame across the global dining and bar scene. With the introduction of The Tomatini, bartenders globally were encouraged to think beyond the Bloody Mary, using fresh tomatoes to instantly transport drinkers to the Mediterranean from the first sip. Now 14 years on, the Tomatini is enjoyed all over the world, all year round, with VIPs including Charli XCX, Harry Styles, Tom Cruise and Beyonce & Jay Z all known to be fans of the infamous cocktail.
The Tomatini is made exclusively with Ketel One Vodka, featuring a delicate combination of freshly muddled Campari Tomatoes, a pinch of salt and pepper, a 3-year-old white balsamic vinegar, and a dash of simple syrup for balance, garnished with a salt and pepper dipped cherry tomato and a theatrical crack of fresh black pepper from LPM’s signature giant pepper mill. The Tomatini is more than a cocktail – it’s the essence of LPM in a martini glass, and a symbol of the laid back glamour of the French Riviera.
Tibor Krascenics, Global Bar Manager at LPM, comments: “The Tomatini’s popularity continues to grow exponentially year after year, evolving into an iconic symbol of the playful yet sophisticated experience we offer at LPM. The Tomatini’s journey from an unexpected hit to a crowd favourite reflects how innovation and simplicity can create timeless trends.”
Jimmy Barrat, creator of the original Tomatini, says: “When Arjun Waney, the Co-founder of LPM and Zuma, asked me to create LPM Dubai’s cocktail menu for its opening in 2010, I was delighted to support our sister brand coming from the South of France. The cocktail itself was inspired by the simple feeling of longing for home. The first thing I do when going back to my French Riviera home is to grab a ripe coeur de boeuf tomato from my garden, salt, pepper, balsamic and freshly baked bread. The Tomatini is more than an accessible cocktail for all, it is that feeling of home away from home.”
Jimmy Barrat’s long-standing relationship with Ketel One’s Bob Nolet, 11th Generation Master Distiller from the family lineage behind the brand, led Ketel One to be the obvious partner behind World Tomatini Day.
Bob Nolet says, “My father created Ketel One Vodka to elevate cocktails. We are quite literally Made To Cocktail! We describe Ketel One as the perfect canvas for bartenders and consumers to make great drinks. Bartenders are our inspiration. I enjoy spending time with them and am inspired by what they create with our vodka; it keeps me motivated to keep doing what we do. I love the Tomatini, an innovative take on the Bloody Mary created by world-class bartender Jimmy Barrat for LPM. I love the fusion of tradition with innovation, in order to redefine a classic recipe.”
Pure Harvest Smart Farms’ award-winning tomatoes take centre stage in this iconic cocktail during Tomatini Week. The UAE-based company, known for its innovative growing technologies, produces sustainable, fresh, top-quality fruits and vegetables year-round.
Sky Kurtz, Founder and CEO of Pure Harvest Smart Farms, added: “La Petite Maison’s reputation for fresh produce, high-quality ingredients, and creative gastronomy aligns with our commitment to innovation and flavour. We’re delighted to contribute our locally produced, flavour-packed tomatoes specifically for Tomatini Week, bringing the essence of the French Riviera to Dubai in this special cocktail.”
Now with 10 worldwide locations, LPM is an internationally acclaimed French Riviera-inspired restaurant with a focus on exploring the joy of the Mediterranean using the highest quality, seasonal ingredients. LPM takes guests on a culinary journey filled with simple yet surprising combinations, unbeatable ambience and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To secure your place at this memorable Tomatini Week celebration in LPM Dubai, please contact +974 4420 9888 to create a booking.
