Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos (Photos: Instagram/laurensanchezbezos)
Newlyweds Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 61, and former journalist Lauren Sánchez, 55, tied the knot on Friday. The wedding, held on the tiny Venetian island of San Giorgio, was a power packed spectacle. According to Reuters, the opulent festivities are rumoured to have cost around 50 million dollars. Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, every power figure was present for the ceremony.
Fabrizio Mellino
The VIP guest list was treated to a morning spread worthy of its price tag. This was not just breakfast. It was a culinary showcase. Reports claim the billionaire spent 1,000 euros per guest for the occasion. One of the most acclaimed chefs around, Fabrizio Mellino, yes, the wunderkind who earned three Michelin stars before most of us mastered boiling pasta, served up family recipes that have been passed down through generations.
Cedric Grolet is recognized as one of the world’s best pastry chefs. (Photos: Instagram/cedricgrolet)
As for the wedding cake, Bezos and Sánchez went straight to the source, visiting one of Paris’ most celebrated patisseries, Cedric Grolet’s. You know the one. Viral on TikTok, with that pop up in Madrid for anyone keen to skip the queues in Paris. Grolet does not just bake, he creates edible art.
The couple may have chosen headline grabbing chefs, but according to the Daily Mail in an article published before the wedding, it stated, “While the Amazon billionaire and his soon-to-be wife may be picking revolutionary chefs to work their magic among the Venice canals, their menu is steeped in tradition. Each course is set to be based in the south of Italy, with Mellino’s restaurant ‘Quattro Passi’ based in Nerano, Naples. Among the main courses of the menu will his signature dish of spaghetti alla Nerano, a recipe based on fried courgettes and a smoked cheese called provolone.”
Mellino is known for using local ingredients, prepared with care and a touch of innovation.
To finish, Venice’s oldest pastry maker, Rosa Salva, baked nineteenth century fishermen’s biscuits for the party favours. Guests were also served pasta, desserts and cheeses from the Campania region around Naples. There were mignon pastries, desserts in a glass, and delicate single portion creations featuring lemon, ricotta and pear.
Of course, no Italian feast is complete without wine. Michael Bozzelli, writing for Casewinelife.com, wrote that the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, presented Bezos with a magnum of Amarone. This is not your everyday red. Amarone is a rich, full bodied Italian classic, known for its bold flavour and equally bold price tag.