Moved by the idea of creating something different from the "usual" static locale confined by walls, still as it is immobile, Ginevra dal Dosso brought to life her personal project called "Paracelso" with ambitious enthusiasm and a desire for freedom and movement. It was born as a counter-current bet, this original itinerant cocktail bar embedded aboard a particular and almost unfindable vehicle.
Citroën 2CV, class of ’67, Cyclades blue paint
factory original, purchased in perfect condition from an extremely jealous baker in Milan who reluctantly sold it to her in 2019. Shortly thereafter, Ginevra would commission, from skilled hands, modifications to adapt the vehicle to her vision. With meticulous care and attention, as well as the utmost respect for the vintage car, the 2CV was transformed into the current van equipped for the desired dual use.
Ginevra, a sunny and young bartender from Florence, has the awareness and strength of family experience in managing restaurants and bars. The name refers to the visionary doctor of Swiss origins who had a combative career in the 1500s. Dr. Paracelsus bravely promoted innovative cures and remedies based on the use of unconventional methods for the time; he tended to avoid surgical interventions, defying ancient traditions, and asserted that "The art of healing is the work of nature, not of the doctor," preferring medical treatments based on wild and medicinal herbs.
Geneva - which already from the name in the field of mixology promises well, as it contains one of the most famous and beloved spirits in the world (GIN, of course!) -, is a genuine and professional woman, with delicate manners and aesthetically pleasing appearance, coming from a family of restaurateurs from the Siena-Florence area who know a lot about how to delight the palate of their adventurous guests, carefully selecting which bottles to bring on board. Few, to optimize the limited space of the drink car, which in itself lacks a normal pantry, and at the same time intriguing, to amaze while having fun mixing niche products selected by Geneva herself with all the curiosity and passion that sets her apart, driven by the continuous search for never banal spirits and bitters that can satisfy and anticipate the most varied requests.
The highlight of Paracelso is represented by the liquid proposal, strictly coming from
Small and little-known realities predominantly Italian
like interesting and very aromatic artisanal Gins made in Tuscany, prepared with botanicals typical of Chianti vineyards, also with a Sangiovese wine base, Etna Bitter, saline and seductive Gins with Pantelleria capers, Vermouth with herbs collected in Romagna, Bitter with red beet extract, liqueurs with wild fennel from Sicily and rose petals from Piemonte, and much more that never repeats itself, but always rotates and refreshes in conscientiously planned rotations.
The short Drink List proposed to the client is the result of meticulous study conducted ad hoc, based on the expertly blended summation of multiple factors that make each Paracelso’s party unique and unrepeatable, such as: the time slot in which the event will take place (lunch, pre-dinner, post-dinner, etc.), the various desires of the client, the location (outdoors on a hill, by the sea, in historic centers, in public parks or private gardens, at the top of a slope, by the roadside, at the geographic coordinates of a meeting…, or indoors within shops, commercial activities, frescoed salons, etc.), the setup or theme chosen, the seasonality of the moment when the celebration will take place, the nature of the celebration itself (anniversary, birthday, graduation party, meeting, rally, parade, wedding, but also … divorces and intimate marriage proposals!) and finally, but no less negligible, the expected number of guests to refresh.
A brief list is thus drawn up, alternating timeless classics made with original touches with Ginevra's staples, leaving aside the endless generic lists of cocktails. For example, the "Kiss Me Laurel," a refreshing, light drink prepared in a tall tumbler chilled with plenty of ice cubes, to which 4 cl of laurel liqueur is added on the rocks, finished with slightly spicy soda and a bay leaf for decoration.
Paracelsus is a real bar.
Equipped with a counter, glasses, refrigerator, but at the same time presents management difficulties due to, for example, the lack of a storage facility and a dishwasher. It is as versatile, multifaceted, and adaptable - just think that it only requires fuel to reach the destination and a 1 kWh electrical outlet on site - as it is demanding of precise and accurate organization and meticulous calculations, prior to the event, not allowing for any room for improvisation; every detail and quantity must be known and estimated to achieve the best realization and success of the event.
During breaks, the 2 CV rests in Florence inside the show-room of Motor Italia, safeguarded by the automotive friends of the exclusive Glem Circle club and surrounded by the company of equally unique peer vehicles.
And so since 2020, Ginevra, doctor ad honorem in the mixing of spirits and sought-after botanicals, at the helm of Paracelso embarks on the mission to heal and lighten the spirits of passersby, satisfying them and giving them smiles without bounds.
