Meo brought to book
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
Bartolomeo Calderoni was champion for the hospitality industry in London, England from 1919 when he arrived in London as a 28 year old to at least 1961 when Bartolomeo was still working at the May Fair as mâitre chef.
Bartolomeo Calderoni
(from Dangerous Characters The Arandora Star Tragedy, Alfio Bernabei)
After retirement, he was consultant chef for the Spaghetti House chain of restaurants. Additionally, he was said to have opened Beachcomber Restaurant at the Mayfair Hotel.
During his time in Tatura Camps, he did not participate in work parties. Bartolomeo told authorities that he was busy writing a cook book.
His dream was realised in 1978 when Bartolomeo at 87 years old, published The Complete Book of Cold Dishes. On the occasion of its publication The Times ran an article Meo is brought to book at last in The Times Diary section of their newspaper.
To have invented Steak Diane would have been enough for most master chefs. Not so Bartolomeo Calderoni. He also introduced scampi to Britons. A spritely 87, Meo is masterminding the Italian fortnight at the Café Royale which opened last night. He picked all six chefs (flown over from Italy) and drew up all the menus. And to help launch the festa gastronomiques, has written his first book, ‘The Complete Book of Cold Dishes’. He tells me that to qualify for the name, Steak Diane must not take more than three minutes to fry: lightly pink inside. As for the scampi, he imported them from Venice’s Grand Hotel in exchange for British Smoked Salmon and grouse when he was head chef at Quaglino’s in the 1930’s. "Meo is brought to book at last", "The Times Diary/PHS", The Times, 11 April 1978, p. 16
In the early 1980s, Bartolomeo was interviewed by documentary producer Alfio Bernabei for his production: Dangerous Characters The Arandora Star Tragedy.
After an astonishing and remarkable career as mâitre chef, Cavaliere Bartolomeo Calderoni died in London 8th December 1989.
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