The night before our interview, I watched the documentary, Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven, sunken in fascination.
As an avid fan of the Warhol-Capote period, I was naturally captivated by Sirio’s past, working as the Maître D at Colony Club. I had read about such places in various adaptations of Capote’s biography: Colony Club, La Côte Basque, and Le Cirque were hotspots for “ladies who lunched.” Upon arrival at the Bloomburg Building, I knew exactly who I was meeting and what each Maccioni family member looked like.
Exhibited throughout the restaurant were large black and white posters of famous faces wining and dining at Le Cirque. I was, gladly, placed at a table next to the photo of Jackie O, my back was facing her face. Immediately, this set the mood for the interview, I felt streams of history unraveling even before Marco approached. If all went well, this would also be a table of heaven of some sort, no, a table of heavenly stories.
Two hours went by, neither Marco nor I could stop. Personal stories have always fed my curiosity. I couldn’t stop inquiring, while Marco generously shared away childhood stories and family tales. I was mesmerized in every sordid detail. It was clear, he took after his father (who was in Italy with the rest of the family at the time, but called quite a few times throughout our interview.) The charm, the personable magnetism, paired incredibly well with irrefutable openness. I will always remember what he learns from his father, “ to not sell out, is by personally overseeing everything.” To him, selling out is something associated with your name or brand, yet you have zero control over the decision making process. He constantly asks himself at Le Cirque, what would his father do?
Long before celebrities became walking brands of their own products, there was Sirio Maccioni, who has dealt with the most demanding clienteles in the world. But his secret is one that we can all take away with: Being able to deliver on those people’s desires. Understanding them and never judge them. It’s no wonder, as the Maccioni family continues to diversity themselves with: Circo, Sirio or catering for cruise lines; they make the art of reinventing a brand appear effortless. Sirio has always done this, as he has taught his sons: listen to the clients, and adapt to the changes of time.
Read more of my interview at Le Cirque here.
Delish travels,
