I met Orlando Marzo when I was writing about Joe Vargetto’s Bianchetto and Orlando was curating the drinks list. Orlando is passionate about what he does and a great storyteller. When I ran into him again at the Little Food Market recently and he suggested catching up to tell me his story and take me through some of the Loro drinks, I said, no way. Are you kidding? A world class bartender and winner of the prestigious 2018 Diageo World Class Cocktail Competition coming by with drinks? Of course I said yes! Orlando's bartending journey began in Modena, Italy. After completing hospitality school, he headed to London to sharpen his craft, honing his skills and making connections until he got to work at his dream bar, Milk & Honey. By the end of 2013, Orlando made his way to Australia, having heard about Melbourne's hospitality scene and seeing it as the next step. He worked at Eau-de-Vie. Dinner by Heston, and Lume and discovered a gap in the market for elevated ready to serve drinks. Fast forward to December 2021, and Orlando launched Loro, a bottled cocktail company designed to bring world-class cocktails to anyone, anytime. And very happily, that included me. This was the perfect Friday afternoon: stories and cocktails, what more could I ask for?