Artist Nancy Cadogan hosts dinner at The Pem for Ladies Who Lead series

Artist Nancy Cadogan hosted an intimate dinner at The Pem last Thursday as part of the venue’s new Ladies who Lead series, created to honour a selection of prominent women in British culture. The event brought together both friends and fans for an evening of food, wine and art.

Guests were served a selection of canapes, including some delightfully fluffy mini cod cakes and savoury beetroot cannolis, followed by a four-course tasting menu and wine pairing that echoed the Italian influences of Cadogan’s Lake Como-inspired Stanza collection. The artist, known for her figurative paintings exploring literature and the still moments of life, displayed The Writer’s Nest – a wistful work born of memories and longing for drinking wine and reading. 

To start, attendees were treated to a rich San Marzano Tomato and Fior di Latte tart, intricately topped with an Old Winchester cheese (think pecorino) crisp. Succulent Capa Santa Scallops, accompanied by a light but punchy fennel salad, concluded the first half of the meal. Then came a powerful Wild Mushroom and Wood Pigeon Risotto, before the infinitely oozy Baba au Limoncello with mascarpone cream for dessert.

Each course was carefully described to the room of women, and universally affectionately committed to Cadogan’s centring of wine in both her art and life (the artist connects with her girlfriends once a month to “drink wine and chat”). A silky 2023 Villa Bucci, Verdicchio Classico Superiore, served with the scallops, gently pulled out the acidity from the white onion purée, and the 2019 Ceretto Barbera d’Alba Piano subtly mellowed the intensity of the risotto.  This evening, she announced, was about exploring the “taste and imagery of how we celebrate friendship”. And it did. 

Writer, author and wine expert Helen McGinn continues the Ladies who Lead series on the 20^th November.  

Hattie Birchinall

The Ladies Who Lead series is on from 16^th October until 20^th November 2025 at The Pem, Conrad London St James, 22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH. For further information or to book, visit here.