Windsor Court:
Built for the 1984 World’s Fair, The Windsor Court Hotel boasts many European touches, including an authentic English afternoon tea service. Beginning November 29, Holiday Tea service will begin in Le Salon at $42 per person. Offering a selection of 26 of the finest loose-leaf variety brews, tea time begins with a light cocktail or sparkling beverage, followed by a properly brewed pot of tea and nibbles like gourmet sandwiches made of lobster salad and truffle egg salad, scones served with traditional Devonshire cream and lemon curd, and desserts like chocolate covered strawberries. Reservations are required and seating times vary. For additional information and for the menu, visit: http://www.windsorcourthotel.com/le-salon
Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Resort:
Tea with Tiepolo is a tradition not to be missed at the Rome Cavalieri hotel. Served in grand style at the magnificent Tiepolo Lounge and Terrace, the service combines the charm of an English afternoon tea with the style and panache of Italian cuisine. Finger sandwiches, scones, selection of pastries and assorted fruit are all served on a vermeil tea set while the team menu offers such exotic blends as Yin Zhen, a rare white tea from an island in Hunan province in China, and Budda Ama-Cha, an exotic green tea grown in the uplands near Kyoto in Japan. Tea is served daily beneath one of Rome Cavalieri’s greatest art treasures – the magnificent Tiepolo triptych. Painted in 1725, it originally adorned the walls of Palazzo Sandi in Venice and features a series of mythological scenes. During the Christmas season, the Rome Cavalieri is decked to the nines with Christmas decorations and if tea isn’t for your palate, the Tiepolo Lounge offers flavored hot chocolate and malt whisky during the festive season as well.
The Langham, London:
While taking in the sights of London or searching for that special Christmas gift, rest your feet and enjoy the delicacies of The Langham, London’s festive afternoon tea. Traditional English tea service began at the Palm Court at the The Langham, London, more than 140 years ago. To carry on this tradition, every Langham Hotel around the world serves afternoon tea, called ‘Tiffin at The Langham,’ on a daily basis. For Christmas, the Festive Afternoon Tea will begin seatings December 2 at £43 per person (£63 on Christmas and Boxing Day) twice per day at 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Choose from a wide range of teas with the assistance of Langham, London’s Tea Sommelier and nosh on such tasty treats as a Christmas log cake with mini mushroom, Christmas bauble cookies, and cranberry snowflake macaroon.
Kitano New York:
For a festive and cultural holiday celebration, The Kitano, New York’s only Japanese-owned hotel, offers guests the ability to plan an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony to celebrate the season with the ability to also learn about Japanese tea and culture. The Kitano works with local tea schools to conduct the unique and intimate experience, a rare occurrence in the U.S. and can tailor the theme of the ceremony to fit the mood of the season. For example, last year a “Tea for Compassion” was offered to prepare guests for the proper mindset during what can often become a hectic and hurried holiday. The Traditional Tea Gathering Ceremony involves the chance to sample and learn about the traditions of thin tea (usucha) served in some of the finest pottery and antiques along with a traditional light meal (tenshin) prepared by the hotel’s Michelin starred Japanese restaurant, Hakubai. The ceremonies take place in rooms with traditional Japanese décor and an authentic setting with tatami mats and shoji screens. During the holidays, guests will also be treated to viewing the traditional Kadomatsu holiday display at the entrances of the hotel and Hakubai. For more information on how to book a holiday tea ceremony, please visit www.kitano.com.
ROME:
Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel will be offering a top notch buffet Thanksgiving dinner at L’Uliveto restaurant complete with decorative autumnal foliage, pumpkins, and chestnuts. Example dishes include pheasant pate with blueberry, Roasted young turkey with traditional dressing, sweet potato puree, Waldorf salad and traditional desserts like apple pie, pumpkin pie and an Italian touch of pumpkin gelato. Pricing is €100 for adults and €40 for children. Want to enjoy the meal from the comfort of home or hotel room? The Thanksgiving lunch/dinner is also available for takeaway when placed 48 hours in advance at €65 EUR per plate for three courses of your choice.
HONG KONG:
The Langham, Hong Kong’s Main St. Deli has two options for travelers to celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving, which includes a traditional Thanksgiving menu with all the trimmings or simply order from the much sought-after Turkey-to-go menu and enjoy your feast ready-cooked and delivered to your door. At HK$318 per person, the 3-course Thanksgiving menu features a selection of mouthwatering delicacies including Maine Crab Cakes, Butternut Squash Bisque, Roasted US Tom Turkey with apple, sage and cornbread stuffing, sautéed Brussels sprouts, buttered baby carrots, honeyed sweet potatoes, whipped potatoes, pan gravy and cranberry sauce. Completing the meal is a choice of Pumpkin Cheese cake or Maple Glazed Pecan Pie with cinnamon ice-cream. This festive set menu is available on 28 November for lunch and dinner. A 4-course “Turkey Party Menu” combo priced at HK$2,188 for 6-8 people and HK$2,588 for 9-10 people is ideal for larger gatherings. To enjoy the feast at home, the Turkey-to-go menu is no doubt the best choice! Two tantalizing Turkey-to-go combo menus are available priced at HK$1,688 (for 6-10 people) and HK$2,388 (for 16-20 people). Order now and enjoy an early-bird discounts of 10% off. The takeaway menu is available for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, from 1 October until 31 December 2013. 48 hours advance booking is required.
LONDON:
Executive Chef Carlos Martinez of The Lyttelton at The Stafford, London has created a special Thanksgiving feast for those craving turkey and all the fixings for the American holiday. For £70 per person, each diner will receive pumpkin soup with amaretto biscuit and seaweed dressing; pan-fried foie gras; slow roasted turkey crown with apricot stuffing, cranberries and winter vegetables; and baked pumpkin bread and butter pudding with whisky sauce.
Windsor Court – Réveillon – NEW ORLEANS
Christmas in New Orleans is unlike anywhere else in the States, with its vibrant sites, Creole food and traditions offered all month long. Anyone making the trip to the Big Easy this holiday season should partake in a Réveillon dinner. A French word meaning ‘awakening’, Réveillon can be traced back to the mid-1800s when elaborate meals were eaten by families to break a day long fast when they returned home from Church after the Midnight Mass. This custom was aptly named Réveillon because it re-energized the participants who had maintained abstinence through the day.
The Grill Room at Windsor Court Hotel, helmed by Chef Daniel Causgrove, will be offering Réveillon throughout December (with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve), from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at $60 per person, complete with course options like crudo of yellowfin tuna, Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, and pear tart tartan.
The Kitano – Osechi meal – NEW YORK
In the Japanese culture, New Year’s Day, or shogatsu, is considered to be the most important of the annual holidays, and the celebratory tradition calls for an elaborate meal setting the stage for a well-balanced way of living in the New Year. This special meal, consisting of six-courses meant to ensure good health, fertility, a good harvest and a long life in the coming year, is called Osechi. The Kitano, New York City’s only Japanese-owned hotel, upholds the tradition by offering a traditional Osechi meal in the hotel’s Michelin-rated restaurant, Hakubai. In the past, the very traditional courses have included Nasuma (an appetizer comprised of marinated daikon and carrots in rice vinegar with jelly fish, crab meat, sesame, mitsuba leaf and seaweed), simmered dishes of yams, koya tofu, daikon, carrot, squid, burdock, and snow peas and rice dishes featuring Sekihan (steamed rice with red bean and pickles). Also in Japanese tradition, the hotel will feature Omiki in its lobby on New Year’s Day. Guests will enjoy a complimentary cup of sake which is thought to remove the negative signs from the previous year and ensure a long life.
The 2014 Osechi meal will be served on Jan. 1 and 2 at the following times:
Lunch, $95 ($30 to add a Sashimi course): 9:30a.m.(offered on Jan. 1 only),11:30a.m., 1:30p.m.
Dinner, $125 pre fixe menu: 6:00p.m.; 8:00p.m.
Reservations are required and can be made by after Dec. 1 by visiting www.kitano.com.
Sirio Ristorante, The Pierre Hotel – Feast of the Seven Fishes – NEW YORK
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American Christmas celebration.[1] Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. However, some Italian-American families have been known to celebrate with nine, eleven or thirteen different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. It is unclear when the term “Feast of the Seven Fishes” was popularized. The famous restaurant gives a modern twist on the Tuscan tradition, and last year, served up a five-course prix fixe menu with a variety of fish dishes such as seared prawns served with red lentils and crispy roasted sea bass with tomato, spinach and chickpea puree (this year’s menu is still being developed), at $85 on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
About Langham Hospitality Group
Langham Hospitality Group encompasses a family of distinctive hospitality brands which include hotels, resorts, residential serviced apartments, restaurants and spas, located on four continents. It takes its name from the legendary Langham in London which was opened in 1865 as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For almost 150 years, this flagship hotel has represented sophisticated and gracious hospitality, a philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses across all properties. The brands include the luxurious Langham and Langham Place, the upscale Eaton Luxe, midscale Eaton Smart and the award-winning Chuan Spa. The Langham is where guests can enjoy service with poise and be enchanted by our innovation and traditions while Langham Place, the fun sibling of The Langham, is about living the 21st century through design, technology and attitude, epitomising stimulating hospitality.
Eaton, a premium member brand, aims to surprise and delight our guests with a value-for-money proposition that delivers a stylish, modern level of comfort with spirited, can-do service. Currently 31 member hotels are open or in the pipeline across four continents.
Langham Hospitality Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings (Stock Code: 0041) which was founded in 1963 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972. Reservations for either Langham or Eaton properties can be made by logging onto langhamhospitalitygroup.com.
About the Rome Cavalieri
Situated in a 15-acre private park just minutes from the Vatican, the Rome Cavalieri is hailed as a luxurious resort in the heart of the Eternal City. Featuring 370 guestrooms, including 25 suites all with private balconies overlooking the city’s monuments, the hotel is home to a highly prized private collection of furniture, paintings, tapestries, statues and artifacts exhibited throughout its public spaces and suites. The hotel also features six food and beverage outlets including the legendary “La Pergola” restaurant and bar, a Grand Spa, and the most extensive meetings space of any luxury hotel in the heart of Rome. For more information, please visit www.romecavalieri.com.
About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a portfolio of 24 landmark destinations, each being a true reflection of their surroundings in the world’s most sought after locations. Unified by their inspirational environments and unparalleled guest service, Waldorf Astoria creates unique authentic moments through the delivery of True Waldorf Service. Personal concierges deliver unparalleled, bespoke service from the moment a guest books through check out. From signature culinary excellence, 12 world-class golf courses and 23 rejuvenating spas, Waldorf Astoria offers luxuriously appointed accommodations and unforgettable experiences. Waldorf Astoria is a global luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide with development plans to add 12 new hotels to the brand. Experience Waldorf Astoria by booking at www.waldorfastoria.com or learn more about this expanding portfolio by visiting http://news.waldorfastoria.com.
About Windsor Court Hotel
Located in the heart of the Central Business District steps from the French Quarter, the 23-story
Windsor Court has long been the choice for discerning travelers to New Orleans. The award-winning luxury hotel features 316 oversized guestrooms and suites, the acclaimed Grill Room Restaurant, the storied Polo Club Lounge, the celebrated Le Salon for afternoon tea and an extensive art collection with mostly works of British origin, among other amenities and services. In January 2012 the Windsor Court completed a $22 million restoration to all its guestrooms, suites, and public spaces, including the Club Level Lounge, the pool, addition of the lobby Cocktail Bar and Spa at Windsor Court. The hotel was purchased in October 2009 by a new ownership team led by The Berger Company of New Orleans and the Dallas-based Crow Family Holdings. Windsor Court is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts and is a member of the Southern Living Hotel Collection, an invitation-only group of four- and five-star hotels that represent the best in authentic Southern hospitality. For more information, please visit www.windsorcourthotel.com.
About The Kitano
The Kitano New York opened its doors in 1973 as New York’s first Japanese hotel. Forty years later it remains the first and only Japanese-owned hotel. Located four blocks south of Grand Central Station on fashionable Park Avenue at 38th Street, the 18-story hotel towers over some of New York City’s most magnificent turn-of-the-century dwellings, offering spectacular views of city landmarks. The hotel features 149 guestrooms, including 17 contemporary suites and a one-of-a-kind Japanese Tatami Suite. Known for an acclaimed jazz program, The Kitano is now home to JAZZ at KITANO, a supper club located in a former Rockefeller townhouse adjacent to the hotel. The inviting and intimate space features daily performances of classic and contemporary jazz accompanied by a Pan-Asian inspired menu. The Kitano New York is also home to the critically acclaimed Michelin-rated Hakubai restaurant where traditional Kaiseki delicacies are served. The Kitano New York is a member of Summit Hotels & Resorts, a consortium of deluxe hotels worldwide.