Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Epicurean Events

British Inspired Cocktails and Main Dishes in Honor of Prince William & Kate Middleton on the Menu

With the royal marriage of Prince William & Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011 in Westminster Abbey, the traditional venue for weddings, coronations and burials of the monarchs since 1050, local hotels have also joined in the royal celebration.

According to Radha Arora, General Manager for the Beverly Wilshire Hotel “our staff has enjoyed collaborating with Karen Erp, General Manager and the staff of the Santa Barbara Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore to create some imaginative cocktails and menu items to allow our guests to celebrate in the April 29 marriage of Prince William to the beautiful Kate Middleton.”

Chef Gilles Arzur from the Beverly Hills property, and Chef Alessandro Cartumini from the Santa Barbara property put

their culinary wizardry to work generating dishes and sips with a British flair to present during the month of April. They include main dishes of Fish & Chips, Sheppard’s Pie or Bangers & Mash, along with a selection of lovely cocktails with names like BBC, James Bond, Big Ben, the Middletini and Blushing Kate.

The Blushing Kate recipe is included for your enjoyment at 11:00am on April 29^th. Cheers!!

Blushing Kate: Bombay Sapphire gin, lime juice, muddled blackberries and crème de casis. BC

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL HOUSTON CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF HOSPITALITY WITH A QUARTET OF OFFERS

Guests can mark the 50th birthday of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts with special epicurean experiences, spa treatments, and room package

On March 21, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts reached a golden milestone: its 50th birthday. To mark the occasion, Four Seasons Hotel Houston is offering a collection of dining experiences, spa treatments, and a value-driven package so guests can join in the celebration too.

Birthday Dinner

A golden anniversary warrants a special night out. Now through the end

of March, revelers can enjoy a special four-course tasting menu at the hotel’s contemporary Italian restaurant, Quattro. Crafted by Executive Chef Maurizio Ferrarese, The Ultimate Quattro dinner menu features tastes of his home country such as Zuppa di Pastinaca (caramelized salisfy bisque with foie gras and roasted oyster mushrooms) and Duo di Agnello (roasted lamb, braised shank, and butternut squash puree.) The menu is available for dinner only and is offered at $50.00 per person.

Make a Toast
Quattro Vinoteca is enticing oenophiles to cheers 50 years by raising a glass of local wine. All Texas-produced wines will be offered at a 50% discount in the third-floor wine bar until the end of March. Each can also be matched with one of the Italian small plates the venue has become known for such as: prosciutto flatbread (topped with arugula, Gorgonzola cheese, and drizzled honey), crispy fried artichokes with aioli, and roasted shrimp with cannellini-bean cream.

Pampering Party
For those seeking a relaxing way to celebrate, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Houston is offering two birthday treats. For the remainder of March, guests can enjoy a stress-relieving massage or rejuvenating facial for just $50.00 per treatment.

A Special Stay
Guest seeking a way to allow the festivities to last longer can book the hotel’s special 50th Birthday Weekend Room Package*. Offering room rates starting at $159.00 per night, and a $50.00 F & B credit for a birthday-worthy dining experience in any of the hotels restaurants, it is the perfect way for guests to experience the hospitality that has set, and will continue to set, the brand apart from its competitors.

*50th Birthday Weekend Room Package begins at $159.00 and includes $50 food & beverage credit to be consumed at any restaurant outlet or in room dining (excludes spa). The package is available: March 18-20, March 25-27, April 8-10l, April 15-17, April 22-24, and June 29-01. For reservations: 800.734.4114.

Executive Chef Wade Murphy prepares meals for guests to serve and enjoy in the comfort of luxury cottages on the Irish countryside

Guests looking for the privacy and comforts of home while traveling can now enjoy their stay in one of the 17 Links Cottages at The Lodge at Doonbeg with meals prepared by Executive Chef Wade Murphy. Chef Wade has created the new Cottage Cuisine Menus offering over 100 dishes from breakfast to barbeque that are delivered to the cottages to be enjoyed at any time. The new menus are perfect for couples and families, providing flexibility and convenience without the restrictions of a restaurant schedule.

Chef Wade's Cottage Cuisine Menus allow guests to sample local dishes, such as Seafood Pie or Chowder, Traditional Fish and Chips and Eton Mess. For guests that miss their grill at home, the "Who's the Chef" barbeque menu offers selections including Irish Beef Burgers, Burren Lamb Burgers and Free Range Pork Chops, delivered to the door. Doonbeg also offers ready-made picnic baskets for day trips to the surrounding countryside such as the Cliffs of Moher or the Burren, a one-of-a-kind natural landscape.

Offering panoramic views across the fairways or pasturelands, the resort's cottages are styled with antique furnishings, cozy fireplaces, winding staircases, and fully-equipped kitchens. Cottages are available with one to four bedrooms en suite and span 3,100 square feet.

Guests that stay in the Links Cottages can still enjoy the hotel's amenities including an award-winning Greg Norman-designed links course, the White Horses Spa which offers a variety of wellness treatments, fine dining at The Long Room and informal cuisine at Darby's Bar. Rates start at $224 per person, per night for cottage accommodations. For more information or to make reservations, please contact (866) DOONBEG (366-6234) or visit www.DoonbegLodge.com

Set along the Atlantic shores in County Clare, The Lodge at Doonbeg is the only 5-star luxury coastal resort in western Ireland. The 400 acre property features 189 guest rooms and suites as well as a magnificent Greg Norman-designed championship links course and distinct dining by Tom Colicchio, Consulting Chef of the Lodge. The White Horses Spa, a sanctuary of wellness and rejuvenation designed by Clodagh, incorporates the essence of Ireland into all treatments, with skincare products by Kerstin Florian. Also available are whole ownership cottages and suites and a private residence club managed by Timbers Resorts. The Lodge at Doonbeg is owned by Kiawah Partners, the master planner behind Kiawah Island, South Carolina and Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts. The Lodge at Doonbeg is a member of Small Luxury Hotels.