Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


 Past & Future Merge at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Serenity and five-star service in a dream like garden environment in theheart of Tokyo has attracted visitors for over twenty years as a former Four Seasons property, and in January 2013 it became a property of Fugita Kanko, where elegance and attention to detail continues to be paramount.

Hotel accommodations include 260 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites with views of the Chinzan-so gardens featuring the camellia hills that have a 700 year history. The Yu Spa, the largest spa in Tokyo, offers exceptional treatments combining modern technology and ancients wisdom of the Orient, in a peaceful and modern venue that showcases a 16,145 one of a kind rooftop serenity garden, along with a relaxing indoor pool.

The Camellia dining room offers elegant French food preparation and presentation in an exquisite venue that features a delightful menu of French favorites. The hotel has twelve restaurants, including Chu-an sushi restaurant and several attractive bars.

An historic site for guests to visit includes a beautiful shrine moved to this site in 1924 by Mr. Fujita. The Shiratama Inari Shrine, the Main Hall from Kyoto’s Shimogamo Jinja (a world cultural heritage site) and the Shiratama God as the guardian of the Shrine.

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, the iconic five-star flagship property of leading Japanese hospitality company Fujita Kanko, recently was named "Best Luxury Hotel, Japan, 2013" by Business Destinations magazine.  "We are honored and humbled to be chosen as the best luxury hotel in Japan," said Koichi Urashima, the hotel's General Manager. "We will do our best to live up to the title. We pay careful attention to the needs of both business and leisure travelers, and this award is very gratifying."

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 112-8680, Japan

 info@hotel-chinzanso.com, -81 3 3943 1111        BC

__________________________________________________________________

Historic Beverly HillS Haunts FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Bonnie Carroll

The Dorchester Collection now manages two iconic properties in Beverly Hills that are divinely decorated for the holiday season. Both the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Bel-Air Hotel are glimmering and glowing as the New Year approaches. 

THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL

The renowned Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel is just a small part of the subtle and smart changes being made to the historic hotel that celebrated its 100th year in 2013. The oval shaped room overlooking the dining patio have always been coordinated beautifully, but recent changes include lovely color and fabric introductions that soften the ambiance, however, the green and white striped ceilings and patio umbrella’s remain in tact. 

Pepe De Anda, the Polo Lounge Manager, who has greeted me at the door for over twenty-five years, is still there smiling and making people feel welcome. The servers, in immaculate white uniforms, are totally in control and strive to make your visit memorable. The dining room is relatively quiet, while the patio has always bustled with the activity of people wanting to be seen, and obviously still does. 

The menu in the Polo Lounge has changed many times, but today Executive Chef Kaleo Adams has introduced some amazingly healthy items like kale and quinoa salad. Sorry to say they no longer serve things like apple-pan-dowdy, but the McCarthy salad is still a big favorite, and according to my server the West Hollywood salad that was introduced recently has become a number one item on the menu. Personally, I would give their beet salad with goat cheese a best of 2013 award. 

Whether it’s steak, chicken, lobster or fish you will find fabulous entrée and salad items to pair. Soups and pasta dishes are outstanding, and the desserts in this ‘room to be seen in’ have always been something to brag about. The crème brulee is perfect! The bar features the best classic cocktails to be found, and as you would assume the wine list is an endless collection of the best in the world. 

Interior design changes are seen everywhere in the hotel, and also atthe restaurant pool, where the favored colors of pink and green remain but in soft subtle hues that are so attractive. The pool cabana’s have also been renovated, but will always be associated with the pool where major Hollywood stars have hung out through the years.

THE BEL-AIR HOTEL  

 Entering this noble hotel is magical. Walking under flowering vines, across the covered bridge overlookinthe swans lakedecorated for the holiday season, and on to the hotel lobby that is the ultimate combination of ‘old world charm’ and modern chic is a wonderland experience. The beautiful white swans floating on the lake before you is surreal, and the entire hotel is sparkling and elegant for the holidays. 

The Lobby, showcases a huge Christmas tree, and burning fireplace that are beyond inviting, as is the hotel dining room.  Chef Hugo Bolanos is in charge of hotel food and beverage and the Wolfgang Puck Bel-Air Restaurant, featuring walls lined with cabinets containing their amazing collection of fine wine to pair with lunch or dinner. 

The dimly lit and very intimate Lounge has an amazing photo of Tina Turner lining an entire wall, and live entertainment is featured here in the evening. This would be the ideal place to have a special rendezvous with friends or family during the holiday season.

Visit: www.dorchestercollection.com.

THE CRESCENT HOTEL

A local boutique option for holiday fun is The Crescent Hotel. This darling boutique hotel at Brighton Way and Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills was built in 1927, and today is a chic little jewel of a hotel that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as live entertainment on Thursday nights. 

The newly decorated property is a lovely spot for patio dining and cocktails by the Christmas tree in the bar. It is located one block from Beverly Hills City Hall, The Wallace Annenberg Center for the Arts, and the only family owned market in the city. 

Their talented chef Diana Hemandez, who has a curriculum vitae that includes a stint at CUT in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel with Chef Lee Hefter and work with the Patina Group offers a menu that has something for everyone. Their deep fried olives with blue cheese are an intriguing and delicious appetizer favorite with cocktails. Visit www.crescentbh.com.

  


2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | January 10 | February 10 | March 10 | March | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | August 11 | September 11 | September | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | March 13 | February 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | November 16 | February 17 | December 16 | March 17 | January 17 | April 17 | May 17 | July 17 | August 17 | June 17 | September 17 | November 17 | October 17 | December 17 | January 18 | February 18 | March 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | August | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | September 19 | October 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | December 20 | November 21 | December 21 | January 22 | February 22 | April 22 | May 22 | March 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | July 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07 | September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07
| March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
Dember 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06 | March 06 | February 06 | January 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05 | May 05
April 05 | March 05 | February 05 | January 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved