It's Carnival time - so why not spend it at a luxury hotel

Carnival is a bigger event in Europe than it is in Britain and luxury hotels around the Continent are always looking to make the most of this religious festival by turning into a joyous event.

Strictly Ballroom: 

  For the fifth consecutive year, Le Meurice, one of Dorchester Collection Paris hotels, is offering a Carnival Package in which young guests are invited to enjoy the show taking place on Sunday 24 February. Inspired by a different country every year, Le Meurice has chosen China as this year'stheme. 

Guests will be able to enjoy a family outing with activities which will delight all members of the family, including a colourful live ballet show based on chinese rhythms. Each year, Le Meurice partners with Stanlowa School of Dance to organise the Children's Carnival for a day filled with excitement and culture.

  From 3:00pm to 5:30pm young guests will be offered the chance to experience various activities including dancing and face painting, as well as balloon and magic workshops. They can also join the costume parade to perform in front of their families and friends.

  At the end of the day, Le Meurice will offer a delicious buffet created by the pastry team.

The rates for the Carnival Package are as follows: - Superior rooms from €700, Deluxe rooms from €870, Junior suite rooms from €1,010 and Superior suite from €1,900.

Mind the Gap! Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Tube with The Park Lane Hotel’s London Underground Afternoon Tea

To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the world’s first underground train system, The Park Lane Hotel in London has created a very special London Underground Afternoon Tea.  Available from 9^th January to 10^th February 2013, the London Underground Afternoon Tea will take guests on a culinary journey around the world-famous tube network.

Tea time: the Park Lane Hotel's homage to the Tube

 The first London underground journey took place on 9^th January 1863 between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan Railway.  To mark the anniversary of this momentous occasion, The Park Lane Hotel’s award-winning Pastry Chef, Sarah Hartnett, has created an exceptional Afternoon Tea menu which will be served in the exquisite setting of the Palm Court, The Park Lane Hotel’s famed Art Deco lounge.

   On arrival, guests will be greeted with a Metropolitan 1863 cocktail – a delicious blend of Beefeater 24 gin and blackcurrant tea.  Now produced in a distillery nearby Kennington Station, Beefeater gin was founded by James Burrough who bought his first London distillery in 1863 – the same year the London Underground was born.

   A selection of five sandwiches and savouries are then served, each designed to honour a different element of the Underground.  These include a ‘London Bridge’ roll with egg, crème fraîche, sun-blushed tomatoes and rocket; warm leek, asparagus and double ‘Gloucester Road’ tart; saffron ‘Circle and District Line’ roulade with coronation chicken and spinach and mini ‘Royal Oak’-smoked salmon bagels.  With their hollow centres, guests will definitely need to mind the gap!

   Towers of homemade plain and fruit scones will follow, complemented by ‘Limehouse’ Curd and ‘Victoria Plum’ Jam and clotted cream.  Finally, guests will be presented with a selection of London Underground pastries, working their way around the tube map.  The first stop will be Bank for hazelnut Pound Cake, followed by Victoria for orange Victoria sponge and Paddington for honey, lemon and pistachio cake (yellow and green for the Circle and District lines with more honey to keep Paddington Bear happy!).  The final culinary destination will be a white chocolate oreo Swiss ‘Roll’ Cottage!

   The Palm Court lounge is confident that guests will experience a good service during the Afternoon Tea but they should be on the look-out for any delays or planned engineering works. 

   The London Underground Afternoon Tea at The Park Lane Hotel will be served from 9^th January to 10^th February 2013 (3pm-6pm on weekdays and 2pm-6pm at weekends) in The Palm Court and costs £41 per person.  Bookings must be made in advance.

   For more information, visit www.palmcourtlondon.co.uk/london-underground-afternoon-tea.  To book, call The Palm Court on 0207 290 7328.

A close shave for guests at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

Luxury hotels are working harder than ever with their spas. Once considered something of an add-on, a luxury spa with high end brand name treatments and products as well as services such as personal trainers are now an essential part of the luxury hotel offering.

Face facts: Beauty and Care for HIM at the Grand Resort Bad

  Finding a service that will appeal to their male clientele is particularly tricky. 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is pleased to introduce a brand new Beauty and Care for HIM treatment, indulging male guests in a full four hours of physical inspiration, health, vitality and grooming.

  Beauty and Care for HIM combines luxurious grooming techniques – a 50 minute manicure and 60 minute cosmetic pedicure for nail and skin rejuvenation – with an 80 minute facial and 50 minute part-body massage to indulge, relax and promote well-being.   All elements of the treatment have been adapted for men. The facial – a Niance Men Power Facial – is crafted to provide resilience and firmness to the weary man, including facial and neck massage, breathing exercises for deep relaxation as well as cleansing, peeling, mask and serum; even extending to hands and arms to deliver a fully refreshed appearance and feeling. Each massage, manicure and pedicure is tailored to the needs of every individual – following a full consultation beforehand.

 Experience the indulgent Beauty and Care for HIM at 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland for £297 per person. Nightly rates at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz start from 490 Swiss Francs (approx £330) staying in a Double Room, VAT included.

   Rates include breakfast, welcome aperitif, fresh fruit and Ragaz water in room each day, use of the 12’800 sqm of the 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa area as well as the Tamina Therme spa area, daily fitness and relaxation lessons, test-driving Grand Resort Bad Ragaz’s popular Fun Car (½ day, excluding petrol, depending on availability) or a Joyride à la Easy Rider on a Harley-Davidson (excluding petrol, depending on availability during the summer months). The latest generation of Head test skis and Head tennis rackets are also available on loan to guests. Further included services available here.

BAR BOULUD KICK STARTS THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG

Bar Boulud, Knightsbridge’s award-winning French-inspired bistro and wine bar at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, welcomes the New Year with an assortment of new highlights showcasing the outstanding food, drink and service which have established its position as a leading London destination.

If the choucroute fits:
Bar Boulud's special accompaniment

  Bar Boulud has created a new collection of sausages to start New Year 2013 with a bang! The selection includes the Toulouse, a duck sausage served with a white bean stew, and the Choucroute, a house-made frankfurter with sauerkraut and pork belly. To add to the fun, two of Bar Boulud’s sausages will be available hot dog style on a bun; the Choucroute (frankfurter with sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard) and the Bar Boulud favourite, the Tunisienne (spicy lamb merguez with mint yoghurt and sweet pepper stew).   

  These additions will be available on the restaurant’s à la carte menu beginning January 2013 to compliment the Bar Boulud classics, including theBoudin Blanc, made with truffled white pork, and the Boudin Basque, blood sausage with spring onion mashed potatoes. Perfectly paired with the full range of beers available, Bar Boulud’s celebrated sausages are all prepared onsite by the restaurant’s world class Charcutier.

  Bar Boulud offers a rare selection of beers, many sourced from small, artisanal producers, including Schaehallion lager from Clackmannanshire in Scotland, Belleroseblond ale from France and Anchor Liberty Ale from San Francisco, California, served on tap. New for 2013 from 14 January, Bar Boulud launches a beer flight, inviting guests’ to taste a selection of three 75ml servings of draught beer for £5.

  For Knightsbridge night owls, Bar Boulud serves a Late Menu until midnight and a full selection of drinks and cocktails until 1am in the Bar and Lounge on Monday to Saturday, creating the perfect setting for a late night tipple and nibble. For early birds, Bar Boulud’s full à la carte menu is available continuously throughout the day from 12 noon in the restaurant and a £23 per person three-course prix fix menu is served daily between 5 and 7pm, and showcases celebrated Boulud signatures such as the Coq au Vin and Gâteau Basque. Steps from the Knightsbridge underground station, Bar Boulud is conveniently located within reach of London’s West End theatre district as well as The Royal Albert Hall in Kensington and The Royal Court theatre in Chelsea’s Sloane Square. Pre-theatre dining guarantees a great start to an evening in the city.

  Bar Boulud’s acclaimed Sommelier David Vareille will be opening a selection of special jeroboams and large-format wines (up to 18 litres in size) from his cellar to start 2013 in style. Pop in during January to catch a glimpse of the theatrics as Vareille opens the world’s largest size of wine bottle, a Melchior of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 1999 and an Imperial of Château Le Hourtin Ducasse 1996 from Bordeaux. Savour a glass of either paired perfectly with Executive Chef Dean Yasharian’s Côte du Boeuf roast for two. In February, Vareille invites guests to take a taste of Amarone della Valpolicella Gran Reserva 2006 Mattieli as he opens 36 hand-paintedjeroboams during the month to accompany Chef Yasharian’s smoked wild boar saddle on the bone for two, with the opportunity for guests to take home an empty bottle! During March, Bar Boulud turns its attention to seafood in season with whole-grilled British lobster. To complement, Vareille will be opening a Jeroboam of Silex by Louis-Benjamain Dagueneau 2009 and 2010, the most awarded Sauvignon Blanc in the world to pair with the king of shellfish, as well as a Jeroboam of Christian Moreau Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru 2007. Priced at £18 for a 125ml glass, serving great wine by the glass at the table from rare, large-format bottles within the buzzing restaurant is a Bar Boulud trademark.

Wine not?
Bar Boulud's wine cellar is vast

Follow @barbouludlondon on Twitter and Bar Boulud, London on Facebook for dates and details.

  Join Head Sommelier David Vareille as he continues his monthly wine series to wind down the week. Take a seat at the High Table to enjoy themed wine selections from around the world, paired with seasonal small plates. Taking place between 6 and 7.30pm and priced at £50 per person, the evenings’ are inspired by the following themes:

22 February: Syrah vs Shiraz

One grape, two names and continents. With more than a century of viniculture now under its belt and superb Shiraz coming out of the region, Australia has proved it can compete on the international wine scene. But, how do these still newer vines measure against the ancient terroir of the Rhône valley, and its famous Syrahs? Find out as we host a taste and debate!

15 March: A Sommelier’s Birthday Pours

In celebration of Vareille’s birthday month, he will share some of his favourite wine discoveries from around the world during 2012

19 April: One Dish, Six Wines

For winemakers, wines are an expression of the place of production and made to pair with foods of their region. But with globalisation allowing indigenous varietals and small-scale producers to achieve international distribution and recognition, wines must now be more versatile and pair with many cuisines. We take up the challenge to pair six global wines with one enticing dish.

Dinner with Dean

Bar Boulud’s renowned Executive Chef Dean Yasharian invites you to join him for Dinner with Dean this 2013. Offering the opportunity for foodies to travel off Bar Boulud’s menu, the informal evenings will centre around a six-course menu designed especially by the Chef. Guests at Dean’s table will taste some of the Chef’s personal favourite dishes from both his time in London and the US, as well as ingredients close to his heart and the freshest produce of the season. Dinner with Deanwill take place once a month from 7.30pm in one of the restaurant’s two Private Dining Rooms and is priced at £65 per person, with the option of wine pairing for an additional cost.

Saturday 2 February: Truffle Dinner (£250 per person for 8 courses, inclusive of wine pairings)

Saturday 2 March: Best of British Seafood

Saturday 20 April: Spring in Season

Bar Boulud, London is open from 12pm to 1am Monday to Saturday and from 12pm to 12am Sunday for Lunch and Dinner. Reservations for Bar Boulud can be made on + 44 (0) 20 7201 3899 or at www.danielnyc.com/barbouludLondon.html. For further information please visit http://www.mandarinoriental.com/london/dining/.

About Bar Boulud

Sister restaurant to the popular New York City outpost, Bar Boulud London at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park enjoys its own entrance on Knightsbridge. The seasonal bistro menu includes an impressive selection of house made terrines and pâtés served from a Charcuterie Counter, as well as a handful of signature sausages and burgers, adding an American touch to this French inflected bistro and wine bar. The Adam Tihany designed interiors are inspired by a contemporary take on the craft of wine making with a sleek open kitchen, vaulted ceilings, oak panelling, deep red leather banquettes and a zinc topped bar. The wine list focuses on Burgundy and the Rhone Valley, including many fine selections by the glass, as well as a wide array of draught and bottled beers.

About Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

With bustling Knightsbridge on its doorstep and leafy Hyde Park at its rear, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is London’s most prestigious address. Blending sumptuous guestrooms with a world-leading spa and a stylish bar, it is the definitive destination for a luxury escape. And with two award-winning restaurants including Bar Boulud, London and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the first London restaurant for one of the UK’s most renowned chefs, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park stands at the culinary centre of the capital.