Friday, July 10, 2009

The InterContinental Yokohama Grand has opened its Bayside Beer Garden in the precincts of the hotel's outdoor first-floor terrace, offering the perfect spot to enjoy panoramic views of Yokohama port, sea breezes, and a few beers with family and friends on summer evenings.

There's a two-hour, all-you-can-eat-and-drink plan for ¥4,500 in advance and ¥5,000 at the door. The plan includes a buffet, and unlimited beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks. There are a la carte selections as well. In the event of bad weather, the Starboard music lounge will be used.

The beer garden is open through Sept. 30, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (last orders 9:30 p.m.) on weekdays, and from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. It is closed Aug. 1 for a fireworks event.

The hotel is also running the "Everybody Wins" prize draw in celebration of its 18th anniversary Aug. 20.

Those who stay at the hotel or spend more than ¥3,000 at a one of its facilities between July 1 and Sept. 30 can participate in the draw. Prizes include complimentary stays at the hotel and other group hotels in Asia, Okinawa and Tokyo, and hotel restaurant vouchers.

The InterContinental Yokohama Grand is a two-minute walk from Minatomirai Station or a 10-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station. For beer garden reservations, call (045) 223-2267. For more information on the campaign, call (045) 223-2222.

Exclusive Italian dinner

From 6:30 p.m. on July 15, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, will hold an exclusive Gaja and Sadler Dinner at the Piacere Italian restaurant.

The dinner will feature wines from Gaja, one of Italy's foremost wineries, and the exquisite culinary creations of chef Claudio Sadler from Milan and chef de cuisine Paolo Pelosi of the Piacere.

Sadler is one of the most accredited chefs in Italy and runs the Michelin two-star Sadler restaurant in Milan.

Gaja was selected in 2008 as "the winery of the year" by the definitive source of information on Italian wine, Gambero Rosso. The dinner will feature five of its most coveted wines — Gaia and Rey Langhe 2006, Gaja Ca'Marcanda Magari 2006, Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 2001, Barbaresco 2005 and Sori Tildin 2001 — as well as Grappa Costa Russi, paired with a six-course menu prepared by the two chefs.

The dinner is available for 50 guests and costs ¥50,000 per person, including tax and service. There is also a special room rate for diners who want to stay overnight at the hotel.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, is a five-minute walk from Tokyo Station. For reservations, call (03) 6739-7888.

Summer fish delicacies

Genji-koh Japanese restaurant at the Royal Park Hotel in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, is offering an eight-dish course featuring ayu (Japanese trout) and hamo (pike conger).

The course serves the two summer delicacies in a variety of ways — in a soup, as sushi, boiled, grilled and in a nabe (hot pot).

The course (¥15,750 per person) is available between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for lunch, and between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. for dinner, through July 31.

The Royal Park Hotel is a five-minute walk from Ningyo-cho Station on the Asakusa Line, and there is a direct link between the hotel and Suitengu-mae Station on the Hanzomon Line. For more information, call (03) 3667-1111.

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