Friday, Dec. 4, 2009

The Hyatt Regency Tokyo's Italian-inspired Caffe diner has created "Afternoon Sweets Set" as its tea-time menu selection.

Stepping away from conventional Italian sweets, the set offers the all-day diner's original sweets using ingredients indispensable to Italian cuisine, such as tomatoes, basil, cheese, olives and spices, with a unique presentation.

The three-dish set, which will change menus seasonally, currently offers Italian tomato compote with Mascarpone and basil gelato, topped with olive oil and crispy burned olives; chocolate and ricotta cheese mousse with an accent of chili pepper, strawberry sauce; and three kinds of mignardises with coffee or tea.

The set is available at ¥1,800 between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Hyatt Regency Tokyo is adjacent to Tochomae Station; a four-minute walk from Nishi Shinjuku Station; a nine-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. For details, call (03) 3348-1234.

Victor's hosts Esterhazy wine fair

The Westin Hotel Tokyo's French restaurant, Victor's, is holding an Esterhazy Wine & Food Week in cooperation with the Esterhazy family to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of Joseph Haydn.

Hungary's Esterhazy noble family has been renowned as a wine producer since the early 1700s. Their products were loved by Queen Maria Theresa of the Habsburg Empire and the family's world-famous court composer Joseph Haydn, who drew part of his salary in their wine.

Through Dec. 18, lunch and dinner courses in harmony with the family's award wining wines will be presented by Michal Rabina, the chef at the Schloss Esterhazy palace in Austria.

Lunch courses start at ¥4,800 and dinner courses start at ¥9,000. A la carte menus are also available. Wines are from ¥1,400 by the glass and ¥7,500 by the bottle.

On Friday, Dec. 4, a special concert of Haydn classics will be offered with Rabina's special dinner and Esterhazy wines, starting at 7 p.m. for ¥15,000.

The Westin Tokyo is located in Ebisu Garden Place, a seven-minute walk along the Ebisu Sky Walk from the East Exit of JR Ebisu Station. For further information or reservations, call (03) 5423-7777.

Yokohama Grand Christmas menu

The InterContinental Yokohama Grand has prepared a Bayside Special Dinner for this Christmas season from Dec. 16 to 25, limited to three pairs a day.

The special dinner, served in the hotel's Italian Grill La Vela, which commands a dynamic night view of the Minato Mitai district, features four dishes featuring fresh local ingredients and comes with Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose. For dessert, an assortment of three kinds of sweets — each lavished with aromatic truffles — will be festively presented.

The dinner costs ¥32,000 for two people and is from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (last order) from Dec. 19 to 21 and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Dec. 22 to 25.

InterContinental Yokohama Grand is a two-minute walk from Minatomirai Station or a 10-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station. For further information or reservations, call (045) 223-2368.

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