The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel 1127 Connecticut Ave.  NW

Businessmen and women, brides to be and event planners- there are some great spaces to host an event in DC, but if you want regal elegance The Renascence Mayflower is your location.  This historic location was built in 1922 and has hosted US political royalty from day one.  Notably the site of an Inaugural Ball every election year and President Kennedy’s sex scandal with Judith Campbell Exner. Even the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal made The Mayflower it’s base camp as the then- intern was staying at the hotel when the news broke.

Guest Room

With Presidents and politico’s making this hotel their social center there is no question that the rococo interior and warm tones of the rooms are up to snuff for the upper echelon of society.  Offering up a whopping 583 guest rooms and 74 suites the hotel certainly has the means to house a party of any size.  Although you many need to book this location way in advance, the suites are worth the extra thought. The Parlor Suite for instance has a living room and fireplace to cozy up to. While the Mayflower Luxury Suite has a formal dinning room and balcony overlooking Connecticut Ave. All of these rooms are decorated in the very ‘oval office’ color palate of cream, yellow and rich blue, making the residents of 1600 Penn feel right at home when announcing their re-election campaign, like Harry Truman did in 1948.

The Mayflower Suite

When you are finished signing bills, lobbying the hill or protesting on the mall- take your meal at The Mayflowers in-house restaurant Edgar Bar & Kitchen.  Named for J. Edgar Hoover, who frequented the previously titled Town & Country Restaurant every day for 20 years the restaurant has just been remolded in 2013.  Offering up American style food that is perfect for a drink after a long day or grabbing a business lunch.

Edgar Bar & Kitchen

The hotel is near the busy Dupont Circle area of Washington DC, but the restaurant may be most convenient for those hosting a meeting in the hotel.   With 27 meeting rooms this hotel has plenty of options for the event you many want to host.   Intimate board rooms like the Delaware Boardroom has luxurious leather seats and an elaborate wooden table that seats 14.  However, more utilitarian needs can be met in the Hospitality Suites accommodating 16 to 30 people. Larger groups can choose between classroom, theater,  conference or U-shaped meeting arrangements- found in the Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Georgia, North Carolina and New York Rooms. All of these spaces accommodate a groups size from 20 to 70 people.

Delaware Boardroom

The Grand Ballroom with adjoining Chinese Ballroom can host and astounding 880 people for a banquet and is a popular site for weddings and gala functions in DC because of it’s beautifully painted ceilings and chandeliers.  If you have a group size of 3 to 5 hundred we suggest you book the Slate or East room which both boast high ceilings and elegant ambiance.

Constitutional Room

Chinese Ballroom

Promenade Ballroom

Welcome to the Alexandria,  VA Hotel Monaco, I just popped into this colorful location on a regular spring afternoon and thought I would give everyone a good look.  The boutique feel of this Kimpton comes through in the bold and energetic design and the Staff was very friendly when I strolled through.  Jackson 20 is the restaurant pictured above, but I cannot say much more than that since I did not experience the stay or the food.  Here is a quick look at their public areas and a few photos from the hotel’s site of their guest rooms.

The location of this hotel is right on King Street, a central shopping and restaurant area of Alexandria, blocks away from the Potomac River Waterfront and steps away from City Hall there are  great seafood restaurants nearby, musicians on the streets and historical tours walking by.  Stroll around King and don’t miss out on the Torpedo Factory,  a converted factory that now houses local artist’s galleries and workshops!

 Hotel Lobby

Hotel Bar at Jackson 20

Front Desk

Adorable Courtyard

Standard King Guest Room

Gym and Pool

Meeting Space

Wedding season is approaching DC and as all planners and fiancee’s  know, you need to find the best location! Thank goodness we have some brilliant hotels that have created spaces that perfectly transform to accomodate every size party and demanding bridezilla!

The Sheraton Premiere at Tyson’s Corner has just renovated their event spaces in 2012 including three ballrooms, lobby restaurant and guest rooms. So not only will your wedding space be brand new, but the location is the prefect blank canvas that any bride to add their personal touch! The Sheraton’s event planners are happy to work with you to help choose decor, flowers and linens for the event as well. Not only is this events a convenient space to get to, but it offers free parking and great perks for the bride and groom to be. Their are complementary 4 course tasting menue to help the bride and groom pick their dinner for the occasion and a bridal suite and changing room for the groom to get ready on the day of the event. The coule will be able to use Starwood points gathered through the event toward their honeymoon at any Starwood location on the globe! We also love that the hotel will build a complementary wedding website where you can track your guest’s RSVP’s and bookings! To read more about the many options avaliable to the couple-to-be read more on the hotel website.

We love the octagonal room in the Sheraton Premiere which has it’s own personal elevator which connects to a drop of point below the hotel, allowing for an amazing surprise entrance to the wedding venue! The Ash Grove large ballroom is also spectacular because of it’s three enormous crystal chandeliers as well as it’s capacity to seat 600 people! Take a look at the space below.

The Federalist at The Madison Hotel in McPherson Square Washington DC is a comfortable upscale restaurant that offers the best mid-Atlantic fare. From seafood to fresh locally grown produce The Federalist gains a following for many of it’s recipes. Some of the most praised are the Chesapeake Rockfish, a delicious melt in your mouth fillet and the Carolina Gold Rice, a cheesy risotto with crab meat.

The cushy couches and friendly service allows guest to take their time, relax and  enjoy the meal (and possibly lick their plates).  This is a great spot to decompress after a long day at work, or a active day on the hill. If you would like to be quickly sent off into a warm sea food slumber we suggest the creamy gnocchi with grilled calamari. These perfect pillows of gnocchi were the perfect compliment to the atmosphere and countered the cold weather outside.

The full bar at the restaurant offers specialty cocktails that are artfully presented. We suggest that you stop into the Madison’s Federalist Restaurant for Sunday Brunch which is a generously portioned 3 course Prix fixe with appetizers and desserts shared at the table. We loved the eggs Benedict and polished off table favorite, the  woopie pie for dessert.

The quiet atmosphere lends itself to a calm evening or a productive lunch with clientele, with impeccable service and great tasting food,  everything about this restaurant has us coming back!

After Church, and the Easter egg roll at the White House (of course) you and your loved ones should take a look at what is on the buffet tables of these great restaurants! Here are our top pics for DC’s best brunch menus this March 31.  Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, the food offered up here may just inspire you to!

The Hay -Adams

Fall down the rabbit hole at The Hay Adams’ Alice and Wonderland themed Easter celebration. The Top of the Hay will have an overwhelmingly delicious buffet Easter morning including a chilled seafood bar,  hand-rolled sushi bar, carving station and dessert table.  The Brunch station is the envy of this event though, with stars like chicken-apple sausage, smokehouse bacon, cranberry foccacia french toast, roasted potatoes, artichoke and goat cheese ravioli, crab cakes and more.  This family friendly brunch is $100 per adult and $50 per child, remember to bring your cameras to get pictures with the Mad Hatter!

Masa 14

The Pre fixe brunch at Masa 14 is a great deal for the hungry and adventurous customer. Set at $25 without alcohol and $35 with creative infusions like bacon bloody Mary and lemon lager order as much as you like, the plates just keep coming. Still hungry after the first wave of spiced salmon steak salad, or masa chicken salad? That’s fine, follow it up with our table favorite, bacon fried rice and the addictive pan dulce! Most orders are topped with a fried egg to add to the perfection, don’t miss out on the adobo-marinated flank steak!

 

(image: Masa 41′s Pan Dulce)

 

(The Jefferson’s Greenhouse Restaurant)

The Jefferson

The Jefferson has a great option for the family as they are offering a pre fixe menu that serves up four starters, an appetizer and three desserts for the table to share.  After a enjoying the starters of fruit, pastries, shrimp cocktail and smoothies select your appetizer and entrée. We suggest the crab cake eggs Benedict but loved the creativity in the salmon “en Croute”.  Foodies will also love the fresh house-made fettuccine! I am a huge fan of the sugar-dusted doughnut holes, so save room for the great desserts at the end, which unfortunately you share with the table. That being said,  may I have a table for one? Easter Brunch is $80 for adults and $40 for children.

Beacon Bar and Grill

(Proof Restaurant)

Washingtonian Magazine has announced their rankings for this year’s top 10 Restaurants in the Washington DC area. There are some title defenders and some new spots to check out.  Here is what we think of the winners and our order recommendations when you visit! 

10.  Proof

Proof in Chinatown is a great place to grab a cocktail, a sandwich for lunch or splurge on a full course meal. With an extensive selection of great wine and an atmosphere that lends itself to intimate conversation and laid back dining experience – it is no surprise that the food is as sophisticated and versatile as the setting.  This is a great spot for crispy tofu or duck-liver mousse.  Our favorite main courses are the gnocchi with lamb Bolognese and crispy Peking duck breast. 

9.  Zaytinya

Jose Andres expands his tapas collection of restaurants with Zayatinya, which offers european and middle eastern inspired finger food.  Small plates like caramelized okra with crisped chickpeas (image above)  and cabbage dolmas with chestnuts rice and parsley pack lots of flavor into their bit size portions. Our recommendation – be sure to order the Brussel sprouts. They are amazing!

8.  Blue Duck Tavern

Locally sourced, organic ingredients prepared in a beautiful open kitchen, The Blue Duck Tavern does everything it can to transport you right to the farm for a home cooked meal.  Serving all-american cuisine with creative and deliciously prepared dishes, we recommend the foie gras with a hen egg to start,  rib eye for two or grits with redeye gravy for the main and it would not be ’americana’ if you didn’t order the warm apple pie to finish the night.

7.  Little Serow

Within walking Distance from Logan and Dupont Circles, the casual atmosphere of Little Serow may take you a bit off the beaten trail, but this restaurant serves up some 5 star Thai food that you don’t want to miss.  A few great dishes we recommend are the minced pork with lemongrass and sawtooth, the catfish with galangal and kaffir lime and the pork ribs marinated in Mekhong whiskey.

6.  Adour

After a beautiful renovation,  Adour’s French Luxury has been given a modern twist that has again landed them in the top ten for the 4th consecutive year. This St. Regis restaurant is noted for their stand out foigras stuffed squab breast atop cabbage and deserts like; hazelnut soufflé with smooth orange sorbet, meringue slices with pear chutney and maple-pecan pastry.

5.  Marcel’s

Marcel’s serves Beligian and French cuisine with flamboyance that is only upstaged by its food.  Complex soups and perfectly tender meats have earned this restaurant it’s high rating for many years.  For the main course we suggest the Pan-seared diver scallops with butternut-squash hash and crispy shiitakes, and for dessert a chocolate- coconut crumble.

4.  Fiola

Fiola’s menu items sound more beautiful then my critique ever could, but believe me they taste even better. Here are some amazing selections from Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola;  chestnut soup, veal-cheek risotto, pappardelle with hare ragu,  ; prosciutto-wrapped veal chop with hazelnuts, branzino with Malpeque oysters and turbot in a tomato broth with calamari. Molto Bene!

3. CityZen

Renown for its fresh ingredients, City Zen  at The Mandarin Oriental in Capitol Hill combines american cuisine with Asian flavors and techniques.  Don’t miss out on unique dishes like calf’s-liver sashimi and the short rib shoat belly which can be complimented by the restaurants new deserts, Mexican chocolate tart and Valrhona-chocolate brioche.

2.  Komi

Located in Dupont, the intimate  Komi is a Greek Restaurant  that offers seasonal selections of seafood and traditional mediterranean roasts like goat shoulder and skinned suckling pig.  Since 2010 Komi has earned its top ranking, so expect to enjoy head chef and owner Jonny Monis’s creative talents during your visit.  It is sure to be a memorable meal!

1.  The Inn at Little Washington

The defending champion of the number 1 slot is the Inn at Little Washington and is well- deserving of the title offering great food and a cozy atmosphere. With the prix fixe menu you will venture into an artistic mix of french technique and american classics that result in dishes like; Tuna tartar with cucumber sorbet, blueberry-vinegar-marinated pigeon with a zucchini crepe and pan roasted lobster with tomato butter.  Makes for a great surprise for any special occasion, truly an unforgettable dining experience!

Fun & Playful

No matter the budget, couples are looking for ways to incorporate more fun into the traditional ceremony and reception, like bringing their well-behaved pets into the bridal party.  Tides couples exchange vows on the green lawn, then toast with Lancaster Lemonades over a game of croquet.

A portable photo booth is a fun way to capture memories, especially when guests can don a bit of costume for their portrait, like zany vintage hats and boas.  Or, pose on our Tides fleet of bicycles or toss the bouquet and make the getaway from a yacht in the marina. Other wedding weekend fun activities include bon fires, make-your-own s’mores, and late-night barbecues on the beach with sparklers.

(image- Blue Duck Tavern from Park Hyatt Website)

Need a weekend away from the kids? How about some R&R at a hotel spa? Well you don’t need to go far, because Washington’s finest 5 stars can host your Valentines! Sleep in, enjoy breakfast in bed,  a day at the spa and a romantic dinner all in one place!

Park Hyatt- Romance at the Park Package

Treat your loved one to a romantic getaway in Washington, DC and enjoy time just for the two of you with our indulgent Romance at the Park Package, including:

• Luxury accommodations with a complimentary upgrade to a Premier Park Deluxe room
• American breakfast for two at Blue Duck Tavern or through In-Room Dining
• Dedicated ‘bath butler’ to provide a luxurious drawn bath in the guestroom’s limestone soaking tub, complete with bath salts and tea lights
• Chocolate truffles
• Bottle of house sparkling wine
• 2:00 pm late checkout

(Image- Mandarin Oriental Washington Spa courtesy of hotel website)

Mandarin Oriental- Love is in the Air Package

(Juniper Restaurant from Fairmont Washington DC website)

Fairmont Washington DC – Bed and Breakfast Package

Spend your leisure time exploring Washington while enjoying the elegance of Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown with the hotel’s Bed & Breakfast package.

• Overnight accommodations for two in a luxurious guestroom at Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown
• Full American Buffet Breakfast for two in Juniper per day

(Image: John Ueberroth Chairman and Chief Executive officer of Preferred Boutique Hotel Group Unveiling the boutique distinction plaque  with General Manager Philip Wood)

Since 1923, The Jefferson, Washington, DC has been the preferred choice for the savvy Washingtonian crowd and the world’s discerning traveler visiting the nation’s capital, but now the award-winning property can officially call itself a Preferred Boutique Hotel with the announcement that The Jefferson, DC has accepted membership as a Preferred Boutique, the elite collection of intimate hotels and resorts launched in 2005 by Preferred Hotel Group.

At the heart of the Preferred Boutique experience is inspiration – that elusive characteristic that sifts the extraordinary from the ordinary and it should come as no surprise that The Jefferson, DC, which has been named among Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” and “Top Business Hotels in the World,” as well as one of the eight “Top Hotels in the World” in 2012 by Condé Nast Traveler, is included among such esteemed company. The Beaux Arts jewel cultivates a unique guest experience that is both Washingtonian and European in nature while drawing inspiration from its namesake, Thomas Jefferson, and marrying together the latest in technology with the highest level of personalized service and attention to detail.

(John and Gail Ueberroth, owner of Preferred Hotel Group with Philip Wood General Manager of The Jefferson Hotel)

Unique by design, the Preferred Boutique collection of hotels and resorts celebrates distinctive travel experiences that showcase style, service and personality on an intimate scale – making it an ideal fit for The Jefferson.

It’s been marked on your calendar for years, December 21, 2012. Your basement shelves are packed with freeze-dried vegetables, canned soup, and the seemingly never-aging Velveeta cheese. But before you become a bunker-dwelling, doomsday soup-survival-sipper, think about how you would want to spend your last meal on earth as you know it. With little time to prepare the most over the top indulgences of Lobster, Caviar, and Kobe Beef, to name a few, let Plume at The Jefferson, DC be your luxurious safe-haven, with The End of the World Mayan Calendar Tasting Menu from Tuesday, December 11 until Saturday, December 22, taking your taste buds to somewhere above before you get there yourself.

What would you have as your last meal on Earth? With the end of the Mayan calendar rapidly approaching, the theory of the world ending is becoming all too real, Plume’s executive chef Chris Jakubiec and sommelier Michael Scaffidi are planning to immerse your senses in the most extravagant offerings known, each with a nod to the Mayan culture. Just want a taste of the end?

Stop into Quill, where the “Last Bite” Caviar Tacos are available for the entire month of December for $36. Take a look at the full menu below:

End of the Mayan Calendar Tasting Menu

Friday, December 21 & Saturday, December 22, 2012

$130 per person, excluding tax and gratuity

Amuse Bouche – Chef’s Daily Preparation

Caviar Tacos

Potato “Shell” with Horseradish Crème Fraiche, Red Onion, Parsley

Seared Medallion of Foie Gras

Thai Peppercorn Caramelized Pineapple, Sweet and Sour Tamarind Sauce

Lobster Thermidor Gratin

Maine Lobster, Saffron, and Dijon Mustard Glacage

Pave of Kobe-Style Beef

Papaya “Ceviche,” Plantain Chips, Shishito Pepper, and Jalapeno Condiment

Pre Dessert – Chef’s Daily Preparation

Spicy Mayan Chocolate Lava Cake

Sweet Mango and Papaya Chutney, Saffron Pistils, Colombian Coffee Ice Cream

For Reservations Please Contact The Jefferson, DC 1200 16^th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 | 202.448.2300 | jeffersondc.com