There is nothing more luxurious than celebrating the Festive Season at the Ritz Hotel Paris. Baroque Travel finds out what’s on throughout December 2017 and January 2018
From December the first onwards, you can order the legendary Ritz Paris Christmas Log. This delectable masterpiece is the creation of Ritz Paris Pastry Chef François Perret. Handcrafted by Perret, it revisits a joyful Christmas wonderland using made-to-measure molds. There is marble cake, vanilla mousse and a caramel heart with chocolate chops, something Perret explains as bringing together the “complementary scents that recall the flavors and gourmandize of magical childhood Christmases”.
First option for an unforgettable Christmas or New Year’s Day is the brunch served on 25 December 2017 and 1 January 2018 at Salon d’Été from 12pm to 2.30pm. Brunch at the Ritz is a Paris tradition, made even more special when celebrated during the Festive Season. The Salon d’Été at the hotel opens onto the Grand Jardin. For brunch, it’s at its most charming, offering a selection of creative and mini-dishes, both sweet and savory, hot and cold. For the Festive Season, the kitchen goes that extra mile and the results are quite unique, and definitely unforgettable. They include everything you’ve ever wanted to sample all in one spot, including a variety of salads and specialties, a generous array of cheeses and mouth-watering mini pastries.
Dinner at L’Espadon is a delightful experience, made even more special in December and January. Guests here enjoy a gastronomic experience designed to surprise and delight with a menu created by Chef Nicolas Sale that includes the most creative, refined and elegant dishes. Special dinners are being prepared on Christmas Eve, 24 December (the meal is called Christmas Tale) and New Years Eve, 31 December. Christmas Eve dinner is paired with fine French champagne and wines, and includes Foie Gras, Saint-Jacques Scallops, John Dory, Venison, Cheese and Christmas Desserts including Madagascar vanilla ice cream, floating island and caramel sauce and a Chocolate Christmas Tree.
On New Year’s Eve patrons will enjoy a selection of prestige wines and champagne to accompany Saint-Jacques Scallops, caviar, Sea Bass, Lobster, Bresse hen, Cheese and New Year’s Dessert, a concoction that includes chocolate, meringue and Granny Smith apples.
One can also enjoy dinner at Bar Vendome where oysters, duck foie gras and lobster in aspic feature as canapés, scallops are a course on their own, served with butternut risotto, and there’s also sole fillet, Bresse hen and Black Forest Cake for dessert. The piece de resistance is the Grand Buffet served here on New Year’s Eve, with dishes from all over the world on offers, from the Med, Nordic Countries, Asia, France, the garden, a raw bar, charcuterie and an unbeatable selection of cheese and desserts.
Bar Vendome is also famous for its high teas, that will be served from 11 December to 7 January every day from 3 to 6pm. This meal includes a wide selection of unsurpassed pastries, scones and finger sandwiches, washed down with a hot drink of your choice as well as a glass of Ritz Réserve Brut – Barons de Rothschild champagne.
On New Year’s Eve you can celebrate in the Ritz Bar, which is being extended to ensure an unforgettable evening. This fashionable, elegant venue will be open late for a nightcap. The Hall Cambon will be transformed into a dance floor with a live DJ and champagne cocktails to welcome in the New Year.
We presume, as you’re from out of town and don’t live in Paris, you will be staying in this exemplary institution. While you’re there, why not take a class at the hotel’s Ecole? Learn to make scallops, foie gras, lobster, festive Christmas meals, the hotel’s famous Christmas Log 2017 collection, or if your child wants to learn how to cook, there are lessons in festive fare and My First Christmas Log and a Twelfth Night Cake.