It’s officially November…where has the year gone?! November brings the start of holiday season, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. When you’re planning dinners for out-of-town guests, elegant evening or group dining opportunities, there are plenty of options in the city. That’s why we are focusing on private dining and holiday events this week, starting with The Peninsula Chicago {108 East Superior Street, Chicago; 312.337.2888}. It’s been a Chicago institution for years, and they are more than ready to host you for the holidays!
Photo via The Peninsula
There are beautiful dining options throughout the hotel. For afternoon tea, booking a table The Lobby is a must. For private dining, Shanghai Terrace can accommodate up to 20-30 guests and even offers an outdoor terrace, weather permitting.
We spoke to Private Events Manager, Amanda Ashtari, to plan the ultimate holiday stay…
Photo via The Peninsula
DiningOut: What do you want diners to experience when they plan an event with you?
Amanda Ashtari: The ability to produce a flawless event, from start to finish, anticipating all of the guest’s needs, so they don’t have to worry about a thing! I try to think of everything they could possibly want, and bring that to life for them in a unique way. Shanghai Terrace is a very special venue, and there are so many opportunities to design a one-of-a-kind experience for each event.
What sets apart a dining experience at The Peninsula?
With Chef de Cuisine Elmo Han at the helm, the menu encompasses a magnificent blend of traditional dishes and creative rendition of classics. The restaurant also employs a tenured staff, providing five-star service, going above and beyond for each and every guest, and finding ways to wow them.
What are some of the highlights of the group dining menu?
I honestly love all of the food in Shanghai Terrace! Some of my personal favorite items are the Peking Duck, Golden Shrimp, Chinese Beef Tenderloin, and the XO Lobster.
How do you work to accommodate special dietary needs?
All of the menus are customizable. We can adapt our offerings to the client’s preference, and we can also modify the menus to accommodate any known dietary restrictions to meet an individual guest’s needs.
Photo via The Peninsula
What can we expect from the holidays at the hotel overall?
The beautiful Christmas tree in The Lobby, décor throughout the hotel, Santa Claus, Christmas Carolers, Festive Tea—we love the holiday season. The Peninsula Sky Rink is a wonderful feature that was added a few years ago. We turn the outdoor terrace into a skating rink that is open to the public. We can also offer this space exclusively to groups when booking a private event.
How can guests integrate other parts of the hotel into their event?
Based on availability, The Peninsula Sky Rink can be an option for private events. We also have our amazing spa that offers group bookings. When booking an event, we always ask if the client requires a block of guestrooms at a group rate—we recently renovated our guestrooms, and they really showcase The Peninsula’s evolution of design, enhancing every guest’s stay with ease, elegance, and the ultimate personalization.
The holidays are also peak wedding time. What are some tips for planning a wedding menu?
All of our weddings at the hotel are customized to fit the bride and groom’s vision. It is important to learn what they are really looking for at the tasting. I sometimes encounter guests who are worried that they need to cater the entire menu to individual dietary restrictions. I am always happy to let them know that that is not the case at all—we want to do all we can to make them feel at ease during this special time in their lives.
Photo via The Peninsula
What are your other must-dos during the holiday season in Chicago?
The holidays are such a magical time in Chicago with so many seasonal activities. From visiting the Christmas tree at Daley Plaza to shopping on Michigan Avenue to seeing the window displays at Macy’s on State Street, there is such a great variety of activities. Some other favorites are visiting Maggie Daley Park, seeing “A Christmas Carol” at the Goodman Theatre, ZooLights, Christkindlmarket, The Nutcracker, catching the CTA Holiday Train or enjoying Brunch or Afternoon Tea and skating at The Peninsula Chicago … I could go on and on about the holidays!
By Kaleigh Glaza, Online Editor
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