Dine Like J. Edgar Hoover at the Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel

By R Life, posted Nov 11th 2011 at 3:29AM

Dinner and a movie? More like lunch and intrigue at The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel. To celebrate the release of the Clint Eastwood-directed film, J. Edgar, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, Café Promenade will be offering a one-day-only special menu of Hoover’s favorite lunch on Friday, November 11, from 11am to 2pm. The cost is $18 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

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National Cherry Blossom Pink Tie Party in D.C.

By R Life, posted Mar 31st 2011 at 9:47AM

Every spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival hits Washington, D.C., commemorating the 3,000 cherry trees Tokyo’s Mayor Yukio Ozaki gifted to the city over a century ago. Parades, lantern walks, flower shows – and, of course the National Cherry Blossom Pink Tie Party, which took place last week.

Held at The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel, the party encouraged guests to wear their best “pink ties and springtime styles,” and chow down on a cherry and blossom-inspired tasting menu from some of the area’s top culinary talent. Top Chef All-Star finalist Mike Isabella served crispy pork belly ravioli with cherry tapenade from Graffiato, and Bibiana’s Nicholas Stefanelli dished out bomba al cioccolato for dessert. Throughout the rest of the night, guests grazed on plates from dozens of other restaurants, including the likes of J&G Steakhouse, Kushi, LIMA Restaurant and Lounge, and BLT Steak.

In addition to the tasting feast, there was plenty of live entertainment, and a fundraising auction for the American Red Cross’s Japan Relief Fund.

But while the party may be over, the festival is ongoing till April 10—check out the calendar for more events.

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Chefs vs. City Showdown at The Mayflower

By R Life, posted Aug 27th 2010 at 9:02AM

Chefs vs. City is one of those Food Network shows people have a hard time turning off. The show stars two chefs, Aaron Sanchez and Chris Cosentino, who travel to different cities across the US and essentially battle local chefs to a variety of food-related challenges. Unlike other chef-focused shows, Chefs vs. City isn’t just about who cooks the better meal. It’s more like a free-for-all, sudden-death match testing skills… like who can eat a bowl filled with the spiciest food… and who can eye the weight of food more accurately.

The show’s  stars are checking into The Mayflower Renaissance in DC. At 10pm tonight, the series will cap its second season with an episode dedicated to DC and a contest at The Mayflower. Since the show’s general structure is that of a scavenger hunt, each episode winds up being, more or less, an insider’s culinary tour of the city at hand.

“While we are not at liberty to discuss either the nature of the challenge or its outcome prior to its screening,” said General Manager Satinder Palta, “I can promise that the excitement begins from the moment the teams pull up to our grand entrance on Connecticut Avenue.”

Sounds delicious. Tune into the Food Network tonight to catch this bound-to-be-great season finale.

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Great Taste is Always in Style at The Mayflower Renaissance

By R Life, posted Aug 10th 2010 at 11:24AM

Summers in DC are suited for the carefree and indulgent. The capital boasts a nightlife that stands out on the East coast, and every year foodies in Washington look forward to the time when Restaurant Week hits. And it’s about to hit.

Restaurant Week DC will bring diners out of the woodwork from August 16-22 in the city. Café Promenade, located inside The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, is joining forces with other local restaurants for this savory week.

The hotel’s executive chef, Abdellah Aguenaou, worked with historian Keith McClinsey to put together special three-course lunch and dinner menus in honor of the tasty event. The menus highlight the signature dishes that have kept the famous and powerful returning to the spot for lunches and dinners for most of the last century. From Lump Crab Cake Imperial “1953″ to Mayflower Strawberry Pie “1932,” these dishes will teach guests a thing or two about American history while simultaneously satisfying their most refined culinary tastes.

As General Manager Satinder Palta likes to say, “At the Mayflower, great taste is always in style.” To which we might add: especially when great taste is a bargain.

Check out more photos of Café Promenade after the jump…

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Capitol File WHCD After Party at the Mayflower Renaissance: 85 Years Never Looked So Good

By R Life, posted May 3rd 2010 at 3:20PM

The Mayflower Renaissance DC got an instant facelift last night as Hollywood and D.C.’s brightest descended on its famed Grand Ballroom.

The second best address in D.C. has thrown several inaugural balls throughout its 85-year old history as well as hosted guests from Presidents and foreign dignitaries to Monica Lewinsky and Elliot Spitzer.

Fast forward to 2010 and history was made once again as Capitol File magazine, Renaissance Hotels and Bing hosted the annual White House Correspondent’s Dinner after party.  High-profile guests like Kim Kardashian, Dennis Quaid, Bobby Flay, Chris Tucker, Tory Burch, Wolf Blitzer and Ewan McGregor couldn’t stop gushing about President Obama’s comedic chops at the Dinner.  And everyone agreed that the Mayflower was THE place to be in D.C.

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