"Our rooms ain't got no windows"

Sick with a cold, I burned through two seasons of the HBO series TrueBlood and came across this:

 

Anticipation

The long-awaited Ritz Carlton Toronto is just weeks away from welcoming its first guests - but don't expect a soft opening; The Ritz Carlton brand standards demand that every little detail is in place before the doors officially open. 

This hotel will also be the brand's entry into the Canadian market and a "sense of place" has been incorporated into its design, from the maple leaves on the marble floors in the lobby, and maple keys woven into the carpet in the meeting space, to the Canadiana artwork featured on the guestroom floors.

The hotel's food & beverage outlets will include "Deq" with a generous outdoor patio - we know how Torontonians love their patios! - and TOCA (Toronto Ontario CAnada) under the auspices of Chef Tom Brodi, formerly of North 44. Pictured above, TOCA will provide all-day dining on two levels, including a raw bar, walk-in wine cellar, and - another first in Toronto: a cheese cave.

Guestrooms:  267, including 59 suites
Meeting Space: 20,000 sq.ft., including a 7400 sq.ft. ballroom
Spa: 23,000 sq.ft. (wow!) with 16 treatmrnet rooms
Located on Wellington, between Simcoe and John

It's Not Easy Being Green

During a recent site visit of Le Westin Montreal I learned that Starwood is phasing out its signature Heavenly showers in favour of a model which will conserve water, and therefore be more evironmentally-correct. In the meantime guests are urged to opt out of the second shower head.

Which begs the question:  If one indulges in the full Heavenly shower experience is he/she headed straight to H***?

Too Many Cooks - Not!

This week I enjoyed a spectacular dinner featuring the artistry of three Executive Chefs from three local Starwood hotels: Chef Duff Lampard, of the Westin Harbour Castle,  Daniel Schick, Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Manager at Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel, and the Executive Chef of the Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Michael Picken.

The dinner took place in the King Edward's intimate yet grand Sovereign Ballroom, and I use the word "artistry" wisely, I think; each of the four courses was sublime in both appearance and taste. From the Kaleidoscope of Ontario Beets with Cashew Cheese, to the White and Red Sangria Jelly with Granite - all were intensely flavourful and fun in their presentation.

Did I mention that there was an emphasis on fresh local or regional ingredients? And that each course was appropriately paired with an Ontario wine?

The way to a dancer's/donor's heart....

I recently blogged about Jade Lyn and her amazing cake creations. Jade is also a very talented dancer, and a student of mine.

This week we held our annual Benefit Dance on behalf of CAMH (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) and Jade not only provided a gift certificate for customized "Cake Art" as a raffle prize, she made a CAMH cake which we sold for $2 a piece.

It was a huge hit with the dancers; we could/should have charged more!

For more information on the work CAMH does to "transform lives" go to: http://www.supportcamh.ca/

Hotel Georgia Born Again

The Hotel Georgia in Vancouver has undergone several incarnations in its 73-year history. When it re-opens again in March of 2011 the Rosewood Hotel Georgia will be a member of the same luxury hotel chain that manages the The Carlyle in New York and the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas.

For Vancouver, which is still bright and shiny from hosting the world at last winter's Olympics, this latest offering combines the newness of Fairmont's Pacific Rim with the "boutique-ness" of the Shangri-La, and history of the Hotel Vancouver with the location of the Four Seasons.

There's an *amazing* pre-opening offer for groups booked between now and March 2011 - and "consumed" before the end of September - including concessions such as 1/25 complimentary rooms and a 3% rebate off your Master Bill. Please contact me for details.

http://www.rosewoodhotelgeorgia.com/

New Kid On My Block

When I moved back to Toronto from living and working at the Meridien Hotel in Kuwait in the late 80's I landed a job in the sales office of the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel at Avenue Road and Bloor. Today, over (gulp!) 20 years and a few career twists later, I find myself living and working just around the corner from the site of the brand new Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences.

At 55 stories it will be the tallest building in Yorkville, and will likely become my neighourhood's most visible landmark.

Welcome, neighbour!