The Peninsula Chicago Welcomes Back the Windy City
Chicago hospitality knows no bounds, and that’s never more obvious than in our city’s hotels. They care for residents and visitors alike from they wake, until they tumble into bed - well fed and smiling. And one of the best places to do just that is at The Peninsula Chicago {108 East Superior Street, Chicago; 312.337.2888}.
Their doors have re-opened and they’re ready to welcome their favorite people back in. Who are their favorite people? All of us of course!
Martin Rahn, Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Chicago, gave us a sneak peak at all the magic they’re cooking up for those few fleeting fall days left, as well as the holiday excitement to come…
How can we make the most of our remaining warmer weather at The Peninsula?
The hotel offers multiple outdoor dining options, including Shanghai Terrace, an Asian outdoor garden setting, located four stories above street level. The restaurant expanded the outdoor dining space to allow for further spacing between tables, and there are heaters out on the outdoor Terrace too! You can enjoy some of my favorite menu items like our traditional Peking Duck or one of our cocktails out on the patio.
We also have our rooftop bar, Z Bar, which is a totally immersive experience — looking out at the city gives guests the feeling they are a part of the environment. You can stay warm with our outdoor fire element, plus added heaters and blankets available.
What are some cocktails and dishes that can help people hang on to that summer feeling?
The Lobby offers a great Tuna Poke Bowl with pineapple, edamame, pickled ginger and kimchee. It’s the perfect dish to enjoy when you want to reminisce about a warm summer day. There’s also Z Bar’s Sunday Spritz! It’s a refreshing spritz made with florals, berries, and citrus. In large format, we call it the “Sunday Funday Spritz.” A classic cocktail!
How has it felt to welcome Chicago back through your doors?
We have been so pleased to see many of our regular guests return to our restaurants and bars as restrictions have eased. For many, there is no better place to celebrate and cherish a family meal together than at The Peninsula. There are a number of guests that have expressed that they wanted to come to The Peninsula, trusting we would implement thorough COVID-19 hygiene and safety protocols.
What do you have planned for the upcoming fall and holiday seasons?
So much is coming! To start, Afternoon Tea has returned on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. We are making a $5 donation for every Afternoon Tea for the month of October to A Silver Lining Foundation, a local breast cancer organization. During the holiday season of giving, we are also donating to The Chicago Public Library Foundation, which supports literacy efforts and youth empowerment programs. Guests are even invited to bring a new or gently used children’s book to tea, which will be donated to the charity.
If you’re planning a celebration at home with family and friends or a romantic evening for two, we have options with The Peninsula Chicago’s new Entertaining at Home Peninsula Style program. The culinary team has prepared a variety of options to help guests entertain this fall and through the holiday season. We have plenty of amazing options, and then will be adding additional seasonal and holiday-centric items for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve, and more!
There will also be Thanksgiving Brunch in The Lobby with a combination of buffet and plated menu options including a carving station, seafood, and a lavish dessert station.
Then The Lobby will take our always amazing afternoon tea up another notch with Festive Afternoon Tea to be enjoyed beneath the 20-foot Christmas tree. The menu features a traditional English tea menu, plus holiday treats. We also have a pop-up holiday shop at the corner of Superior and Rush Streets (in the Pierrot Gourmet space), called The Holiday Shoppe that’s open now with lots of lifestyle and holiday-inspired décor items.
What are some services you offer that people might not know about?
We have a number of programs and offerings that guests may not be aware of including: The Peninsula Academy and Keys To The City programs.
The Peninsula Academy is a global initiative across The Peninsula hotels worldwide and was created to give hotel guests an insider introduction to key aspects of culture, lifestyle, cuisine, and more through individualized classes, tours and other activities. The Peninsula Chicago has curated programs by sourcing the very best tour guides and local partners, bringing Chicago to life in a whole new way!
Keys To The City selects the best of Chicago’s unique offerings to give our guests perks and benefits throughout the city. Both these programs are really showing off how amazing Chicago is and letting us see our hometown in a new light.
On top of those, we also have specialty cakes to order, will be launching all kinds of holiday menu specials. and are beginning to host small events, all while keeping our guests and city safe and healthy.
What is your favorite thing about the Chicago hospitality industry?
Chicago’s hospitality industry is innovative, fast-adapting and grew a lot tighter during this very challenging and difficult time. I have worked in numerous countries and cities around the world. The hospitality industry is very convivial in general but the Midwestern friendliness makes the Chicago industry truly special.
For a taste of The Peninsula Chicago at home, try out the “The Z” Cocktail from Z Bar and Vlad Nivikov, Director of Cocktails and Culture at The Peninsula Chicago…
“The Z” Cocktail
Ingredients:
4 cucumber slices
1 sprig of mint or another soft herb like basil
2 oz gin
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lime or lemon juice
Method:
In a shaker, muddle cucumber and mint
Add other ingredients and shake vigorously
Strain and serve up
Garnish with more fresh herbs or cucumber slices or citrus wedges
By Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor