Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.

Internationally acclaimed culinary master Michael Mina has once again teamed with Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, to offer one-of-a-kind dining experiences in the nation's capital, beginning January 21, 2010. Following the success of Mina's BOURBON STEAK restaurant at the Hotel, the restaurateur has created a new signature catering menu offered exclusively for evening events booked at Four Seasons in Georgetown.

Mina, known for his signature slow-poaching method of cooking, will deliver a modern menu that focuses on the finest meats and seafood available both locally and worldwide, along with fresh East Coast produce and West Coast treasures, offering guests a culinary experience like no other. Prepared by Executive Chef Douglas Anderson, "Catering Menu Created by Michael Mina" transforms banquet dining, as Mina has crafted a distinctive menu artfully tailored to the Washington dining audience.

Mina's catering menu will showcase his classic dishes with canaps such as lobster corn dogs with mustard crme fraiche, classic beef tartare, Hudson Valley foie gras on brioche with seasonal fruits, and dry-aged all-beef sliders with Cabot cheddar and secret sauce. Mina has also incorporated a selection of vegetarian options, including black truffle agnolotti and crispy artichokes with romesco canaps. The dinner menu includes soup and salad selections such as BOURBON STEAK's bibb wedge salad and black truffle French onion soup with marrow dumplings. Starters of note include New Jersey scallops, sweet potato crpe with Thai curry sauce, and roasted duck breast with cinnamon couscous, golden raisins and foie gras sauce. The entre choices range from Mina's signature Maine lobster pot pie, duet of beef tenderloin and oxtail ravioli with parsnip pure and Worcestershire jus, Amish chicken with truffled macaroni and cheese with caramelised onion sauce, and Scottish salmon with horseradish creamed cabbage and bliss potatoes with Dijon sauce.

For dessert, Mina's standouts include Macallan 18 butterscotch pot de crme with pumpkin seed nougatine with brown butter genoise and coconut candy bar with milk chocolate ganache and caramel ice cream.

"Catering Menu Created by Michael Mina" is exclusive to evening events booked at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, either in Seasons or in the Hotel's meeting rooms. Seasonal canaps are priced at USD 72.00 per dozen. Mina's dinner selections consist of a three-course menu including soup, salad or appetiser, entre and dessert priced at USD 110.00 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included) and a four-course menu including soup or salad, appetiser, entre and dessert priced at USD 135.00 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Michael's Maine lobster pot pie is available with both menu options for an additional price of USD 25.00.

In addition to Mina's catering menu, event planners may choose selections from Executive Chef Douglas Anderson's 2010 catering menu featuring all new entres, creative stations and tapas-style offerings.

Behind bullet-resistant glass, a private entrance and a closed-captioned security system, the Royal Suite is as beautiful as it is functional. Custom-designed wool-and-silk-blend rugs adorn the limestone floor and ground the contemporary furnishings throughout the suite. Crystal fixtures contrast with rich wood, iridescent shell details and furnishings in a silvery palette. The entire space is decorated in welcoming earth tones.

The entry foyer features a galaxy of Swarovski crystal fixtures, rich Macassar ebony wood with inlays of mother of pearl and a scalloped pattern of sparkling stone mosaic. It opens conveniently to the dining room, which accommodates 10 and is equipped with a Bang & Olufsen LCD for meetings overlooking the private terrace. A fully equipped kitchen pantry with Sub-Zero refrigerator and separate service entrance is adjacent.

From the main entrance level, twin stairways lead to a majestic open space. American walnut portals define the living spaces, which include four distinct seating areas. The lounge offers posh leather oval chairs and a Lalique sea goddess. The main conversation area has oversized Italian sofas, comfortable chairs and a handmade alligator table. The library is decorated with warm inglenook-style seating, a glass fireplace and custom cabinets displaying a collection of art books. Finally, the media area is fully outfitted with Bang & Olufsen systems, including a 60-inch LCD.

An expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows is framed with embellished silk velvet drapery that surrounds the entire living space. The suite opens to reveal a landscaped 1,000-square-foot (93-square-metre) terrace designed as an urban getaway with 3 seating groupings, a fire pit and a dining table for 10 overlooking historic Georgetown.

A plush mohair carpet leads into the bedroom foyer and master suite. Its bathroom features an expanse of white marble surrounds, a sculptural 90-gallon (340-litre) bathtub and a crystal fixture elegantly draped overhead. Contemporary chrome fittings add sparkle and splendour to the space along with a rain shower with Vichy jets and an oversized frameless glass enclosure. The bedroom with its alluring silver and cream palette, elegant hand-knotted carpet and cream millwork opens to the terrace overlooking Georgetown. This private space also includes his-and-hers walk-in closets, a ladies' dressing and sitting area, a private office and an exercise room with an elliptical trainer, a treadmill and two Bang & Olufsen LCD screens.

The Royal Suite's other amenities include a collection of Washington, DC, books, a diverse selection of CDs, recently released Academy Award-winning DVDs, video games and a kitchen pantry stocked with some of the Hotel's finest bottles of wine and champagne.

For business travellers and leisure guests alike, the Royal Suite is the perfect location to entertain or hold private meetings or dinner parties, as the suite lends itself to multiple uses. This spacious, 4,000-square-foot (372-square-metre), one-bedroom suite allows guests to maintain privacy within different surroundings while providing them the added bonus of not having to leave the comfort of their suite. Guests will be provided with complimentary services such as a personal concierge/butler service, unpacking and packing services, use of a car and driver for up to four hours per day, wireless Internet access and a personal shopper from the guest's store of choice. Moreover, guests can also request numerous services - including a personal trainer, chef, security officer, administrative assistant or massage therapist - for an additional fee.

The Royal Suite can be converted into a three-bedroom suite (5,287 square feet, or 491 square metres), or, for ultimate privacy, security and flexibility, the entire wing can be closed off to include eight bedrooms (8,825 square feet, or 820 square metres) ranging from Capitol Suites to Premier doubles and kings.


Hotel Press Contact

Liliana Baldassari
Director of Public Relations
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC, U.S.A. 20007
T. 1 (202) 944-2074

Washington, D.C. -- Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. is proud to showcase an internationally acclaimed private art collection. This unique and diversified collection of over 2,500 pieces is permanently displayed in throughout the hotel, in the Lobby, the restaurants, meeting rooms, the garden courtyard, and in every guest room and suite.

The art is an unconventional departure from what is generally considered typical of a luxury hotel. Many of the pieces have been variously described as edgy, dynamic, and starkly realistic. Set amidst the luxurious surroundings of the Four Seasons Hotel, the juxtaposition of the art with the silk brocades creates a provocative distinction.

Mr. William Louis-Dreyfus, president of the Louis Dreyfus Group and past owner of the hotel acquired this art over the past 40 years. This eclectic array reveals a varied spectrum ranging from island primitives to urban street scenes. Of particular note are works by Rackstraw Downes, Red Grooms, Thornton Dial, Raymond Mason, and Nellie Mae Row. More than 35 artists are represented.

Also featured are works by Raymond Materson. Mr. Materson discovered his artistic talent while incarcerated on a drug-related charge. Remembering the serenity of his grandmother’s embroidery, he taught himself to embroider using scraps of bedsheets as his canvas and threads from socks that
he unraveled. Materson recreated snapshots of life he remembered from his world outside of
prison. What emerged was a collection of images that are fully conceived works of art of a complexity and depth that is enhanced by their miniature scale. Each piece is smaller than 2”x3” with 1200 or more stitches per square inch, and took up to fifty hours to complete.

Another artist, Nellie Mae Rowe, was renowned for her instinctive understanding of the relation between color and form. She used crayons and acrylics to create boldly chromatic backgrounds for images of animals and country scenes. All the elements of her paintings find their space in the same plane, and on that plane it is color that provides rhythm and depth.

Thornton Dial, Sr.’s paintings encompass subjects ranging from the most intimate personal experiences to expansive philosophical observations. Raymond Mason, who’s sculpture has been familiar to Four Seasons Hotel guests for nearly 20 years, has been described as “the only sculptor in the last 50 years whose work equals Rodin’s.”

This collection of art was is a permanent and enduring reflection of this hotel’s distinct identity. And like all major collections of art, this one continues to evolve and flourish. Often, individual pieces will be sent on loan to museums around the world, only to be replaced by another wonderful piece.