An Imperial New Year at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow

Moscow, 14 November 2011; New Year's Eve – No matter where you are in the world, this is definitely the celebration to look forward to! With its fun, fizz, and a riot of impressions, how you meet the New Year symbolizes a successful transition to a new cycle of days and events. The Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow has a long tradition of fashioning the festive season into a blazing garland of memorable celebrations. Each one of them has a special colour and atmosphere, highlighted by the culinary programmes carefully designed by executive chef Elmar Basziszta.

 

Welcoming in New Year 2012 at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow will be a truly imperial evening! A fashionable theatre, with fabulous sets and costumes in the Russian Imperial style; the scene is unbelievably colourful – liveried footmen serving the party guests; and a sumptuous dinner table laden with a feast of delicacies and specialities, not to mention a new interpretation of Russian cuisine, our "Rivers of Champagne and Caviar Embankment" that will transport the revellers on a sumptuous gastronomic tour towards midnight! On this evening, as the countdown begins, an elegant tribute is paid to the grand traditions of Russia’s magnificent Imperial past. The fabulous colours of aristocratic Old Russia bring a special atmosphere of conviviality, amplified by the contemporary New Year’s celebrations in Red Square!

 

A festive cocktail at 19.00 starts off the evening, as the guests are greeted with the sight of two bars – an open-air vodka bar and an ice bar serving Roederer champagne; and footmen passing by with canapйs of caviar with blinis and sour cream. To the delight of the assembled partygoers, a string quartet, with virtuosi from the Moscow Conservatory, plays a programme of classical and popular favourites.

 

The announcement is made that “Mesdames et Messieurs, dinner is served,” the restaurant doors open, and Act II begins with more surprises. The scene looks like something out of Anna Karenina or War and Peace, for the tables have been decorated with the most splendid Imperial accessories; and the food is a triumph of Russian and international cuisine. There is such an expanse of white tablecloth and rich dishes that the whole of Russia’s natural wealth seems to have been brought here – a seafood bar with the tsars’ favourite sturgeon, and Prince Obolensky’s oysters; a plump pheasant with lentil stew; classic coulibiac, and a shrimp stew with cream. The piиce de rйsistance is a sublime risotto with truffles and Parmesan cheese matured for two years.

 

Sommeliers, dressed in fine hussar style, are always on hand to serve Imperia vodka; and this evening, in true Russian tradition, there is unlimited Hennessy cognac, Chivas Regal whisky, and red wine from Martin Pasler and Dr Loosen. On the tables there is a bottle of Roederer champagne, and for those who order a table for four people, a magnum of Roederer.

 

At New Year one expects the finest entertainment, and leading the evening will be that well-known showman and actor Maxim Bobkov. No doubt with lots of laughter and jokes he will introduce an ensemble of ballet dancers – all of them leading soloists from Moscow theatres – performing extracts from The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. There will be live classical music from the resident string quartet, alternating with sets from a DJ. Part of the evening will be a variety show, magician, and Alexander Lemeshev playing his “glass harp.” The lottery has valuable prizes, including visits to signature Kempinski hotels worldwide, and for those who come in period costume, there is the opportunity to take part in a special lottery of Roederer champagne. Throughout the evening guests can request a personal caricature from the very talented professional artists who are certain to have everybody falling about with the wicked accuracy of their drawings. For younger guests there’s a children’s room, with an enormous box of toys, entertainment all night long, and a clown!

 

At midnight, the loud clink of glasses, and the pealing of the Kremlin bells will provide the background to the festive fireworks display over Red Square.

 

From midnight to early morning, in the Baltschug bar, guests will be able to enjoy a very elegant open buffet.

 

There is one thing very special in particular about celebrating New Year at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow - the guests get to hear the live action tolling of the Kremlin bells before that famous sound is carried across the vast country via television screens. From the Baltschug there is the real view of the Spassky tower, and St Basil’s Cathedral; it’s as beautiful as a Christmas card, but for real!

 

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If the joy of New Year's Eve can be likened to a fireworks show, then the first morning of New Year’s Day is more like a cosy fireside, to be enjoyed at leisure, and in a measured way.

 

The celebratory and leisurely New Year’s Day Brunch catches the mood exactly – still festive, but peaceful: the New Year is here, and here is how to enjoy it! Executive chef Elmar Basziszta creates a masterpiece to set guests up for this all-important first day.

 

 

This is how to start a winter’s fairy tale, with the kaleidoscope of Moscow’s colours in the background, and in the centre the towering Kremlin Christmas tree, and the Kremlin itself, wrapped in a snowy overcoat; Red Square is all hustle and bustle, and the quiet historical road from the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow all the way to the Tretyakov Gallery is draped in white...

Salad Olivier salad stolichny and crab salad

Foie gras with red wine jelly

Hot smoked sturgeon, cold smoked halibut, eel and salmon with dill mustard sauce

Sliced vegetable with daikon, spring onion and fresh herbs

Beef tongue boiled ham with fresh horseradish

Herring with red onion

Marinated leek with roasted bell peppers, ruccola and parmesan

Marinated mushrooms

Marinated Russian vegetable

Oxtail in aspic with mustard             

Assorted piroshki with herb Smetana

 

Lentil soup with braised veal cheeks

International cheese board with wine jelly

 

Red caviar with Smetana and blini

Oyster fin de Claire, Belon, Kamchatka crab, scallops, king, prawns, mussels and clams

Whole smoked sturgeon

With condiments

 

Slow roasted beef rib eye with fine mustards and horseradish served with roasted root vegetable and potato gratin

Pheasant with puy lentil ragout

Salmon colibiac with creamy prawn ragout and   condiments, lime chutney, tomato salsa fresh lemon sea salt and butter rice

 

Truffle risotto served in a 24 month old parmesan cheese

 

Apple strudel with vanilla sauce

Umm Ali

Chocolate soufflй

 

Mascarpone cannelloni

Opera

Christmas logs

Cherry-cinnamon pie

Vanilla profiterole with caramel sauce

Pistachio cake with raspberry

Rum Baba with berries

Assorted ice and sorbet

Home made cookies, pralines

Tropical fruit salad

 

Sandwiches and wraps

Brioche with nutella

Fresh sliced vegetables

 

Mini hamburgers

Mini schnitzel

French fries

Mixed vegetable

 

Assorted ice-creams

Chocolate bars

Fresh sliced fruits

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Cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion rings

Thousand island, French, yoghurt, balsamic dressing

Toasted pine seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds

Croutons, crispy veal bacon, silver skin onion, cornichons, sliced mixed chilies

Salad Olivier

Beef cheek in aspic

Matjes herring with red onion

Potato salad with veal dumplings

International cheese selection, vine jelly, walnuts in honey, grapes

Assorted international bread selection and butter

 

Hungarian goulash soup with baguette

Mediterranean fish broth with mussels and saffron mayonnaise

 

Soft braised paprika chicken with butter rice

Viennese sausage with “Kaiser Semmeln “fresh horseradish and fine mustards

Penne Arrabiata with chili and parmesan

Monkfish medallion wrapped in bacon on creamy Dijon Sauce

Potato gratin with Gruyere cheese

Mixed garden vegetables

Chocolate crиme brulee

Tiramisu

Chestnut tart

Floating island

Berliner with jam

Tropical fruit salad

Raspberry panna cotta

 

29,000 roubles – New Year's Eve celebration per person including non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, vodka). All taxes included.

69,300 roubles – Accommodation in a Superior double room for one night, New Year's Eve celebration for 2 people, brunch on January 1 for 2 people, late check-out at 16:00, New Year's gift from the hotel. All taxes included.

 

For bookings please contact +7(495) 287 2000 or visit www.kempinski.com/moscow

 

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Each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location.