SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, an iconic landmark hotel situated in the prestigious neighborhood of Nob Hill, welcomes guests and locals alike to celebrate the spirit of the season with a variety of holiday offerings including celebratory menus featuring locally-sourced ingredients, joyous annual traditions, and festive fundraisers. Chef de Cuisine Michael Rotondo of the hotel's award-winning Parallel 37 will feature special menus on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, and the beloved annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Teddy Bear Tea benefiting Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area will return once again.  

Thanksgiving at Parallel 37

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Reservations can be made from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with final seating at 8 p.m.

On Thanksgiving Day, guests are invited to indulge in a four-course menu featuring seasonally inspired dishes including Warm Delicata Squash Soup with Apple Butter, Cinnamon and Sage Oil; Liberty Farms Duck with Caramelized Onion Pancake, Huckleberry and Foie Gras; and Beef Tenderloin with Cauliflower Gratin and Black Truffle Jus, complete with the classic fixings including Whipped Yukon Gold Potato Purée and Traditional Turkey Stuffing. A choice of Spiced Pumpkin Pie with Caramel and Dark Chocolate or Hidden Valley Apple Turnover with Ceylon Cinnamon and Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert completes the Thanksgiving experience.

Thanksgiving dinner at Parallel 37 is priced at $135 per adult. Menu options for children include a Children's Thanksgiving Menu at $95 per child and an à la carte Ritz Kids menu.

Teddy Bear Tea

While children enjoy a special tea experience of hot chocolate, teddy bear cut-out cookies, and assorted sandwiches in playful shapes such as a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich and an Egg Salad Sandwich, they are entertained with a lively holiday show starring an entertaining elf, his animated sidekick and a giant Teddy Bear. Each child will receive a teddy bear gift and photo with the giant Teddy Bear to take home. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area, as part of the hotel's Community Footprints program.

Teddy Bear Tea tickets are available for $120 per guest; $115 per child, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Advance purchase required, and tickets are non-refundable and will be charged within 72 hours of making the reservation.

Holiday Afternoon Tea

For available dates and reservations, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com/sanfrancisco 

The perfect way for guests to unwind after a long day of shopping at nearby Union Square or the Embarcadero Center and preparing for the holiday season is by indulging in a luxurious treat in The Lounge with a holiday twist on the hotel's timeless Afternoon Tea. Complete with a live harpist, Holiday Afternoon Tea presents a sophisticated spread including an exquisitely blended pot of tea, savory finger sandwiches including Bay Blue with Sauternes Compressed Pear on Walnut Bread and Le Querica American Prosciutto with Bellwether Farms duo of Sheep Cheese and Fig Jam. Holiday sweets such as Brown Butter Shortbread Cookies and Gingerbread Spiced Cake cap off the tea experience.

Holiday Afternoon Tea is available for $75 per guest. 

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thursday, December 3, 2015  

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

A favorite among the Bay Area community, the Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco ignites the holiday season at sundown, when the 40-foot holiday tree outside the hotel is illuminated by Santa Claus and his little helper from the Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area. Hosted by KRON Channel 4 anchor Vicki Liviakis, this annual tree lighting ceremony begins with Dickens-era costumed carolers and trumpeters performing holiday favorites throughout the hotel while guests and locals alike enjoy holiday beverages and treats. After the ceremony, children are invited to take photos and visit with Santa. The Tree Lighting Ceremony is complimentary and open to the public.

Christmas Eve at Parallel 37  

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Menu available from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with final seating at 8 p.m.

Following a morning filled with opening presents and holiday cheer, guests are invited to enjoy Chef Michael Rotondo's festive four-course menu featuring creative twists on classic Christmas fare, including Egg Yolk Raviolo with Petite Carrots, Kale, and Black Winter Truffle; Grass-Fed Sonoma Raised Beef “Wellington” with Sauce Périgord; and Bûche de Noël.

The four-course menu is available for $135 per adult. Menu options for children include a Children's Christmas Menu at $95 per child and an à la carte Ritz Kids menu.

New Year's Eve at Parallel 37

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Seatings at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

Guests will ring in the New Year in style at Parallel 37 with a delectable five- or six-course menu created by Chef Michael Rotondo. The evening begins by toasting to 2016 with a complimentary handcrafted celebratory cocktail and continues with seasonally inspired dishes made with local ingredients that promise to be a memorable way to bid adieu to 2015.

The 6 p.m. seating features a five-course menu priced at $165 per guest and the 9 p.m. seating features a six-course menu priced at $195 per guest. White Truffle Risotto with Carnaroli Rice and One-Year-Old Parmesan supplement is also available for $75.

New Year's Eve in The Lounge

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Tables are first come, first serve from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

After indulging in a festive dining experience at Parallel 37, guests are encouraged to join the celebration in The Lounge. Ushering in the New Year in style and luxury, guests can sip on Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagnes by the bottle or a rare Dom Perignon by the glass. In addition to a full bar, there will be classic cocktails made with Bay Area spirits and a menu of Contemporary American bites. When the clock strikes 2016, complimentary sparkling wine will be poured by the ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.

New Year's Day Buffet at Parallel 37

Friday, January 1, 2016 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.  

Following a night bidding adieu to 2015, guests can begin the New Year with an indulgent buffet breakfast at the luxury hotel's award-winning Parallel 37. In addition to a delectable spread of breakfast favorites including Chef's Choice preparation of eggs, cured and breakfast meats, smoked salmon, breakfast potatoes, seasonal fruit, and morning pastries, the New Year's Day Buffet will be enhanced with a special Chef's action station, “Make-Your-Own” Bloody Mary  Bar and bottomless Mimosas.

New Year's Day Buffet is available for $58 per guest. A children's Ritz Kids menu will also be available.

Holiday dining options are exclusive of tax and gratuity unless otherwise noted, and beverage pairings will be available for purchase. Guests are invited to enhance their experience by reserving the Chef's Table at Parallel 37, perfect for intimate to large groups of friends and family. The Chef's Table can accommodate up to 10 guests, with up to 20 guests in the private dining room. Reservations are recommended and guests may call (415) 773-6168. For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/SanFrancisco and join the conversation using #RCMemories.

###

About The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

Completely transformed and reimagined, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco sets a new standard of excellence in the City by the Bay, drawing inspiration from the alluring designs of couture and the city's iconic architecture. Set within a 1909 Neoclassical landmark building in the prestigious Nob Hill neighborhood, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is the city's only AAA Five-Diamond hotel and is a recent winner of a “World's Best Award” by the readers of Travel + Leisure. Conveniently located in the heart of the city, the iconic hotel is nearby San Francisco's most visited attractions and the historic cable car is accessible right outside its doors. Offering globally-inspired California cuisine and seasonal cocktails at the award-winning Parallel 37, the largest luxury Club Level experience in San Francisco, and more than 23,000 sq. ft. of grand event spaces, the 336-room Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco provides the ultimate in personalized Ritz-Carlton service, comfort and luxury.  

About the Make-A-Wish ® Greater Bay Area

Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area was founded in 1984. In its first year, a total of 27 wishes were granted. Now one of the largest chapters nationwide, the chapter has granted over 6,000 wishes to date and grants over 340 wishes per year. While we follow the policies and guidelines of Make-A-Wish America, the Greater Bay Area chapter operates as a separate 501(c)(3) organization. All funds raised by the Foundation are used to fulfill our mission in the Bay Area. Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area serves 17 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano and Sonoma.
Photography available upon request.