Hotel Shangri-La will hosting its first ever Marquis De Sade Valentine’s Day feast this Sunday.
The late 17th century style three-course feast will be served on elegant silver platters in the main dining room. All courses will consist of finger foods because according to the hotel’s Chief Operating Officer, Michelle Hodan, “people didn’t use eating utensils” like knives and forks back then.
The first platter will include oysters, fried salmon caviar, grilled asparagus, lemon-horseradish vin artichoke and crab bruschetta. The second platter will contain salt cod stuffed lipstick peppers, pureed black beans, toasted pine nuts rosemary skewers, scallops and shrimp, beef tenderloin and a top pasta puttanesca. Strawberries, three sugars citrus, chocolate, honey frozen coffee mousse, chocolate bonbons and whipped cream will all be part of the desert platter.
Hodan also mentioned that the dining room would be decorated with red and purple candles and lots of black and blood red roses. The restaurant’s staff will be wearing masks and other clothing typical of that period in history.
The Shangri-La’s executive chief’s wife came up with the idea for the feast according to Hodan because “she is fascinated by the Marquis De Sade” period. Hodan hopes “this evening will be the first of an annual tradition.”
The Santa Monica landmarked hotel recently reopened after being closed for two years and four months for the completion of a $40 million renovation. The Shangri-La opened in 1939 at 1301 Ocean Avenue and is shaped like a cruise ship so almost every room except the four in the back would have an ocean view. Now that the renovation is complete, it contains 70 rooms and 36 of them are suites.
Reservations will be necessary because the dining room only contains 12 tables. The cost is $55 per person or $150 per couple. The cost per couple includes a hand-painted bottle of Perrier Jouet La Fleur which will make a great keepsake after the evening is over. All guests will receive either a black or blood red rose. Feasting hours will be from 5-11p.m. and the hotel’s rooftop bar Suite 700 will be open from 5-12 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 310.451.0717.
Contact Hannah Heineman
hannah@smmirror.com
