It’s all gourmet glitz at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon this holiday season with a Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea, takeaway bûches de Nöel, and a Under-the-Mistletoe cocktail that recreates the wonder, whimsy, and wonderfulness of the festive period in edible form. Almost too beautiful to eat, ‘tis definitely the season to surrender to celebrate all things naughty and nice.
A fantasy Christmas scene in mouth-watering miniature, the Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea will be served in the Hotel’s Almada Negreiros Lounge, an opulent museum-like space adorned with gorgeous art and stylish festive decorations. The drama continues with the presentation: a "floating cloud" of dry ice, surrounded by pine tree twigs and autumn leaves, with a warm chocolate and ginger aroma.
In true advent anticipation style, the festive tea’s eight edible treats tell their own Christmas Story: The Christmas Ball (choux with strawberry cream and raspberry compote); The Snow Ball (citrus meringue with coconut dried nuts mendiant); Christmas Tree (Sacher torte with milk chocolate topping and feullentine); Christmas Stars (creamy white chocolate with lime, mango glazing and yuzu chantilly on a biscuit d'épice); Le Petit Homme (gingerbread men cookies); Mont Blanc (marron glacé tartelette, creamy cassis, mini meringues and gold leaf); Holly (ginger gateaux with nutmeg and nougatine); and Snowflake (ivory macaron).
And after dining in style, the take-home decisions come into play with a choice of three exceptional bûches de Nöel to colour at-home celebrations, each as dainty and decadent as the other: ruby red hibiscus with a richly coloured interior; exotic white snowflakes featuring pineapple, coconut dacquoise and a surprising fresh coriander twist; and Yule-log chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.
Across in The Ritz Bar, the copper-coupe served Under-the-Mistletoe cocktail – available from December 1, 2018, and throughout the festive season – is all about the delicious details, from the wheat-motif of the glass to inclusive of precisely 11 carefully selected mint leaves. Aptly named Under-the-Mistletoe, it's a citrusy mix of Aperol, Cointreau, Elyx vodka, a strawberry shrub with cider vinegar and sugar, mint leaves with a pine tree-esque rosemary sprig and topped with a golden orange zest.