NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Windsor Court is home to many merry holiday happenings, from celebratory seasonally-themed afternoon teas and a four-course French Reveillon feast to a Christmas menu fit for a king and a decadent dinner to ring in the New Year. The lowest room rates of the season pair with the festive feasts and holiday celebrations to create the ultimate Southern winter wonderland.
The holiday spirit comes alive in November as the hotel’s décor, led by the artists at Dunn and Sonnier, takes on the seasonal splendor, featuring a 19 1/2-foot Christmas tree boasting more than 25,000 mini white lights and a classic toy train around the base. An additional ten trees adorned with more than 3,000 ornaments are on display throughout the hotel, while six-foot magnolia wreaths hang in the main lobby windows and over 1,500 feet of gold
magnolia garland drape throughout the rest of the hotel. This year, a Letters for Santa mailbox is being added to the lobby décor, and the hotel is encouraging guests and locals of all ages to visit the hotel to stop by and drop off their gift wish lists and messages for the North Pole.
Papa Noel Room Rates
The holidays are the ideal time for visitors to save while enjoying the accommodations and amenities of Windsor Court. Guests who book their stay Nov. 24 through Dec. 30 using the Papa Noel offer will receive up to 20 percent off the best available rate.
Holiday Tea in Le Salon
From Nov. 29 to Dec. 31, this centerpiece of the New Orleans holiday season continues to be a community tradition. On the busiest days of the season, Le Salon serves 325 to 400 guests.
· $69.03, inclusive of tax and gratuity
· Seatings at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m.
· Service includes a properly brewed pot of tea; a glass of sherry, sparkling wine or specialty cocktail; an enchanting selection of English tea sandwiches; seasonal scones with clotted cream; and a final course of gourmet desserts
· Reservations are required and can be made by calling (504) 596-4773 or visiting windsorcourthotel.com/holiday-tea/
Festive Feasts in The Grill Room
The hotel’s culinary team has created prix fixe menus for Thanksgiving, Reveillon, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Reservations can be made by calling (504) 522-1994. All menus are available online: windsorcourthotel.com/dining/the-grill-room-menus.
Thanksgiving
$100 per person, plus tax and gratuity; optional $60 four-course wine pairing
Four courses
Served November 28, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m.
Menu options include Pumpkin Ravioli with Toasted Pecans, Butternut Squash Bisque with Pork Belly Croutons, Roasted Turkey Breast and Braised Turkey Leg with Sage Gravy and Mashed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Pie with Toasted Marshmallow Fluff
Reveillon Dinner
$50 per person, plus tax and gratuity; optional $45 four-course wine pairing
Four courses
Served every evening in December, 5:30-10 p.m., excluding December 24, 25 and 31
A French and Creole tradition from the 1800s, Reveillon (meaning “awakening”) stems from the custom of having a large family dinner following Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Menu options include Quail with Boudin Stuffing and Sweet Potato Mousse, Sweet Onion Bisque with Truffle Crab Meat, Beef Strip with Roasted Asparagus and Potato Pave, and Spiced Pear Galette with Pecan Streusel and Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
$110 per person, plus tax and gratuity; optional $50 four-course wine pairing
Four courses
Served December 24, 5:30-9 p.m., and December 25, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m.
Menu options include Gnocchi with Mushrooms, Truffle and Parmesan, Roasted Beets with Baby Arugula and Citrus Vinaigrette, Lamb Chops with Roasted Carrots and Baby Turnips, and Bûche de Noël with Candied Orange Peel and Chocolate Glaze
New Year’s Eve
$100 per person, plus tax and gratuity; optional $50 four-course wine pairing
Four courses
Served December 31, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Menu options include Foie Gras Torchon with Toasted Pistachio and Brioche, Sunchoke Bisque with Duck Confit, Grouper with Parmesan Risotto, Asparagus and Thyme Beurre Blanc, and Baked Alaska with Strawberries
After dinner, guests can stop by Polo Club Lounge to enjoy live jazz and a selection of celebratory champagne.
Wishes, Dreams, Memories
Visitors are invited to make the most of their holiday memories with the hotel’s special Windsor Wishes tree in the lobby. Guests can write their wishes or dreams on one of the hotel’s complimentary ornaments, hang it on the tree, and then snap and post a photo to social media, tagging @WindsorCourt with the #WindsorWishes hashtag. The hotel will share and repost their favorites.
Sounds of the Season
In December, the variety of holiday happenings at the hotel will once again be complemented by performances from local school choirs. Throughout the month, students will gather in the Windsor Court lobby to provide seasonal entertainment in true New Orleans holiday spirit. The schedule to-date is below; more choirs will likely be added in the coming weeks.
Friday, Dec. 13
10:30 a.m. – Andrew Jackson Middle School
Friday, Dec. 13
1:30 p.m. – Louise S. McGehee School
Tuesday, Dec. 17
10:30 a.m. – Trinity Episcopal School
Thursday, Dec. 19
10:30 a.m. – St. Paul’s Episcopal School
