The Peninsula hotel is celebrating its 80th birthday with a host of events that will be of interest to the nostalgic, the gastronomically inclined and the charitable alike. Since opening its doors for the first time in December 1928 (the date of the picture below), the Tsim Sha Tsui hotel has forged a reputation for colonial-style elegance; its lavish lobby, restaurants and bars attract more goggle-eyed visitors than house guests. The festivities are continuing until December and include a range of events, packages and special dinners. At French-inspired restaurant Gaddi's, a double celebration (the restaurant is turning 55) features a special six-course Gaddi Classics dinner (HK$1,953 per person - on offer until December 17). On December 18, the date in 1953 that Gaddi's welcomed its first guests, a Gala menu (HK$16,888 per person), created by executive chefs Florian Trento and David Goodridge, will feature the best of French fare matched with fine wines from that year. Guests attending the elegant, six-course Culinary Journey (HK$1,928 per person), available until December 11 (the hotel's birthday), will be able to sample dishes at four signature restaurants in one evening, including champagne in the famed Lobby. Here, the hotel has revived its afternoon tea dances, which are proving popular and are being held on the first Sunday of each month until December, from 3pm to 6pm. Waitresses in 1950s costume, the Peninsula Swing band and 'cigarette girls' selling chocolate cigars for charity, combined with a lavish afternoon tea and champagne (HK$498 per person), are setting the scene. Many events are geared to help charities such as Make-A-Wish, Mary Rose School and St James' Settlement's Funeral Navigation Service, and staff at the hotel's Spring Moon restaurant have produced thousands of mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival to raise funds. September 27 will see the return of the once-popular barbecue on the Sun Terrace, an event that will take place every Friday and Saturday evening until December. The takings from the first night (HK$1,928 per couple) will be donated to charity. To add to the general excitement, The Peninsula will open a 'Shanghai deco' lounge bar, Salon de Ning, at the end of November To book or inquire about any of the events, call 2315 3146, e-mail diningphk@peninsula . com or visit www.peninsula.com .
