Our Concierge, In Your Pocket

We have recently released a new App for Hotel Contessa! Search for “Hotel Contessa” in the AppStore.
Please download the Contessa app on the iTunes AppStore and see what Contessa is all about!

- Download FREE app from Apple iTunes AppStore. Currently only iPhone, iPad, or iTouch users can download the app, future versions will be out for Windows, Blackberry, and Android smartphones. To download, search for “Hotel Contessa” in the app store, install it.

- You do not have to sign-up or register to use the app, if you do – they can communicate to other guests on the app.

- Download the app anytime! Before your stay to see local events around downtown.

- The Contessa app features all of our Directory Services Information

- BEST FEATURE! – Curated Information of Local Attractions, Points of Interest, Recommended Restaurants, and Lounges.

- Through the app you can find information about our Hotel, Food & Beverage, Local Events, and Major Festivals.

Sunday, April 24th, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
at Las Ramblas

Join us for an elaborate Easter Brunch that will include a
decadent assortment of breakfast and lunch items,
sangria & mimosas and a visit by the Easter Bunny.
»View Easter Brunch Menu

Adults are $37.95
Children 7-16 $15.95
Children 6 & Under Eat FREE off the Kids Menu.
Plus tax and gratuity.

Reservations are filling up fast!
BOOK A TABLE ONLINE NOW
Or call Las Ramblas at 210.298.8040

Well, here at Hotel Contessa it’s been a crazy past couple of weeks…

Cork Bar Wins Top Awards at 2011 San Antonio River Foundation Rivertini Pour-off

Daniel Quiroz and Jose Solis represented the Cork Bar team as they squared off at Brasserie Pavil and competed against top city bartenders and mixologists.

The Cork Bar humbly accepted the 2011 Rivertini Pour-off Champion and 2011 Rivertini Décor Awards. Their winning martini was a peach and citrus purée with cinnamon serrano simple syrup and grey goose vodka.

Las Ramblas, Cork Bar, and Hotel Contessa Take-Two at the “Best of Downtown”

Hotel Contessa wins the Downtown Alliance’s “Best of Awards” for Best Hotel Restaurant – Las Ramblas and Cork Bar and for Best Place for a Downtown Wedding at Hotel Contessa and Marriage Island.

Congratulations to everyone!

Saturday, March 12th 2011 at HemisFair Park

Coming down to San Antonio for Luminaria? It’s going to be an excellent event this year! Hotel Contessa is only two blocks away from HemisFair Park where Lumaniria is held. Enjoy dinner at Las Ramblas on the San Antonio Riverwalk then make it over to HemisFair Park for a great event.

Luminaria: Arts Night in San Antonio

HemisFair Park – FREE Admission, Open to Public

Saturday, March 12th, 2011 – 6pm to Midnight

About LuminariaSA: (from luminariasa.org)
Luminaria is San Antonio’s annual celebration of art and artists. Held in March and overseen by San Antonio’s creative leaders, it is free of charge and showcases all art forms in an outdoor setting and inside various venues downtown.

Luminaria spotlights San Antonio’s cultural assets for local citizens and visitors alike and is made possible through the generosity of artists, arts organizations, volunteers, and public and private donations.

In 2010, an estimated 200,000 people attended Luminaria.

Become a fan of Luminaria on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or contact us at (210) 271-2842 or by e-mail at info@luminariasa.org for more information.

Supporting the UNIFIRST team, Brian West (Executive Chef of Las Ramblas) participated in “You Pick It”, Brisket, Chicken, and Pork Ribs divisions and competed against some of the best BBQ teams around the nation! We were able to catch the culinary athlete in action in his natural element!

New York, January 2010 …

Executive Chefs from Benchmark Hospitality International’s fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels and resorts were featured recently at the legendary James Beard House in New York City. The chefs prepared a seven-course dinner for the sold out event, featuring cuisine from around the country and the world.

Featured Benchmark Hospitality chefs were Brian West, executive chef, Hotel Contessa and its signature restaurant Las Ramblas on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas; Alan Gould, executive chef of Nine18, the restaurant located at the Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida; Peter Csikos, executive chef, The Heldrich and its signature restaurant, Christopher’s, in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Francisco (Paco) Aceves, executive chef of Stonewall Resort and Stillwaters Restaurant, located in Weston, West Virginia.

Mary Watson-DeLauder, Benchmark Hospitality’s chief sommelier, paired each of the seven courses with domestic and international fine wines. To do so she worked closely with several wineries, including Quintessa of Napa Valley (2006 Quintessa, Rutherford, Napa Valley) and Veramonte of Colchagua Valley, Chile (2007 Primus, Colchagua Valley, Chile).

Attached Photo L-R: Chefs Paco Aceves and Alan Gould, Benchmark Vice President Food & Beverage Giorgi DiLemis, Chefs Peter Csikos and Brian West in James Beard’s original kitchen at the James Beard House in New York. Missing from the photo is Mary Watson-DeLauder, Benchmark’s chief sommelier.

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Brian West prepared a Seared Muscovy Duck Breast w/ Cranberry Goat Cheese Sweet Potato Gratin & Blood Orange Molasses with Stacia Wilson (host) of KENS TV’s Morning Show on December 4^th. Bright and early, West showed off one of his signature menu items from Las Ramblas and everyone loved it! Video to come soon!

Updated schedule of Brian West, Executive Chef of Las Ramblas for Winter 2010! ¡Buen Previcho!

DATE: November 17th at 7:40 a.m. CST
LOCATION: KABB FOX 29
SEGMENT TIME: 7:40 a.m.
RECIPE: Warm Goat Cheese Sofrito, Grilled country bread, citrus herbs & toasted Almonds
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DATE: December 4th at 7:30 a.m. CST
LOCATION: KENS TV Morning Show (Stacia Wilson, Host)
RECIPE: Seared Muscovy Duck Breast w/ Cranberry Goat Cheese Sweet Potato Grati & Blood Orange Molasses
______________________________________________

DATE: December 17th at 1:00-1:30 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Martha Stewart Living Radio (Host: Mario Bosquez)
RECIPE: Two Holiday Tapas (TBD)

The Las Ramblas team will be in full force at the Signature Chefs of San Antonio Gala on November 7th, 2010. Hotel Contessa is proud to be a sponsor and participator of this important cause!

When: Sunday, November 7th, 2010
Where: Westin La Cantera Resort (16641 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio TX, 78256)
Phone: 210.696.1030
Schedule: 6 pm – 10 pm

The Las Ramblas team from Hotel Contessa showed off their skills at the Culinary Institute of America opening at the Pearl Brewery right off the San Antonio Riverwalk REACH.

Pictured from the left is Director of Food  & Beverage, Shane Bruns; Executive Chef, Brian West; and Sous Chef, Jacob Campos.

The team made a delicious samplers for the hungry crowd: a Lobster Chorizo Stuffed Squid with Pickled Tenticles and Squid Ink Reduction and Micro Pea Shoot & Piquillo Pepper Salad. It truly is as amazing and as decadent as it sounds!