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.

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.

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!

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!

Kids Really Love Hotel Contessa - Kids 8 and Under Eat FREE at Las Ramblas + Parent Enjoy 25 % Off Our Best Available Rates!

For our loyal blog readers, Facebook Fans, and Twitter followers we’ve created a special rate offer for the month of March. That’s right, we know you’re taking a break soon sometime this month believe you deserve some R&R.

We have 25% OFF our Best Available Rates for the month of March, including Spring Break. Bring the kids, too, Las Ramblas has a special that you’re sure to love — Kids 8 and Under Eat FREE (with purchase of an adult entree at Las Ramblas)!

Click here for this package!

2010 Mud King and Queen - San Antonio Riverwalk

Congratulations to Bobby Maldonado and Suzanne Scott for being recently crowned the 2010 Mud King and Queen at the annual Mud Coronation at the David Strauss Bridge on Jan. 17th. They received a whopping 16,792 votes and showed off their skills during the Riverwalk draining.

Maldonado aka “Mud King” is a San Antonio native employed at the Pepsi Bottling Group for over 30 years as a logistic specialist. Maldonado graduated from Lanier High School in ’74 and pursues alumni and fundraising activities in his spare time. Scott aka “Mud Queen” has been the GM of the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) since Sept 07 who’s public service reaches from 1987 when she was the Community Relations and Trustee Relations Director for VIA Metro Transit. Scott received her Bachelor’s from Texas Tech University ’85 and her Master’s Degree in Urban Administration from Trinity University ’97.

Also we’d like to congratulate our good friend Bill Dante and his wife Lisa, for becoming the 2010 Mud Prince and Princess with 6,044 votes. Bill Dante has been very beneficial in helping Hotel Contessa Suites on the Riverwalk and Las Ramblas and our Executive Chef, Brian West, was featured as the January 2010 Top Chef for Dante’s new publication “Destinations San Antonio” which features many downtown Riverwalk hotels. Bill and Lisa Dante are very familiar with the communications world as Bill was a top San Antonio meteorologist for 25 years and Lisa was one of the “Barker’s Beauties” on the “Price is Right”.

Lady in Red Martini - Recipe by Daniel Quiroz of The Cork Bar, Hotel Contessa

This month as a special treat, we’ve devised a spectacular uplifting drink that is ideal for the Holiday season. The uniquely named “Lady in Red Martini” was concocted by The Cork Bar’s Bartender, Daniel Quiroz.

If you’re more in the mood to relax in an ambient setting juxtaposed against the River Walk, we suggest joining Daniel Quiroz at The Cork Bar for one of his signature creations!

Be sure to keep tabs on Daniel Quiroz at The Cork Bar at the Hotel Contessa in downtown San Antonio on the Riverwalk!

Ingredients

1 1/4 oz Vodka
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Cranberry Juice
1/4 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup

Directions

Fill pint glass with ice, add all ingredients to martini shaker.
Shake vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes.
Strain into chilled martini glass.
Garnish with blood orange wheel.