A wonderful time was had by all at D. Burnhams and the Renaissance Hotel this evening. For a restaurant that has only been open 2 months, they certainly seem to have their act together. The bartender Ryan personally developed a specialty cocktail called Frozen Assets to play on the fact that the site used to be a bank in it's previous life. It was impressive to hear how thoughtfully he concocted this wonderful libation. Because he wanted to include a dollar sign in the drink, he pureed basil and decorated the top of an ice cube with that symbol. Then he creatively used some coconut oil on top because it is a solid at room temperature before he poured more water on top to freeze so as not to mess up his design. As the ice cube melts, it subtlely changes the flavor of the drink over time, then as a finishing touch, he flambeed the liquid refreshment with Chartreuse!
Next, before tasting any of the menu items, the chef came out and described this delectable array of food samples - potatoes dauphinoise, brussel sprouts, short ribs, seared scallops and duck to name a few. Delicious yet just enough to make you want to come back to eat there. Note: the chef and restaurant emphasize using local foods in their preparations which I can appreciate.
The second half of the evening was led by Diana (an impassioned historian).
Turns out D. Burnham was named for the nationally famous architect and when The Renaissance was built it was the tallest building in Cincinnati! The elevators right outside of the restaurant are an exquisite example of art deco even though they are no longer in operation. Besides the many suites and meeting rooms, I was blown away by the gorgeous Burnham Hall - look at some of the photos to understand what I mean. You rarely see anything like it nowadays. Glorious details and enough capacity for several hundred people whether you are planning a meeting or wedding reception!
As a side note, in the bathrooms the mirrors had a grid of lights displayed in them. You could change the pattern by pushing buttons at the bottom. An unexpected, but unique design element. It was also fun for Cindy to have a Best Dressed contest. Some of the outfits were truly befitting the evening and D. Burnham's will hopefully let one of us know if we have won a free night's stay. Keeping my fingers crossed!!
Thank you, thank you to The Renaissance Hotel, D. Burnham's and most of all to our tireless leader, Cindy, for arranging the entire event! read more