Sofitel New York To Celebrate National Cheese Day, June 4, With Pop-Up Shop With Murray's Cheese To Benefit The Bowery Mission

Selections include artisanal cheeses from France, Holland and Vermont

 Sofitel New York is once again partnering with Murray’s Cheese, New York City’s oldest cheese shop, for National Cheese Day on Saturday, June 4.Une petite fromagerie will be open from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Gaby Brasserie Française. Donations are welcome and will benefit The Bowery Mission in its goal to provide help and hope to the homeless and impoverished of New York City.

Guests will enjoy tastings of select artisanal cheeses and receive assistance from a cheesemonger, knowledgeable in the finer points of cheese, as they make their choices. Selections will include a Ewephoria Sheep Milk Gouda from Holland; three cheeses from France, including a Comté Saint Antoinecow’s-milk cheese, a Tomme Crayeuse cow’s-milk cheese and a Saint-Maure de Touraine pasteurized chevre; and two cheeses from Vermont, which include a Jasper Hill Farm Bayley Hazen Blue and a Spring Brook, Reading cow’s-milk cheese.

Reservations may be made by calling 212-782-3040. For more information, visit gabynyrestaurant.com.

About Sofitel New York

Sofitel New York, part of AccorHotels group, is a stylish Midtown hotel with a decidedly French accent in its contemporary décor, sophisticated artwork, brasserie cuisine and cosmopolitan service. It features 398 guest rooms, including 52 suites; function space that serves small to mid-sized events; and an outstanding brasserie, Gaby Restaurant, whose French executive chef has won the Food Network show Chopped among other accolades. Sofitel New York is ideally located at 45 West 44^thStreet, affording easy access to Fifth Avenue and the Times Square theater district. For reservations, call 800-SOFITEL (763-4835) or visit http://www.sofitel-new-york.com/.

About The Bowery Mission

The Bowery Mission has served homeless and hungry New Yorkers since 1879. This year, The Bowery Mission provided more than 406,000 meals to men, women and children, 91,000 nights of shelter and 44,000 articles of clothing, as well as showers, haircuts, and expert medical and optometric care. Each meal and every night of shelter is an invitation to residential recovery programs, where men and women get a second chance and lives are transformed from hopelessness to hope. Last year, the Mission’s residential programs served nearly 300 men and women who are regaining sobriety, reconnecting with family and faith, pursuing educational goals, and preparing for work and independent living. To ensure that at-risk children have a positive first chance at life, The Bowery Mission’s city camp and summer camp serves nearly 1,200 at-risk children from poor city neighborhoods. www.bowery.org

9 Ultimate Valentine's Day Retreats To Rediscover Romance

Whether lovers are looking to relax, rekindle or recharge this Valentine’s Day, these nine retreats make it easy to rediscover romance:

·        Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa: Lovebirds looking to pull out all the stops can head to this AAA Four Diamond-rated all-suite resort located on its own private beach. Topping out at $10,009, its Ultimate Valentine’s Day Getaway Package includes limousine transportation from Palm Beach International Airport to the resort with Champagne, three nights in a one bedroom ocean view suite, Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries on arrival, beach cabana setup and unlimited use of non-motorized water sports (one day), a private dinner under the stars in the resort’s oceanfront gazebo, a four hour Ultimate Treasures of the Si experience at the award-winning SiSpa, a spa lunch for two, and Champagne breakfast in bed on the day of departure. The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Getaway requires 14 day advance purchase and a 50 percent non-refundable deposit. Package is based on availability.

·        Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.): Couples can discover the “elements” of attraction over a romantic feast, or extend the affaire into a weekend rendezvous. Either way, Sanctuary’s fueling the fire this February. Snuggling by its outdoor fire-bowls is encouraged. Available Feb. 12-15 the Sweethearts Sanctuary Package provides ten percent off a two nights’ stay in a luxurious Casita, including one 60-minute spa treatment per person, Valentine’s Day dinner in elements, and a rose petal turndown. Rates for Friday through Saturday night start at $2,019, and $1,968 for Saturday through Sunday night, excluding gratuity and alcohol. For (almost) never-ending love, guests can extend their stay to seven nights, available Feb. 8-15 and starting at $4,713.

·        Whiteface Lodge (Lake Placid, N.Y.): Bursting with rustic elegance at every turn, this award-winning all-suite Adirondack gem is a luxurious, romantic retreat for lovers. Views of snow-covered peaks, warm cast-iron fire places, exquisite dining at KANU, and an award-winning Spa, make the Lodge a natural choice for couples looking for an all-inclusive escape to the High Peaks. The Lodge’sUltimate Luxury Package for Two includes a two night stay with wine and cheese on arrival, daily breakfast, two 50-minute Traditional Lodge Massages and a three course dinner in KANU. Lovebirds can catch a movie at the Lodge’s 56-seat movie theater, skate amongst the snowflakes on its own private rink, or cozy up in one of its two outdoor lean-tos over cocktails and a fire pit. Rates start at $546 per night.

·       The Umstead Hotel and Spa (Cary, N.C., outside Raleigh): A secluded wellness sanctuary awaits couples at this luxurious Five Star retreat. Designed to pamper the senses, the In Harmony Package includes overnight accommodations in a suite, sparkling wine and hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries on arrival, and a Swedish or Aromatherapy Couples Massage at The Umstead Spa. A dip in the spa’s open-roof current pool will cap off the healing experience. Rates start at $399 per night.

·        1000 Islands Harbor Hotel (Clayton, N.Y.) – Perched along the St. Lawrence River in the renowned Thousand Islands region, this AAA Four Diamond-rated gem offers couples the perfect respite for romance. Its Valentine’s Romance Package, available Feb. 12-14, features overnight accommodations; Champagne, one red rose and chocolate-covered strawberries on arrival; a rose petal turndown; and breakfast for two. Rates start at $189. An exquisite three-course dinner menu will be served at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Seaway Grille, Feb. 12-14 ($50 per person, excluding tax and service charges). Couples can make the most of their stay with access to an indoor swimming pool, heated whirlpool, spacious fitness center, and expansive bar, all showcasing breathtaking views of the rolling St. Lawrence River.

• Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa: set on the ocean of Pompano Beach, touted by TripAdvisor as a “destination on the rise”, this boutique-style resort is offering lovebirds a Couple’s Getaway with the simple pleasures of Florida beach living. With rates starting at just $319 per night the package includes overnight accommodations, Champagne and tropical fruit on arrival, breakfast at McCoy’s Oceanfront for two daily, and beach cabana each day. Couples can also unwind at the resort’s seaside sanctuary, SiSpa, for some well-deserved TLC. On Feb. 14, its signature restaurant, McCoy’s Oceanfront, will serve up a tantalizing five-course dinner menu, priced at $70 per person.

·        Harbor View Hotel (Edgartown, Mass.): Vineyard charm and snow-capped beaches await at this historic Martha’s Vineyard landmark. Harbor View’s well-appointed Captain’s Cottage Suites provide the ultimate in comfort, luxury and privacy, with sweeter rates during the shoulder season to boot. Couples can savor gourmet New England fare at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Lighthouse Grill, featuring a gorgeous Victorian dining room with views of the Edgartown Lighthouse and Harbor. Quaint shops and galleries are just steps away. Cottage Suite rates start $349 per night and guestrooms start at $129 per night.

·        Sofitel New York: This stylish midtown Manhattan hotel with a decidedly French accent combines the sophistication of Parisian Art Deco with 1940s Manhattan glamour for a romantic retreat amid a buzzing city. Ideally located in the heart of the theater district, couples are steps from their favorite Broadway show. Pre- or post-theater, classic French fare awaits at the hotel’s Gaby Brasserie Française. Spacious guestrooms and suites offer dazzling skyline views of such New York City landmarks as the Chrysler Building, and the 24^th floor’s popular Prestige Suites provide an outdoor sanctuary with an expansive private terrace. Rates start at $219 per night.

·       Renaissance Montreal (Montreal, QC, Canada): Making its highly anticipated debut on Jan. 18 in one of the romantic cities in North America, Renaissance Montreal makes for an inspiring retreat with its unique design and the vibrancy of its surrounding city. For guests who crave “wow” inducing dining experiences, the hotel’s artful East Restaurant will serve sumptuous Pan-Asian cuisine as well as inventive cocktails from master mixologist Lawrence Picard. The rooftop lounge terrace – the only rooftop of its kind in Montreal – is the perfect spot to catch a glimpse of captivating city views or to take a dip in the heated plunge pool. At just $199 CAD, this is an incredibly affordable holiday escape (particularly for U.S. travelers).

Sofitel New York & Murray’s Cheese To Celebrate National Cheese Day, June 4, With Pop-Up Shop Benefiting Citymeals-On-Wheels

Say ‘fromage’:

Selections include French and local artisanal cheeses;

Restaurant and bar guests will receive a complimentary brie en croute to celebrate

National Cheese Day, June 4, Sofitel New York has partnered with famed Murray’s Cheese to openune petite fromagerie from 4-8 p.m. in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Gaby Brasserie Française. Murray’s Cheese is New York City’s oldest cheese shop and has been named Best Cheese Shop in the World by Forbes.com and msnbc.com. Donations are welcome and will benefit Citymeals-on-Wheels to aid in its mission to provide nutritious food and human company to homebound elderly New Yorkers.

A cheesemonger knowledgeable in the finer points of cheese will offer tastings and assist guests in making their choices among the French and local artisanal cheeses. Selections will include aBucheron goat’s-milk cheese from France, a St. Stephen’s cow’s-milk triple cream from New York, a Brebirousse d’Argental sheep’s-milk cheese from France, a Comte Saint Antoine cow’s-milk cheese from France, a Fourme d’Ambert cow’s-milk cheese from France, and a Tarentaise cow’s milk cheese from Vermont.

Diners at Gaby and patrons of Gaby Bar will be treated to a complimentary brie en croute with four-red-fruit jam.

Earlier this year, the hotel created a pop-up boulangerie on National French Bread Day that generated over $500 for City Harvest.

For more information or dinner reservations, call 212-782-3091 or visit www.sofitel.com.

About Sofitel New York

Sofitel New York is a stylish Midtown hotel with a decidedly French accent in its contemporary décor, sophisticated artwork, brasserie cuisine, and cosmopolitan service. It features 398 guest rooms, including 52 suites; function space that serves small to mid-sized events; and an outstanding brasserie, Gaby, whose French executive chef has won the Food Network show Chopped among other accolades. Sofitel New York is ideally located at 45 West 44^th Street, affording easy access to Fifth Avenue and the Times Square theater district. For reservations, call 800-SOFITEL (763-4835) or visit www.sofitel.com.

‘Zou Bisou Bisou’: Sofitel New York’s Valentine’s Weekend Getaway Package Brings The City Of Love To The Big Apple

– Sofitel New York, the AAA Four-Diamond hotel with a decidedly French  accent, will bring all of its romantic French know-how to guests this Valentine’s Day weekend with a flirtatious Zou Bisou Bisou package that begs for just a little “kiss kiss” on the lovers’ holiday. Paired with a delectable dinner at Gaby Brasserie Française, the Midtown Manhattan hotel will bring the “City of Love” to the Big Apple.

On Feb. 13, a bottle of Champagne and a box of La Maison du Chocolat will await guests on arrival in their luxurious King Room, boasting views of the Manhattan skyline. A special delivery of a dozen red roses will accompany the next morning’s breakfast in bed, followed by a relaxing in-room couple’s massage by candlelight. Couples will enjoy a three-course Valentine’s Day Dinner at Gaby Brasserie prepared by Sylvain Harribey, the hotel’s award-winning executive chef and a winner of the Food Network’s Chopped, with a bottle of wine. The Zou Bisou Bisoupackage is available for stays Feb. 13-15 and is priced from $2,015, excluding tax and gratuity.

Chef Harribey’s distinctly French Valentine’s Day menu begins with a complimentary glass of berry Champagne. The three-course prix-fixe menu, priced at $140 per couple (exclusive of tax and gratuity) and available on Feb. 14 from 5 to 10 p.m., is as follows:

Entrée

Roulade

Mesclun salad with balsamic-marinated strawberries, herb goat cheese and

roasted tomato petals rolled in Serrano ham Lavash bread

or

Tartare de thon épicè

Ahi tuna seasoned with shallots, cilantro, and jalapeños served on a bed of avocado,

lotus root chips, and sauce “rouge”

Plats

Rack of Lamb & Tarte Fine Provençale

Oven roasted ginger-marinated rack of lamb served on a baked puff pastry

Provençal vegetable tart, with rosemary parmesan oil and frisée salad

or

Noix de St Jacques et Pommes Douces

Scallops two ways: Samosa, flavored with basil and mint wrapped in brick dough;

coated with wasabi sesame seeds; accompanied by sweet potato mash and Japanese vinaigrette

or

Heart Shaped Lobster and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli

sautéed kale, spicy red pepper coulis

Dessert

Ménage a Trois Trio de Desserts

Chocolate mousse tulip with Grand Marnier, raspberry macaron,

Sable Breton and salted caramel sauce

For reservations or more information, call 212-782-3091 or visit www.sofitel.com.

About Sofitel New York

Sofitel New York, open since 2000, is a stylish Midtown hotel with a decidedly French accent in its contemporary décor, sophisticated artwork, brasserie cuisine, and cosmopolitan service. It features 398 guest rooms, including 52 suites; function space that serves small to mid-sized events; and an outstanding brasserie, Gaby, whose French executive chef has won the Food Network show Chopped among other accolades. Sofitel New York is ideally located at 45 West 44^th Street, affording easy access to Fifth Avenue and the Times Square theater district. For reservations, call 800-SOFITEL (763-4835) or visit www.sofitel.com.