Gresham
Palace Kollazs Brasserie & Bar
In
1880 the London Gresham Life Assurance Company bought
the Nako House (the original neo-classic palace built in 1827)
as its foreign headquarters on this site but then, in 1903,
decided to demolish the Nako House and build a new venue from
the ground up. The new building was a monument to Sir Thomas
Gresham, the 16th century financier to Queen Elizabeth I. Gresham
Palace is considered one of the most glamorous buildings in
Pest, and one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture
in the world.
The
ground floor and first floor hosted the Gresham Company's offices,
the Gresham Café and a finishing school for daughters
of the aristocracy called "English Young Ladies".
The second and third floors were comprised of a collection of
luxury apartments where many of the country's elite took rooms.
Government minister Count Gyula Andrássy, close friend
of Elizabeth Queen of Hungary, took rooms in the Gresham Palace,
and his brother Géza was the chairman of the board of
the Gresham Company's Hungarian subsidiary.
Kollazs Brasserie & Bar
Following
years of war and occupation by the Russians and terrible disrepair
in the 1990s Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts became the management
company for Gresham Palace in agreement with the National Board
for the Protection of Historic Monuments (OMVH) that allowed
the careful restoration of ceramics, arcade, and stained glass
windows on all floors.
Today
the hotel offers a delightful spa on the top floor with a pool,
where treatments include use of their signature products, and
the cocktail lounge in the lobby is a delightful respite after
touring. Guests enjoy signature cocktails with names like Pretty
Petals, made of Ketel One Vodka, rose water, lemon, egg white,
and absinthe infused with hibiscus or a Kollázs Classic
Cherry Soup Daiquiri cocktail. They also make a perfect Cosmopolitan
served with wonderful little hors d'oeurve to savor while listening
to a live pianist before dinner.
Cocktails in the Lobby Lounge
The
Kollázs Brasserie & Bar is a contemporary European
brasserie in a landmark Budapest location, overlooking the Chain
Bridge and the Danube River. The Hungarian word for "collage,"
Kollázs highlights creative combinations in all aspects
of the Magyar dining experience. It is a warm atmosphere where
the staff are dedicated to providing a memorable experience,
and do just that.
Appetizers
to be enjoyed include tastes like Foie Gras Terrine with rhubarb
compote and elderflower jelly. Soups are amazing and the beef
consomme with Morel mushrooms and beef tongue is a must. Main
courses include wonderful fish selections, lamb, venison, beef
cheek goulash (my favorite), as well as duck, home made sausage,
beef tenderloin, and rib-eye steak. Salad, caramelized steamed
cabbage, macaroni cheese gratin, vegetable skewers and truffle
mashed potatoes are a few sides to be enjoyed.
Gresham Palace Peacock Entrance
The
signature Sea Bass Baked In Sea Salt (For 2 People) served with
a green salad and fresh vegetables was simply outstanding. The
fish is baked in a thick layer of salt, and then completely
cleaned at the table to be served with a delicious warm sauce
of oil and peppers. This was one of the most unusual and delicious
dinners I have ever experienced.
Our
sinful ending dessert was deep fried strawberry shortcake with
fresh strawberries, kirsch and strawberry ice cream. Dinner
wines selected for us from their exceptional wine list included
Grof Buttler, EGRI Chardonnay, 2013, Hungarian and Markrurt
Kadarka 2015 Szekszard. Also featured on their extensive wine
list are Barta, Late Harvest Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary, 2010 Lenkey,
Édes Szamorodni, Tokaj, Hungary, 2007 Oremus, 5 Puttonyos
Aszú, Tokaj, Hungary, 2006. For Reservations: +36 (1)
268-6000.
Four
Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Széchenyi István tér 5-6.
1051 Budapest
Tel. +36 (1) 268-6000
Fax. +36 (1) 268-5000
http://kollazs.hu/
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.