Diammonds As Big As the Ritz-Carlton.

    New York's always elegant and gracious Ritz-Carlton recently hosted
a press luncheon to celebrate their latest AAA Five Diamond awardees.
Management from several of their most successful properties, including
Cancun and Atlanta, joined their Gotham compatriots to honor chefs Craig
Henne of Fantino (New York) and Daniel Schaffhauser of Atlanta's R-C
diningroom on their latest achievement. The two chefs combined forces to
create an imaginative menu, including foie gras and wild mushroom
ravioli, pan seare d red snapper with purple potato fricasse and soy
ginger vinaigrette. Dessert was a rich dark chocolate souffe cake with
orange sauce. The two wines which accompanied the feast were an Alois
Lageder 1994 Pinot Grigio, and a Beaulieu Vineyards Carneros Reserve
from 1992. The Ritz-Carlton on Manhattan's Central Park South is turning
into a holiday haven, with elegant trees, and of course, mixmaster
Norman's tempting winter drinks at the ever-lively bar. You haven't
experienced the "spirit" of the season until you've sampled his
"Spinning Dreidel," or "Nutcracker Sweet." There will be a variety of
holiday and mid-winter weekend packages available, so do treat yourself
to a night or two at this lovely property. Call 212-757-1900 for
information and reservations.

New York's Omni Berkshire Place Reopens.

    A little later than anticipated, The Omni reopened its doors to
    anxious potential guests who have been clamoring for more rooms near
    the heart of New York's East Side shopping. As a friend of mine
    sighed, "My wife will only stay within three minutes walk of Saks
    Fifth Avenue." The travel press was treated to champagne, caviar,
    and tidbits created by chef Elka Gilmore. Omni hopes that their new
    on-premises restaurant, Kokachin, along with the Asian-influenced
    lounge area and bar, will attract locals in search of a new dining
    experience. As for the 396 guestrooms and suites, we give it a B --
    for beige. Everything is a bit monochromatic. Nothing unusual in
    terms of textures, colors or decor in the public areas. On the other
    hand, we did like the standard room, outfitted with "Moderne"
    furnishings, computerized bedside commands for lights, climate
    control, and voice mail. Baths, despite Omni management assertions,
    are no better or worse than those found in other first-class hotels.
    No bidets or double sinks, even in the l argest suites. N ina Ricci
    toiletries are nice, but we didn't see any basics like mouthwash,
    oversize bath soaps, or complimentary disposable razors. Maybe you
    receive them upon request. Odd note: the hairdryers were not bolted
    into the wall. Isn't this a new New York safety requirement? The
    health club is also basic -- no Cybex or Nautilus equipment. No TVs,
    or sauna/steam room either. As for meeting space, this is not the
    place to plan for anything bigger than 50 or so. And the largest
    guest accommodation is a one-bedroom suite with one master bath and
    a second small powder room. There is, however, a nice terrace.
    There's nothing unpleasant about the new Omni Berkshire Place, but
    considering the pre-opening hype, The Beatles, and Windows 95 fared
    better. Omni management seems sincere about constructive criticism,
    so this place could well improve as time goes on. Meanwhile, it's
    nice having 400 fresh rooms available for the Xmas rush. Call
    1-800-The-Omni for reservations and information.

The New York Palace Makes Holiday Shopping a Pleasure.

    From Dec.17th, until the end of the month, The New York Palace's
    weekend shopping getaway will be available to guests throughout the
    week. For as little as $199 per room, per night, you can be
    pampered, and shop at Saks Fifth Avenue for 10% less. Also, from now
    until Christmas, each Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the hotel will
    feature complimentary choral performances in their courtyard,
    accompanied by free hot chocolate and cider. Call 1-800-NY PALACE
    for reservations and information.

A "Dickens" of a Christmas Tea.

   For the holiday season, The Four Seasons New York is offering a set
afternoon tea featuring sandwiches and cakes from "A Christmas Carol."
There's nothing Scrooge-like about lemon curd tarts, mince pies, and
roast beef and horseradish savories. The tea is $21 per person. It's a
perfect excuse to spend some time in this towering hotel's elegant
public lounge. Call 212-758-5700 for reservations.