The Peninsula Chicago's tradition of excellent service makes it easy to find a cocktail.

The Avenues reception space lured guests to mouthwatering treasures, first encountered with a stately Trojan Horse model.

The mythical character was a floating buffet of decadence, each tier of her dress a platform for perfectly proportioned and on-trend Verrines: Strawberry Yuzu, Peach Melba, Chocolate Espresso, Milk Chocolate Exotic, Pineapple Coconut Panacotta, and Mango Tapioca. Stationed nearby were treasures of Old-fashioned Smoked Bison, Seared Tuna Manhattan, Ceviche, and Mini long john Foie Gras Ganache. Lobster corn dogs, bison burgers on pretzel rolls, and crab cake on brioche impressed every palate, a warm-up for tenderloin, steaks, and rack of lamb.

The debut of “summer on the terrace,” this private event was brought to life "In Living Color" with an impressive and expressive menu transporting guests East to West.

Pageboy attendants reflected the host's signature style as they escorted guests to a cityscape “Tastefully Thai.” Gorgeous linen in reds and oranges offered the perfect platform for the Asian-inspired decor, both live and still.

A beautiful canape presentation.

Entertainment included sky-high, swaying ladies.

Another view.

The Peninsula Hotel's renowned Chef Nu brought intricate bites of his heritage that elevated the echelon beyond its five-star status. Quintessential to the Asian setting and embellishing the center stage was a bamboo rickshaw, while the neighboring bar was as awe-inspiring, brilliantly illuminated in hot pink and red. The setting and all its accouterments helped guests' immersion to authentic Asia.

Guests enjoy the beautiful terrace with its cityscape views.

Ready with a smile.

Chefs at work as night falls.

A long view.

After enjoying the reception on the terrace, guests descend the stairs where the bustling Orient became the down-and-dirty streets of the late '80s/'90s urban Chicago.

A magnificent ice sculpture buffet bursting with eye-popping oysters, shrimp, crab leg and octopus was flanked by artful, graffiti'd galvanized oil barrels as decor.

The ice-etched pop culture logos of Pac-Man, Atari and E.T. were a fun reminder of what "once trended" before trending was a term.

An urban buffet.

From east Asian elegance to cosmopolitan chi-town, the scene had transformed to beams, barrels, and all things urban ... with a "channel change" in the music thanks to MTV-style DJ Akib.

The allure of video mapping, extreme sports on a half-pipe, and live entertainment was what beckoned guests over threshold, despite the fruits of the sea overflowing in the adjacent lobby.

Graffiti-splattered and sprayed Lucite bars towered over the street art, also serving as a stand-out reminder to guests for the social media shout-outs in their the artfully inked reminder to post #luxuryredefined and @peninsulaChi.

Eye-catching structural elements served as artful, visually appealing buffets, seemingly suspended in thin air.

The waist-high pallets were hung by heavy-gauge, urban-inspired chains intertwined with neon roping: a prototype for future "retro" on-trend buffet stations.

Vintage video-game art.

Ready to serve.

Delightful bison bites.

A long view.

Exquisite and complex cuisine beckoned guests to mellow out and pause, rewinding to an earlier time, yet with a grown-up menu.

Iceberg lettuce of long ago made way for mango salad graced with basil, romato tartare, mozzarella cream and basil chips.

Delicious gemelli pasta with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta and anchovies served as a starter, or instead--organic beet salad or roasted asparagus summer roll.

Avocado mousse tempted the palate as a cold hors d'oeuvre, while hot appetizers were mini madeleines with options of lemon, chili-lime, and lobster fennel.  

"Where's the Beef" greasy burgers of yesteryear gave way to scrumptious sliders: bison burgers on pretzel rolls, or crab cakes and ostrich on brioche.  Radical and mouthwatering?  Totally!

Mature taste buds meant nigiri sushi, maki rolls and sashimi.

Saving room for indulgences, guests found savory mini doughnuts: Whiskey Bacon, Sugared Bacon, Mini Long Johns, Foie Gras Ganache, and can't-miss Spicy Kung Pao Chicken-filled Doughnuts, Bao-Style.

At every turn, guests dove into the upscale menu, a favorite being the PBJ Foie Gras. Whipped peanut butter foie gras set atop jam-centered brioche graced with a roasted grape sliver...a mouthwatering bite of delight.

Fish Tank Ceviche, Lobster Corn Dogs, Beef Short Ribs, and Crisp Pork Belly catered to every tasty whim.

For the lighter palate? Liquid nitrogen summer fruits of marinated cantaloupe, honeydew, banana, pineapple, orange, apple & mixed berries, dehydrated coconut crumble and vanilla Chantilly cream.

Just one of the hotel's many claims to fame is its own Executive Pastry Chef Dmitri Fayard.  

His unique creations brought the desserts to life in city-scape fashion, beautiful as they were delicious. 

Adjacent to the al fresco patio was Shanghai Terrace, a chocolate factory explosion, which played host to Chef Fayard's creations.  

Eye-popping bonbons and truffles were complemented with candy jars, candy bars, chocolate bark and toffee. Mimicking the design of a weathered and graffiti'd brick cityscape was a mind-blowing chocolate wall a la the Magnificent Mile.

Guests salivated over specialty Verrines and Petits Gateaux treasures. 

Exotic Coconut Domes, Chocolate Vanilla Hazelnut Crisp Domes, Peanut Butter Crunch, Lemon Yuzu, Chocolate Crunch, or Strawberry Rhubarb Tarts were the delight of every sweet tooth.

Macarons in every flavor from pistachio to s'mores, lemon poppy to lavender currant!

House-specialty "lollipops" popped out of the display in flavors of hazelnut and coconut Rocher, cassis pear, passion fruit, and vanilla coconut marshmallow.

Sweet finale.