[Ninja Baker] Love Las Vegas!

[Ninja Baker]

Las Vegas lights up.

From mobster playgrounds to bourgeois palaces, Las Vegas has never been barren of entertainment. Despite the arid setting, electric billboards light up the desert like flowers on cacti. The city is an ever-blossoming American Mecca of fun.

Forever a fabulous fun spot!

Of course, gambling and even lingering in a casino is prohibited for the under 21 crowd. (But there are activities available to children.) Liquor consumption is also against the law for those who have yet to turn 21.  So, servers are not shy about asking for identification.

The only card request husband, David and I received, however, was for our American Express. But we did do a lot of drinking – of tea!!! To celebrate my advanced state of adulthood - my birthday - darling David treated yours truly and her relatives to afternoon teas at the Mandarin Oriental and Bellagio hotels.  At the exclusive establishments, many cups of matcha (green tea) and chamomile were consumed.

Matcha green tea

With a 23^rd floor bird’s eye view from the Mandarin’s Tea Lounge, Aunt Eva and my top-ranking fencing champion cousin, Amy delighted this Anglophile with their English adventures. They are Las Vegas residents. Thanks to Uncle Bob’s military career, however, Aunt Eva and Amy spent quite a few years in England. Every weekend they’d leave the base and go explore England. (Sounds like the life doesn’t it?) 

Our stellar server at the Mandarin Oriental.

Cousin Amy, Aunt Eva, yours truly and husband, David

In addition to tales about the UK, Aunt Eva gave thumbs up for the authenticity of the Mandarin Oriental’s sprouted watercress /cream cheese sandwiches.  According to Amy, the sprout is a rare find in regular US supermarkets.  (Side note: Although different from the fare served in London, the common leafy watercress sandwiched between buttered thin white bread is yummy, too.) 

The Cotswolds

The scones at the Mandarin’s Tea Lounge, on the other hand, were not your typical English scone. They were delicious biscuits. But not the denser variety one finds in the UK. Read on for my favorite scone recipe garnered from Cordon Bleu trained Chef Keiko Oiiwa who lived in the Cotswolds for a number of years. 

Chef Keiko Oiiwa’ｓ English Scones

材料・Ingredients

1 1/2 cups  　　　　　 オールパーパス　    All purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp 　　　　　　BP                    　　   Baking powder

55g 　　　　　　　　 砂糖　　　　　　　Sugar    

1個    　　　　　　　  卵　　　　　　　　Egg 

(½ for mixture, ½ to brush on top of scone circle)

55g  　　　　　　　  ミルク　　　　　　  Milk   

90g 　　　　　　　   バター　　　　　     Butter

作り方 ・Directions

１　ボールに小麦粉　BP　砂糖をいれる

　　そこへ　バターをいれ　ボールの中でナイフで切りながら

　　小さくして　最後は手でつぶす

English scones.

1.     Into a bowl put the flour, baking powder and sugar.

Then cut the butter into the mixture with knives (or a pastry cutter.)

At the last bit, crush the butter with hands.

２　全卵の半分をいれて　粉となじませ、さらにミルクを加えて

　　ひとまとめにする

2.     Mix in half of the 1 egg. Then add the milk, molding it into a lump.

３　ひと固まりにして３cm厚さにして丸い型で抜く

　　トップだけに卵をつけて　オーブン３７５f　１０分焼く

3.    Form the lump into circles – 3 centimeters in thickness – with a biscuit cutter.

       Brush with the rest of the egg.

       Bake at 375 degrees for 10mins.

The Mandarin's Tea Lounge cakes.

Maybe the scones were not Cotswold quality but the matcha green tea was spectacular. And the Mandarin Oriental’s Tea Lounge pièce de résistance for this Ninja Baker was the rose petal jam.  All senses were involved in the imbibing of the spread. Slivered petals floating in rose essence slathered on the scone with a bit of clotted cream was pure heaven. (Or indulgence.) The pretty fruit tarts sprinkled with gold and the opera chocolate cake were nice, too.   

Off the tea menu but a lovely afternoon treat at the Mandarin Oriental.

Off the tea menu, we were served cupcakes. I didn’t taste the powder blue frosted one but Aunt Eva and Amy loved it. The carrot cupcake had me at first bite. Chock full of carrots, walnuts and a thick covering of cream cheese frosting hit the right note between sweet and sour.

The Mandarin Oriental's carrot cupcake.

Tea at the Bellagio with David, sister Karen and niece, Jasmine.

The next day, at the Bellagio Hotel, to further celebrate my birthday, David, my sister, Karen and my niece, Jasmine gathered at the Petrossian Lounge. Once seated at the Bellagio’s Petrossian Lounge, red roses appeared on the table for our afternoon tea.  Nice touch. I missed though the Mandarin Oriental’s delicious matcha and attentive service. But, the Bellagio’s chamomile was pretty good. And all is pretty right in the world when a piano player cranks out American standards whilst one consumes salmon sandwiches topped with caviar!  

Niece, Jasmine sporting a Ninja Baker t-shirt and enjoying her  veggie sandwich.

Afternoon tea at the Petrossian Lounge.

Plus, the Petrossian Lounge scones were the real deal. Moist inside and crunchy outside. No Mandarin Oriental rose petal jam to put on top; but Karen loved, loved the lemon curd. And, of course, the traditional clotted cream was presented. 

As for the tea cakes, I can’t really compare. Both the Bellagio and Mandarin Oriental obviously employ pastry artisans. And when handed a white chocolate cup filled with whipped cream at the Petrossian, only happiness can ensue. Oh, yes, and a little gold on cakes never hurt a girl either.

Besides our exclusive afternoon tea birthday parties in Las Vegas, a visit to Donny and Marie at the Flamenco Hotel was added to the list of fun. The showroom where they perform is reminiscent of the days of Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. (No, I’m not that old! I’ve seen TV specials.) Audience members crowd into booths as servers take drink orders throughout the show. Apparently the Flamenco is the only one on the strip who has yet to convert modern theater-style seating.  

Thumbs up to the dynamic Osmond siblings.

Maybe LA folk are too hip for the Osmonds. (I got a lot of “That’s nice, dear” and pats on the hand when reporting that David’s generous Las Vegas birthday weekend included Donny and Marie at the Flamenco.) But, I absolutely loved the show. And the Osmond siblings deserve a heck of a lot more credit for their talents. Without gushing too much: Donny is an amazing dancer. And after hearing Marie’s rendition of Somewhere from West Side Story, I could swear she’s trained with opera teachers. Last and not least, their willingness to share their humanness and their golden hearts deserves the standing ovation they received.

A view of the Bellagio's dancing fountains  from our room.

And speaking of just rewards, the Bellagio Hotel has earned each of its five shiny stars. (Unimpressed by labels and luxury, without complaint, my beloved David agreed to foot the bill for a room overlooking the dancing fountains.) Tiffany diamonds, Louis Vuitton handbags; all the shops you see on l’Avenue Montaigne, Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive accessorize the first floor. The location of the hotel is perfect, too. Within short walking minutes, I satisfied my shopping and travel whims.  Paris Hotel’s Sugar Factory produced a cute cupcake knick-knack and on the Appian Way in Caesar Palace’s I swooped up Gap bargains. 

In the Bellagio atrium with David, Karen and Jasmine.

If you’re suffering yet-another-birthday blues, Las Vegas will blast you back to a sunshiney mood…But only if you celebrate with people you love.

Wishing you weekends which rate five stars (or higher!) on the fun o’meter.

The Ninja Baker

--
Posted By Ninja Baker to Ninja Baker at 7/16/2011 11:44:00 PM

[Jolie Andreatta]

What a great birthday. So fun to read about. Wishing you lots more love and laughter. From Canada xx-:)Jolie

Sent from my iPhone

[Jolie Andreatta]

Sent from my iPhone

[Misty Rudy]

Jolie,

 

We miss you like crazy! Your in Canada, Mareanne is in Jersey, Im going crazy.......love you!!!!

 

 

Misty

[Daw...@aol.com]

[Daw...@aol.com]

Hi Kim...

 

I really enjoyed reading this one, and enjoyed the pictures.  Glad you had a great birthday!

 

Dawn

[Diana Crispi]

What a wonderful way to spend a birthday and what a honey David is!!

Happy Birthday!!

david and diana

[Pearl Karon]

How is Diane doing?  yes I mean you. 

 

which birthday was it? I'm guessing 50?  Will I see you this Sunday?

---

From: ninjabak...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ninjabak...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Diana Crispi
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 8:00 PM
To: ninjabak...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: [Ninja Baker] Love Las Vegas!

[Donald S Hiroto PhD]

Happy Belated Birthday from London!  Want to sound like Edward R Murrow!  Didn't have a chance to read and appreciate your blog until now.  Am glad that David treated you to such enjoyable experiences with your family and relatives.  You two deserve that-glad David enjoyed Donny and Marie.  Any 'sinful' experiences in Sin City?

Reached London w/o incident w/Kimberly, caught Allison's final performance in Europe's oldest music hall (to a full house) and hitting all the rich historic sites.  Been cloudy and showers each day but manageable.  Can appreciate one telling me that London has 9 months of cloudy, rainy weather and 3 months of bad weather!

The press and tabloids are obsessed with the Murdoch hacking revelations and forced resignations of Scotland Yard leaders and high up politicians.  The faltering economy monetary issues seem to taking 2nd place.

Everyone is so polite and proper-just as advertised.

Heading for Normandy beaches and abby at Mont St Michele with the family.

Will see everyone when we return.  Again, take care of each other, Kim and David.

Don and Betty and girls

Donald S Hiroto, PhD, Inc

Associate Clinical Professor UCLA

CA. License PSY 4185

310.820-5120

Sent from my IPhone 

Confidentiality Notice:

This email and any attachments  may contain privileged and confidential information.   You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner.  Any review, reliance or distribution by others or forwarding with express permission, is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, contact the sender and delete all copies. Confidentiality and legal privilege attached to this communication are not waived or lost by reason of mistaken delivery to you. 

 

[Yumi Takada]

Happy birthday!!
What a great birthday event!

We should go to afternoon tea in Pasadena - they have chocolate afternoon tea!

Your story is always so fun to read!!

See you soon!

Yumi

On Jul 16, 2011, at 11:44 PM, Ninja Baker wrote:

>
>
> Las Vegas lights up.
>
>
> From mobster playgrounds to bourgeois palaces, Las Vegas has never been barren of entertainment. Despite the arid setting, electric billboards light up the desert like flowers on cacti. The city is an ever-blossoming American Mecca of fun.
>
>

> Forever a fabulous fun spot!
> Of course, gambling and even lingering in a casino is prohibited for the under 21 crowd. (But there are activities available to children.) Liquor consumption is also against the law for those who have yet to turn 21. So, servers are not shy about asking for identification.
>
> The only card request husband, David and I received, however, was for our American Express. But we did do a lot of drinking – of tea!!! To celebrate my advanced state of adulthood - my birthday - darling David treated yours truly and her relatives to afternoon teas at the Mandarin Oriental and Bellagio hotels. At the exclusive establishments, many cups of matcha (green tea) and chamomile were consumed.
>

> Matcha green tea
>
> With a 23rd floor bird’s eye view from the Mandarin’s Tea Lounge, Aunt Eva and my top-ranking fencing champion cousin, Amy delighted this Anglophile with their English adventures. They are Las Vegas residents. Thanks to Uncle Bob’s military career, however, Aunt Eva and Amy spent quite a few years in England. Every weekend they’d leave the base and go explore England. (Sounds like the life doesn’t it?)
>

> Our stellar server at the Mandarin Oriental.
>

> Cousin Amy, Aunt Eva, yours truly and husband, David
> In addition to tales about the UK, Aunt Eva gave thumbs up for the authenticity of the Mandarin Oriental’s sprouted watercress /cream cheese sandwiches. According to Amy, the sprout is a rare find in regular US supermarkets. (Side note: Although different from the fare served in London, the common leafy watercress sandwiched between buttered thin white bread is yummy, too.)
>
>
>

> The Cotswolds
> The scones at the Mandarin’s Tea Lounge, on the other hand, were not your typical English scone. They were delicious biscuits. But not the denser variety one finds in the UK. Read on for my favorite scone recipe garnered from Cordon Bleu trained Chef Keiko Oiiwa who lived in the Cotswolds for a number of years.
>
> Chef Keiko Oiiwa’ｓ English Scones
>
> 材料・Ingredients
>
> 1 1/2 cups 　　　　　 オールパーパス　 All purpose flour
> 1 1/2 tsp 　　　　　　BP 　　 Baking powder
> 55g 　　　　　　　　 砂糖　　　　　　　Sugar
> 1個 　　　　　　　 卵　　　　　　　　Egg
> (½ for mixture, ½ to brush on top of scone circle)
> 55g 　　　　　　　 ミルク　　　　　　 Milk
> 90g 　　　　　　　 バター　　　　　 Butter
>
> 作り方 ・Directions
>
> １　ボールに小麦粉　BP　砂糖をいれる
> 　　そこへ　バターをいれ　ボールの中でナイフで切りながら
> 　　小さくして　最後は手でつぶす
>
>

> English scones.
> 1. Into a bowl put the flour, baking powder and sugar.
> Then cut the butter into the mixture with knives (or a pastry cutter.)
> At the last bit, crush the butter with hands.
>
> ２　全卵の半分をいれて　粉となじませ、さらにミルクを加えて
> 　　ひとまとめにする
>
> 2. Mix in half of the 1 egg. Then add the milk, molding it into a lump.
>
> ３　ひと固まりにして３cm厚さにして丸い型で抜く
> 　　トップだけに卵をつけて　オーブン３７５f　１０分焼く
>
> 3. Form the lump into circles – 3 centimeters in thickness – with a biscuit cutter.
> Brush with the rest of the egg.
> Bake at 375 degrees for 10mins.
>
>

> The Mandarin's Tea Lounge cakes.
> Maybe the scones were not Cotswold quality but the matcha green tea was spectacular. And the Mandarin Oriental’s Tea Lounge pièce de résistance for this Ninja Baker was the rose petal jam. All senses were involved in the imbibing of the spread. Slivered petals floating in rose essence slathered on the scone with a bit of clotted cream was pure heaven. (Or indulgence.) The pretty fruit tarts sprinkled with gold and the opera chocolate cake were nice, too.
>

> Off the tea menu but a lovely afternoon treat at the Mandarin Oriental.
> Off the tea menu, we were served cupcakes. I didn’t taste the powder blue frosted one but Aunt Eva and Amy loved it. The carrot cupcake had me at first bite. Chock full of carrots, walnuts and a thick covering of cream cheese frosting hit the right note between sweet and sour.
>

> The Mandarin Oriental's carrot cupcake.
>
>

> Tea at the Bellagio with David, sister Karen and niece, Jasmine.
> The next day, at the Bellagio Hotel, to further celebrate my birthday, David, my sister, Karen and my niece, Jasmine gathered at the Petrossian Lounge. Once seated at the Bellagio’s Petrossian Lounge, red roses appeared on the table for our afternoon tea. Nice touch. I missed though the Mandarin Oriental’s delicious matcha and attentive service. But, the Bellagio’s chamomile was pretty good. And all is pretty right in the world when a piano player cranks out American standards whilst one consumes salmon sandwiches topped with caviar!
>

> Niece, Jasmine sporting a Ninja Baker t-shirt and enjoying her veggie sandwich.
>
>

> Afternoon tea at the Petrossian Lounge.
> Plus, the Petrossian Lounge scones were the real deal. Moist inside and crunchy outside. No Mandarin Oriental rose petal jam to put on top; but Karen loved, loved the lemon curd. And, of course, the traditional clotted cream was presented.
>
> As for the tea cakes, I can’t really compare. Both the Bellagio and Mandarin Oriental obviously employ pastry artisans. And when handed a white chocolate cup filled with whipped cream at the Petrossian, only happiness can ensue. Oh, yes, and a little gold on cakes never hurt a girl either.
>
>
> Besides our exclusive afternoon tea birthday parties in Las Vegas, a visit to Donny and Marie at the Flamenco Hotel was added to the list of fun. The showroom where they perform is reminiscent of the days of Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. (No, I’m not that old! I’ve seen TV specials.) Audience members crowd into booths as servers take drink orders throughout the show. Apparently the Flamenco is the only one on the strip who has yet to convert modern theater-style seating.
>

> Thumbs up to the dynamic Osmond siblings.
>
> Maybe LA folk are too hip for the Osmonds. (I got a lot of “That’s nice, dear” and pats on the hand when reporting that David’s generous Las Vegas birthday weekend included Donny and Marie at the Flamenco.) But, I absolutely loved the show. And the Osmond siblings deserve a heck of a lot more credit for their talents. Without gushing too much: Donny is an amazing dancer. And after hearing Marie’s rendition of Somewhere from West Side Story, I could swear she’s trained with opera teachers. Last and not least, their willingness to share their humanness and their golden hearts deserves the standing ovation they received.
>
>
>

> A view of the Bellagio's dancing fountains from our room.
> And speaking of just rewards, the Bellagio Hotel has earned each of its five shiny stars. (Unimpressed by labels and luxury, without complaint, my beloved David agreed to foot the bill for a room overlooking the dancing fountains.) Tiffany diamonds, Louis Vuitton handbags; all the shops you see on l’Avenue Montaigne, Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive accessorize the first floor. The location of the hotel is perfect, too. Within short walking minutes, I satisfied my shopping and travel whims. Paris Hotel’s Sugar Factory produced a cute cupcake knick-knack and on the Appian Way in Caesar Palace’s I swooped up Gap bargains.
>
>

> In the Bellagio atrium with David, Karen and Jasmine.
> If you’re suffering yet-another-birthday blues, Las Vegas will blast you back to a sunshiney mood…But only if you celebrate with people you love.
>
>
> Wishing you weekends which rate five stars (or higher!) on the fun o’meter.
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Pearl Karon]

I want to weigh in w. Birthday wishes for a continued party-ing year of fun and frolic. Many more happy celebrations.

Ox,Pearl Karon

-----Original Message-----
From: ninjabak...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ninjabak...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Yumi Takada
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 1:46 AM
To: ninjabak...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Ninja Baker] Love Las Vegas!