Treat Thursday: Las Vegas Mandarin Oriental, Tea Lounge Review

Enjoying High Tea is always a fun, elegant, and delightful experience for Bon Voyage Friends. We are presenting a series of reviews of the various tearooms we have enjoyed from Las Vegas, London and beyond.

The first high tea experience in our series to be highlighted is the Tea Lounge at the gorgeous Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. My friend Tara and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon and plan to return in the near future! Their menu provides a clever opener, a brief history of afternoon tea is explained. 

 

According to legend, one of Queen Victoria’s (1819-1901) ladies in waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope (1783-1857), known as the Duchess of Bedford, is credited as the creator of afternoon teatime. Because the noon meal had become skimpier, the Duchess suffered from “a sinking feeling” at about four o’clock in the afternoon. At first the Duchess had

her servants sneak her a pot of tea and a few breadstuffs. Adopting the European tea service format, she invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at five o’clock in her rooms at Belvoir Castle. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter

sandwiches, assorted sweets and of course, tea. This summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for “tea and a walk in the fields.” The practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon was quickly picked up by other social hostesses.

As the only AAA 5 Diamond and Forbes 5 Star property in Las Vegas, the Mandarin offers an unparallelled world-class experience from the moment you arrive. 

Downstairs lobby at the Las Vegas Mandarin

 Ambiance- The Tea Lounge is located on the 23rd floor of the Mandarin, a perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon tea. The floor to ceiling view provides a stunning view of the Las Vegas Strip. Tip: Even with a reservation, seating preference is based on availability. Make a reservation for the first seating time and you will increase your chances of sitting next to the floor to ceiling window.

Elegant Las Vegas Mandarin Oriental 23rd Floor Tea Lounge

View of the Las Vega Strip from our table

 

Service- Having the distinction as a 5 Diamond and 5 Star resort, these credentials come with high expectations. The Las Vegas Mandarin member team are a class act. We were received wonderful service from the very beginning and throughout our experience, they were attentive and accommodating. We made sure to include special instructions in our reservations, which was the request of the gluten free option for Tara. We were also welcomed by the leadership team, Julieta and Jerome-they personally visited each table asking guests about their experiences and provided their business cards should we desire to contact them in the future. Julieta is the Manager of the Tea Lounge and Jerome is the Manager of Twist by Pierre Gagnaire- another elegant experience at the Las Vegas Mandarin Oriental. A class act team!

Menu and Pricing-There are nearly 20 different tea options to select from. There is also an option to enhance the experience by adding a glass or bottle of Veuve Clicquot. The delightful afternoon tea is  reasonably priced at $36, which includes an array of delicious assortments pleasing to the palate. An option of adding an additional plate of desserts, tea sandwiches, or scones is available for an additional $5. For the Veuve Clicquot option, the cost per person is $56 which includes a glass or two people can enjoy a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and high tea for $185. This fun experience isn't just limited to adults, children's afternoon tea with a menu customized of kid friendly options is available for $28 per child. 

Presentation and Taste- The quality of the presentation and the taste of each delectable bite goes hand in hand with the Mandarin Oriental's philosophy of providing a first class experience. The desserts, scones, and tea sandwiches are beautifully displayed on a traditional 3 tier stand. As a gluten free substitute for the scones, Tara received a wonderful array of fruit. Everything was simply delicious. Compliments to the chef!

Top to Bottom: Sweet: Dessert assortment, Scones accompanied with imported Devonshire cream and freshly made jam, and a selection of beautifully created savoury sandwiches and  deviled eggs.

The deviled eggs were served in such a unique way- the smooth deviled egg, with a mousse like texture, is placed inside of a perfectly hollowed and cut egg shell. As though the presentation wasn't creative enough, the eggs were placed atop stones which has magnetic properties, allowing the spoons to 'stand' on top of the stones. A unique culinary presentation!

A beautiful fruit selection was provided as the gluten free option in place of scones.

Overall Experience- Afternoon tea at the Las Vegas Mandarin Oriental was a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend any visitors or locals in our city take the opportunity to enjoy this jewel in Las Vegas. You will be greeted with elegance, taste the delicious and thoughtfully prepared cuisine, relax in the perfect setting above the strip, and participate in a time honored tradition. Guests also receive a postcard size guide which includes an excerpt of the history of high tea as well as a guide for how long to seep a variety of teas. With an exceptionally pleasing time from beginning to end, I look forward to returning to the Tea Lounge. 5 Diamonds, indeed!! Thank you to the Las Vegas Mandarin Oriental and to my friend, Tara for an amazing time!

Travel Tuesday: Adventures in Washington, D.C.

American novelist Fanny Fern said, “The cream of enjoyment in this life is always impromptu. The chance walk; the unexpected visit; the unpremeditated journey; the unsought conversation or acquaintance.”

This quote, perfectly summarizes my recent visit to Washington, DC. Although my travels were for a combination of leadership development, business, and leisure- the adventures along the way were delightfully filled with unexpected moments.

I met many characters during my visit and left with even more appreciation for the gifts that traveling bestows upon my life. It was wonderful seeing friends I had not spent time with in years and am grateful for the time I was able to visit with: Heide, Mckay & Rebecca and the fam, Mary, Jessica, Nicole and the fam, and Ryan.

Had I taken different modes of transportation, turned the opposite direction on a street corner, rode a later train, etc.  I would not have crossed paths with so many wonderful people.

The Old Friend

Sean Fellows

After wrapping up afternoon work meetings, I took the metro so I could get back to my hotel before my next work meeting, later in the evening. I would be underestimating if I admitted to just having minor difficulties with directions in general, throw in metro systems and oh, the challenges. Di has been trying to teach me how to understand metro systems since we went were in Madrid in 2005. In this instance though, good thing for wrong turns! I knew I had to get off at McPherson Square, but I was uncertain on how to get to the other side of the station, so I took the closest escalators out of the station. As I approached the street corner to figure out which direction I needed to go in to get back to the hotel, I looked up and saw a wonderfully familiar face. My friend Sean was walking towards me. Talk about timing!! Sean was in D.C. for business and it was so wonderful seeing my friend-such a special surprise.

The World Traveler

Rick, world traveler of 93 countries. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/people/pensivelaw/

If my work meeting in Maryland had not concluded at the time it did and I had not chosen the metro cart I walked into, I would have missed the opportunity of meeting a fascinating individual.  There was a gentleman looking at the metro map and he seemed like he needed help. As you have learned about my metro skills, they are not my strong suit. I asked the gentleman if he needed help and he said with a thick New York accent,  now he knows how tourists on the subways feel. Surprisingly, I was able to give him confirmation that he was on the right metro. He commented he was going to Atlanta next. I asked him why he was going to Atlanta, he said he was touring all 26 ballparks in the US and one in Toronto and he told his kids he would see them in September. Wow. Wait. What? I had to know more! His name is Rick, he is retired, and without a doubt one of the most fascinating travelers I have ever met.

I asked if he had a blog and the woman sitting next to me who was mum the entire time, suddenly came to life and agreed, she wanted to hear about his adventures. He did not have a blog but told me he had a Flickr account with over 45,000 pictures. PensiveLaw1, check it out http://www.flickr.com/people/pensivelaw/. I learned Rick has been to 93 countries and asked him two questions:

Q. What are his favorite places he has been?

A. Mongolia and Antarctica.

Q. Where is he headed to after he finishes touring ballparks?

A. Africa, he is going to drive throughout the continent.

Rick left a smile on my face and confirmed that even in the most unassuming places you can be surprised.

The New Friend 

Alicia Malone

I had a wonderful time seeing friends and picking up where we last left off. I never expected a chance business meeting would result in a new friendship. It was a delight to meet Alicia and we quickly learned we had so much in common from attending our university at the same time to embracing the joys of seeing the world. I wish we had known each other in college, I am certain we would have been friends. But better late than never! I look forward to staying in contact with Alicia and reading about her travel adventures, I encourage you to visit her blog: http://secondstartothewrite.com/ 

Alicia will be traveling to Australia in July, how exciting! Looking forward to reaching about her amazing adventures. 

The Heros 

 

Veterans participating in Honor Flight. Photo courtesy of http://www.stepspokane.com/

After nearly a week in Washington, D.C. the trip could not have ended on a more positive note. Once again, I experienced the joys of stumbling upon an unexpected delight. After countless dining out experiences, it was time for find the healthiest option possible; I decided I wanted oatmeal for breakfast. I learned Starbucks was in a different area in the airport; I had plenty of time before the plane’s departure time so I ventured off to find Starbucks. What I found were heroes, WWII veterans participating in an Honor Flight to visit the memorial dedicated to them in Washington, D.C. For those not familiar with Honor Fligjt, this is an excerpt from their website http://www.honorflight.org/about/ “Honor Flight Network has established an aggressive goal. Through the end of 2012 we transported more than 98,500 veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their memorial. The program presently has 127 hubs in 41 states. Due to the senior age of our heroes, and the prediction that we are losing approximately 800 of them daily, we are committed to do all within our power to make their dream a reality. Our current focus will remain on World War II veterans and those veterans from any war who have a terminal illness. However, our vision goes beyond World War II”.

As I stood outside of the Starbucks clapping and watching the Veterans arrive, one by one and be welcomed with loud cheers and accolades, it was an honor to witness these heroes en route to visit the memorial in honor of them. What a remarkable moment. If I had stayed on the other side of the airport, I never would have witnessed this heartfelt tribute.

To the fellow travelers I met as I stumbled along various adventures and to our readers with the desire to travel, may you continue to have the good fortune of exploring the world and embracing the awe and beauty of wanderlust. Cheers to happy moments and safety along every step of the the way. Bon Voyage!! 

Savoury Sat- Last Minute Lunch for 2!

My Granny and I meet every week or two for lunch & this week it was our turn to go to hers because she'd got a new highchair for Alfie & she wanted to use it. Then last minute she rang asking to come to ours for lunch- yes of course, our house is always open! Eek, what to serve... 

Fresh Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches! 

1 container if Waitrose Essential Tomato Soup (600g) 
Dash fresh cracked black pepper 
1 loaf of fresh bread (I have a bread machine) 
100g Red Leister Cheese, grated 
1/2c red onion, grated 
Tbsp butter 
Spray extra virgin olive oil EVOO 

1. Pour contents of soup and pepper into stove top pan cook on low 
2. 3 spritz of EVOO 
3. Slice bread and butter outside of top & bottom slices 
4. Grate cheese and onion together
5. Fill sandwiches and add to hot griddle pan, fry until golden brown, flip and repeat. 
6. Plate up and eat immediately, yum! 

Festive Friday celebrates D Day!

There are special celebrations happening today all over the world. In England, especially in the South and in Normandy, Northern France there are lots of veterans celebrating commemorative events.  Today celebrates the 70th anniversary for D Day. Every hour on BBC Radio 2 there is a clip read out about the events of D Day, all very emotive! There are many veterans that visit the beaches of Normandy annually in remembrance of the events that happened 70 years ago today. 

This picture was found on euronews.com 

For those of you who aren't history buffs D Day was the day that marked the end of World War II. WWII carried on for 6 years from September 1939-1945 that resulted in the creation of the United Nations. The celebrations of this anniversary have been momentous with The Queen and President Obama representing their countries amongst the hundreds Veterans lining the British Channel in memory of today. About 9,000 Germans lost their lives as over 156,000 troops from Britain, Canada and the USA arrived on Normandy's a Beaches. 

Photo from bbc.co.uk 

Yesterday the Red Arrow flew over the spinnaker tower in Portsmouth to commence the celebrations. They will also be doing other displays around the Solent over the weekend in rememberance of the many lives lost and the celebration of freedom and alliances gained over the memorable time in history. 

Thursday Treatday- an evening with friends

Ship Inn review 

Tonight I had guests in town from London & Germany, so I thought what could be a better evening than dinner over looking the water. 

We hadn't confirmed details until Friday afternoon on a bank holiday/ half term weekend...lots of places are fully booked. My initial thoughts were the Haven or Pebble Beach because they both have beautiful views. Surprise, surprise, both were fully booked!  

I chose The Ship down on Lymington Quay, with my fingers crossed that we would have a nice meal & service. I was pleasantly surprised!! All of the servers were British and we had an excellent meal. Nothing against foreign or pro national servers, it was just the combination and atmosphere that was lovely. Busy and buzzy feel in the restaurant, great wine, delicious food and good service. We had a relaxed evening, such a treat for our girly night out! Www.theshiplymington.co.uk 

Three of us had the seasonal salad- delicious! So fresh & packed with flavours like Beet root, feta, blueberries, butternut squash and pumpkin seeds. We ordered sides of potatoes- fries, mash & dauphinoise, but to be honest the salad was filling on its own- great portion sizes. The German visitor had the traditional fish & chips and they did Briton proud- yum! 

Love skinny fries & the also do traditional fat chips, best of both! 

They off a mini pudding and coffee option on the dessert menu. I thought it would be petit four size, but they were the size of a small dessert, perfect with any choice of coffee. It was do tasty I had to try a bite before taking a picture to share! 

With great food, service & wine I would give The Ship 💎💎💎. Wonderful girly evening, not rushed even though some tables had a double sitting we were allowed our table all evening to relax, eat and enjoy! 

Longdown Activity Farm

 As a family we've made a list of our top 10 places or things to do on our family days out. We try to do one a month to ensure we have time together and an outing doing something new. 

Today we visited number 3 on our list- Longdown Activity Farm, and a hive of activity it is! It's £8.75 per adult and £7.75 per child over 3, so Alfie was free! Everywhere we looked there was something to do or look at, this interactive farm is well equipped to keep children busy for hours. As Alfie's only 13 months we spent two hours walking around and playing, but as he grows up we'll easily be able to spend an entire day there. 

Live music and a wool spinning demonstration at the entrance- there's even something for the children to watch as the wait in line to get into the farm! 

The Farm opens at 10am and has hourly events like feeding the pigs, horseback riding, tractor rides, giving the baby goats milk, collecting eggs from the chickens, etc. We fed the pigs by pouring their food pellets down a long tube and you can refill your cup as much as you like, much to the delight of the older children. 

Pigs feeding & one being mischievous! 

There was a large area for picnics and a playground, so you can have a leisurely lunch. There was a live band playing folk music which added to the ambiance. Then it was tractor rides, we watched as everyone piled into the horse-drawn carriage or the big hay bale filled trailer and waved them off as they set off on their ride around the field. 

Each barn had a different animal to look at- chickens from newly hatched in the incubators to little chicks growing up and then there were the big red hens laying eggs with a box underneath each nest that kids could reach into and collect the eggs for the farm shop. They also had baby ducks- my favourite! 

There were also barns full of goats, calves, baby goats (kids), guinea pigs (cavy), rabbits, donkeys and horses. We saw a baby donkey (Jennie) just been born. They are able to walk immediately, although shaky they are up on their feet within 15 minutes of being born. Then they have to nurse within 30 minutes to get the nutrients from the mothers colostrum. If this doesn't happen the farmer gets involved. In this case nature did it's thing and another interesting fact was that the mother eats the placenta for nutrients! 

Little Jennie only minutes old! 

They also had a trampoline area, ride on tractors, a digger truck you can operate, soft play area, ping pong, electric cars and buggies to ride on as well. It was the one place I've been that I've not heard any tears because the kids are entertained at every stage; although we did see one child having a strop because he couldn't pet the goats...we couldn't help but laugh! 

Motivation Monday DIY

Motivation comes in many forms- a quote, visual, verbal or written inspiration. Sometimes it even comes from within during a quiet moment to yourself. Today I'd like to share with you a DIY garden concoction to hopefully to motivate you to be creative, make something and save yourself some money. 

DIY bird feeder- 

Left over coconut shell 
Twine 
Bar of lard (50p from waitrose) 
Bag of wild bird seed (£4 for 5lb bag) 

Melt half the bar I lard on the hob until see through, tip 1/2 cup bird seed in, mix and pour into coconut shell and put into freezer for about 20 minutes or until lard sets. Hang in the tree and enjoy the birds. 

The ingredients in this 'recipe' will last far longer and create far more bird feeders than the £4.50 you would normally spend on two! Motivate, Innovate, and Create!