Lavinia at Home

Restaurant Type: Steakhouse

Our Rating: 8.8

Food: 9 • Service: 9 • Décor: 9 • Atmosphere: 9 • Price: 8

We have been in Craftsteak twice and both times we had great experience and meals. It’s located in the MGM Grand Hotel, 3799 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, Phone: 702-891-1111.

The service was outstanding, an enjoyable upscale dining experience. Last time I had the kobe steak tartar, which was unbelievable tasty and pretty huge portion. The porterhouse steak for two is perfect. The vegetable side dishes were excellent.

Would I go back, yes, and I would recommend it, but be prepared to spend $$$.

It’s December and the busiest time of the year as the Christmas and Holiday season draws near. It can bring out the best or the worse in all of us, as the pressures of today’s world co-mingles with our desire to enjoy the season at its best.

Simply trying to bake some holiday cookies for the family or friends can be stressful. I find that you can even get more stressed out when someone you love tries to tell you to relax. One technique I like, breathing in through the nose and slowly exhaling through the mouth a few times. I think that it really helps. Try it!

And if none of the above works, check out our Lavinia Lingerie site. We have some lovely new items and colors within our active wear collection for yoga or pilates classes. Check out our capri leggings, sports bras, bandeau tube tops and yoga shorts. Maybe there’s a nice piece that’s perfect for one of your friends. Hey, don’t forget something nice for yourself, you deserve it. I know most of my friends seem to forget their troubles when they do a little shopping for themselves; it’s definitely a distressed.

And if you still feel like baking, try out these delicious cookies:

Chocolate Almond Fingers

3/4 cup of butter

3 ounces of almond paste

1/3 cup of sugar

6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 egg yolk

1/2 cup of finely chopped pistachios

1 2/3 cups of flour

Note: Nuts are optional

Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper or grease and lightly flour it.

Cream butter and sugar until blended; add almond paste and egg yolk, beat until light and fluffy. Blend in flour to make smooth dough; refrigerate the dough for a little while if the dough seems too soft to handle. Lightly flour your baking board and divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12 inch rope and cut each cookie into a 2 inch length. Place 2 inches apart on a prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Place on a rack to cool. Melt your chocolate in a bowl over hot water, stirring until smooth. Dip both ends of the cookie in the chocolate and then in the pistachios, or if you have small children, maybe you can dip them in colored sprinkles. Enjoy!

To all my friends and fellow shoppers, I wish you a Joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

Enjoy!

This is one luxury hotel in Las Vegas with the best entertainment: casino, restaurants, shows, concerts and sporting events like boxing in the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Restaurant Type: French

Our Rating: 9.8

Food: 10 • Service: 10 • Décor: 10 • Atmosphere: 10 • Price: 9

We have been at Daniel’s 5 times and all have been a delightful experience of flavors. The atmosphere is elegant, beautiful and very formal. It’s located at 60 East 65th St (between Park and Madison Avenues) in New York, Phone 212-288-0033.

The baker’s bread – the most delicious assortment of breads. They serve Prix-Fixed Menu; Three course dinner, $96 or six course tasting menu, $155. The first time we tried the tasting menu which was very nice, but we did not get so full as from three course dinner.

Yes, and we are going back, it’s worth the expense, however, for a special occasion.

View Larger Map