Hanukkah Dinner At The Stirling Club Las Vegas

There are several ancient stories that have been tied to Hanukkah, but most celebrate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (Second Temple) after its desecration by the King of Syria. He had outlawed Jewish religious rites and traditions.

Later, the Maccabees successfully rebelled and Jerusalem was freed. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting. An eight-day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.

It has become a beautiful holiday, rich with tradition and celebrated by a series of rituals that are performed every day throughout the eight-day holiday. Some are family-based and others communal. There are also special additions to the daily prayer service, and a section is added to the blessing after meals but it is not a "Sabbath-like" holiday.

Hanukkah Dinner At The Stirling Club.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, the Stirling Club will be featuring a special Hanukkah menu (and regular dining menu). The menu is prepared by the Charlie Palmer executive chef team.

It includes a first course consisting of matzoh ball soup and petit diced vegetables or a mixed greens salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. The main course will include your choice of a roast beef brisket with truffle steak fries or roast chicken with potato puree. And dessert will feature honey cake with a clear caramel sauce.

Reservations may be made by calling 702-732-9700 and the menu will be served a la carte. A special menu insert will also be available during the holiday. And members joining The Stirling Club on Thursday, Dec. 2 may take part in a special menorah lighting. Dinner will begin at 5 p.m.

The Menorah Lighting At The Stirling Club.

The menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-branched candelabrum made of gold. It was lit in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps.

Traditionally, Hanukkah lights should burn for at least one-half hour after it gets dark. The lamps of the menorah were usually lit daily from fresh, consecrated olive oil and burned from evening until morning. Many menorahs have nine candles, distinguishing them from those lit in the temple.

We would also like to take a moment to wish all of our members a happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. We are grateful to have you.

A Very Special Stirling Club Offer

Beginning today, The Stirling Club is offering a very special service during the holidays. Under the direction of Charlie Palmer executive chefs, the Stirling Club will be offering freshly baked holiday pies that may be ordered through the concierge.

For more information and prices, please contact the Stirling Club concierge. Orders are should be placed in advance as only so many pies may be baked on any given day. There are four different pies to choose from to make your holidays complete and the Stirling Club Courtier is pleased to share a little history about each of them.

The History Of America's Favorite Holiday Pies.

Apple Pie. While the earliest recipe can be traced back to England and the time of Chaucer — the English author, poet and philosopher — apple pie has become synonymous with America, even if the reason was English. During colonial days, colonists would have to wait for carefully transported pips before they became fruit-bearing apple trees. So the colonists took to making pastries with meat instead of fruit.

Once apples were finally available, the variations of pastries and new recipes (some from the eighteenth century) ensured the pie would finally become America's favorite dessert. When it did, it became so commonplace that the old saying as American as apple pie stuck.

Pumpkin Pie. Unlike the apple, the pumpkin is native to the continent of North America but the pie did not originate here. When pumpkins were exported to France, the flesh of the “pompion” was quickly accepted as pie filler before making its way to England.

Ironically, the Pilgrims brought pumpkin pie back to New England, but its popularity later waned in England. Perhaps that is the primary reason pumpkin pie became associated with Thanksgiving and the holidays. While the Native Americans had the pumpkins, the Pilgrims had the right recipe.

Pecan Pie. Tradition holds that the French invented pecan pie soon after settling in New Orleans, with Native Americans already enjoying the nut. However, the true origin of the pecan pie is a mystery because no recipes have ever been found prior to 1925.

Over time, American literature began associating pecan pie with the holidays and despite its mysterious origin, it still carries an aura of French cuisine as a home-cooked comfort food. Sometimes, the French-American flair is emphasized with the addition of chocolate or bourbon whiskey.

Sweet Potato Pie. While it doesn't have as rich a history as some of the other pies, sweet potato pie is an American invention that can be traced to the Southern United States. It has become an America favorite, especially around the holidays.

Interestingly enough, it was the northern states that eventually decided to add marshmallows as a topping. In the South, the recipes are generally simple with mashed sweet potatoes, milk, sugar and eggs, flavored with spices such as nutmeg.

Stirling Club Members Are Up For Fun And Nunsense!

"A hail of fun and frolic ... Nunsense, like the holy mother church, is a bona fide institution." — New York Times

When Broadway is too big to visit The Stirling Club, Stirling members get together to look for Broadway. This weekend, members will find it at a special engagement in the Las Vegas Hilton Saturday, Nov. 13.

Nunsense, the award-winning, wacky musical comedy starring The Little Sisters of Hoboken, will present their hysterically funny musical that won four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical during its 10-year run in New York.

A Quick Undressed Rehearsal Of The Delightful Show.

If you haven't heard of the story before, it begins when Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally poisons 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for burials. The remaining sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show.

Without a proper stage, the sisters do the only thing they can do. They take over the school auditorium, which is still set for the eighth grade production of “Grease.”

Fortunately, the sisters are not without talent. Reverend Mother Regina happens to be a former circus performer. Sister Mary Hubert is the mistress of novices. Sister Robert Anne is streetwise and smart. Sister Mary Leo is also a wannabe ballerina. And Sister Mary Amnesia is forgetful enough to be unforgettable.

Combined, these nuns will provide the perfect production to escape for a few hours, thanks to the talent and creativity of Dan Goggin, whose professional career began singing in the Broadway production of "Luther," starring Albert Finney.

Later, while appearing in a comic folk-duo called The Saxons, Goggin began writing the off-Broadway musical, Hark! By 1986, he was heralded all over the world for writing what can only be called a lot of Nunsense.

The Stirling Club Preshow Reception.

Stirling Club members and guests will meet at 3 p.m. in the Piano Lounge of The Stirling Club for a cocktail reception. Transportation will be provided to the Las Vegas Hilton and back. Reservations are required.

The show starts at 4 p.m. Tickets are only $32.50 per person and the reception, transportation, and premium seating are inclusive. After the performance, members will also enjoy a private meet and greet.

Thanksgiving Dinner In Las Vegas 2010

Thanksgiving 2010 in Las Vegas will be one of the busiest on record.

Many visitors, especially on the West Coast, are already taking advantage of holiday specials offered by hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Bing Travel predicts travel fares to remain flat compared to 2009, helping people find an incentive to take advantage of the four-day weekend in November. And retailers all over Las Vegas are setting deeply discounted holiday prices.

To help travelers and locals, The Stirling Club Courtier is pleased to present its annual top five Las Vegas Thanksgiving 2010 dinner list. Specific to The Stirling Club, non-members are invited to inquire about membership or request a guest pass for Thanksgiving (as space is available).

Five Top Spots For Thanksgiving In Las Vegas.

The Stirling Club. The Stirling Club will have two intimate Thanksgiving grand buffets by Chef Charlie Palmer at noon and 3 p.m. The menu includes favorites like roast organic turkey breast, sauteed turkey thighs, creamy brown gravy, cranberry lemon compote, and candied sweet potato puree. Seating is extremely limited and reservations are required. $49.95 per adult and $19.95 for children under 12. The price reflects the benefits of membership.

Andre's Las Vegas Andre's Las Vegas, which is located inside the Monte Carlo, will serve a traditional oven roasted free range turkey with herb-nut and dried fruit stuffing; Scottish salmon with shrimp and red curry; and prime angus ribeye with a mushroom fricassee. The dinner also includes a variety of sides, soups, sorbets, and four desserts. Service will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. $75 per person.

BOA Steakhouse. BOA Steakhouse inside the The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is still working on its Thanksgiving menu, but last year offered guests a traditional Thanksgiving feast with turkey, stuffing, and potatoes. As a steakhouse, it is best known for its 21-day dry aged bone–in ribeye and California cuisine, which is infused into this special dinner. Service is currently expected to include normal business hours. $65 per person.

Aureole. Also by Charlie Palmer, Aureole at Mandalay Bay Resort will feature a four-course meal, beginning with smoked salmon and ahi tuna carpaccio. It will be followed by sauteed sea scallops in a creamy clam chowder, followed by a choice of roasted New Hampshire turkey or herb roasted rack of Cervena venison. Dessert includes an autumn spiced pumpkin pie. Service is held from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $75 per person.

Pinot Brasserie. Set inside the Venetian, Pinot Brasserie will begin service at 3 p.m. with four courses. Guests may choose from pumpkin soup or onion gratinee, followed by variety of optional second courses. Main courses include roasted turkey breast, pan-seared scallops, Atlantic king salmon, or a grilled petit filet. For dessert, there is a choice of warm apple tatin, croissant pudding, or chocolate souffle. $65 per person, children under 12 are $15.95. A three-course variation is $55.

For more Thanksgiving options or assistance with reservations, members may call The Stirling Club concierge. Members visiting from other cities are encouraged to make their Thanksgiving selection as early as possible. Many venues will have limited hours and/or seating. Some choices above may also have a dress code.

If you would like more ideas, you can find last year's list here. Or, if you want to try something completely different, consider a Las Vegas Thai favorite, which is open 365 days a year.