photo op: BIRTHDAYS cake

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The end of the year is pretty sweet and birthday-intense for my family: mine is in October, my sister’s is in November, and both my parents have December birthdays.  That means a lot of cake. This year, we celebrated with one cake for two birthdays in December. I wanted to try to make a sheet cake, and Sally’s Baking Addiction did not fail me, per usual (like the time I made brownies, mini red velvet cheesecakes, and apple pie butter bars). I made the yellow sheet cake with chocolate fudge frosting. It was delicious....

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And rainbow sprinkles make all the difference #winkwink

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2.9.17

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happiest hour: The Cuban

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They were spontaneous for his birthday. It was a Monday and they decided they would not be quiet. They would step out of the box and sit at the bar.

This time the dark red walls of The Cuban were not suffocating and the low hanging lights felt brighter. Even the bar felt welcoming and open, not just high stools and slick counters. It was different. Better. They were celebrating a birthday.

They were ready to take on the menu. Both menus.

Their happiest hour involved a rainbow of mojitos and caipirinhas: blush with guava, golden with passion fruit, electric with apples and winter white with coconut. Each was distinct and flavorful, and strong enough to keep her giggling.

But the bites held an intensity of feelings and flavors, satiating hungry eyes and insides. Fatty and delightful pork pieces blending with slinky onions and garlic green mojo were hardly forgotten in the tumult of their mirth.

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Warm moments of sticky sweet plantains wrapped with thin salty bacon and showered with farmer’s cheese made them tongue-tied, when their mouths knew no bounds.  

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Mussels and chorizo sinking in wet broth and encaged by soft aioli-drizzled and smoky paprika-dusted fries made messes like wet kisses.

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They gulped down the drinks and the atmosphere, laughed too loudly, and showed their affection, through delicious bites and wide smiles. Of course they did, because it was his birthday...

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4.20.15

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re CAP: a 90th BIRTHDAY celebration

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Note: This post is photo heavy!

 

This weekend we celebrated my grandfather’s 90^th birthday. Grandmommie planned a fabulous surprise party for her husband of 61 years in a pretty hotel far from the Strip in Vegas. A party room in the JW Marriott was set in black and gold for over 30 guests, paying homage to my Papa’s fraternity affiliation. My mother got memento menus printed with a photo of my grandfather in his youth and each setting circled around the sepia print.

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After surprising the birthday boy, tiny canapés like mini beef wellingtons and salmon topped crackers were passed, wines were poured and beers were cracked open. Seated at four polished tables, we ate four delicate courses— a salty crab cake resting on a creamy sweet slaw chunky with mangoes; a fresh wedge of crisp iceberg drizzled with dressing, blue cheese, diced red onions and tomatoes and crunchy bacon; a choice of salmon with parsnip puree and tomato jam or tender pork loin with Sambuca chutney, apples and braised pork belly; followed by a dessert trio including a vanilla mousse with berry compote, a tangy lemon tart, and decadent chocolate topped with peanut brittle.

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Friends and family shared stories and laughs and tears about Papa, celebrating his many decades of service to his community as an urologist and a father figure to his relatives. And of course, there was birthday cake. As Julia Child said: “A party without cake is just a meeting.”

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Happy 90^th Birthday, Papa! We wish you many more!

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