If you’re a
female in your 20s I will put good money on the fact that you likely celebrate
your birthday for three nights or more – it is NEVER a one-day event. I myself
am no different, despite my strong effort this year to not make a big deal out
of my 25th birthday. I had a total of four birthday dinners, and two
big nights out on the town. Here is this recap:
Tuesday, January 31 – FRIENDS COME TO TOWN. It wasn’t even my birth month yet,
but that didn’t stop five of my closest friends from across the river (and
across town for some) to my UES apartment for a mini celebration. Some wanted
to do restaurant week, but I opted for pizza and wine in the apartment. Per
Alycia’s recommendation, I picked up a couple of bottles of Ménage à Trois vino.
Let me tell
you, it was a good choice! All of it – the pizza, the wine, staying in - I hadn’t
seen these friends in so long, and being able to have a cozy night in was much
better than sitting in a noisy restaurant. We wrapped up the night with some
birthday ice cream at Serendipity.
Thursday, February 2 – DINNER OUT WITH THE BOYFRIEND. Feeling a little restaurant week
deprived, my boyfriend Jamie and I ventured out to City Crab for birthday
dinner #2. I had scouted their restaurant week menu, and was honestly just
itching for some crab cakes. When we got there and saw the extensive seafood
menu we just couldn’t help ourselves, we wound up both straying from the restaurant week options and getting delicious
pots of assorted seafood. They had clams, mussels, crab, lobster, scallops and
I don’t know what else! So good!
Friday, February 3 – MY REAL BIRTHDAY. On Friday I took the day off from
work with three intentions: gyming, shopping and cooking. I accomplished all
three. I made my first attempt at stuffed pork chops! I butterfly cut each
cutlet, and stuffed them with a mixture of spinach, mushrooms, onions, garlic,
and goat cheese, most of which I had chopped very finely with the food
processor. I then baked them for about 20 minutes and served with a rice,
spinach and mushroom medly. They weren’t bad! The only thing I would do
differently next time, is brown the outside of the pork chops prior to baking.
Saturday, February 4 – THE FAMILY
DINNER. On Saturday,
boyfriend and I trekked out to NJ to have a nice family dinner with my parents,
brother and grandmother. I chose Jose Tejas, my favorite Mexican restaurant in
this world. I usually (always) get the vegetarian empanadas, but this time
Jamie suggested that we share the fajitas for two. Another great choice! I went
home happy, and had some of my mom’s homemade chocolate cakes (the best!). Sorry
– no pictures!
I would say
that I exercised my goal to explore pretty much all birthday weekend. This Saturday
I leave for Paris, Prague and Copenhagen, and I guarantee I will have more adventurous
eats to report on upon my return!
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