THE DINNER

ASTRID'S CRUSTACEAN PARTY

Astrid's birthday was held at an very upscale and chic French, Asian restaurant in Beverly Hills. A special room upstairs was reserved for us twelve persons around a long rectangular table. The ambiance was very impressive and made us feel very "astigs" The tapas, second course, third course and fourth course was served starting with the host, Jesse, showing a bottle of wine, pouring it into our glasses one by one and telling us about the food being served next. And the food was very, very good and I'm sure all of us, including Gino and the kids enjoyed them very much.

The menu includes the following:

Tapas: Crispy Shrimp Mousse Roll with a kiwi and orange sauce
Lemongrass Beef Satay, skewered & char-broiled, Asian pickles
Seared Tuna Cucumber Roll, with Wasabi aioli, tobiko caviar and arugula
Moist Rice Paper Roll filled with mushrooms, tender cabbage, baby carrots, water chestnuts and beans
Lucien Albrecht "Cuvee Balthazar" Reserve Pinot Blanc, Alsace, '06

Second Course: Mixed Green Salad, with caramelized walnut, goat cheese, and orange vinaigrette
Dr. Weins-Prum "Graacher Himmeleich" Reisling Kbinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, "06

Third Course: Colossal Royal Tiger Prawns, charbroiled with secret spices
An's Famous Garlic Noodles
Silverado Vinegard "Vineberg", Sonoma-Carneros, "05

Fourth Course: Filet Mignon, with ponzu glaze over mashed potaoes finished with portabello mushrooms
Carol Shelton Wines "Mongo Zinfandel, Cucamonga Valley, "04

Dessert: Assorted Sorbet

Birthday Cake: Extraordinaire Cake by Fletcher C. "08


It was really a perfect dinner for a perfect celebrant and her family. I wish her more great birthdays and blessed life to come. Thank you Astrid.

MAY BIRTHDAYS

In my families there's one month where birthdays are celebrated more that any. It starts with Kuya (May 8), Astrid (May 8), Nette (May 9) and Daddy (May 17) which for years we celebrate on May 29, until they found records that he was actually born 12 days before. May is not only Santacruzan and Flores De Mayo month, it's also when some of my important, beautiful and handsome (like me?) love ones where born. So, it;s always a time I always look forward to. This year is special for it's the 40th for Astrid and 55th for my Kuya. May we share more of these moments for years to come. Kuya may have celebrated his alone, he can be sure that we remembered just the same. Astrid was very gracious and made us feel important by inviting us to her very impressive party at The Crustacean. I'll tell and show more about in my next post.