The Sweetest Birthday Ever

If you were planning the perfect birthday party for yourself, what would it be like?

A swanky soiree with chamber music, Champagne and 200 of your closest friends?
A backyard barbecue featuring coolers full of icy beer and steaks on the grill?
Dinner at the hottest restaurant in town followed by dancing on a rooftop terrace?

There are so many options and when you're turning 50, you want it to be just right.
And that's where your friends come in.
They know you. They know what you like. In fact, they know exactly what you like.

Light on hors d'ouevres. Heavy on dessert.
That's what the invitation said.
 Aah, Debbie, you know me so very well.

Debbie has been my friend since the first time we talked on the phone, before I even moved to the neighborhood.
We both enjoy happy hour, especially together. She knows what kind of wine I'll want or if it's going to be an herbal tea sort of day. Spontaneous dinners, tennis games, bike rides, tech advice, travel stories, parenting dilemmas, health woes and style counseling - we've shared it all.
There's no one better to plan my surprise birthday party.


It was the perfect combination of good friends and delicious food provided by them.
As advertised, there were light hors d'ouevres. Potato pancakes with smoked salmon from Betsy, tiny rounds of pizza dough with procuitto from Jane and cucumber rounds with lobster salad ( not sure who made them - but they were awesome!).

And dessert...
A generous and elegant spread with treats from my favorite local bakeries.*

And the most beautiful, rich chocolate cake from Maria.

Look at the pink stenciled design!
She says it's made with olive oil instead of butter. It was amazing. I'll try to get the recipe for you.

And if you haven't figured it out yet, the party had a Mignardise theme, with chocolate and pink decorations and tableware (which they let me keep! thanks Sharon!).
Can you imagine a more perfect birthday party?

I can't.

Lucky, lucky me to turn 50.


*Scratch Baking Co., Two Fat Cats Bakery, Baker's Bench and The European Bakery