Tuesday, February 7, 2012

My Birthday... Part Two

This weekend, husband and I had a chance to celebrate my birthday properly.  This is a bit picture-heavy, but please consider humoring me anyway.

Sweet gifts from sweet friends and family.


Beautiful flowers from husband.


Ice cream birthday cake (my favorite).  One thing I miss being on the west coast is Carvel.  Do they still make Fudgie the Whale?


I dragged husband all the way over to Mill Valley for dinner.  We are huge Food Network fans, and are lucky enough to live in an area where there are many fantastic restaurants owned by Food Network chefs.  



We arrived early for our reservation, so we had a chance to walk around the cute downtown area.  Tyler Florence has an amazing kitchen store here.  


If I had a place to store tea pots, I would have started my collection here.

  
There was a huge variety of cookbooks, some of them signed.


I would also start a cow creamer collection.  


These canisters would make any kitchen look just a little bit cooler.


A perfect size for every job. 


Pretty little business cards.


This was the window display of rustic lanterns.  Yes, I would also a lantern collection.


For dinner, when had reservations at El Paseo, which is owned by Tyler Florence and Sammy Hagar.  They weren't there (because they were probably at home watching the Super Bowl).  Yes, I dragged husband 45 miles across town on the evening of the Super Bowl to go out to dinner.  He IS amazing.


 I had wanted to try this place for a while, and my birthday was the perfect occasion.  There was nothing disappointing about this place.  They severed fresh popovers to us when we sat down, which melted in our mouths.  We each had a Ceasar salad to kick off the meal.  For me, the tell-tale sign of a good Caesar is if it is served with actual anchovies (score!).   Husband and I then split the most delectable ribeye either of us had ever had.  For dessert, they brought over homemade apple doughnuts.  It was the kind of meal that will always live on in my mind as one of the best ever.  I really love good food (and birthdays).

Are you a sucker for celebrity restaurants?  Do you watch the Food Network?  Who is your favorite chef?  

29 comments:

ShinyPrettyThings said...

oh this place looks amazing!!! have you tried Wayfare Tavern in SF? it's also owned by Tyler. the popovers there are sooo yummy too. i def gotta chk out this restaurant nxt time. glad u had a lovely birthday!!

Unknown said...

Aw, lovely post and a lovely day. Your cake looks amazing! We don't really get ice-cream cakes over here...

Emma xo
http://www.fluffandfripperies.com/

Marissa said...

How fun! I'm thinking I need to make a trip up north just to see this store since you made me want pretty much everything in it! xoxo Marissa

http://happiness-is-the-little-things.blogspot.com/

Loulou said...

Dinner out in a special restaurant is such a wonderful treat! I live vicariously through you for this lovely meal you enjoyed with your love. And I want those canisters!

Happy birthday once again!
hugs, Loulou

colleen said...

we love going out for big dinners on special occassions (and splitting a steak!) and some of our favorites in nyc are mario batali's and tom colicchio's.

shopgirl said...

Happy birthday Erin! Looks like you celebrated in style! Glad you had such a great time - the food sounds awesome!

p.s. adore the litttle teapots and thank you for your comps!

Have a wonderful birthday week!
http://rambleswithreese.etsy.com
http://rambleswithreese.blogspot.com

joanne hegarty said...

Happy Birthday Erin. I'm so pleased you had a lovely day. I adore your cute snaps ! That cake looks gorgeous and so do your lovely wrapped gifts.

Joanne


http://www.balletpumpsandroses.com

xx

June said...

Belated Happy Birthday Erin!! Lovely pictures!!
xx
http://junebiswas.blogspot.com

Teresa said...

wow, what an amazing birthday you had :) yes, i watch FN & my fave chef is Giadda!!!! everything is so delicate and different<3

happy week to you,
teresa
www.trend-ish.com

ps. i'm hungry now :/

Ulia Ali said...

Such a lovely and sweet post :) I know i am late, but happy birthday :*

VIEW FROM HEELS

Stephanie said...

What a great way to celebrate your bday. That meal sounds delicious! And I am in love with those darling teapots!

If you walk into my house, chances are, I'm watching FN. The Pioneer Woman is my fav and I am pretty obsessed with Chopped.

And Carvel still makes Fudgy the Whale! Mmm, crunchies!

Portuguese Prepster said...

Happy Birthday!! Everything looks amazing. I'm hungry now!

Jax said...

Those tea pots are adorable!! Now I want one. lol

and that cake looks YUMMY!

The Blonde Duck said...

We went to Emeriel's Delmonico in NOLA and I wasn't impressed....

Tamra {ever swoon} said...

Wow, so many great things!!! Glad you had a wonderful birthday my dear. xo

Heather said...

Sounds fabulous all-around! We love to try new restaurants, though we haven't really made it to any major celeb places as of yet.

E said...

I haven't gone to any celebrity chef restaurants, but I did eat at a breakfast place that had a dish featured on the best thing I ever ate.

Stephanie said...

Yay for great birthdays!! Fudgie the Whale totally reminded me of The Office.

Gillie said...

Great pictures, it sounds like you had a great time and I"m jealous of all your delicious food! Happy Birthday!

xo Gillie

Suz said...

More happy birthdays to you. What a wonderful hubby to give up super bowl sunday. I have one favorite chef-Ina.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! :)

Oh my Dior! said...

wow how exciting!! happy birthday!!

http://www.ohmydior.org/

Joanna said...

Happy Belated Birthday! Looks like you had a great time. I love all of your fun pictures. My fav is the one of your birthday cake! Holy Moly! Looks sooo good!

Patty said...

What a fun birthday!! Lucky girl :)

alicia said...

so many pretty things- lucky girl!

honey my heart said...

happy birthday! looks like an excellent celebration!

Mal said...

Looks like such a great way to celebrate your birthday!

Fudgie the whale still exists! yum!

Mal @ The Chic Geek

rooth said...

How utterly sweet - happy belated birthday!

June said...

Belated happy birthday!!! Sorry I'm so late!!
xx
http://junebiswas.blogspot.com

I'm Erin

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Hi, I'm Erin. I am living back on the east coast after 15 years out west. Currently readjusting to humidity and mosquitos. I love to take pictures and read fashion magazines.... and to talk about nothing in particular (ok, and my dogs).

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