My birthday falls on August 24, the same day as Mt. Vesuvius’ most famous eruption. But instead of destroying Pompeii or Queens, I like to celebrate with the pop of Champagne. This year’s celebration lasted for a few days, and this is what we ate and drank.
Michele and I started with breakfast at Tarallucci e Vino on 28 Street. We had cappuccino and cornetti, Italian croissants.
Michele’s was made with whole wheat and filled with honey, and I had the “normale” or plain.
We had lunch on the terrace of our apartment and Michele made open faced smoked salmon sandwiches with butter and crème fraiche on pumpernickel bread. With them, we drank a bottle of Taittanger NV Champagne.
The next day we went to Bouley for lunch. It is one of our favorite restaurants because of the food, professional service, beautiful décor, and comfortable and quiet atmosphere. I am very disappointed that it will close in October. If you have never been, or want to experience it again, better make reservations now.
I started with a glass of Champagne, Robert Moncuit, Brut, Blanc de Blanc. Then the tasting menu.
I had the Malibu Sea Urchin, the Foragers Treasure of Wild Mushrooms, followed by Organic Calves Liver and three desserts. It was superb. We drank a Burgundy
Every year very close friends Ernie and Louise invite us to their house to celebrate my birthday and make some of my favorite dishes. This year they also invited their son Jason and his wife Deborah to join us.
We started with an appetizer of melted gorgonzola cheese and pine nuts on toasts and artisanal salami from their local butcher. With it we drank a Rose Champagne.
The first course was a cold Cantaloupe and Ginger Soup with Champagne.
The wine seemed to have a hint of ginger, too and it went very well with the soup.
The main course was Grilled Marinated Lamb Skewers.
The cubes of meat were alternated with thick slices of bacon and squares of bread. They were grilled to perfection. The bread picked up the smoky flavors of the bacon and the lamb juices.
With this we had a magnum Cote Rotie that was a perfect match.
For dessert, we had fresh fig ice cream accompanied by pignoli cookies.
Then café,
and last a Marc de Bourgogne, one of the best I have ever had.
It was was a great Birthday celebration with a lot of “pop”