Surprise!!!

We threw the bf his 1st surprise birthday party this weekend. I'm telling ya -- keeping secrets from the person you live with is no simple feat. It took weeks of planning, finding room in the fridge to hide food wrapped in multiple layers of Ziploc, sneaking phone calls during the walk home from work, pretending to bake for "a friend's order," and of course telling a few more white lies. What I found to be the most difficult task though, was abstaining from noting "Chris' party" on our shared Google calender.

Of course it all worked out in the end -- despite my anal retentive nature. Thanks Borina and Terry for helping plan!

The crew checking the birthday boy's status
while wearing (paper) soldier hats mind you :)


Salute!


Borina looking like a soldier


Roger looking like a soldier


Surprise(d)!!!
The bf really looked more confused than surprised holding a pizza in hand that was meant to be my lunch


Peeeeet!


Partner in crime


And so the grilling begins


At our "patio"


Adobo and lemon-herbed chicken skewers


Melinda and Ed
Looking good in your hat Mel!


The spread


Army boy gets little army tank candles
on a Valrhona ganache-coated cake


Milk chocolate souffle cupcakes filled with green tea tapioca and green tea frosting inspired by Cupcake Bakeshop


Melinda serving her amazing strawberry spinach salad


Main courses


Shinta arriving just in time!


Terry going camouflage


Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Chris!!!
Happy Birthday to you! *Kisses


"Make a wish"


The bf thinking hard of a wish


Now, who wants a slice?


4-layer Valrhona chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and ganache frosting. I'm not a big fan of the ganache-frosting texture as opposed to the usual silky smooth buttercream, but it makes a sturdy coat. Most importantly, the bf loves it


Slices for everyone


And so the party ended.

Happy birthday dear. I can't think of anyone else who deserves this more.

I promise we'll still do Benihana's for your birthday on Monday.

Recent Macarune orders

Pistachio cupcake with honey buttercream



Black sesame and pistachio macaroons






Nuff' said

Mild indulgence

The bf and I were shopping for a wedding gift at the SF Moma when I saw this:

Kotori sake serving set designed by Tomi Pelkonen

Words can't describe how besotted I am!

Truth is, I never liked sake all that much. That or any other Eastern-alcohol. I'm a bubbly girl -- if not whisky and coke. But this delightful set can be good for tea too. And I'm sure I'll learn to love sake, eventually.

My (handmade) parting gift to SW

Viva Las Vegas.

SW's goodbye n&m party

SW's leaving us for brighter city lights, lousy food, risky roulette, dry dessert air and drag queens. I guess I am a bit bitter about this departure. No more venting at work. Waaahh!

To ease our sorrows, we celebrated with an N&M party. I'm not at liberty to say what N or M are, but we had phenomenal food, mostly prepared by Shawna aka TripleEyelids. Ok -- hint we had a lot of noh hiang. It's my first time eating this Teochew dish. The bf was as happy as a child offering to help more than usual.

The bf checking out Shawna's apt

SW & a beancurd skin heart


Wrapping noh hiang


Shawna teaching the class


Nervous student completed the 1st test


Class clown making too-big noh hiangs


We were experts after a few


Ta-da!


Si fu at work


Dennis relaxing as we slaved away


Deep fried & fantastic!
Stuffed with prawns, meat, carrots, water chestnuts and some special blend sauce


Sambal okra


Egg omelet with pickled radish


Dennis ready to eat


Shawna too! Finally


Erick and Shinta came just in time


Beef stew


Sambal prawns


Teochew porridge


The spread


There's more?
Princess cake from Schubert's


Pistachio cakes from the Macarune kitchen!


Stuffed


SW Scissorhands


Erick eyeing the cake


Parting gift from SW