my fabulous birthday dinner!

Yes we were in Chicago for my birthday weekend (not because of my birthday weekend but became Rich Warren had scheduled Tom Paton for that Saturday night for a concert at WFMT for Folkstage)

so we made plans well in advance to go to Oriole- my very favorite restaurant in town - heck in the country - maybe even the world LOL

here is the fabulous menu for the evening- starting with a champagne cocktail designed by Star Bartender Julia Momose for my birthday celebration called the "TOR DE FORCE" followed by a special starter course a gift from our friends both attending the dinner and the folks at Oriole- CAVIAR FOUR WAYS!!!!

and then my Genie Kwon birthday cake!!!! chocolate - chocolate and more chocolate- with malted milk balls - and mousse - and white chocolate petals on the amazing cake which I got to take home the leftovers!!!!

a close up of my "all chocolate all the time" cake! it was stunningly beautiful but more tasty than even that!

the wines - the St Aubin showed better than the Corton Charlemagne but the Puligny Montrachet which is a new wine 2014 was excellent.  We had two 99 Nuits St Georges Les Pruliers which were very good and split opinion on the better of the two.  We had a kick butt 1983 Oregon pinot from Yamhill Valley vineyards... and a 96 Clerc Milion Bordeaux and a old 77 Dow Port for port lovers-

it was so much fun sharing the meal with friends Shari and Kevin and Evelyn and Todd--- all perfect dining companions who we met thanks to the Chaine de Rotissuers group in Chicago... lovers of good food and good wines all!

So we are almost caught up with the missing month. And that is a good thing because tonight we went to a special screening of a terrific movie - really enjoyed it and I will be telling you more about it in the post after next- because I have one more to do to be completely caught up with the backlog,,,, so hold on- we will get there!