Happy 30th Birthday to Aimee

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Happy 30th Birthday to Aimee

"Time and tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty."

- Robert Frost

Wise words indeed. This "fortune" was occupying a giant fortune cookie that arrived in the mail from Kristen N. We had a lovely time celebrating Aimee's 3-0 this year. Of course it started with our trip to Chicago and dinners/brunches with friends. The next indication that a birthday was among us was a visit to the Atlanta Cupcake Factory on Highland. I wanted to find a bakery that would make a banana cake and, striking out at Alon's, I decided to try the cupcake route. I found this place which specializes in red velvet with almond frosting and also, that's right, banana with brown sugar frosting.

Birthday Morning began with breakfast tacos featuring egg and potato with a hint of cumin and chili, topped pepperjack cheese in a corn tortilla. And some candle wax. Along with some thoughtful cards, a delivery of flowers from Aimee's parents arrived, adding a floral scent and more life to our home.

We'd been saving it for a special occasion and this was it: birthday dinner was at The Iberian Pig in Decatur. Wow -- what a great experience! We started out at the bar with a glass of red for Aimee and glass of white for me (both designated "Damn Good" by the menu)

and a portion of their drunken goat cheese which was possibly one of the best cheeses we'd ever had. The cheese was a semi-soft, made of goat's milk, aged 75 days and soaked in red wine for 72 hours. Shortly thereafter we were greeted in a surprise visit by Dr. Newman and Dr. Biousse, Aimee's fellowship directors. They introduced us to the chef and offered to pre-buy dessert for us. Once seated, we ordered the Arugula salad, Pork Cheek tacos, Esparragos con Moscatel, and then split the Spanish Lamb Ribs. The dessert selection were the house made churros with cinnamon-chili infused chocolate sauce.