Water Babies: A Festive February Birthday Dinner at Cafe Boulud Palm Beach

For those who're a little shy about celebrating their birthday, sharing the soiree can get everyone in the spirit. We recently hosted a birthday bash at one of our favorite culinary playgrounds, Cafe Boulud, for four fabulous gals (yours truly included. Clearly I'm not the shy one!) born in February.

The birthday girls invited mutual friends as well as a few others to join in the fun, keeping the night interesting and light hearted.

After mingling over cocktails, we sat for a four-course dinner by chef de cuisine Zach Bell with wine pairings from sommeliere Mariya Kovacheva. Patissier Matthew Petersen created a birthday cake with chocolate ganache filling and buttercream icing to round out the evening in anything-but-typical birthday fashion!

On the menu:

Torchon de Foie Gras
trilogy of apples: spiced compote, fresh salad, green apple mustard

Maine Peekytoe Crab Salad
crushed avocado, pink grapefruit, orange blossom aïoli, crispy plantains

Fresh Black Truffles from Périgord
served over parmesan risotto

Seared Cleanseas® Hiramasa
edamame purée, swank baby pac choi, crispy – aromatic salad, miso vinaigette

Sautéed Veal Rib Chop
mushroom stuffed artichoke with bacon, balsamic glazed onions, gremolata pan sauce

Chocolate and Vanilla Cake

Following the feast, cocktails continued in the moonlit courtyard at the Brazilian Court hotel, and a great time was had by all! Can't wait to do it all again next February...

Photos by Rich Graulich, LILA Photo/www.lilaphotos.com