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July 09, 2007
Spoiled Rotten
A week and a half ago, after visiting PrintIcon to get prices on letterpress printing, I headed downtown for a quiet dinner at 1492 (a Spanish tapas place) with Derek and Jo (maid of honor, visiting from Chicago) and possibly another friend, Rishi. I took my time at PrintIcon, asking questions while Jo stood by and tried to help me negotiate with the very opinionated salesperson. Then, our cab took forever to get to 1492 because I couldn't remember where it was and we ended up on the wrong side of Delancy.
Finally, we walked up to the restaurant, found D waiting outside, and headed in to find a table. I immediately noticed Rishi sitting at a table near the front, waved hello, and started walking his way. I think it took a second or two for me to register that a) everyone in the restaurant was singing happy birthday and b) I recognized not only the people sitting next to Rishi as other good friends, but I noticed that the rest of the people sitting next to them, and so on down a very long table, were also friends and were there to surprise me for my 30th birthday. As this registered and I lost my voice for a moment, my family emerged from the back. It was such a lovely, wonderful surprise, and totally unexpected. D, of course, arranged it all despite the wedding madness (and as payback for his 30th surprise), and I'm still amazed he pulled it off. I was obsessed with surprised parties as a kid, and getting one as an adult feels quite special.
To cap things off and take my mind off my cracking knees, dubious blood pressure, and various other signs that I'm no longer in my twenties, I was carted off to Babbo this evening for a decadent feast with D and the family. The beef cheek ravioli and squab were fabulous. We also had a nice chianti -- dry and tannic. And someday, I might fast for a week and then try their tasting menu. I think it may shorten my life considerably, though -- after just the normal dinner (shared antipasti and primi, and a pasta dish as a secondi), D and I both feel completely stuffed.
Posted by csageday at July 9, 2007 12:47 AM