Ombre

I know this is not food related but I'm trying to figure out how to update my ombre hair for the Spring/Summer.  Any thoughts??? I love these looks.

Shannon's Baby Shower

Cupcakes from Frosted Bakery

Even the gifts were explosions of color! (apologies for these blurry photos - i'm dizzy)

Hot pink and orange still a match made in heaven

Damn I want a giant glass of sangria right now

Lunch is served

A hearty quinoa salad I just kept adding stuff to

A welcoming platter (for me, anyway)

Labeled cheeses and fruits

Cornichons and other accoutrements

(blurry) mushrooms that hubs enjoyed taste testing all week

Perfectly roasted salmon a la Ina Garten

The spread

I catered another friends event on Saturday.  It was fun!  She chose herb stuffed mushrooms, a cheese platter minus the charcuterie as its not prego-friendly (I subbed fruits and fruit pastes and nuts and pickles!), roasted salmon with basil cream & a star studded quinoa salad packed with goodies and dressed with one of my fave vinaigrette recipes.  This catering thing was intimidating at first, and granted I've only done it for family and friends thusfar, but its really rewarding to do if you're very organized about your time.  Its also nice for the moment to just depend on yourself and not have to delegate orders.  I'll get to that stage but for now, I like doing it myself.  I tend to be a bit bossy in the kitch ;).  I'm blessed to be surrounded by people who appreciate my food and happy to have the opportunity to be creative outside the mom role.  It feels really good right now.

A belated birthday post

Oysters at Ink that I couldn't touch (sniff)

Lollipop kale with lardo & pig ear chips

Branzino with crunchy cauliflower chips

Beef cheeks - amaze

I know my birthday was a month ago, but that's how blogging goes these days.  We celebrated it right, going to MV Ink (my gyno's recommendation, ha ha) and of course having a girly lunch at Strand house in MB on a sunny Saturday.  My friend Kate made me this amazing ombre cake and I ate half of it in 3 days time.  Not a joke. Our experience at Ink was incredible.  The dishes all had an unexpected twist and the taste and service to back it up.  How good is a restaurant when You have excellent service and a waiter who genuinely loves what he's talking about?  The oysters had frozen pearls of mignonette, and the beef cheeks had beet string or something crazy.  It was all hearty and delicious, not just works of art.  I love a good birthday.