Jesse’s 36th Birthday
This year for Jes’ birthday, we were actually in town. In the past, we’ve taken our annual trip out of the country during the Labor Day weekend. Last year, Jes spent his birthday in Paris, France. The year before, we were in Florence, Italy. And the year before, we were coming back from Belize! What a lucky guy.
Well, this year I threw him a birthday party with all his friends over the weekend and then took him out for a nice dinner on the night of his actual birthday. On Sunday evening (9/4), we threw a party at our house. We had food everywhere – including the coffeetable where Koa sat and stared at the food all afternoon.
We had a house filled with people and the Scotch was flowing all night.
The Suminos even came and I got to pull out my old GameBoys to help entertain them. When I took them out, Brandon and Cole asked, “What’s GameBoy?” Sheesh. Once I showed them how it worked, they were hooked.
Victor had a good time coaching them on the finer points of wrestling. I guess he enjoyed watching them play as he used to with his own little brother. The boys had fun but Marie wasn’t happy. Victor…the trouble-maker.
Jes made a prime rib roast and we sliced it up for some tasty prime rib sandwiches on Acme rolls. Everyone ate it up along with all the appetizers and sides that we had out all night. It was nice to actually have no leftovers at the end of the night.
Jes also got a yummy Coldstone ice cream cake compliments of the Masayas and then some cupcakes that the Fernandos brought too.
On Tuesday, his actual birthday, we had dinner at Benu. It’s a relatively new restaurant that is run by a James Beard Award winning chef who worked at The French Laundry back when Thomas Keller was still working in the kitchen there. They have a $180 tasting menu that was very intriguing but we didn’t have the stomach for it this time. It included 19 different items on that menu!
So, we opted for a few dishes off the a la carte menu that was equally satisfying and didn’t give you the roll-me-out-the-door feeling afterward. Everything was made so perfectly and the presentation was whimsical and pretty. The food was all very good and there were combinations that I hadn’t had before. The dish above is a chicken porridge with thousand-year quail egg. It was savory and delicious.
We also had abalone, foie gras, lobster, beef, and a very unique dessert made with chocolate ganache, peanut pudding, and miso sorbet. At the end of the night, they served a box of fancy chocolates that were also very rich and flavorful.
Here are photos from all his birthday celebrations.
On Sunday (9/4), I went to a baby shower for Ranee. My cousin, Ishya, helped throw it together along with Ranee’s family and friends. The party was at Temescal Park, which is a pretty big park with a lake nearby.
Ranee and her husband Jaime are expecting a baby girl in December and everyone is very excited for them.
It was also really nice to see Ishya and Billy who are expecting twins – a boy and a girl in December too. We didn’t get to stay very long but I’m glad I got to see everyone.
On Friday night (9/2), Dayantha and Krissy flew up for the weekend and we all met up for drinks, then dinner, and then more drinks. We were out pretty late but it was fun having everyone together again.
The Suminos were also in town for the weekend so we met up with them at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning (9/3). It was so fun to see them all again and the boys are getting so big. We took them to Roli Roti and had the Porchetta Sammich.
It was so fun to see Brandon hold it with just one hand and stuff his face. That’s my boy!
Cole was insatiable and even got his own cone of meat from the salumeria inside the Ferry Building. No wonder he’s getting so tall.
Later that afternoon, we drove to Alameda. I dropped Jes off at Jimmy and Eleen’s where Dayantha and Krissy were staying. I then went down the street to KM’s house to see Mai (in town from LA) and Ranee (in town from NYC). We were supposed to go to Zachary’s for pizza but ended up having an impromptu potluck with Stephanie’s buffalo chicken dip and Mai had bought two containers of ja jang myun. Tasty.
Afterward, I went back to the Agustin House where I got to make my very own elephant necklace thanks to Eleen’s help and supplies.
Krissy made a pair of fancy earrings too. I’m so inspired! Might have to start making my own stuff again.
On July 26th, I plucked all the basil leaves off this stem when I made some pesto. The next day, I put the stem into a bottle of water and 
Today, i checked it again and it had a ton of roots and some bigger leaves in addition to some new ones budding. So, I gave it a new home in a self-watering pot that I bought yesterday at Home Depot. Let’s see how long it lasts.
Last night, we had a long-overdue Sunday Supper at Little J’s house and it was like a baby explosion. We used to have just Jack sitting at the table but now we have Jack in a big chair, Reese in Jack’s old highchair, Rowan in a portable seat, and Alexander in Tracy’s lap. The table has really grown. Ryan whipped up a tasty meal consisting of prosciutto-wrapped figs, caprese salad, roasted chicken, lasagna, roasted corn, and Tang! Haha.
It was fun playing with all the kids and I’m amazed at how Jack has become the big kid among all the babies. 
Rowan is a little shy but started babbling once he warmed up.
And of course, there’s Miss Reese who’s happy entertaining herself for hours.
I bought fresh peaches (about 4) and sliced them. I left the skin on.
Then I melted butter in a dutch oven while measuring out flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk. Once that batter was mixed, it went right over the butter without any stirring.
In the meantime, I had the peaches, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and lemon juice in another pot for everything to melt and carmelize.
Once that was ready, the entire peach mixture got poured right over the butter+flour mixture – again, without stirring.
Then it went straight into a 375-degree oven for 45 minutes and DING! It was done! The batter rose and covered up the peaches all by itself!
I served it with vanilla bean ice cream and we had a tasty dessert! This was the end of the pot so my crust looked a little messed up here. It actually turned out crispy, chewy, and soft all at once. I’d make this again.
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