This will be a two part series (can it really be a series with two parts?). The real day of my birthday. And the day of my party!
So, the real birthday started with a horrible cold. That’s what a 15 hour flight with a sick mother will do to you! The BF (unbeknownst to me) had planned a surprise night for me, and none of it had a contingency plan for be staying home from work in bed all day! I reassured him that I would be ok in the evening, but that I most certainly wasn’t going to work.
He’d hoped to pack a bag when I was at work, and take it with him to work. He also planned to lay out an outfit and a note that said a car was picking me up at 7.10pm. In reality, the bag packing happened when he got home from work (and dispatched me to the sofa). I realised something was amiss when I was putting on my make up – the toothbrushes weren’t in the holder! I am a detective!
Anyhow, he laid out my clothing, and a lovely black Audi picked us up, and whisked us to Rockpool, another three hatted restaurant like Aria and Quay where I’ve previously celebrated birthday dinners with family and friends. Unrelated, Rockpool is one of my father’s clients.
There, we indulged in nine courses, which was one too many. How? Well, let’s just say the dessert wine made an appearance much later in the night… seems too many wines, plus cold and flu medication wasn’t ideal.
After dinner, Rich walked/propped me up, and took me to the Sofitel, a short walk from Rockpool. In the room was a lovely bunch of flower from Rich’s parents. His mother stays at the Sofitel when she comes to Sydney, so it all seemed very well orchestrated. The BF has of course ensured there was a FULL buffet breakfast. Knowing me oh so well! Seems a hangover dampens my spirits for a buffet, but I did have a hash brown, pancakes, fruit, bircher museli… so I did put in a good effort!
I feel I need to keep writing, as I have more food photos…
The whole dinner was a complete surprise. We’d disagreed about spending some Christmas money on a ‘fancy dinner’ so I was touched that the BF would organise all this given he’s not as keen on fine dining. He even ate the seafood!
Any favourites?
It all looks lovely. Makes me want to go somewhere nice like that one day.
I have to admit. I ate frozen pizza while reading this post!
For a moment I thought you were eaten the pizza still frozen – tell me that isn't so! Rest assured my meals are mostly NOT this fancy!
Haha no, definitely cooked the pizza!
We usually make our own dough and pizzas, but I was reading on the Frugalwoods blog that they keep some frozen pizzas handy to resist the temptation to get takeaway when they are tired. I thought it sounded like a good idea and got some, but have since found out we need to move in a few weeks, so have started eating up all the food in our cupboards and freezer.
Lol – I was eating saladas and vegemite with cheap champagne 😀
Wow it's been so long since I had a Salada! I just mentioned Sao's today, and had to try to explain them to my American friend!
Happy happy birthday, Sarah! Love the photo of you and the BF – just reminds me of a young and happy time of life (lol, I'm sounding like a grandma here!)
The food looks amazing. It does look a bit petite for my tastes but then I've been to one 'fine dining' restaurant in Melbs that was the best food I've ever tasted.
Hope you are feeling better now and I really hope it didn't spoil the night.
Hey grandma! Hahaha… I included it seeing it showed the generally memories of the night (a little blurry!) But it was a lovely night out – and I certainly didn't need a snack after it all. not sure what the BF thought though!
The night wasn't spoilt by being sick – at least I hadn't lost my sense of taste, cause I remember tasting things well.
Wow, after that flight and not feeling well, you were a real trouper! I would have fallen asleep face-planted in one of those pretty plates especially after a glass of wine or two!
Oh, I think I made it seem like the flight was closer than it was – I flew 'home' on Monday and dined on Friday! hahaha
Alas, faceplanting was avoided, but it would have been funnY!
How sweet of your bf to plan everything! I like that all the dishes look different. So many colors! Glad to hear you could still taste despite being under the weather.
Your line about being a detective made me laugh 🙂
It was incredibly romantic and sweet (esp in context of our recent lives).
I'm also a detective with the cleaning lady, but all the evidence with this latest one seems to show her as a stellar cleaner. She even finds dead fruit in the fruit bowl and tosses it out, and trims any dying flowers!