I admit it. I am a total birthday brat. I plan what I am going to do months before the actual date: where I will be, what I will do, and most importantly, what I will eat. This year I wanted to be in Connecticut, my favorite place to be in September, as Fall creeps in slowly and I suffer the nostalgia that comes with the changing of the season. I made a reservation at Firebox, my favorite restaurant in the area, way in advance. So last night four of my good friends from high school and I got together and had one of my favorite birthdays ever. Us Miss Porter's girls are a rowdy bunch, and we had so much fun catching up with each other about life and love and everything in between. There is no better way to do this than around a table with food and drink.

There were so many delicious things that we ate, but one of the highlights was a fried oyster with smoked paprika (my favorite spice) on top of a roasted corn succotash with bacon. It was simply awesome. I have a thing for corn and fried oysters, and when they came together on the same plate it was heaven. For my entree I ate the "fresh catch", which was line-caught halibut with a corn puree and roasted tomatoes. Like I said, I love corn anything, and the puree was excellent. For dessert we tried a little bit of everything- creme brulee, apple pie, sorbet, and chocolate semifreddo. I have always loved their creme brulee, which is especially great because of the local eggs they use. But last night the chocolate semifreddo was the one who won my heart. It was rich and delicious, without being too much so. Everyone had a fabulous time and it made me feel so lucky to celebrate my birthday in great company with such excellent food.

When I got home my grandmother and aunt had arrived from Mexico, and my mother had baked me a birthday cake. When we were growing up our birthday cakes were always two chocolate cakes sandwiched with jam and frosted with chocolate icing. It made me so happy to see that cake, even after having eaten my way through the Firebox dessert menu, because it was the cake of my childhood with my mother's touch.

Now I am one year older, one year wiser, and sooo ready for what comes my way next!