On Tuesday I gave Sean rather vague instructions - get to Philly by 7pm. Go to a certain address and knock on the door to room 1008. Do not schedule any work too early the next morning.

I had booked us a hotel in Center City. We went out for pre-dinner drinks at Fergies, which was a nice start to the evening. The weather was a bit warm but totally walkable. At 8pm I walked us over to 10 ARTS, both the address and the namesake. 10 ARTS is this man's restaurant:

His name is Eric Ripert. He has appeared on TOP CHEF to name one television show. His restaurant LE BERNADIN is uber-well known in Manhattan for being totally boss. Shz has become recently quite enamored with French cooking so he was pretty psyched to be surprised with 10 ARTS!

I will say the aesthetics of the place left something to be desired. 10 ARTS in located in the hotel lobby of the Ritz Carlton. While the scope of the lobby is amazing FOR A LOBBY, i just felt like I was eating in a hotel lobby. And I didn't really dig that. But the food more than made up for it.

Here is what we had:
Apps:
Shz - wild boar prosciutto on toasted bread (the meat was so so so tender and tasty!) Mbz - Pate En Croute - mini pork pies (these were like upper class pigs in the blanket) garnished with spicy mustard

Dinner:
Mbz - Striped Bass "grand mere", the fish was served in a stew-ish broth with pearl onions, fingerling potatoes and wild mushrooms
Shz - Rabbit Palliard (Sean <3's Rabbit!) served with baby arugula and sweet pea salad and whole grain mustard sauce.

Dessert (not ordered by provided by the house after I mentioned to the maitre'd that it was Sean's birthday):
Chocolate Peanut Tart with caramel - TO. DIE. FOR.

Drinks: Pinot Grigio, Luisa was the brand I believe ===============================
After a wonderful dinner we took a walk over to McGlincheys and drank many Jameson and Cokes. We had a great time just talking and hanging out, this is something we used to do a lot more when we were still friends and not living in the same building. So it was nice to have a throwback evening. And it served in reminding me how f'ing much I love my boyfriend and how awesome we are together. ===============================

On Saturday was Part 2 of Sean's birthday week; we had a little gathering at the HOB in Bordentown. One of Sean's longest serving friends (Jason accompanied by the awesome Jessica) joined us as well as Robenna, The Quinns, Joey and Heather and the Boy of course! We had a nice time there and came back to McBrick for cake.

Check out the photo album I just posted for pics from both nights.

Shz got some awesome awesome gifts:
THE COMPLETE ROBUCHON and BURGER BAR cookbooks
AFRO SAMURAI RESURRECTION
THE WARPED ONE wall hanging
DUNKIN DONUTS gift card
RIKU laptop / messenger bag
Skull and Crossbones hand towels
(((If I'm blanking on any prezzies then Shz needs to remind me))).

We spend the rest of the evening shootin' the shiv with our pals and torturing the cat Flip Roswell with plastic bags and dart guns. Thanks to everyone who came out to join us!
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I think both nights of celebration were utter successes. And it was so much fun!!! I can't wait to do it all over again next year. Happy Birthday to my love Shz McMazing!