Carlyn's Birthweek 2009- Fun with Food and Henry VIII

Carlyn and Cari's Web Page Carlyn and Cari's Guest book Venice in November Spain with Lin and Monica The Louvre and Monet's House and Garden, September 2009 Disneyland Paris- The end to my month long 50th birthday celebration London Skyride- September 20, 2009 ARRAY(0xa5757f4) Switzerland- July 2009 Carlyn's Birthweek 2009- Fun, Food and Henry VIII Sailing Trip on the Solent of the English Channel, June 2009 Istanbul, Turkey- May 2009 Aberdeen with Jacky and Steve The Loire Valley with Mom and Sheri Budapest, April 2009 The German Christmas Markets with Joyce, December 2008 The Lord Mayor Show, November 8, 2008 Madrid and Andalucia, October 2008 Krakow, Poland- September 2008 Cari's Birthweek- Germany Dinner at Muspatts Farm celebrating Carlyn's Italy, June 2008 The Lake District- May 2008 York- May Day Holiday Weekend 2008 Cornwall and Wales- Page 1 Cornwall and Wales- Page 2 Hever Castle Blemhein Palace Hastings and Battle- 1066 Country Brighton German Christmas Market Fall in Provence Paris in a Day Visitors at Parliament Square Amsterdam and Kuekenhof The South West "Jurassic" Coast Cambridge Christmas and Canterbury Normandy Austria Prague, Czech Republic Belgium break ARRAY(0xa5757f4) Blog

Last week we had a fun filled time celebrating Carlyn's Birthweek.  She was 51 years of age but able to hang with the younger crowd, me, at 49 (as least for a couple more months).

We began the festivities on Friday, June 19 with a trip to "Taste of London" which was held at Regents Park. It's a great opportunity to eat at Michelin Star restaurants we probably will never go to Including Rhodes 24, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, The Ledbury and Tom Aikens.

Regents Park, London- the perfect setting for food and wine

The next evening we met our friend Amanda Rose, an Austin transplant, for dinner at Murano's. This is a new place with a Michelin starred female chef, Angela Hartnet http://www.gordonramsay.com/murano/chefs/chefpatron/ that I have been dying to go since it opened. Reservations are very difficult to get but I booked two months ago and was then only able to get a 6:30 or 10:00 table. We took the 6:30.

Carlyn with her Birthday Pistachio Souffle at Murano's. The meal was outstanding and Carlyn even got us an invite to visit Angela in the kitchen. That made my day!

The next day Amanda met us for a bike ride from our house to Hampton court and back.

After a small trial they dunked the "whore of Babylon" via dunking chair into the Thames.

On the actual Birthday we went to one of our favorite neighborhood places, Café Strudel  (Austrian cuisine),  http://www.cafestrudel.co.uk  with birthday cake at home: flourless chocolate cake with Grand Marnier- caramel Sauce and Champagne as Carlyn opened gifts.  We love Birthweeks!!!!

Here is what we ate! RHODES TWENTY FOUR White tomato soup THE LEDBURY Celeriac baked in Ash with Hazelnuts, Summer Truffle and a Kromeski of Wild Boar TOM'S KITCHEN 7 Hour Braised Daylesford Organic Lamb Shoulder with Balsamic Onions and Mash CINNAMON KITCHEN Bhaditraka - thin lamb escalope inspired by a recipe written by Someswara in 1127 AD L'ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUCHON Le Tourteau dans une gelée acidulée et guacamole - Crabmeat in tomato jelly and avocado guacamole Le Chocolat Sensation au chocolat Araguani, glace au chocolat ivoire et biscuit Oreo

Great food but also wine as there was a Burgundy booth set up for tasting. We tried a Pommard, our favorite Burgundy, and a Corton 1st Cru.

Starters: For me- Veal sweetbreads, sweet potato purée, caramelised walnuts and lardoons, Amanda chose Pappardelle of braised lamb, confit lemon, olives and rocket, and for Carlyn- Swiss chard and Sairass ricotta tortelli, sage emulsion, pecorino

Desserts: Rhubarb and spiced caramel cremieux, hazelnut tuile, vanilla yoghurt, Caramelia chocolate mousse, Sacher sponge, apricot purée, chocolate ice cream and the signature Pistachio soufflé, warm chocolate sauce and macaroon

After our fabulous meal we took a walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace. It was a perfect night.

The weekend marked the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII coronation so costumed kings and queens gave us a show by the Thames.

We stopped in Kingston-upon-Thames to view an iconic sculpture titled- "Out of Order"

Carlyn and Birthday gifts