As Another Birthday Rolled Around…

August has always been my fav month of the year. Love all the summer months, but August has always been a lot of fun, maybe because my birthday falls smack in the middle of it. Not one of those morose drips that gets depressed around their birthday, like it’s another year closer to the grave. Like to think it’s another year to be happy and grateful to be healthy, alive and looking forward to some more fun and adventure. Bring on more booze, wine, champagne, food and wine events and travel!

In that vein, after doing a little online research saw that Seattle’s Capital Grille, part of a chain, had almost all positive reviews online, so booked my b-day dinner with the web gal’s customary excellent support and guidance. GM Josh gave me a tour of the restaurant while the web gal was parking the car. While I appreciated the booth festooned with birthday wishes I asked if we could be moved to a back table room as the web gal prefers tables over booths and he was happy to comply.

Web gal was really happy with her raspberry flavored mocktail, while I had been looking forward to sharing a nice Pinot I had picked up at Chateau Ste Michelle’s Enoteca shop with Josh. But when I saw on their site they were having The Generous Pour Summer Wine Event Icons of the Vine to taste six award-winning wines for $45, couldn’t resist that deal. Sorry Josh, next time!

Kicking off our meal was a fine Pan-Fried  Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers, along with a Caesar Salad with Grana Padano Croutons. Web gal ordered the scrumptious New England Clam Chowder. We split a Bone-in, Rib Eye, done perfectly medium rare, but I made the mistake of ordering Bearnaise sauce which i thought would be served on the side, but instead came on top of the steak, which the web gal was none too pleased with. Oh well, live and learn.  Our server Maddie was friendly, professional and knowledgeable.

Dessert really agreed with the web gal as the chef cleverly incorporated all four desserts featured on their menu into a four corner tasting menu treat plate which included their Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake (my fav), Seasonal Berries, Coconut Cream Pie, classic Crème Brûlée and the classic Capital Grille cheesecake. A wine guy when doing the NSI quiz said have dessert first for a philosophy and the web gal would no doubt agree if she could have that plate every night. Happy b-day to me.. Indeed!!

Next weekend I hooked up with the web gal and her gal pal after they had gone to a Cyndi Lauper concert in Vancouver, which mercifully  I got to avoid, after having to attend the Seattle concert last fall, where Lauper discussed the events of life and her missions.   What do I know, the gals had a great time, met interesting people and were happy.  The next day we tried a Japanese restaurant, Miku

 Waterfront, that had gotten lots of positivity online and I knew had fine views of the harbor. We got seated at a fantastic patio table and had terrific sushi, sashimi, tofu salad, miso soup and calamari. Server Jada made great recommendations for the web gal.

Famed restaurant critic, Jonathan Gold, was known for supposedly eating at every restaurant on Pico St in his beloved LA. While not as long as Pico St, Vancouver’s Denman St, that borders English Bay, has an incredible array of reasonably priced, different restaurants and shops. Had a gut busting, huge breaky at Joe’s Cafe, yummy wings and an excellent burger & fries at Chef Ron’s, some fine pasta at Fresh Solo Pasta.  Start at Robson St and walk south until you wind up at Pacific Blvd and I guarantee you’ll find some good eats.

Once at Pacific Blvd,  I bought a six pack for a stroll along English Bay’s beach front where the web gal suspiciously asked if it was ok to drink on the beach, which I assured her that after decades of stupid, anti- drinking laws, Vancouver has seen the light and allows light beer and wine consumption on its beaches now.  Note to all state and municipal authorities, if you allow light booze consumption in your parks and beaches, like Europe has done sensibly for the last century, they won’t turn into drunken, marauding, fight fests. In fact, people will be appreciative, not having to hide their booze, which they are consuming anyway. Web gal bought some tasty Honey Lavender ice cream from Rain or Shine Ice Cream truck and had a nice, relaxing time on the beach.  We welcome any invites for next year’s b-day!! Cheers!