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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Happy Belated 30th Birthday, Sheridan!

It's official. My best friend Sheridan is a real grown-up now. That's what happens when you hit 30 (and I'm only a couple months behind her ... scary!). Technically, Sheridan's been 30 for a week now, but she went out of town with her boyfriend on her actual birthday. So all her friends gathered in Little Rock, Arkansas this weekend for a fancy birthday dinner at Ciao Baci, a sophisticated Italian joint located in a converted old house. Here's Sheridan making her birthday wish on some Strawberry Daquari Cupcakes that I made (more on that in a second):

Ciao Baci served this amazing bread before our food arrived. It's thinly-sliced Italian bread doused in olive oil and black pepper. And I do mean doused. I had to lick the olive oil off my fingers when I was done. It was so, so delicious.

As for entrees, Ciao Baci didn't have any vegan options on the menu aside from a salad or two. But they were more than happy to make me this Vegan Pizza:

The crust was out of this world. It was cracker-thin and hand-tossed. It had an olive oil base with eggplant, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. Yum!

After dinner, I broke out the Strawberry Daquari Cupcakes, a recipe I tried from Claire Gosse's Are You Sure That's Vegan? — an lovely little vegan dessert cookbook:

Aren't they adorable? I shot these guys at my house before I left for Little Rock. I really wanted to capture the pinkness of the cake in good lighting. These little guys are made with real strawberry daquari mix and they're topped with coconut-buttercream. You can order Claire's book here.

As for presents, Sheridan got TWO awesome aprons. She actually asked our friend Brittany for an apron, and I also bought her one on a whim. I had no idea she'd asked for one from someone else. But a girl can't have too many aprons, right?

Brittany gave her this Kiss the Cook apron:

And I gave her this vintage number that I purchased at Muddy's Bake Shop in Memphis:

Muddy's — an adorable vegan-friendly bakery (I'll do a full post on this place soon!) — sells aprons that are handcrafted by local folks. A percent of the proceeds from this apron benefits birds in the Gulf.

Does this chick look 30? No way. I think we're aging pretty well. I love you, Sheridan! Happy birthday!

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had an awesome time celebrating your friend's birthday! Love the look of that pizza, and wouldn't mind getting a few of those cupcakes inside me!! :D The apron's so cute and retro, you have good taste! Also, you look great for your age - I got mistaken for 21 the other day when I'm actually 31!! I think it must be the good diet keeping us young ;) YAY!

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  2. Aw...nice times! Cute aprons. Fab cuppers.

    Sheridan does not look 30.

    BTW: Do you ALL have cool names down South? Sheridan. Bianca. I want a cool name.

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  3. What a fabulous birthday celebration! I can't wait to be 30. Well, actually, I can't wait to be any age, they all sound just wonderful.

    And if I could have food that delicious on my birthday I'd be in heaven. That bread doused in olive oil looks so simple but SO GOOD. And what a killer pizza. They should put it on their menu because it looks wonderful.

    And your cupcakes are adorable! I love that pretty color.

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  4. I have that kiss the cook apron! It is too cute, and so are those cupcakes :-)

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  5. Cute aprons! I agree, she does not look 30 - but 30 really isn't that old. Only teenagers think 30 is old. At least that's what I keep telling myself ... I'll be 30 soon, too.

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  6. those cupcakes look delicious! so light! i love love edible glitter :D

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  7. What a lovely cuppy cake! I love the aprons too, you're totally right - a girl can't have too many aprons.

    The pizza looks so good! They should add it to their regular menu.

    Nope. Sheridan does not look 30!

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  8. Awwwww....I feel so special! Ha! Love you too best friend! Thanks for all the wonderful birfday goodies! And it makes me feel super great that your bloggy friends don't think I look 30! Hahaha!

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