The Balding Cake
Whew. I made the ferry, with only minutes to spare! I had planned on taking the 7 o’clock, but found myself pulling into Southport at 5:55! I arrived an hour ahead of schedule and was able to join my family for dinner!
Warm temperatures called for Mexican beer,
hot bread with black bean relish,
and a cobb salad covered in toppings! I kept dinner on the lighter side because birthday cake is mandatory every night this weekend.
I ordered a cake for my mom from the Carolina Cake Company, which is quickly becoming my to-go bakery for buttercream cakes in Durham. Sadly, it could not withstand the 80 degree temperatures in the trunk of my parents’ buick. We opened the box to find a balding cake!
The icing fell right off the sides:(
But the beautiful thing about cake is that it tastes wonderful no matter what it looks like. And this bald cake was amazing.
I’m stuffed and want nothing more than to curl up in my bed and sleep for 9 hours! Happy Weekend.
Read MoreRevolution Review
So I’m a bit late with a restaurant review from this weekend. I got home late from outlet shopping and a mexican feast with my parents and I didn’t want to rush the post last night. Because the food I had this weekend deserves attention. I tell ya, Durham restaurants continue to impress.
Since it was a birthday celebration and all, I made cocktails to kick off the evening. Amaretto liquor with sparking cranberry and lemon. Delightful.
$5 Zin
Friday was fabulous and involved friends, a wine special, and belated birthday celebrations.
Matt was out of town, so I enjoyed a much-needed girls night. My friend Emily and I began with a champagne (well, Cava) toast.
Everyone kept buying me drinks, which was awesome, but soo not good for consumption. Let’s just say the night ended in me leaving my credit card at the bar and consuming bowls of late-night puffins and emergency coconut water. Thanks to my Fuqua friends for a fun celebration:)
There’s one more day in this weekend and I’m doing one of my favorite things ever: outlet shopping with my mom! The perfect birthday present. Enjoy your Sunday. XOXO
Read MoreTwenty Six
I hate that the years are flying by so quickly, but I’m always thankful when a new year comes around. I can’t tell you where I’m going to celebrate this evening because I actually don’t know! I have a date with my mom and dad to a mystery location. Here’s hoping the night ends with icing.
Although, I’m not sure any cake could top last year’s in terms of the amount of buttercream per square inch.
Does anyone have any advice for my 27th year?
Read MoreCelebrating Matt
Yesterday was about celebration and relaxation. We slept in till 9 and then I made the birthday boy pancakes. It’s only been about three weeks since we’ve had pancakes and the first bite made me realize that I’ve missed our Thursday pancake ritual so.much.
We did some more unpacking and furniture assembly and fit in a quick couples workout in my apartment’s gym:) Then we headed to the lake!
We’re already obsessed with the sandwiches and salads at The Mad Hatter, so we stopped and grabbed lunch on the way. I got a thai peanut wrap, which was good, but really salty. I only ate half.
The lake was a bit crowded, but the water felt great and it was nice to just sit!
I snuck a delicious can of beer into the state park. I found this at Whole Foods and it was a really nice summer beer – not too thin and watery, but light enough for a 90 degree day.
I almost forgot that I have to drive to get around here! Good thing I only bought one:)
We showered and headed out on foot for a before-dinner cocktail.
It was hot!!! But fun to walk.
We stopped into Vin Rouge for a little bourbon at the bar. We ended up meeting the executive chef for another Durham restaurant at the bar, so we put his restaurant on the top of our list.
Another short walk later and we arrived at Parizade for dinner. I remember loving this restaurant the last time I went (in high school), and since Matt and I like Mediterranean food, I figured it would be an ideal birthday spot. I was right!
When I found the ‘Petite Petit’ Petite Syrah that I had back at Sonsie in Boston, I knew I must order it!! Especially because the glass was like $5 less than the same glass in Boston. It was scrumptious.
We ordered the mezze platter to start. Everything was awesome, especially the carrots with golden raisins and the tzatziki. And, surprisingly, I really liked the beets!
As usual, picking an entree was hard for me. Enough though I’m not a huge tuna fan, I went with it because of how it was prepared – crusted in mint and spices and served over tomato orzo with golden raisins.
WOW.
This was soo wonderful and unlike anything I’ve ever had. The sweetness of the raisins and the tomato paired with the mint were so unique and I loved the texture of the orzo.
Matt was pretty content with his huge portion of seafood paella too.
Oh, and there was cake.
An ice cream cake with a layer of caramel blast, pound cake, and cookies and cream.
Matt is a huge fan of ice cream cakes, and although he likes buttercream cakes too, he has always requested an ice cream cake for his special day.
We’ve tried Coldstone, Carvel, and now Ben and Jerry’s cakes and this one was probably second best. The ice cream was top-notch, but it was definitely less cake-like than Coldstone. Loved the caramel blasts on the top layer!
T’was a spendid way to celebrate Matt.
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Welcome to TBT!
I've created this blog because I'm in a bit of a quarter life crisis. Since graduating from college in 2008 and earning an advanced degree in school psychology in May, I still don't know what career path to follow. All I know is that time is moving way too fast and I find myself living only for the weekends. Bear with me as I attempt to reclaim my twenties by finding pleasure and balance in the work week and incorporating my passions of food, fashion, fitness, and fun into everyday life. 
She said what?