Trish's Real Birthday Meal

Last Saturday’s brunch was only the beginning of a weeklong 30^th Birthday Celebration for my baby sister, Trish.  I guess “baby sister” sounds somewhat ridiculous when the "baby" is now three decades old.  No matter, it’s just an excuse to drink too much and eat out anyway.

 

Cupcakes!



For this first official Birthday meal, I made a reservation at Fatty Crab, a new Malaysian joint on the Upper West Side.  I wanted to keep it low key and casual and since I would likely be picking up the check, decided to make it an intimate evening with just Trish, me and Billy.

But first, I made a lunch hour stop at the Cupcake Café to pick-up a bunch of Trish’s favorite buttercream-frosted cupcakes in lieu of a traditional birthday cake. 

In a Birthday miracle, Billy arrived at the restaurant at the same time we did.  The host seated us immediately at a cozy corner booth.  The restaurant’s dark, moody lighting and blood red walls immediately brought to mind a funky backwoods brothel somewhere in the Appalachians.  Not that I’ve been to one.  Lately.

Armed with a Dark and Stormy (dark rum, house made ginger syrup, ginger beer, lime) we proceeded to down our weight in spicy Malaysian cuisine from the eclectic tasting menu.  The prices seemed a bit high for the portion size, but the food was tasty and we were drunk so it didn’t really matter.

Our fabulous waiter even supplied us with a complimentary bubbly alcoholic birthday beverage - again, we were drunk so I don’t remember what it was, or our waiter’s name, for that matter - and a candle-topped plate of sponge cakes.



On our way out of the restaurant, Trish noticed a Beard Papa’s across the street.  So though we could barely button our jeans, we were compelled to order cream puffs for the cab ride home.  Let’s just consider them appetizers to the birthday cupcakes waiting at home.

Enjoy the pics and don’t drool on your keyboards. 

Dark and Stormy - the drink, not me

Duck with Thai chilies

Spicy noodle with poached egg

Lump crab in chili sauce

Mussels in yuzu broth

Fried shrimp on pork belly

Birthday cake #1 & Billy's hand.

Notice the whorehouse-red walls?

Birthday cake #2!