16 July 2008

Happy Birthday to me.........


I have had a few days off from work which I have taken full advantage of visiting wineries, swimming at the beach...you know being a tourist in my own town. As luck would have it these days coincided also with my birthday. This was a big one ending in a "0"...you do the math....wink...wink...When in the real world does a person get a chance to do whatever they want on their birthday if it falls during the work week? Since a whirlwind trip to Vegas or a Greek island was out I opted for the next best thing and enjoyed what the Okanagan Valley has to offer. After all this is a destination tourists flock to in droves and the weather has been perfect for all that the valley has to offer.

Last night my daughter took me to Bouchons one of our local restaurants for a celebratory dinner. It is rated as one of the top 4 in the area with good reason. If you ever want to impress someone or treat them to a world class dining experience without all the stuffiness of fine dining this is one of the best places to go in Kelowna for French Cuisine. Their Chef Dominique Couton was voted chef of the year when he lived in Vancouver by the toughest panel in the city.

The photos were taken in haste but it will give you an insight into my birthday dinner. For starters I opted for : Warm Goat Cheese in a Filo Purse with Figs and Prosciutto

'Lil Burnt Toast decided upon: Seared Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli


As an entree I relished: Herb Roasted Half Cornish Hen with Pepper Sauce



You can see the pomme frites they serve with every meal (which I might add are to die for) although I really had "no room in the inn" to enjoy them.

My daughter oohed and aahed over: Skin Grilled Red Snapper "Monaco Style"



For dessert I forced down...wink...wink....a Crème Brûlée Flight : honey-saffron, Grand Marnier and chocolate-café


While my lovely daughter wolfed down Callebaut Chocolate Mousse:

The photos are not clear perhaps from the late evening or maybe too much wine....wink...wink...

Is that my daughter holding her stomach...she has "no room in the inn" either.

Bouchons does not offer your typical French fare with tons of butter and cream but they still have high quality creative dishes and pay attention to every detail. This restaurant is highly recommended and somewhat casual. Come to think of it everything about Kelowna is a casual resort town where suits and ties are almost taboo.

Bon appetit!!
Best Blogger Tips

43 comments:

  1. Happy 20th birthday!

    I guessed right didn't I?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 16, 2008

    Happy Birthday Val! And what a night of food...jealous here!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Birthday, Val! This was a good week for birthdays - Peter M., Heather of Gild the Voodoo Lily, I and you all shared b'days between the 11th and 16th.

    I also had my b'day dinner at a similar place in Ann Arbor - Eve - where local and seasonal dishes are prepared in the methode traditionelle, but like Bouchon, she doesn't rely on butter, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yujjjjuuuuuuuuu! I'm the first one to say HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYY dear Valli!!!!! More kodiac hugs for you Sweetie♥♥♥

    What's going on in the foodies world? Peter, Heather and you are all celebrating birthdays... Let's make a big Party!!!!

    What a beautiful meal you had... and with the best of the companies :D. A thousand kisses from here darling!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Weeeeeeeeee!!! Happy B'day!

    Wandering through the Okanagan Valley this time of the year sounds delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Birthday! My son's was yesterday!

    Looks like you had a great dinner with Little Burnt Toast!

    ReplyDelete
  7. My sweet Val, Happy Birthday my dear sis.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYJPIZ-C-9c

    xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you...aw you get it. Is July ever packed full of food blogger birthdays!!! Hope yours was great!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy, happy, Birthday!!!!
    Sounds and looks like a perfect birthday dinner! And have fun playing on the rest of your days off!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy birthday - food looked great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wish you a Super Duper Happy B'day !!!!!Hugs and luv to you Val

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Birthday. Your birthday dinner looks wonderful. By the way, did you know it's also Orville Redenbacher's birthday (or would be if he were still with us)?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Val, again Happy Birthday and I must say you have good genes...forever 30!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Birthday to you, Val! So how does it feel to hit the big 20? ;) It looks like you celebrated deliciously.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy happy happy birthday! Looks like you had at least one wonderful celebration.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday!! And the meal looks fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Well Happy Birthday to you! Looks like you both had a grand time! Those desserts look heavenly!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy Biiirthday tooo youuuuu! Happy Biiirthday tooo youuuuu!
    Happy Biiirthday, dear Vaaalll!
    Happy Biiirthday tooo youuuuu!
    (Can you tell I was singing?)

    Many happy returns! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy Birthday! Welcome to 30! ;)

    dinner looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Birthday!

    This is a nice way to spend a birthday with your daughter in a good restaurant.

    Perfect moment.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Happy belated 30th B-day dear Val!!
    I would die to vacation in your area! And what a meal!! You and LBT, really know how to do it right! Glad you had a wonderful time.

    ReplyDelete
  22. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VAL....what a great way to celebrate! Love the way the food was served & all the wonderful flavours! I loved the last pic too...just shows what a wonderful night that was...in the 'inn'!!! LOL...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Birthday Val...glad you enjoyed it with such a fine feast and with "lil Burnt Toast".

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wowweeee!

    Happy Birthday - way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Happy Birthday Valli!!
    What a wonderful way to spend it, mainly with your daughter, but also with that fabulous food. LOVELY!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. looks to me like a darn good way to celebrate a birthday! happy belated! (i'll spare you the singing...)

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousJuly 17, 2008

    Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Happy, Happy Birthday my dear friend! It must be wonderful turning 30! How lovely that 'lil burnt toast' took you for a wonderful dinner! HAppy Birthday once again!
    Hugs and Kisses!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy Belated Birthday Val. I wish we could have celebrated together, as that meal makes want to take a knife and fork to the computer screen. We have a bit in common, living in/by the mountains and now birthdays in proximity. Mine was the 15th. To another fabulous year, hear, hear.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am so glad that you have learned at the age of -o(whatever that is) to allow yourself to be spoiled as well as how to spoil yourself. The latter is a trick that many of us have a huge problem with. Val, I wish for you only the best and may you enjoy a year Filled with blessings. Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  31. We share a birthday! We share a birthday!!!!! I didn't know we were twins.

    Happy birthday (belated) to you, to us!!

    I do'nt worry about birthdays that end in 0. I just celebrate the anniversary of my 29th birthday.

    ReplyDelete
  32. YAY! What a super awesome birthday! Welcome to the decade of the 30's!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Happy birthday, Val! I hope you had a great day. Looks like you ate a lot of great food!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh my lordy
    Happy Happy 0 Birthday!!!
    And many more more more.

    I am so absolutely starved now . . .

    ReplyDelete
  35. Look at all of the great food! Happy birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Happy belated B-day. Looks and sounds like you had a good time. Those dishes look wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Happy Birthday!
    I'm late, but I mean just the same. May all you wishes come true!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Happy Birthday, Val. I can see you had a great time.
    here's wishing you many, many more.

    ReplyDelete
  39. happy birthday val, and the best way to enjoy it is with family away from your own kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Happy "0" birthday from your friend that just celebrated a "5" birthday this same week! July is a great month for a birthday!!!!
    Happy, Happy Birthday Valli Dear- may many happy days come to you all year...

    ReplyDelete
  41. Happy birthday!

    What a feast!

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousJuly 24, 2008

    Happy Belated Birthday, Sweetheart! :D XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  43. Goodness, I missed this! Happy (belated) Birthday!

    ReplyDelete

Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

This blog uses comment moderation therefore SPAMMERS, SELF-PROMOTERS and ADVERTISERS will be deleted.