Twenty-five... and two days

People that remembered my birthday this year: 7 (Really good number! Are you guys using Google Calendar now?)

My favorite thing to do is go out for a special dinner on my birthday so I went to Perbacco as suggested by Tablehopper. The patrons were a little too gray haired for the restaurant to be really hip, but I still think it's a hot spot with outstanding service that's usually found at more established restaurants.

Perbacco is focused on northern Italian cuisine which means cheese and butter galore! We chose the a pear endive salad with a honey vinaigrette with generous chunks of excellent gorgonzola. The salad had some interesting flavors going on, not ones that were familiar to me. The pillowy soft nettle gnocchi had just the right amount of the aforementioned butter and gorgonzola-- unspeakably delicious. The semolina encrusted skate was probably the least impressive component of dinner. The hamachi crudo with blood orange juice, fennel, and orange oil was almost a teeny bit sweet. Again, a new sort of flavor experience for me. Finally, for dessert was a poached pear with a creamy, whipped soft cream, sprinkled with pistachios. Boozy, neither too firm nor too soft, and just sweet enough.

I shouldn't forget the Pearlini cocktail I had either: Prosecco (it's already off to a good start!), pear brandy, pear puree, and cinnamon. So good!

Next time I go I want to try more pastas, some grappa, and the cheese plate!

(Thank you, DZ.)