Celebrating in Style!

We feel very fortunate to live a ten-minute drive from a lovely hotel, the Chrysalis Inn and Spa in Fairhaven. No freeways or flights are required for a sybaritic night away to celebrate a birthday -- my 68th, in this case, on February 19. 

As we sat enjoying our preferred adult beverages (draft beer for Phil, white wine for me) in the lounge, enjoying the view of Bellingham Bay, our friends C and A, who live near us, suddenly appeared and asked if they could join us! Unbeknownst to me, Phil had arranged this surprise, and what a fine time we had, sharing some tasty appetizers and wide-ranging conversation.

After they left, we moved on to our dinner reservation, just a few steps away, and despite what we'd consumed during happy hour, managed to enjoy more wine (a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc) and delicious food -- in my case, a red watercress and spinach salad with watermelon radish, asparagus, sorrel, and yuzu-blood orange vinaigrette, and grilled shrimp with Thai basil, Chinese cabbage, red bell peppers, and curry raita. 

Phil had roasted duck and winter vegetables, and for dessert, we shared what you see here -- a "Dark & White Chocolate Napoleon," layers of housemade chocolate bark in between Belgian dark chocolate mousse with finely chopped hazelnuts in it, fresh raspberries, and a port reduction. Sublime!

We returned to our room in a state of great contentment and relaxation, grateful for our friends, good food and drink, and most of all, each other.

(Taken with my iPhone 4s, hence the less than sterling quality--but I couldn't resist blipping this hedonistic dessert!)