Posts Tagged ‘BIRTHDAY’

Birthday Week Part 5: ICE CREAM CHALLENGE

I saw this on the Travel Channel once and I was PUMPED to experience it in person. At Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay they give you sixteen little tastes of different ice cream flavors, and you have to guess what they are. It’s way hard, y’all. Some of them are normal ice cream flavors, but a lot of them definitely are not. Plus, it’s really hard to identify taste when you don’t have other clues like texture, especially when it’s not something you’re used to encountering in ice cream. Has anyone ever gotten all of them? I doubt it.

Ready!

Ready!

They give you one freebie

They give you one freebie

Here's a close-up for reference

Here’s a close-up for reference

Starting at the top right: This one was vanilla bean. That’s the one they gave us.

Moving one left: This one bothered Steven. “I KNOW THIS FROM MY CHILDHOOD” he whined. He forced us to come back to it multiple times.
Our final answer: Rambutan
Real answer: Passion fruit. Steven overthinks everything.

Moving one left: This one was DEFINITELY some kind of nut, we were sure. But it had a lighter taste than most nut ice creams so we couldn’t decide what kind. I eventually let Steven fill in his crazy theory.
Our final answer: Gincko Nut
Real answer: Butternut squash. After knowing the answer and tasting it again, I was like “Oh yeah, that is totes butternut squash.” But it was hard to identify that flavor from the void.

Far left corner: “Nutella!” I said immediately. It had that distinctive chocolate hazelnut taste.
Our final answer: Chocolate Hazelnut
Real answer: Nutella

Moving one down: This one was chocolate but with a definite kick at the end.
Our answer: Dark chocolate and cayenne
Real answer:Togarashi Chocolate. Apparently this is a specific kind of Japanese pepper.

Moving one right: Cinnamon!!!! Clearly cinnamon!! For once there was consensus
Our answer: Cinnamon
Real answer: Cinnamon

Moving one right: We both agreed this one was butter pecan. It was especially buttery.
Our answer: Butter pecan.
Real answer: Coconut. This may seem like a weird confusion on our part, but I can see how both these flavors bring nutty and creamy elements that could be confused when you’re going in blind.

Moving one right: This one had little squishy things in it, which was the first clue.
Our answer: Rum raisin
Real answer: Rum raisin

Moving one down: Clearly raspberry! It punches you in the face with raspberry!
Our answer: Raspberry
Real answer: Raspberry Mint. You have to look for the subtle flavor underneath the pungent raspberry flavor, apparently.

Moving one left: This was way weird in both taste and consistency. I didn’t really like it, and had a hard time identifying it.
Our answer: Cheese
Real answer: Benedictine. This is some kind of herbal liqueur which I’ve never tasted.

Moving one left: This one was really strawberry to me. Steven insisted it was strawberry cheesecake, which I didn’t get from it at all, but I let him write what he wanted.
Our answer: Strawberry cheesecake
Real answer: Strawberry tarragon. Turns out Steven was right about there being some other taste in there, he was just wrong about what it was.

Moving one left: Mango! This one reminded me of my favorite Locopops flavor.
Our answer: Mango
Real answer: Mango Thai Chili. I should have remembered those popsickles are mango chili flavored. But the Thai part would have probably eluded us anyway.

Moving one down: This one pretty much tasted like nothing. Like plain ice cream, if that were a thing.
Our answer: Sweet cream
Real answer: Taro root. I’m surprised I didn’t get this one, because I’ve definitely had taro root tea and smoothies before. Those were always pretty strong with the taro root taste, and this was much lighter and more refreshing.

Moving one right: “Some kind of flower” I said immediately. But we argued about which. It wasn’t rose. It wasn’t lilac. Thus exhausting the only two flower ice creams I’ve ever tasted.
Our answer: Honeysuckle
Real answer: Lavender

Moving one right: Coffee!!!
Our answer: Coffee
Real answer: Coffee! Finally an easy one

Close right corner: This one was definitely chocolate. The richest chocolate ever.
Our answer: Belgian chocolate
Real answer: Chocolate

Even though we got a lot of them wrong, it was really fun to play! I would definitely do this again! Especially since the flavors change all the time. It’s interesting to see how much texture and visuals play into what things taste like when you don’t have those cues to rely on.

Yay!

Yay!

Previously: Fancy Food!
Next: Goodbye Vegas

Birthday Week Part 4: Fancy Food

I feel like all I did in Las Vegas was eat. I’m not complaining. Here’s our fancy birthday dinner in Bouchon, Thomas Keller’s French restaurant inside the Venetian.

This is what I got!! Excellent choice

This is what I got!! Excellent choice

It’s gnudi, which I thought would be like gnocchi, but SURPRISE it is even more delicious. Those are little bundles of pasta joy, filled with cheese and probably some other things, lovingly wrapped in a beautiful mushroom butter sauce.

This is Steven's

This is Steven’s

It was the pasta of the day! I forget what was in it because I was too busy concentrating on mine.

Also, dessert!!

YES BIRTHDAY BROWNIES

YES BIRTHDAY BROWNIES

BIRTHDAY STRAWBERRY SUNDAE!

BIRTHDAY STRAWBERRY SUNDAE!

We also had fancy tea at the Mandarin Oriental. I could try to describe to you what you’re looking at here, but I would fail:

Points for presentation

Points for presentation

The cone thing was a curry chicken salad with an Asian pear ball on top in some kind of sesame cone. It was kind of pretentious, but also delicious.

The desserts though

The desserts though

Oh yes. Give me all of this again.

Fancy Steven approves

Fancy Steven approves

"We're just going to have a snack"

“We’re just going to have a snack”

Just a snack

Just a snack

Next: ICE CREAM TASTING CHALLENGE
Previously: Cooking Class

Birthday Week Part 3: Bellagio Cooking Class

As a birthday present to Steven, I got us a cooking class in Las Vegas at the Bellagio hotel!! They do it once a month, taught by the executive chef and his culinary team. It was really cool, and felt like being on a reality tv show!

Complete with other people to set up your station for you, just like on tv

Complete with other people to set up your station for you, just like on tv

First was the salad course, where we got some professional chopping lessons down, as well as how to cook couscous quick, make a yogurt dressing, and artfully arrange everything:

Steven's artfully arranged salad

Steven’s artfully arranged salad

Then we learned how to tie and roast a whole chicken!! We didn’t do that part individually, though we did get to eat it:

Hello, beautiful chicken

Hello, beautiful chicken

We got back into it for the dessert course, a passionfruit mousse. Here’s a look at Steven and my station:

Sadly we did not make the actual mousse

Sadly we did not make the actual mousse

We did make a fancy sauce for it, though, and artfully decorated with chocolate curls and piped cream.

A dessert work of art!

A dessert work of art!

My priorities were more about getting as much chocolate as possible on there

My priorities were more about getting as much chocolate as possible on there

We met some really cool people in the class, including Las Vegas locals and a guy vacationing from Brazil! It was my favorite thing we did on this trip, so I would definitely recommend it!

Yay!!!

Yay!!!

Next: Birthday Week Part 4: Fancy food
Previously: Birthday Week Part 2: Selfies

Birthday Week Part 2: Las Vegas Selfies

Last time we went on a trip I decided to document the journey in selies, mainly because it involved staying up for 20+ hours and I wanted to watch my face deteriorate into a rictus of tiredness. This trip was no different!! So here it is. Las Vegas: A Tale Told in Selfies!

Waiting for the airport shuttle!! So pumped!

Waiting for the airport shuttle!! So pumped!

Those were the last real trees we would see for five days.

On the plane!!

On the plane!!

Look at this fancy hotel!

Look at this fancy hotel!

It is JUST LIKE being in Venice!

It is JUST LIKE being in Venice!

Just as expensive and smoky as real Italy!

Just as expensive and smoky as real Italy!

Paris!!!!

Paris!!!!

The bottom is full of people trying to push sketchy things on you, just like the real Eiffel Tower! Vegas is committed to authenticity.

Right before becoming MASTER CHEFS at the Bellagio cooking class

Right before becoming MASTER CHEFS at the Bellagio cooking class

OMG about to go up in the world's tallest ferris wheel!

OMG about to go up in the world’s tallest ferris wheel!

550ft above Las Vegas!

550ft above Las Vegas!

Steven attempting to take a selfie

Steven attempting to take a selfie

Dressed fancy to go out to eat!

Dressed fancy to go out to eat!

Plane ride home

Plane ride home

More non-selfie photos to come.

Previously: Birthday Week Part 1: Steven’s Mohawk
Next: Birthday Week Part 3

Birthday Week Part 1: Steven gets a mohawk and I get a job

As you know, Steven and I were born two years and one day apart. Meaning that our relationship faces the trying hurtle of back to back birthdays. It’s really hard not having everything be all about me around my birthday, but SOMEHOW I persevere. This year was especially dramatic because Steven turned 30. And went through some kind of crisis of hair:

The sides of his head can feel the breeze for the first time since infancy

The sides of his head can feel the breeze for the first time since infancy

However, mohawk styling–or really, any styling–isn’t an inborn skill. It’s taken lots of practice.

Steven owns way more haircare products than me

Steven owns way more haircare products than me

He actually owned more haircare products than me before this too.

Plus, who do you think takes the longest to get ready now?

Plus, who do you think takes the longest to get ready now?

Again, it was actually always him.

Isn't perfection worth it, though?

Isn’t perfection worth it, though?

BEAUTY TAKES TIME

BEAUTY TAKES TIME

He also had a concert two days before his birthday, the perfect occasion to debut an awesome new hair:

Concert master style

Concert master style

I also noticed him getting a lot more compliments from people in the audience during intermission and after, maybe because he stands out way more now.

He just wants attention

He just wants attention

For Steven’s birthday lunch, we went to Lucky 32!!

First lunch as a 30-year-old!!!

First lunch as a 30-year-old!!!

They had strawberry shortcake for dessert!

So old. So mature.

So old. So mature.

As for me, I got a new job at the library! Exciting birthday present from Wake County!!!

Twice the swag

Twice the swag

Next: Birthday Week Part 2: Las Vegas

My Birthday 2014!!!!

As you know (because I won’t shut up about it), last week was my birthday!! Steven has a history of really good presents, and also being really bad at keeping secrets, but this year he was a pro at not responding to my expert wheedling. I’m glad he didn’t because my birthday present was a complete surprise and completely awesome!!

We went to the Umstead, which is the only 5-star hotel in North Carolina! Also, it’s four minutes from my apartment! Unfortunately, I didn’t take a lot of pictures because I was too busy pretending to be ~fancy~, but here are some that I did manage:

Berries and cream, the best breakfast!!!!

Berries and cream, the best breakfast!!!!

Pre-lunch spread, with bread basket, Steven's fancy bloody mary, and smoothie shots!

Pre-lunch spread, with bread basket, Steven’s fancy bloody mary, and smoothie shots!

Ice cream sampler!!

Ice cream sampler!!

This sand dollar plate was crazy cool!

Steven!!!

Steven!!!

This ridiculous bathtub!!!!

This ridiculous bathtub!!!!

You know I love taking ridiculous baths while reading magazines. PERFECT BIRTHDAY!

Nice lake out back!

Nice lake out back!

You can walk around the short trail around the water, which has little informational signs about the birds, plants, and other animals around. There were a bunch of turtles chilling in the water!

One thing they have that I definitely want to try some day is a fancy afternoon tea with a live harpist! Steven doesn’t like tea, so someone who does should visit me ASAP to try this out. I am super curious! Plus, tiny sandwiches taste better than regular kind. FACT.

Amazing Birthday Facts for my Amazing Birthday!!!!

Today is my birthday!!!! Here are some great facts about what is obviously the best day of the year:

On this day in…

…879, Pope John VIII recognizes that Croatia officially exists
…1502, Saint Helena island is discovered.
…1864, Russia declares an end to the Russian-Circassian War and many Circassians are forced into exile, designating May 21 as the Circassian Day of Mourning.
…1881, the American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton.
…1927, Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic.
…1987, I AM BORN
…2011, the world ends

Born on May 21st…

…1688, Alexander Pope, 3rd most cited writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations after Shakespeare and Tennyson
…1952, Mr. T

mrt

YESSSSSSSS!

…1973, Noel Fielding, which makes total sense, since we’re both so stylish

vincenoir

…1980, Gotye. Don’t be jealous.

goye

Okay, be a little jealous

27 Small Presents for my 27th Birthday!

Hey Team! My birthday is next week!!!! I’m pretty excited to be 27! That’s a perfect cube! Anyway, I’m not sure what I’m getting for my birthday yet (!!! surprises!!!!), but I really like Bilbo’s idea of giving presents to other people on your birthday, so I thought I would get you something!

Unfortunately, I’m pretty cheap, and you’re the Internet, so it’ll have to be free things. So, here are 27 free things I like that you might like too! I organized them into categories for you:

1-5 are great web tools for different things!

1. GoodReads

Sorry the first one isn't much of a gift, since you already know all about it

Sorry the first one isn’t much of a gift, since you already know all about it

I know I talk about GoodReads all the time and you probably know all about it because you have it anyway. If not, you should!

2. Postable

Super simple and convenient interface!

Super simple and convenient interface!

Postable is a free online address book! I like it because it’s cute and easy, and they provide a link you can send to people to fill in their own info that automatically gets added to your contacts.

3. Feedly

It does its job well

It does its job well

Feedly is what I migrated to after the sad death of GoogleReader. It’s the only way to keep up with all the RSS feeds I follow!

4. Postcrossing

I just learned about Post Crossing pretty recently, but I am all in

I just learned about Post Crossing pretty recently, but I am all in

Basically you sign up to send someone in the world a postcard (you’re assigned an address), and someone in the world sends you a postcard!! Exciting!!

5. Geosense

Strangely addictive

Strangely addictive

It’s a simple game: two players, each looking at a map, have a few seconds to click where they think a given city is. Points are given based on closest distance. There are different maps to choose from (world or USA) and I can waste hours getting pwned by someone from Finland.

Gifts 6-9 are cool places to learn something!

6. Io9

This stuff is important

This stuff is important

Sometimes science news, sometimes interesting TV/movie facts. WHATEVER

7. The Mary Sue

I am all about this concept, incidentally

I am all about this concept, incidentally

The Mary Sue has movie and TV news as well as random fan-made creations.

8. The Big Picture

The "Daily Life" posts are often my favorite

The “Daily Life” posts are often my favorite

The Big Picture is part of the Boston Globe’s website that publishes photo series, either on specific news events, specific themes (spring around the world), or just “Daily Life” for a particular week.

9. I Love Charts

Education or entertaining, always fascinating

Education or entertaining, always fascinating

A repository of charts from around the Internet, from super serious graphs about income inequality to silly Venn diagrams about pizza.

Numbers 10-14 are funny!

10. NYTimes Haiku

Some are funnier than others

Some are funnier than others

This blog just collects sentences from the New York Times that are unwitting haikus. It’s best to read them in a dramatic voice.
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