Reunited at Last!

After years of electronic communication, I finally get to see a childhood friend again! And so ensues a night of debauchery.

Breakfast:

Tea, small piece of brioche

Snack:

Orange chocolate granola w/blackberries & almond milk

Lunch:

Rice, kimchi, green papaya, okra & pineapple chunks

Snack:

Jicama
(Finally updating my food diary.)

Pre-Dinner Shot:

Rum
(Oh god. And the night hasn't even begun.)

Dinner at Gianni's Italian Bistro, San Ramon, CA:

Lots of bread w/olive oil & balsamic vinegar (not pictured)

Butternut squash & brussel sprouts
(Brussel sprouts were a bit undercooked.)

Barbabietole: roasted beets w/goat cheese, orange & honey lemon vinaigrette
(The vinaigrette needed to be more acidic; it was tasting a bit bitter.)

Consumptions of the night!

Chocolate fudge cake from Trader Joe's
(So insanely rich and dense, but sinfully delicious.)

Kalina's pasta dish

John's intingolo

Megan's gnocchi
(Tried one and it was the softest, fluffiest gnocchi I've ever had. I never thought I would use pillowy to describe gnocchi, but this really was quite pillowy and light. Literal melt-in-your-mouth goodness.)

Rona's melanzane: grilled eggplant stuffed w/goat cheese, smoked salmon & arugula

Karen's seafood special

Close-up of a maggot-esque noodle

Drinks at Caps & Taps, Dublin, CA:

Old Rasputin stout

Cheers to a great night!

Hotel Birthday Bash:

Hello, weapons of bodily harm.

Sip of Karen's crisp apple cider

Shot of rum & cinnamon whiskey
(Apparently even when drunk, I remember to take pictures of food and drinks. I have never missed taking a picture of whatever alcoholic beverage or late-night-nibble I consumed. Helps with the whole counting drinks thing too.)

Apple ginger cider

Shot of rum & cinnamon whiskey