We have a standing tradition that for your birthday, you pick the menu and I will cook it for you. Whatever you want; from the entrée to the dessert, I will make it, from scratch. You can be as exotic and creative as you want or go home-style, it is whatever you want. This past weekend it was my birthday and I got to pick the menu and our best friends prepared it. For my birthday dinner I chose Jalapeño burgers and let the rest be a surprise. G makes a mean Jalapeño burger, complete with sautéed onions and jalapeno peppers, hot pepper cheese and for the spread, jalapeno pepper jelly, oh so good.

We had guacamole and chips, sautéed brussel sprouts, hash browns and for dessert, a blueberry cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. The wine of choice was very special, a 2007 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. You can find them at http://www.cask23.com. It was dark red almost a brick color in the glass, with a dry aroma. I could smell the alcohol when I stuck my nose in the glass. The wine had a dry full taste very lush with a nice bite and a full finish, leaving me wanting another taste.

It was a rare and special experience to get to taste a truly nice wine. Maybe one of these days I can make tasting these special wines a daily experience. Yeah right, after I win the lottery.