Chef PB's Birthday Dinner

Chef PhillyBoy came out to play on my birthday last week, and it was delicious! When he got home from work I had strict instructions to remain in the living room until he said it was ok to leave. Then we went for our run, came back, and I was sequestered to the living room again until dinner was ready.

It was worth the torture.

My lovely husband put together an amazing feast fit for a queen…. or a 26 year old health conscious woman! Here was the menu:

DiBruno’s Cannellini Bean Soup
Swordfish in a green & red olive sauce
Romaine with the first pomegranate of the season, pecans, feta, avocado, and artichokes
DiBruno’s Mini Rolls
A trio of chocolate mousse for me, and a chocolate bomb for him

With a little bit of effort and little time, dinner was ready and on the table.

The Salad:

The salad had lots of ingredients which would normally be delicious, but with the sweet tart of the pomegranate and crunchy nuttiness of the pecans, those two additions were almost enough. That didn’t stop me from eating the whole thing.

The Swordfish:

The swordfish was really the piece de resistance of the meal. PB marinated the swordfish in a little olive oil, lemon, and spices (he added a bunch of different spices from the cabinet) for about 1 hour. Then, when we got back, he quickly cooked it in a pan, adding the olives in the last 5 minutes. I love swordifsh because it is almost like a steak. It is firm and hearty. This piece, in particular, was firm but melted in your mouth. The sweetness of the fish and lemon balanced the sourness of the olives perfectly. It was a great combination.

The Dessert:

Chocolate should really be pouring through my veins. I never realized how much I enjoyed chocolate until I started to eat it less often. When I eat chocolate now I really, truly enjoy it and try to take small bites so that it lasts a long time. This dessert was delicious! It was straight from DiBruno’s and was a beautiful tower of chocolate mousse. I only managed to finish about 1/2 as it was so rich, and it was worth every bite. I highly recommend buying or ordering a classic, rich, and decadent dessert once in a while. It is food for the soul (and, er, body?).

Dinner was accompanied by a card perfect for me:

What a fantastic birthday! Thanks, PB!

What is the best meal someone has ever cooked for you?