Mar's Birthday Weekend

We've been doing pretty good in keeping our promise to "get out of the rut". This weekend was a special one for a few reasons. We celebrated Mar's 41st birthday which was Sunday, March 11th, which also marks the 1st anniversary since the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami events. One year ago today, the Tokyo family had plans to go to a Mexican restaurant to celebrate Mar's birthday and the disaster struck. I remember all of us huddled around in my mom's living room glued the the TV watching the tsunami unfold and swallow cities after cities into nothing. The past year has been a year of ups and down and of uncertainty yet we are all so grateful that our we're still here today, our family healthy and happy to mark this very special weekend!

First off, Mar and I headed off to a restaurant called Zurriola sans Kian. Contemporary Spanish cuisine with a nod to modern French gastronomy. The chef is quite well known and I've been keeping tabs on this restaurant since it opened a year ago so it was quite a treat. Croquette of langostine and broad beans, foie gras and white asparagus with pimiento reduction and Mar's entree of duck and my Spanish mackerel with parsnip puree topped with parsley sauce. A 2.5 hour UNINTERRUPTED leisurely lunch and a wine pairing. We couldn't ask for more!

Mar and his duck

Wondering when Mar's gonna share a bite of his duck?!!

While mom and dad were out celebrating, Kian gets heckled by his two cousins at grandma's.

Then on Sunday, the family got together for a Take 2 of Mar's birthday celebration at a Mexican restaurant. We chose a different Mexican place than the one reserved for last year in hopes for better luck this year. Hacienda del Cielo. Fantastic venue for big groups and families. The celebrations took place without a glitch, a tremor, and Mar went home stuffed and giddy. All in all a fantastic birthday weekend!

Happy Birthday Maurio! (You are just as sexy as when I first met you at 28!). :)