It’s my birthday week. I turned 53. So a lot of this week was spent indulging and celebrating and also resting while trying to not consume too much news – which is a dance. A lot of what you will find in the five this week are things I consumed this week for the special occasion. Cheers to another trip around the sun!

(1) Diane’s Place

This wasn’t a birthday visit, but a networking visit with a colleague that I met through RSP. If I’m going to catch coffee or a glass of wine with someone under the label of professional connection, I’m going to suggest a spot that I want to try or that I already love. So this week, when scheduling a lunch and needing to find a spot in between the east and west metros, I thought immediately of Diane’s Place in Northeast Minneapolis. This was my forth time there and it never disappoints. The service is impeccable. The space is cozy and bright (words you don’t normally pair but somehow seem apt in this description). And the pastries? OMG.

Yesterday, I had the beef salad (again!). It’s lightly dressed with the most bright and tangy dressing that I’m obsessed with and topped with a giant, paper thin cracker. I also grabbed two pastries to go: the sweet pork danish and the coconut pandan croissant. And while the pastries were supposed to a treat for the next morning, I dug right into that croissant within 5 minutes of being home. So good.

Diane’s Place is easily one of my favorite spots in the Twin Cities right now. It’s worth it just for the Spam breakfast sammie.

(2) Bar La Grassa
I wasn’t super into celebrating my birthday this year, which is unusual for me. I love celebrating birthdays – both my own and others. But this year is weird with my job being eliminated. I also think we still have a hangover from selling (and emptying) my MILs house in March. And the news in general and overall state of our country is beyond stressful. When James asked me what I wanted to do this year, I said I didn’t care at first. Then I remembered that I haven’t been to one of other favorite MPLS restaurants in quite some time: Bar La Grassa. And while this restaurant has been around for a while (15 years?), it’s still a tough place to grab a last minute reservation. That said, it’s easier for two. And when I looked, I found something for James and me at the pasta bar.

This was my first time at the pasta bar which was fascinating. Watching the plates of food being sent out and stacks of pasta bowls was like viewing a live, fine dining jenga match.

I love that BLG keep staples on the menu (hello, lobster & egg bruschetta and calamarata with raw tuna!) but they also infuse the menu with freshness. There was a peperoncino martini on the cocktail list which I had to order. And for dinner, I had the lobster & artichoke crispelle. I’ve never heard of crispelle until this season of Top Chef. It’s a crepe and, in this dish, it’s sliced into noodles. I didn’t even know that was a thing – but it’s a delicious thing. BLG’s execution was flawless and this dish is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

We also had the gjetost cheesecake for dessert – stunning. The server recommended we pair our meal with a bottle of pecorino wine from Italy. I’d never had heard of that grape (only the cheese!), but now I’m so glad that I have.

(3) Pink Pistola Jumper (via Nuuly)

I was excited to put on this summer jumper that I ordered in my Nuuly for my birthday dinner. From Pistola (is that an Anthro brand?), this pink button down shorts romper is comfy but also cute enough to style up for a dinner out. It is the perfect mix of baggy with a drawstring waist to give it some shape. I thought it paired well with my platform crocs. And while it is long sleeve, it’s lightweight and great for warmer wear. I’ve been subscribing to Nuuly for just over 6 months now and this is the first piece that I think I’m actually going to purchase.

(4) Pistachio Shrimp Recipe from NYT

Since pasta is on my mind, I have to share this recipe from the NYTimes for Linguine with Shrimp and Lemon Pistachio Breadcrumbs. It is both easy and very yummy. I love a comforting bowl of pasta and this will now be added to our regular rotation. The pistachio adds a delightful crunch and flavor note. We used bucatini instead of linguine which I think I would probably prefer, but I like a chunky noodle, hahaha. The leftovers from this were also equally as good – I just drizzled a little EVO over it after heating to add back some moisture.

(5) Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi

The library was on my ass to return this one. The wait list was long. And while I didn’t speed through it, this was a gorgeous novel that I couldn’t part with until I had consumed every page. I’ve compared this to Three Women, the novel by Lisa Taddeo, but only because of the structure. It focuses on four Black African women and tells their stories in distinctive sections of the book. What I cherished about this book is the perspective it gave me from a black woman looking in at our country. The pandemic, wealth, travel, patriarchy, motherhood, love – all themes covered in very human stories. And I was googling ALL THE FOOD mentioned throughout. I highly, highly recommend finding this novel. It’s stunning.