So earlier this year (in April)- Andrew's mother wanted to go to the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs for her birthday, but as she was undergoing cancer treatments- she couldn't. We've waited and waited for her ability to taste to come back....and finally last night we went out for our long awaited celebration.
Because we waited so long for our celebration- it became a celebration of many things- two birthdays, one engagement, one new home, and most importantly...a Celebration of Life. So when we arrived to the Penrose Room- there were three greeting cards awaiting us! LOL! A birthday card and two congratulation cards.
I've never been to such a nice place before. It felt like being in a movie. They actually had a live band playing in the dining room.
The table was gorgeous:
Place setting ideas, anyone?
We ended up getting the Chef's Tasting Menu. 8 courses...paired with 8 glasses of wine. There may or may not be a possibility I'm slightly hung over this morning.
At the end of the evening they gave us a menu so that we could remember what we had:
- Amuse Bouche, Paired with Quattro Mani, Franciacorta Brut, Lombardy, Italy
- Roasted Butternight Squash Soup with Orange and Crispy Pork Belly, Paired with Perrier Jouet, Grand Brut, Champagne, France
- Ahi Tuna with Yuzu Gelee and Hearts of Palm, Paired with Vinosia , Greco Di Tufo, Campania, Italy 2008
- Pan Seared Hudson Valley Foir Gras with Grapes and Hazelnuts, Paired with Disznoko, Tokaji Azzu, 5 puttonyos, Hungary 2005
- Halibut cooked in Black Olive Oil, Paired with Faiveley, Permier Cru, Close de Myglands, Mercurey, Burgundy, France 2008
- Roasted Colorado Lamb Loin with Mango Glaze, Paired with Feudi di San Gregoriom Aglianico, Campania, Italy 2006
- Selection of CheesesL Muenster, Brushed Ash Goat Cheese, Parmiagiano Reggiano, Paired with Lustau, East India Solera, Oloroso Sherry, Jerez, Spain
- Roasted Apple Napoleon, Paired with Cennatonio , Occhi Di Pernice, Vin Santo, Chianti Classico, Tuscany Italy 1998
And in the inside of the menu, it said:
To Life!
Sometimes we forget how precious each day is.
We also got our very first family picture taken- so that was pretty special:
And Andrew's mother made a toast to "those she loves the most." And I was proud of myself for not crying.
I'm thinking now that birthday celebrations maybe should be a bit more indulgent, because after all- they are celebrating life. Or perhaps we'll just pick a day and celebrate life on that day...maybe the first day of spring? That would be a fun tradition!
Obviously this was super fancy shmancy...but life can be celebrated in even the smallest ways. How will you celebrate life this week? 