My 39th birthday on Sunday, 27th May, marked the start of my 40before40 journey, and it certainly started with a bang!  It was such an amazing day with incredible ladies (though many were missed), scrumptious food, lots of delicious bubbles and whilst it was almost winter, we were blessed with a stunning day to boot.

The Ladies L-R: Lauren, Lou, Me, Karinda, Anna, Honor, Sarah

To kick off my journey and celebrate my birthday, I decided to start with the first part of # 7 – Eat Cacio e Pepe 3 ways (you’ll need to stay tuned for the other two parts, can you guess what they may be?).  For those that don’t know, Cacio e Pepe is an ancient Roman dish comprised of three ingredients: pecorino romano cheese, pepper and pasta.

Based on this, the venue was ridiculously easy to pick as it had been on my must visit list for years – Buffalo Dining Club.  Why, why did I wait so long??  OMG.  You must go.  Now.  Run.  Eat.  But finish reading first!

So I was to-ing and fro-ing as to whether I should have a lunch or dinner, but on the technicality that my birthday was the Sunday, and I wouldn’t start my 40before40 journey prior, I couldn’t do a Saturday night dinner.  So lunch it was.  It was clearly meant to be (and lucky) that my birthday fell on the last Sunday of the month, the only Sunday that they’re open – I ask you, coincidence or fate?!

I knew enough to know that it was THE perfect venue, but as I’d never been, I of course jumped online to view the menu, and it looked delicious though I wasn’t entirely sure how it would work as there wasn’t a clearly defined entrée, main etc.

The venue itself is a monochromatic scheme – a perfect match for my dress – casual and comfortable.  We were led upstairs and after ordering a bottle of Prosecco, the first of many (we were eating Italian so of course we’re going to drink Prosecco!),  I had my first glimpse from a distance of the Cacio e Pepe cheese wheel, and boy, did it look impressive. Cue much excitement.

After the ladies all arrived, we agreed to share everything and our lovely waitress arranged the menu for us.  WOW.  That’s really all I can say.

When the first shared course came, the plates just continued to arrive.  Prosciutto – San Danielle, Culatello and Salumi. It was sharved so thin you could almost see through it.  Perfection.  The cheeses – fresh buffalo, mozzarella,bBurrata, Caprino (a fresh goats cheese).  The sides – zucchini fritters, mushrooms, broccolini, corn, crumbed eggplant, pickled cucumber, bread.  And it was all truly delicious.  All of it.   Not one complaint.  Not a morsel left on the plates.

And then it was time.  Pasta time.  Cavallo di battaglia (Italian for Piece de resistance according to collinsdictionary.com!) time. And there it was.  Cacio e pepe.  Prepared in a cheese wheel. Tasty, oh so tasty.  Three ingredients, ok four with pasta water but still, simplicity at it’s best.  Really, what more can one ask for? 

Oh but wait, there was more…fettucine Bolognese and gnocchi napolitana.  And homemade chili.  Which I meant to buy a jar of as it was divine, but I forgot amongst all the birthday excitement.  Sigh.  Will just HAVE to go back which will clearly be a hardship.

And because we hadn’t had enough food, and because the lovely Ladies arranged it, we finished off the meal with tiramusu for birthday dessert.  Yum.

And then we kicked on at Darlo Bar on the rooftop.  With champagne.

It was fitting that the day started with Prosecco and ended with Champagne.  Again, I ask you, would you say coincidence or fate?  I only though of this today, and in thinking of it, it has determined where I start, and end, my 40th birthday.

I must say a huge thank you to the Ladies that celebrated with me.  You spoiled me.  As I’ve already said, I’m truly blessed to have such amazing, incredible, intelligent, classy and gorgeous ladies to call my friends.  Which includes all of the beautiful Ladies that I call friends around the world xx

So yes, my journey started with a bang.  And I cannot wait for the next adventure…