Olivia's 13th Birthday and The Pink Cake from Vintage Cakes’s Julie Richardson

Olivia and the Pink Cake

Left to right: Uncle Monte, Olivia and Uncle Andrew 

         Our god-daughter Olivia just turned 13 this month.  That’s a milestone in any girl’s life.  It’s also a pretty big one in ours too.  Andrew and I went to see her the day she was born and she’s been a big part of our lives ever since.  She’s grown into someone we are so proud to call our own.  She’s lovely, poised, and talented.  She has manners that would make any parent proud.  And she’s a sheer delight to be around.  So it’s only natural that Uncle Andrew would go all out for this year’s festivities.  He baked two kinds of Whoopie Pies for her all-girl Birthday party and we’ll get to those in a future post. But  today I wanted to share the every-girl’s-dream-cake that he made. You see, Olivia gets a festival of birthdays.  There's one for her friends. There's one with her family.  And there's one we call “The Uncle’s Birthday” which is where Andrew and I join forces with Olivia’s other uncles, Shawn and Terry, and celebrate.  And that’s where the Pink Cake appeared.  But before we get to the cake, a few words about pink.

Spaghettini with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Chile Crumbs From Chef Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen

Dan Kluger and his boss,
Jean-Georges Vongerichten
in the ABC Kitchen

         In July, Food & Wine magazine announced its picks in its annual “Best New Chefs” issue.  And it came as no surprise to us at all that the magazine had selected Chef Dan Kluger as one of the twelve.  If you’ve been lucky enough to snag a table at ABC Kitchen in the Manhattan store of the same name, you’ve experienced why.  The fresh flavors and unique spins on old favorites like Eggs Benedict have seduced us.  We’ll take a seat at the always-packed bar any chance we get.  The restaurant at 35 East 18th Street (Tel: 212-475-5829) is just two blocks north of the Union Square Greenmarket, the largest and arguably best Farmer’s Market in all of New York.  In fact, Chef Kluger met the man behind ABC Kitchen at the Market.  You may have heard of him: Jean-Georges Vongerichten.  According to the chef, the pair bonded at a stand called “Berried Treasures” and before he knew it, Chef Kluger had a new job heading up Jean-George’s Farm to Table Restaurant in the ABC store.