When I finally uploaded my photos from my recent trip to San Francisco, I didn’t quite know where to begin. So, I’m starting with my favourite memory from the entire trip!
A dinner celebration at no other than the famous, Millennium restaurant. This restaurant has been on my “must-visit” list for years so when my mom asked me to choose a restaurant to celebrate my 30th, it was an easy decision. The reservation was made months in advance.
Millennium restaurant calls itself a vegetarian restaurant, but they don’t use any animal products so everything on the menu is vegan. It’s easily one of the most gourmet vegan restaurants I’ve dined at, offering unique and inspiring flavour combinations throughout the menu. Other similar gourmet vegan restaurants that come to mind are Candle 79 in NYC and Karyn’s on Green in Chicago, but I have to say, Millennium’s creative menu offerings are like nothing I’ve seen.
[Please don’t mind the iffy photo quality – I was snapping pics with my phone and point & shoot all weekend and was really just happy to to take a break from lugging a big camera around all day.]
First things first, we ordered a bottle of wine – Quinta Cruz “Graciano” – a bold and spicy Spanish variety.
Next, I ordered the Roasted Beet Salad to start. It was one of my favourite salads in a long time! I would’ve licked the plate clean if I could.
In the name of variety, all three of us ordered the Grilled Spring Onion & Radicchio Risotto for our main dish. Who can turn down a vegan risotto? Not us, apparently!
This dish is made with Arborio, kamut, and farro with cashew cream, balsamic-rosemary glazed Portobello mushroom, runner cannellini beans, kale & Cara Cara orange salad, pistachio-herb charmoula and Arborio crusted fried artichokes. See what I mean about the unique flavour combinations? It’s a lovely risotto without a hint of dairy. What can’t cashew cream do?
For dessert, I ordered the Chocolate Almond Midnight torte made with almond cashew crust, mocha chocolate filling, raspberry sauce, and white chocolate mousse. Dear me! Oh, and some house-made truffles on the side. I wish I got a close-up of this dish, but I was clearly distracted by sparkly things…
A lovely server brought this out and sang happy birthday to me. My own birthday serenade! I was touched and turning a lovely shade of beet salad.
Don’t mind my hair about to burst into flames via birthday candle…minor detail.
If chocolate and a song wasn’t enough excitement, there was another surprise in store. Moments later, executive chef, Eric Tucker, came out to wish me happy birthday and he presented me with a signed copy of one of Millennium’s cookbooks, The Artful Vegan. It was so great to meet the person behind all of this inspiring food! I had a major fan girl moment. My mom arranged all of these surprises beforehand – what a gem she is!
More blushing ensued. I was now sweating. Is it hot in here?
Inside the cover Eric wrote, “Cook Inspired”. I’d like to create a small frame with these words and hang it near my kitchen! It reminds me to always use my life experiences as inspiration for the food I create in my kitchen. When I try to force a recipe, it doesn’t tend to work anyway. When it comes from the heart, it’s usually a success.
After all this, my mom and sis gave me their card and gift. Inside my mom’s card, I found a letter that she wrote to me looking back on the past 30 years. It was beautiful. The tears flowed like the wine!
“The future holds so much for you. Remember to enjoy your 30’s – I can tell you that the years go by far too quickly – fill it with purpose so that you don’t look back with regret.”
It was a night that I won’t soon forget. The best part was that I got to share it with two of my favourite women while being surrounded in a place that fits so perfectly with my own aspirations and goals. I am counting my blessings. A big thanks to my mom, sis, and Millennium restaurant for making it such a special occasion. You really know how to treat a girl.
Thanks for sharing the details of the meal and your special time there. Your mom’s card to you sounds so touching and sweet :) And you’re glowing in these pics! Millennium is on my one-day bucket list.
That beet salad looks incredible and I would have been tempted to lick the plate clean, too!
Happy belated Bday, Angela! :)
Happy Birthday Angela!! What a wonderful way to celebrate!! You look gorgeous and so much like your mum.
This was absolutely lovely–thanks for sharing! The meal looks delicious, and in general I feel so much more excited to keep having birthdays now… not so much for growing older but for having the kind of life that I can look back on every year and say, “Yeah, that was good.” :)
Happy belated birthday! It sounds like a fantastic celebration. You, your mom, and your sister are all absolutely stunning – what a beautiful family :)
Looks like you had a lovely birthday! I don’t live in the same city as my sister or mom anymore so it is always a treat when they come to visit on my birthday. Makes the day a little bit more special :). And that beet salad – wow – looks delicious!
Aww what a lovely memory Ange!! Sounds like a wonderful time, with wonderful people to share it with. The beet salad looks delicious! What are the little bits on it? They look a little like savi seeds or peanuts… regardless, it sounds lovely! And how cool is it that the executive chef came out to meet you as well – your mom is a sneaky lady!! :) Glad you had such a great trip and I can’t wait to hear more about it!
roasted hazelnuts :) mmm mmmm!
Your dessert looks SO awesome!! Yum, yum :). I hope you had a fantastic birthday!
I love that place! My co-workers partner is the manager there, and I’ve eaten there with her. Delicious. If I wasn’t a broke college kid I would eat there everytime I went home. glad you enjoyed it :)
Such a sweet post:) I even teared up reading it! PMS maybe…Thanks for sharing with us.
Happy birthday, lovely Angela! I’m nearing the end of my 30s now (yikes!) and I definitely concur with your mom. Enjoy the end of the turbulence that everyone goes through in their 20s and live it up in your 30s! :)
That sounds like such an amazing celebration. I love to hear how anchored you are, and it’s clear that your passion and dedication in life flow through your recipes and posts. Happy birthday, pretty girl, and thanks for sharing your sweet experience!
A belated happy birthday Angela! What a fantastic celebration- I’m in the UK and a meal at Millennium is on my bucket list! So lovely to be able to share the occasion with you Mum and sister too :)
Wow the food looks AMAZING! Some day I’ll get to visit! With no vegan restaurants in Ireland (just a couple of cafes) that sounds like my kind of heaven!!! Looking gorgeous btw, glowing!
What a great way to celebrate! And I love that line: “cook inspired”. It’s so simple, but so true. Happy birthday, Angela!!!
Thank you for sharing this. I can see why this was your favorite memory from your trip. What an incredible experience!
Sounds like a wonderful 30th birthday celebration! That restaurant sounds fabulous and the food looks so amazing! I wish we had a restaurant like that in my area…I would probably go everyday! :-)
That looks like an amazing way to celebrate your birthday! Absolutely amazing :)
Happy birthday to you!
I love small birthday celebrations with the people who mean the most to me. So glad you got spoiled!! :)
Wow! What a special birthday celebration. I love all-Vegan restaurants and this one looks so gourmet and delicious- that risotto? Yum! I’m glad to hear you had a fabulous time- happy birthday!
I’m glad you had such a nice birthday dinner with your family!