Saturday, January 21, 2012

Birthday dinner


One good thing about winter is that the seasonal food changes. Last night I was able to share a typical meal from the Franche-Comté region called La Boîte Chaude with some very good  friends (including PDP ones): Lynn aka PHX-CDG, Eric (aka Mr PHX!), Roniece, Heather, Jane, Patricia and Michael.
Made by scooping out the middle of Mont d'Or cheese, inserting a few cloves of garlic and some Jura wine from the region, you cook this cheese in it’s “box” for 20 minutes in the oven until it’s nice and gooey! Then you eat it with potatoes and charcuterie, not forgetting the saucisse de Morteau. Of course, the meal would not be complete without a desert, which turned out to be... a surprise birthday cake! Now I let you guess who the  "chéri" on the cake may be  ;-))

39 comments:

  1. OMG!!! That cake is soooo cute! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Eric. And may you have many more. Gosh that cake is great - who's responsible??!!

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  2. (And regarding cake building - let me take a moment to recommend a funny site called Cakewrecks.com. Check it out and don't forget to look back at the Sunday entries - which are generally breathtakingly beautiful.)

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  3. Happy Birthday (a little belated) Eric! That cake is wonderful and the baker captured your inimitable perspective.

    La Boite Chaude sounds just marvelous.

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  4. LOL! This is so great - so hilarious that you were posed in the "Tenin Perspective"!! Happy belated birthday!

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  5. Happy belated birthday Eric, whoever designed the cake did a great job. Clever they got you taking a picture of the Eiffel Tower. Are you going to share with us the leftovers????

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  6. Oh, your cake is funny and sweet! What a lovely tribute to you. Happy birthday, Eric.

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  7. The cake is genius! And it looks delicious. Happy, happy birthday!

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  8. Such a clever cake! Happy Birth-day, Eric!

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  9. The cake is a hoot! I'm sure you all enjoyed your boite chaude and had a great time. Please accept my meilleurs voeux pour un tres bon anniversaire from over here in la grande pomme!

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  10. That's a great cake! And what a delicious meal!
    Happy birthday to you -- and many more!

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  11. Happy Birthday Eric. What a wonderful cake! Some very talented cake decorator did a great job. I wish you a year of fun photography, health and happiness.

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  12. What a terrific group! Happy birthday, Eric. You deserve a special cake every day.

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  13. Mr. PHX and I practically waddled home,especially after my 3 helpings of warm garlicy cheese. Oh, and the company, oh and the cake! Can you see that the computer has PDP on it?
    We missed you, bloggers!

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  14. This great cake reminds me another art piece from our friend Shell Sherree a few years ago ;-)

    Happy birthday, from my deep Sologne, Eric !

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  15. The cake was absolutely clever! Happy Birthday to you! And many more!

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  16. Happy Birthday, Eric.

    What a gorgeous cake. Sounds like you had a wonderful party with the best company.

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  17. It was a great evening Eric! Thanks for inviting me to share the awesome meal with you all! Hope your day continues to be a special one! xx

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  18. Happy Birthday!!! So so cute! Great idea and perfect execution! Congrats to the birthday boy and the cake decorator!

    Thanks for all the great pictures! Many more birthdays, too!
    Mammie

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  19. Thib, I'm looking at the magnet with Shell Sherree's birthday illustration of Eric on it. I have it at my desk with my Tour Eiffel magnet.

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  20. Happy Birthday Eric! Long time reader and lurker here wishing you a wonderful year.

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  21. Hilarious! Bonne Anniversaire. I'm glad the U.S. was represented at the party. Well done, all.

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  22. Happy Birthday Eric.
    You're are rich in friends ( and hopefully in euros ).You deserve both.
    And, I am inspired to make that hot,gooey, cheese dish.
    thanks so much for what you do
    Cyndi

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  23. Happy Birthday Eric! That cheese dish sounds heavenly. I shall attempt it before the snow melts!

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  24. How very clever! I love the "Tenin Perspective" cake! (I wonder if that will become a tradition?? :)

    The lovely dinner sounds scrumptious...we were wondering what to have for dinner tonight. Yum.

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  25. By the way, is that Sacre Coeur underneath M PDP? I assume it's just...there, and this is not a statement about religion...

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  26. Thib, Petrea ~ I'm honoured you thought of my little illo. The Tenin Perspective is very inspiring. :)

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  27. What a cute idea for a birthday cake for you -- it's perfect!

    Bon Anniversaire Eric!

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  28. I would like to know if the petit Eric sur le gâteau is edible.

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  29. happy birthday! that is just the cutest cake ever!

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  30. brilliant the Tenin perspective in fondant hope you have had a great day xxx

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  31. A belated birthday greeting! I'm sure you celebrated in royal fashion. The Tenin perspective is alive and well as the cake displays. ;-) Cheers!

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  32. My warmest wishes for your birthday Eric!
    I loved this cake!

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  33. Ooops! I almost missed your birthday post!

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  34. Merci a million everyone, it's always comforting to have nice messages on the day you put an extra wrinkle on your face ;-)

    @Shell Sherree. Of course you are the first I thought of when I saw the cake!

    BTW... the cake was made by... Michael of course!

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  35. What a perfect cake for you! Belated birthday wishes for a terrific year ahead. I'm glad you were celebrated by friends in such a fun way!
    -Kim

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