Birthday Dinner pour deux for Jen Ruske

On a rainy Spring evening an empty Cafe Drake awaits the arrival of the Birthday Girl.

A table setting of Silver and Gold seems fitting for our Special Guest.

Jen loves her pasta starter and rose wine.

Contemplating the passing of years?

Happy that Ruske is happy with her meal.

Broiled turbot fillet with butter and capers, ham and parsley-stuffed baked tomato. Perfect with a mineraly bottle of Sancerre generously donated by Jen.

Roquefort cheese, bread, truffled honey and walnuts.

Roasted soybeans, chickpeas and mung beans tossed with Cafe Drake's house blend of sweet and hot spices provided a sharp, small bite alongside pear and rose sangria.

A Springtime pasta appetizer of thick spaghetti with zucchini cream sauce, baby peas, watercress, grated Parmesan cheese and boiled egg.

Behind the Scenes: the messy affair of prepping tomatoes for stuffing.