Birthday Dinner at Lafayette

I really wanted to treat myself on my recent birthday. I turned 44 last week, and wanted to spend it with some of the people I love most. About a month ago, I was doing an evening photo shoot in the NoHo area of downtown NYC, and was so taken with this stunning restaurant, Lafayette. The most beautiful outdoor dining I have ever seen was calling my name, and it was a no brainer that this was to be my upcoming birthday spot. I reserved one of the gorgeous outdoor chalets (I told my friends I was taking them to Switzerland). The restaurant was so communicative about dietary restrictions and preferences. The chalets serve a pre fixed meal (you can add on anything else at the time) and they were so accommodating of our kosher, vegetarian guidelines. Chef Andrew Carmellini’s cuisine was excellent. We all commented on how the whole experience was exquisitely balanced, in that the thrill of the decor wasn’t used to distract from mediocre food. Butternut squash risotto, a magnificent vegetable tagine, and flambé crepe Suzette were just some of the delicious dishes we had (I don’t hang with chicks who don’t eat). I felt so loved and special with my friends in this wonderful place, and it felt great to receive from both them as well as myself. Don’t ever hesitate to treat yourself to what you enjoy. Self generosity makes life richer and more loving. You are deserving of receiving just as much as anyone else. Lafayette was the perfect choice for my birthday dinner, and I highly recommend checking it out for any occasion. Every day has the potential to be cause for celebration.