Last week marked the birthday week of two dear friends, Rob and Luca, who decided to join forces {& friends} for a fun birthday celebration & potluck dinner in the Berkeley Hills.
An Italian aperitivo, a classic British cocktail, Armenian appetizers, Texas smoked brisket, Japanese octopus, California heirloom tomatoes, Mexican esquites, a classic Sicilian Cassata Cake & many other amazing dishes made for a polyglot menu ~ enjoyed along a long dining table with spectacular sunset views of the San Francisco Bay ...
the {potluck} menu.
~ rob : aperitivo {bruschette with sundried tomato & goat cheese, olives & roasted nuts}
~ cara : walnut bread & cheese board
~ mania : pimm's cup, armenian stuffed grape leaves & red grapes
~ joyce : pumpkin bread
~ mariana : esquites corn salad
~ luca + maria : finto pesce
~ diane + andy : sliced heirloom tomatoes with burrata & fresh basil
~ saran : marinated octopus with shaved purple onion & cilantro
~ christa + geoff : texas smoked beef brisket with corn bread
~ alessandro : mixed greens with shaved beets & goat cheese
~ erik : brussels sprout slaw salad with peanuts
~ julia + frank: parmesan tomato tart with fresh herbs {recipe}
the desserts.
~ luca + maria : cassata siciliana
~ frank : anderson valley apple crostata {recipe} with whipped cream
~ tjarn : fresh mission figs
