Hoa's 70-th Birthday- 6/14/2025

Tonight we are celebrating Hoa's 70th Birthday with family and friends.  Hoa's big request is to have our Friends' children join in on the celebration.

  Back in the days when the kids were little, we used to have weekly dinner parties/gathering with the kids running around and playing together for pretty much all of their childhood, so it is fitting to have them around to celebrate Hoa's big birthday.

2025 turned out to be a big year for us! Beside Hoa's 70th birthday, we also have our 40th anniversay in a few weeks, 2025 also mark the 1 year anniversay of Hoa's retirement, and we are going to have a grandaugher by the end of year. 

Our guests gathering in our backyard for champagne and appetizers.

Mimosa on hand, Ha, me, and Trung we are having a good time.

Cheers to Hoa's Birthday!

I only made a few appetizers as we are going to have a multi course dinner later.  Mozzarella, basil, prosciutto, and tomato skewers, and Babaganoush dip with pita bread, carrot, and cucumber.

Champagne, orange juice for Mimosa, and a variety of beers and soda are chilled for the occasion.

Hoa with all the young Adults.

From left: Nicky, Spencer, Kristie, Kevin, Justin, Tate behind), Ngoan, Hoa, Justin, Lea, Nate, Serena, and Rachel

Our friends mingling...

Hoa, Ha, and Doan having a fun conversation....

The young adults catching up....

Very nice to see everyone having a good time.

Time for me to do a speech for Hoa's special birthday.

Our friends gathering around to hear my speech.

Me telling a few funny stories and getting a few laughters...

Time for Kevin to deliver his speech and Hoa's unplanned closing speech.

Now that all the speeches are done it is time to get inside for dinner.

The main table is set up for 17 people.

On the menu we have a starter (not shown on the menu), followed by a 4 course dinner (cheese optional) and 2 desserts.

 I am very happy to be able to fit a comfortable space for a table of 13 people for the young adults.

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Serena, Justin, Kevin, Kristie, and Nicky sitting down for dinner.

Overview of both dinning tables.  Full house today!

From left: Minh, Doan, Maily, Tuan, Huyen, Phuc and me and Hoa at the end.

On the right: Loan, Duy, Trung, Ha, Hanh, Tuan, Alice, and Mark.

Cheers!

Starting with white wine-Cheers Everyone!

The first course is served.

Cheers!

Starter: Vietnamese shrimp toast and Asparagus Vichyssoise

1st Course: Stuffed Calamari with prawn and rice, pan seared butter beans, drizzled with Parsley butter.

2nd Course: Poached eggs, mushroom sauce, arugula, and foie gras

Switching to red wine for the remaining of the meal.

Group picture. We just finished the 2nd course.

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3rd course: Paella, sautéed shrimps, roasted pork belly in a shrimp bisque.

This dish has a lot of umami and a lot of people like it. 

4th course: Roasted chicken leg, stuffed with chicken mouse, and mushroom duxelles.

The chicken turned out to be moist, and very flavorful.

I served the chicken with sautéed sweet corn and roasted Brussels sprout, mushroom, bell peppers.

For dessert we have a special birthday cake and an almond tart with caramelized apples.

Closer view of the cake and the tart.

Singing Happy birthday for Hoa.

After dinner the young Adults gathered together and played some game.

While the adults played poker and Hoa won the biggest pot ever.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOA!

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