What do you get when you put a handful of the city's most prominent food & beverage directors, hotel managers, event planners, a graphic designer and a chef together? A surprise birthday dinner for one lucky husband who is as fond of details as the rest of us are.

All of these plans only began last Tuesday evening while discussing said birthday, they decided to throw together just "a little dinner party". A handful of days later, a tasting menu to die for, champagne and wine flowing and the event was a huge success. We are so lucky they let us come along for the ride and treats.

This was all done, by the way, in a one bedroom apartment [with an exceptional balcony]. Furniture cleared out, rentals brought in. It definitely took a villiage to get it done but what a lovely way to spend a Monday night.