驚き Surprise! 驚き

Friday, I threw a little surprise party for my awesome husband. He served a 2 year mission for our church in Sapporo Japan. He loves Japan, and I do too. At least in theory. And in food. We would love to visit someday, but I decided to bring a bit a Japan to our house for his birthday.

Seth loves sakura (cherry blossoms) and cranes. So they became the main decor elements.

On the menu:

• Japanese Curry
• Oriental Ramen Salad
• Gyoza
• Mixed Melon (Seth always raves about the AMAZING melon he ate in Japan)
• Edamame with Sea Salt
• Senbei Rice Crackers
• Chocolate Drizzled Strawberries
• Mochi
• Homemade Pocky Sticks
• Strawberry Cream Filled Cupcakes
• Key Lime Coconut Filled Birthday Cake
• Sushi Cake Bites
• Strawberry Fanta (one of Seth's favorites; they have a lot of cool flavors of Fanta in Japan)
• Party Favors: Takeout Boxes filled with Hi-Chews and other candy

 {birthday cake with piped sakura: my first time working with fondant... interesting experience}

{sushi cake bites: key lime cake dipped in white chocolate and coconut, wrapped in fruit roll ups, and topped with fish molded out of starbursts and strawberry boba fish eggs}

 {mmm...}

{red anemone with japanese teapot from japantown, san francisco}

{favor boxes}

 {homemade pocky: plain breadsticks dipped in semisweet chocolate}

 {i bought these porcelain japanese soup spoons online, and i love them for serving single bite appetizers and sweets}

 {mochi: a japanese cake made from pounded rice}

 {clockwise from top: toro: tuna, sake: salmon, ikura: salmon roe, tai: snapper, ebi: shrimp}

Yummm... I'm still drooling. And luckily, Seth was surprised!

Thank you to everyone who came and made it a special night for the most deserving man I know.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

 *amber*