Nick & Sam's

Last year when I was VERY pregnant we got to attend an unbelievable casino themed 40th birthday party for Blake Bozman (Blake and Tara used to lead our community group).

We gambled the night away and due to our superior skills, or perhaps a little luck, at blackjack ended up with A LOT of cash (fake cash but still!). You traded in your winnings for raffle tickets and at the end of the party there were some fabulous prizes to be won. Most of our group had headed home to relieve babysitters by the end so we pooled our tickets and Stacey and I agreed to stick around just in case and make sure we didn't miss out on any prizes.

Wouldn't you know it the very first number called made us a winner, and also allowed us to pick our prize!!! I waddled myself and the unborn C's to the front and selected - Dinner for eight prepared in your home by the head chef of Nick & Sam's. Holy jackpot batman!!

Well babies were born, holidays celebrated and so on, but on Friday night we were able to redeem our prize and make that dinner happen...and it was AMAZING!

We were sure that Samir (the chef) would have loved cooking with our hot plate and one star kitchen amenities, but instead we convinced the Bozmans to join us and let us have the dinner in their beautiful home. That and we are constantly looking for ways to get them to rejoin our group. ;)

We were SUPER excited about a date night with grownups!

And we always enjoy the company of these friends.

The Girls: Julie, Caryn, Kristin, Tara & Laura (preggers with boy #2!)
The Guys: Brad, Craig, Stacey, Keith & Blake
The Gummelts weren't able to join us when Sam got sick last minute and were very missed.

Shepelwichs
Bozmans
Grundys
Wennings

I never seem to take pictures of events that don't involve our kids so I was determined to document the evening and may have gotten a little carried away. Trust me when I say that my amateur photography does NOT do justice to this incredible meal!

We were greeted with champagne and prawns the size of my head.

Samir introduced every course to us and was as nice as they come.

I could have left after the first course and been very satisfied! This was a portobello mushroom in a balsamic marinade with a mozzarella like cheese I had never heard of over asparagus. Seriously, ridiculously good.
Mixed greens salad with crab and fennel.
The main course of a softball sized steak and Australian lobster cooked to perfection.
Dessert was a molten chocolate soufflé with chocolate gelato. HEAVENLY!
Wine was served with every course and just in case I haven't been obnoxiously clear things were pretty delicious. :)

It never ceases to amaze me when we get to experience things like this based solely on the generosity of others! Thanks for having a birthday Blake and for allowing us to be a part of your celebration and for hosting the dinner, this was one we won't soon forget!