My hubby offered to throw me a birthday party this year and he kept the details a secret until my actual birthday. He gave me Spanish wine and the cookbook Curate – and in doing so revealed the theme for my party: Spanish tapas! And he was going to make all the food from recipes in the book. I was so excited not only because we love Asheville’s Curate but also because I could relive our trip to Spain from earlier this year. 

Most who know me know that I tend to do a lot of planning. Over the summer when I wasn’t working, I did ALL the planning for our parties, which I very much enjoyed. However, I let Sean handle it this time and pitched in to help when he asked (or seemed to need an extra set of hands to chop vegetables). He planned the menu and the grocery list, emailed all the guests with information on the types of wines to bring, etc. and seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself while doing it. 

The first thing we made was the Creamy Salt Cod and Potato spread that required salt-curing cod for days before cooking the actual. I was skeptical how this would turn out because the fish smelled very fishy. But the finished product was perfection and the star of our appetizer table.

The appetizer table also included a gourmet cheese plate with Manchego, Iberico, goat and Mahon cheeses, homemade quince paste, Marcona almonds, candied walnuts, homemade pickles, fig jam, pickled ginger, chorizo, and toasted baguette. This was my biggest contribution to the party. 🙂 Turned out very well, if I do say!

In addition to this spread, Sean made the Beet Salad with candied oranges, Marcona almonds and Manchego cheese; the Endive salad with pomegranates, blue cheese and candied walnuts with a roasted walnut vinaigrette; gambas al aljillo – Shrimp in Garlic sauce; and last, but certainly not least, Vegetable Paella with Brussels sprouts, eggplant, mushrooms and acorn squash. Seriously, what a FEAST!

Stella was the star of the show as usual and loved on everyone. 

Publix made the dessert because their chocolate mousse cakes are divine and because we’d already made enough! Haha.

Plenty of wine was consumed – this was not everything. And there was about a gallon of my homemade sangria that went as well. 

A fun and very memorable party. Thanks again to Sean for doing such a great job and making it special. And thanks for Beth for all these photos! 🙂