...was the traditional bash in honor of both my birthday and the pops' birthday

{which was today- happy birthday, pops!}

at the extremely sold-out

which we've been going to every year since i can remember.

in recent years,

it has become increasingly more commercial--

{adding cheesy pictures to the menus,

offering smaller portions,

the abolishment of the sassy garlic lecture from the waiters....}

this year,

what really did it in was the ads on the place mats for the hollywood film

letters to juliet

or whatever,

you know,

a la mcdonalds.

way to keep things classy, buca.

at any rate,

the cake

{which used to be all red, now a showcase of italy pride}

was as artificial and delicious as ever!

hooray!

xoxo

yeh