Rather than throw a birthday party in my apartment this year, last Saturday night, I met up with some of my best lady friends for dinner and a little ridiculous  karaoke fun. We went to Swizz manhattan, a fondue restaurant in Hells Kitchen. I hadn’t been there in years but had really liked it and thought it would be fun.

set-up

The service was great, and the food was delicious. I’m not normally a cheese fanatic, but it was the perfect thing for a chilly New York night. Between the five of us, we shared two fondues—the traditional and the gorgonzola.

Wine and entrees also happened (salads with shrimp, grilled salmon, butternut ravioli and chicken cordon bleu were all enjoyed), but I was too busy catching up and eating to bother with photographs.

Had we not had karaoke plans we might have stayed for dessert because it doesn’t get much better than melted dark chocolate, but hey—at least now we have a reason to back, right?

This was one of my favorite birthday celebrations I’ve had in years. Sometimes a night out with the girls is exactly what the doctor ordered. That and the much-needed green juice the next day. I must be getting old—a little wine goes a lot much farther than it used to…

Have you ever eaten fondue? What’s your favorite kind? How did you celebrate your birthday this year?