I Have 51
In French, if someone asks you how old you are, you respond, “J’ai 51 ans”, which translates to “I have 51 years.” It one of the quirks of grammar between the languages, which don’t always intersect. In English, we do say, “I own _______” (fill in blank with something of which you have global, all-encompassing command of), which is a popular phrase, one that I haven’t been able to translate to French friends.
(I recently said on Twitter that “…Karen Carpenter owns the Christmas carols”, which probably confused non-native English speakers, and perhaps a few English-speaking ones that aren’t wise enough to appreciate Karen’s proprietorship of Christmas music as much as I do.)
Last year when I had 50 years, I celebrated with a birthday bouillotte. But this year, I’m not going to get so crazy. When your birthday falls two days after Christmas—and an unspecified number of days after Hannukah, and during Kwanzaa, it’s hard to rouse much enthusiasm amongst friends and family. And because it’s a week where a lot of people choose to travel, most people have headed out of town. Either that, or I’ve finally done it, and managed to offend everyone I know because they’re not returning my phone calls or e-mails. (And who says I have no talents?)
In the past, Romain invited some folks and made a festive dinner at his place for all of us. However after spending a couple of days cooking and getting ready for the holiday dinner, even though he said he’d do it again, there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for the most important day for the year, so toady is going to be spent engaging in low-key activities instead of revving up for a big fête.
For example, the excitement du jour is my going to buy apples and tangerines at the market. I still have tons of root vegetables left over from an over-anxious shopping expedition a few days before Christmas. And to go with them, I might even go wild and get one of those out-of-control-good crispy-skinned poulet crapaudine. I can certainly see myself celebrating by having one of those today, in addition to having my cinquante et un years.
Speaking of gifts to myself, I never did get a Coconut Cake, which I’ve been waiting 10 long years for, and now the opportunity has gone. So I’ve decided to give up hope once and for all of having one on December 27th.
But today I’ll have apples, tangerines, and one mighty good spit-roasted chicken. And fifty-one years? I’ll have some of those, too.
Congratulations, felicitations! Feliz cumple! You keep catching up to me, one day you’ll pass…..
Buon compleanno!
feliz bon anniversaire cumpli años birthday…happy birthday
joyeux anniversaire!
Happy Birthday, David !
Happy Birthday!
Feliz cumpleaños!!!
happy happy birthday!
Bon anniversaire David!
Tanti Auguri di Buon Compleanno!
I would make you a coconut cake if we were friends and lived closer.
CIAO!
And what good use you have made of those 51 years! I’m right behind you at 50. Happy Birthday, David. Your bring your readers laughter and joy.
Happy birthday, and many happy returns of the day!
appie birzdé, daveeed!
oh, and if you want to get the French back for using avoir when it should be etre, try rubbing your stomach and asking, ‘are you angry?’
You have 51. I have wishes happy!
Bon anniversaire, David.
Bon anniversaire David!
Bon anniversaire!!
David, I’m sorry you didn’t get a coconut cake :(. But I do like the French version of “I have 51 years”….and I hope you have many more -filled with great food (including coconut cakes), fun friends, and good health. Happy Birthday!
tanti auguri e appi börthdaye, Davide!
Happy Birthday David. December birthdays have a tough time of it – except of course the December 31st babies… they are always guaranteed a party!
I lift my mug to you – CHEERS !
Michaela
Bon anniversaire!!
Spanish and other Romance languages express age the same way. I love it when I find myself saying, “Oh, she has 13 years,” in English by mistake even though I’m a native, English speaker.
Happy Birthday, David! That is one lovely cake!
Cheers and best wishes for the New year,
Rosa
J’ai 63 ans aujourd’hui. si heureux anniversaire à nous deux.
Aussi, merci pour votre blog.
On your birthday I would like to thank you for your wonderful blog, your sharp wit, your amazing talent with food and most of all sharing your continuing fascination with Paris – our favorite city. We will be there for a 10 days in May. I will keep my eye out for you at the markets! Happy Birthday, David!
Happy birthday, Daveed!
Happy Birthday David! :D
Happy Birthday David!
51 wishes for you!:)
Happy BirthdAy.Sounds like an excellent way to spend it.
Happy Birthday. Here’s to having 51 more years full of saturated fat, trouble-making, love, sweetness and coconut cakes!
Joyeux anniversaire, David!
My husband had his 54th birthday on Christmas Eve. We know that pain of trying to keep birthdays and the Holidays separate, so we can celebrate properly. It always seems that the birthday is secondary, because some one wraps gifts in red/green vs. all the other colors that one should choose.
Hope that a Gâteau de noix de coco is made for you!
All the best!
Happy 51st Birthday, David! I wish you lots of happiness and many more birthdays to come : )
Happy birthday! I hope you will have a delicious day and a wonderful year to come.
Happy birthday, David! Wishing you 51 more years of life, love and food!
Bonne Anniversaire, David!
I hope you have a very Happy Birthday!!!! (And so sorry you missed the boat on that coconut cake…it looks DIVINE!)
Happy birthday. And thank you for the gift of your blog.
Happy, happy birthday, David! Wishing you more to come!
Happy Birthday from Calgary!
Happy Birthday David! You know, if we ever meet, I’ll have to make you a coconut cake. It will be a late birthday present! I seriously wouldn’t be able to wait 10 years for something…
Hey David! Wish you a very, very happy birthday! You’re awesome…
Happy Birthday!
I want to make you that cake. Someone has to.
Happy Birthday …Hauskaa Syntymäpäivää (in Finnish…for a change of pace) David!
Always enjoy dipping into your posts to discover/rediscover Paris treats. Santé! and may you post many more…
Happy B-Day!
Happy B-Day!
Happy Birthday David! Enjoy some cake for the rest of us still recovering from the overindulgence that is the Holiday Season.
First of all Happy Birthday :) My husband’s birthday is on the 16th, my daughter’s boyfriend’s birthday is on the 23rd, and several of my sister-and-brother-in-laws have birthdays around Christmas. You’re right, it can be a bit pushed out of the way for the big holiday, so why not celebrate six months later? instead of Dec 27th, declare your birthday on June 27th instead :)
Happy Birthday, David!
Your blog is my very favourite.
Happy Birthday, David! And many more!
Happy Birthday David!! May the new year bring you joy.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU, David!
Happy Birthday, David! Mine was on the 23rd, Sadly, I have a couple more than you (54)! Have a great day!
Joyeux anniversaire, David.
I love that this entry is catagorized into whining. :)
happy birthday! its the same grammatical structure in arabic as french saying: “i have x years” btw.
Christmas? Kwanzaa? Hanukkah? Pshaw!! Absolutely the best reason to celebrate is your birthday – Happy Birthday David! You are the bestest!
Happy Birthday!! I hope you get spoiled rotten on your birthday!
Happy 51 David!!!
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself. Your humor makes me smile daily,
your the BEST! Enjoy your special day.
Happy Birthday, David!
Happy Birthday, David ! I’ll have 51 on January 7. I agree with you completely, after all the feasting of Christmas and New Years, I can’t get very excited about a special birthday dinner. Still, I feel much luckier than my brother who celebrated his birthday yesterday, December 26 . . .
I hope you have fun devouring your apples, tangerines, root veggies, and chicken!!
I just finished devouring The Sweet Life in Paris (I *finally* got a copy! Thank you, future sister-in-law, who got it for me for Christmas — I just got engaged on Christmas Day to her brother). It took me less than 24 hours as it was such a fun read, and I was hungry to read it. Now my goal is to make it to one of the signings in town one of these days… ;-)
A very Happy Birthday to you. Here is to another 51 years of food, and fun, and life adventure! Thank you for all you do for the promotion of Paris, good food (especially dessert), and a joy-filled life.
Today is my birthday too, I totally feel your pain… :) Happy birthday and enjoy your trip to the market.
Happy Birthday! Feliz Cumpleaños!
My elder son has his Birthday on New Years Eve. Great you may say, lots of parties…
Sadly, it doesn’t work like that, of our two sons, he is the quiet one who hates parties, while our younger son is the party animal but his Birthday is in the summer hols, so most of his friends are away for his! Seems like I just can’t win. At least neither of them ever had to go to school on the big day though!
Perhaps you should be like the Queen, and have an Official Birthday in the summer!
Good Karma will reach you David, however long it takes. You make so many laugh out loud and sin with those delicious goodies. Happy Birthday!
Speaking of that coconut cake, is “Room for Dessert” ever going to be reprinted in a reasonably priced edition? I wanted a copy so bad this year for my birthday (well, actually, I’d take one even if it wasn’t my birthday) but no one will pay the $100 plus prices (for a used copy) to get me one. Best to you on your special day!
Happy birthday David. I too have 51 years, as of November 25th. Both my mom and my brother were born on December 20th. Oh, and my dear departed grandmother would have been 100 on January 1st. So, we have/had plenty of holiday birthdays in our family. As a child I had way too many Thanksgiving dinners as my birthday dinner, which probably contributed to my apathy about turkey.
Love your blog, and your Twitter feed often makes me laugh out loud. You brighten my day quite often, so thank you and happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, Davif..you mere kid (yes, I can call you that..darn it) About the cake..I get to make my own, as I am the only one that bakes of my family and my aquaintances. I’m actually glad to do it! I get to have exactly what I want and to my liking..and without having to be appreciative for someones effort, that isn’t. So..get on that coconut cake and let the others celebrate you..your way!
Happy Birthday David, I discovered you about the time you had 50 years and have enjoyed every word you’ve written on your way to 51.
My son turned 18 yesterday and shares your pain. Coincidentally, someone did bring a white chocolate coconut cake for Christmas dinner. We saved some and put a candle in it for his celebration (the curse of the December 26 birthday – leftover desserts serve as birthday cake). We’ve decided people who have birthdays so close to Christmas/Hannukah/New Year’s need a birthday week – so keep on celebrating (and hold out for that cake!)
Sorry about the name..although..I kinda like Davif..has a kind of a French ring to it..pronounced as such…!
Happy, happy birthday! Yes, keep celebrating…’tis the season.
Happy Birthday David!
Joyeux anniversaire David! May your apples and tangerines be the sweetest and juicest that you’ve ever tasted. Lulu was born on Christmas day — although we kept advising her that she should not be born on that day — which means that from now on, for us, that day will be her birthday before it is Christmas. The meaning has totally changed in a marvelous way.
Joyeux anniversaire from the North Pole, David :) Et bon appétit, le gâteau looks amaying!!
Joyeux anniversaire! Hope you get that coconut cake sooner rather than later… I’m all for extended birthday celebrations ;)
Happy Birthday David………..and many more. I feel bad that no one has given you a coconut cake. If you are ever in the Boston area, let me know. I’d gladly treat you to a fabulous coconut cake. After all, I’ve received so many compliments from many of your recipes (Chocolate Idiot Cake to name one), so making you a cake would be my pleasure. It’s the least I can do.
Mark
happy birthday david…i love your blog and hearing about your expat experiences…especially with food. i’m an expat living in germany and i wish you…alles gute zum geburtstag. most germans though say happy birthday, because by the time it’s said in german the candles have melted. viel spaß!
I hope you have a most wonderful birthday, and new year. You are inspiring to this old (by one year) woman.
Happy Birthday, David!
I understand how you feel…my birthday is Dec. 30th. As a child, my parents once told me that they weren’t going to make a big birthday dinner for me that year because we’d just had Xmas and they were going out the next night for New Year’s. My sister was famous for the combined gift – which I threatened to do for her (her birthday is June 17).
When I was dating my husband, he decided we should celebrate half birthdays. My husband’s half bday is Christmas and my half bday is our wedding anniversary and now also our oldest’s birthday.
I wish you continued success and good health for the next 51 years! And, may you get the cake of your dreams sooner rather than later. Bon Anniversaire!
Hullo David and the happiest of birthdays to you! Please never try to forget you actually LIVE in the most exciting city in the world – a wondrous accomplishment for the happy few… regardless – oops- those tiny and totally unimportant drawbacks as described in your books, which I have read most eagerly. My Francophile position dictates you are so very right – although such things do not bother me in any way ( will be Paris for the sixteenth time in March). Speaking of your books, I have tried to find them in Spanish, Portuguese and German to give them as Christmas gifts to friends. I was unsuccessful. May I give you this idea to have them translated as I am sure you will be surprised at the number of books which will quickly disappear from the bookshops! Bonne anniversaire!
Happy 51st Birthday, cousin!!
It’s too bad that you weren’t stateside–as I made your gorgeous Coconut Cake for a birthday party for Stan’s 70′th that Emily had at Mom’s as a surprise party. Mike said that it’s a good thing that they don’t appreciate gourmet baking–as there was more of the coconut cake for him. So, we will each have a piece and toast you!! ( Besides, I’m the only cousin with not only all of your books, but the recipe binder with a huge amount from the site and willingness and ability to do justice and love every bite!!
Happy and Healthy Birthday once again!! Best wishes!!
Happy Birthday! This year, I spent mine en route to HK, so I literally skipped mine. I also understand the awkward birthdate situation since mine is in the summer when for all of my childhood, I never had the chance to celebrate it at school, and during college, not many friends were in town. Perhaps we should both celebrate half-birthdays instead?
It’s NEVER too late for your coconut cake David! I would have made you one, you know I would have.
We’ve moved Christmas to July, it’s so overrated in December, December is best spent at the beach! ;-)
Joyeux anniversaire!!
Best Wishes! Hope you had a great birthday. Cheers.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Feliz cumpleaños!
Joyeux anniversaire!
Happy, Happy Birthday David! I too am a Christmastime baby (Dec 22) and after too much celebrating this past week have decided to go back to my childhood tradition of celebrating my “half birthday”. My mother made half a birthday cake with half the candles (I now see the benefit of this :) and everyone sang “half a birthday to you…” This year, my half birthday wish is to sip champagne in Paris! Cheers to you.
Happy birthday!
happy birthday from me too!
wishing you a very happy birthday and a year filled with good health, laughter, and happiness!
Happy 51st Birthday David! I read your blog religiously and enjoy every minute of it.
You make all of our days a little brighter and funnier.
Cinquante et un ans! C’est impossible! Apparently 51 is the new 38, because that’s where I pegged you. Thanks for sharing your special day. I hope that your youthful glow can be credited back to the role that dessert plays in your life, because…let’s just say that bodes well for me, I MEAN, for a lot of us.
Buon Compleanno!!
Happy, healthy Birthday David! Have a wonderful year ahead. Thank you again for all your wonderful posts, tweets and blogs. You enrich our lives -
Joyeux Anniversaire David!
I’ll say that one of your talents is to look younger than what your I.D reads :)
Come to SC and I’ll make you a Coconut Cake. Scratch that, I’ll take you to taste an award winning coconut cake.
Happy birthday, David. And many more! If you’re ever in Minnesota, I’ll be happy to try my hand at a coconut cake — you might not be happy with the result though…. Thanks for lots of inspiration throughout the year, a few extra pounds and a great deal of enjoyment. Many happy returns!
Happy happy birthday! Hope the mortars & pestles made up for the lack of coconut cake. Thanks for another year of your fabulous blog.
Happy Birthday David! I wish you many more birthdays and happiness to come!
I would bake you that coconut cake if you were in New York City. Next time, perhaps.
Muy feliz cumpleaños David! I wish you a very happy birthday and many more to come.
Love the coconut cake, I hope you get yours someday, even if it’s not your bday.
Happy Birthday, David! Today is my birthday, too, so I understand.
Bonne fete et bonne annee! I was thinking you could adapt the French tradition of celebrating your name day (I know, that’s a Catholic thing) but pas de chance, that is Dec 29th! Best wishes and many thanks!
HB 2 u 2. My daughter is 43 today, her husband 51, just like you!! We’ll be in Paris this summer and I hope we get to say hello. Oder Morgen! Or Hi! Or Hey! Or Wassup! Thanks for your blog. Je l’aime.
Bon aniversari, my fellow Capricorn!
A little late, but Happy Birthday anyway!! Hope you had a delicious one!!
Happy Birthday David! Sorry you didn’t get to eat a coconut cake. Maybe coconut lokums next year?
Happy Birthday et Joyeux Anniversaire, David!
I think you definitely look more like you ‘have’ 41 one years than 51:-)
Happy Birthday! Just had to stop by and say that and I love Karen Carpenter’s Christmas carols, too! You are so right–she totally owns them! Happy New Year! (By the way, it’s your fault I gained a few pounds this past summer after buying your Perfect Scoop book! ;) )
I would have made you a coconut cake! I’ve had to make one for myself on a couple of birthdays and I have a couple more years on me than you do. And, yes, the coconut must always be toasted – as must the birthday person. ha, ha. Happy Birthday, David and many more.
Happy Birthday David! I, too, am an after Christmas baby (the 29th). Why does it seem like us “after Christmas people” always get cheated on our birthday? No one seems to have any energy to do anything – they’re all still in a food coma from Christmas (and heaven forbid you wrap my birthday gift in Christmas paper!!!). I have considered celebrating my 1/2 birthday in June but so far haven’t. Maybe you should give that a try and you’ll get your coconut cake then? Happy Birthday again!!
Happy birthday David!!
Happy Birthday David!
David,
Why don’t you post the recipe for the coconut cake you want on your birthday? If you come to San Antonio to promote your new book this spring I will bake it for you!
Happy Birthday to the ground!
Enjoy your blog so much!
Happy Birthday David! I hope your day has been wonderful!
Happy Birthday David! I hope your birthday was restful and joyous.
I hope you had a very, very happy birthday!
My Grandmother, who lived to be 100, always said that life is to be lived and enjoyed each and every day you get the chance. At 54 I am looking forward to at least 46 more years of enjoying every day. I hope you do too!
Bon anniversaire, David! All my best and many happy returns!
Joyeux Anniversaire!
David :
Joyeux anniversaire !
“Is there a Happy Birthday to you” song en francais comme ici dans la Louisiane?
David,
Happy Birthday! I make an old fashion coconut cake with boiled icing. We always have at Christmas time. If I could I’d send you a slice!!
I didn’t get it until I read your birthday post from last year in which you specifically mention you turned 50 and my jaw dropped. On another look at the picture on the right column of this page, maybe you do look that old? :) (I was thinking around 40.)Happy Birthday!!! Thanks for your blog.
Hi David,
I wish you a wonderful birthday with many surprises!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, David!
Mine is near Halloween. I always get orange and black stuff. Good grief!
If you ever get near my house (but you won’t unless you are hiding from the world), I’ll make you a southern favorite–an Italian cream cake. It’s three layers full of coconut and pecans in both the cake and frosting!
Bon Anniversaire David. Have a great time as I know you will.
Birthday greeting number one-hundred-twenty-something-on-this-page here–surely we add up to the feeling you get from a good coconut cake? Hmmm…probably not. But we are certainly trying.
Happy Birthday David. I live in Ohio and enjoy reading your blog. I own your book too. Thanks for sharing all the great info. We appreciate it!
Happy Birthday! It’s good to know I have plenty of company of Capricorns when it comes to a post-Christmas birthday. With mine landing on January 2nd, I have had the lifelong experience of the lack of gifts from folks who are broke from the holidays and hung over from The New Year.
I’ll bake an extra cupcake for your 51!
Happy Birthday David from Toronto! I am a recent fan to your blog and I enjoy it very much. I am currently reading The Sweet Life In Paris and love it so much that I am reading paragraphs out loud to friends. You are good company :)
Happy,happy Birthday David.
God bless you always!!!
Been there and done 51. It all gets better as you get older. Love your book too.
Happy Birthday, David!!!
Happy Birthday David!
p.s I got a copy of The Perfect Scoop for Christmas and I can’t wait to dive into your recipes!
Iyiki dogdun David! (Turkish version:) Happy birthday! I would make you the most delicious coconut cake you could ever dream of:) If you come to Boston, let me know…
Happy Birthday, David. I hope you had a wonderful day.Thank you for sharing your life on your wonderful blog.
Happy Birthday. For my birthday this year I got a copy of your new book…and I love it. Thanks. Wishing you a coconut cake.
Happy Birthday! You own your years well. =)
Happy Birthday!!! I have a shortly after Christmas birthday too. I’ve only celebrated it with friends maybe two or three times on the actual date! I wish you a lovely 2010, and I hope those apples and tangerines are delicious!!
Thank God someone besides me knows that Karen Carpenter owns Christmas carols!
It’s one of the benefits of having 51…may you have 51 more!
David, Feliz Aniversario !!!
Well, happy birthday to you!!!!! We’re heading your way in the morning from Virginia…..be happy to bring you a good ole’ Southern coconut cake! Just say the word!!!! Hope to see you on the streets! Cola
Happy Birthday David!
Happy Birthday David!!
In Brazil there is a cachaca (the alcohol used for our popular drink “caipirinha”) brand named 51 and their slogan is “51, a good idea”, so anything that has the number 51 in Brazil becomes a good idea… hey, maybe being 51 won’t be bad at all, right?!
Hope you have a 2010 just as good as your new age, go ahead and celebrate!
Ana
Many happy birthday wishes to you, David! May your fridge always be stocked with french butter and your baskets filled with Meyer lemons. :-)
Happy Birthday David!!!
Love all you do! Thanks for so much Happiness!!! Best Wishes for your New Year!!!
You’re a lot younger than me, dammit!
Happy Birthday! You are a lot of fun to follow!
In our household we Celebrate the D. Lebovitz natal anniversary in honor of what you add to our lives. Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! I am enjoying your blog and plan to make the Stollen for New Year’s Day (just couldn’t squeeze it in for Christmas).
BTW: I agree. Karen Carpenter OWNS Christmas music. If I could sing like anyone, it would be like her. Truly the voice of an angel!
Mazal Tov ! 51 in Hebrew numerology means – please -
So you must have your coconut cake sooner rather than later.
Many happy returns of the day and all the best for 2010 !
Dear David:
zhu ni sheng ri kuai le ! = Happy birthday to you! (in chinese)
Dear David:
zhu ni sheng ri kuai le ! = Happy birthday to you! (in chinese)
Happy, happy birthday, David! You bring so much joy to your readers, I hope it is all returned to you in spades in the coming year. xo, Dawn
Joyeux Anniversaire David.
S dniom rojdenia! (с днем рождения, which means “happy birthday” in Russian).
I think you deserve this coconut cake, so keep on insisting on it :)
Bon anniversaire David … Capricorne, ça te correspond assez bien je trouve, et on se voit très vite en 2010,
bises,
Paule
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! After ten lo-o-o-ong years of waiting for my coconut cake, I’m sure any psychiatrist out there would advise me to move on, which I am doing, reluctantly.
I did get the most amazing birthday present ever: a set of old French porcelain mortars & pestles from Romain, which are really gorgeous. (Although I can barely lift them…I don’t know how he carried them on the métro!)
Appreciate all your comments and thanks for reading—and best to you all for 2010. You guys rock!
x -dl
Congratulations and felicitations (which is a word I’ve only ever heard from people for whom English is a foreign language…I learnt it when I was learning French, too, but I suspect the the French don’t use it either…).
It’s still better than being born on Norwegian Independence Day don’t ya think?
Have a Happy 51st year!
all the best,
Carolg
A day late…sigh. Hope it was beautiful! Wishing you good health and happiness in 2010!
happy birthday!
Happy B-day David! Too bad for the coconut cake but I see you replaced it with a chocolate one that looks delicious ;-)
Happy Belated Birthday! Sorry, just got your post (AOL mail is a little slow). I too know the pain of having a birthday after Christmas. Mine is today. Everything is squished into the holidays and it is very rare I get anything on my birthday as a separate day. I have five more years on you but I wish you a wonderful 51st birthday. No cake for me either. However, I have been dreaming of extreme chocolate biscotti and think I will dip the ends in chocolate and coconut and make a toast to you! (I have to make them myself later today if I want to cure the craving). Have a wonderful year. I love your blog and books. Thank you for being yourself and again, Happy Belated!
Jan and Amy’s coconut cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups sour cream
2 cups frozen or fresh coconut
1 package yellow cake mix [ sorry , that's the recipe]
The night before baking the cake, combine sugar, sour cream and coconut. Store in refrigerator.
The next morning, prepare the cake and bake in 2 layers per pkg. directions. Split each layer so you have 4 total layers
Frost/fill with sour cream mixture and store in fridge. DO NOT CUT CAKE FOR FOUR DAYS.
Bon appetit and have a happy coconut birthday..it’s my birthday cake ..thanks to my good friends..
Cumpleaaaañoooos feeeliiiiizzzz, cumpleaaañooos feeeeliiiiiz
te desea sariiiiitaaaaaa
cumplaaaañoooooos feeeeeliiiiiiizzzz!!
clap clap clap clap
you share your birthday with the Spanish “dia de los santos inocentes”, our version of April fool´s day in the U.S. if in Sapin you would get tons of trics played on you!!
All the best and besos!!
Happy Birthday! I hope your coconut cake is everything you hoped for!
If you’re ready to give up on your coconut cake, this may be the perfect time to read “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It may reignite your hope and keep the cake flame burning. :-)
Happy Birthday You Beautiful Man!
Hope the coming year is filled with happiness and health. Thanks for making my year(s) better with your blog and books. Love the humor but adore the cheesecake brownies and chocolate sorbet. Looking forward to reading how 51 is the new 21. :)
XOXO
David, Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!
and many many more with Health, Happiness and Peace.
Feliz Cumpleaños!
In Spanish, we say , “Tengo 51 anos” — I have 51 years.
If you ever make a coconut cake for yourself, check out Rose Levy Beranbaum’s recipe for Coconut Seduction Cake in her book, Rose’s Heavenly Cakes. It is wonderful.
Happy, Happy Birthday. You may have an old soul, but it fills all of us with joy and laughter. Sounds like a xmas carol but so true when we all speak and think of you.
Just traveled over 17 hours from Wash D. C. to Honolulu, Hawaii to cook and bake up a storm for my dear sister who also turns 51 today, Dec.28. On the menu, southern fried chicken, seared salmon, Caesar Salad, roasted new potatoes, consomme rice, and hot apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. You’re invited, now or anytime, and that Coconut Cake, No Problemmo. Just send me a safe address. I will get it to you. Best wishes, good health, for this new year.
sang yaht faai lohk, David
My youngest brother & the best man at my wedding share your birthday
joyeux anni.
Perhaps you could offer me some advice. I wanted to make pate de fruits to ship to my boyfriend and i’m using a recipe that i worked with in france, but it’s not quite coming together. i suspect it’s the pectin, there’s a lot of ingredients that aren’t pectin in sure-jel and i’m wondering if that’s not watering down the effect. the pectin we used came from a plastic container labeled “pectine,” so i don’t know if it was vitpris or something else.
the batch i made has been out for almost a day and is just not setting anything past super thick jam. i’m probably going to go for another batch with double pectin and if that doesn’t work then i’ll give up.
do you have any suggestions for what i can do to the pate de fruits? or what i can do with the pound of thick sugary raspberry mass that i have? or what i should send to my boyfriend in lieu?
Bonne fete David,
You look great and absolutely look nowhere near your age. My husband has the unfortunate birth date of January 2nd, where everyone is partied out, and no one feels like baking or celebrating anymore. I wish you good health for the coming year. Love your blog…you make me laugh!
Bonne fete David,
You look great and absolutely look nowhere near your age. My husband has the unfortunate birth date of January 2nd, where everyone is partied out, and no one feels like baking or celebrating anymore. I wish you good health for the coming year. Love your blog…you make me laugh!
Happy Birthday David,
May God bless you on this joyous day and all through the coming year.
Joyeux anniversaire, David! You share a birthday with my husband :)
happy birthday david.xoxoxo
Happy Birthday, David! I’ve never posted before, but I read your blog religiously, and cook from your books and blog recipes constantly. I can’t thank you enough. I hope it was a terrific day.
Feliz aniversário! (=Happy birthday in Portuguese)
All the best, David!!!!
Wish you an unforgettable 2010!
xxx
Congratulations to you David!
My dad had 81 on 25th December, he’s brilliant, fun, active, brainy, can cook, write poetry, walk the hills. Enjoy your time on this earth and strive to do good.
Happy Birthday (Belated?)!! Congratulations on hitting your 51 year mark and having your coconut cake.
Hi David!
Bon anniversaire, Happy happy birthday a little late!
Love, Health and All the Best in the New Year,
from Charlene :) (still trying to make things work out in the Wine Country…)
Feliz cumpleanos, David! You share this date with (one of) my favorite sisters-in law! May the year bring health, a little wealth, lots of laughs and many more wonderful stories and meals to share with us. Enjoy.
One more birthday greeting, from Maine.
My daughter’s b-day is the 23rd and right now it’s harder on me than it is on her.
I’m so burned out by Christmas day, that I don’t care what I make (see most recent post).
I will be 50 next summer and hope to spend my big day in Paris, with beaucoup de chocolat!
Happy birthday, David! Wishing you another wonderful 51 years!
I realize I’m offering just another happy birthday, but you can’t have too many right? :)
Happy birthday!!
Happy Birthday David.
I met you briefly on the streets of Paris several years ago when a friend and I were gushing over a cheese store we had just walked out of. You stopped and told us of a local street market that was in session that morning. I loved the day. I love Paris. I love reading your column ( and all your books which I now own!) as it transports me back there. Best to you on your birthday.
Keep cooking. Keep writing. Many thanks.
Happy Birthday David!!
This is my first time commenting on your blog, but I have been reading it for some time in addition to The Sweet Life in Paris in preparation for a three week study abroad trip to Paris. I am leaving on Wednesday and I am so excited; I am definitely planning to hit up some of the restaurants and shops you have recommended. Best wishes to you as you continue to write, entertain, and inspire us all to live the lives we want to live.
Happy Birthday David!!
This is my first time commenting on your blog, but I have been reading it for some time in addition to The Sweet Life in Paris in preparation for a three week study abroad trip to Paris. I am leaving on Wednesday and I am so excited; I am definitely planning to hit up some of the restaurants and shops you have recommended. Best wishes to you as you continue to write, entertain, and inspire us all to live the lives we want to live.
Happy Birthday, David! My birthday is the day before Christmas so I feel your pain!
My fondest wishes to you for every happiness, and a wonderful birthday with many, many more to come!
Happy Birthday, David!
Happy Birthday to you! I wish you more fruitful years and also more posts! And enjoy your day!
With many festivities in between, a great season to have a birthday. Happy Birthday! I wish you a happy New Year!
יום הולדת שמח לדוד
Masha pabien David!
Happy Birthday David!
You don’t look a day over 35 — moving to Paris was probably a smart move for you. Keep up the good work and enjoy the next 51.
Happy Birthday David!
David
Joyeux Anniversaire
Two days late
Happy Birthday
Serge
‘The French Guy from New Jersey’
Beste David.
Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag en nog veel gezonde jaren wensen we je!
Groet, Rijk
Feliz cumpleaños Daveed :)
And a Happy New Year !!
Happy Birthday, David! I enjoy your blog so much!
Happy Birthday David! I will gladly bake you a coconut cake if you ever visit Santa Monica (or Los Angeles). It’s the least I could do after all the laughter and enjoyment your site has given me.
BTW – your coconut cake is the most requested cake when i bake for someone’s birthday. It also happens to be my all-time favorite cake!
Cheers to 51!
생일 축하해요! It looks like I (or some other dedicated person) will have to go to your neighborhood to actually deliver that coconut cake into your hands.
Cheers!
Congratulation David, hope you had a great birthday!!!
It’s good “to have” the 51 years and not “to be” the 51 years. Perhaps a small difference but an optimistic air slips between the ownership and the years if one does not have to be ALL those years.
Happy Birthday! Happy New Year!
Bon anniversaire!
Happy Belated Bday, Daveed!!! ;-)
Best wishes from San Francisco, and also a Happy New Year 2010 to you…
I’ve finally tempted to try your recipes…now that I’m not intimidated anymore of anything cooking/baking, thanks to hands-on cooking program that I’m in now.
In Room for Desserts, I tried your Lemon Semifreddo for a friend’s bday with raspberry coulis, YUM!
I did read your begging for a Coconut Cake for your very own special day, since you had always made it for someone’s father before, but no one has made you one. My Mr P loves coconut and anything islandish, so instead, you gave me an idea and I decided to make him a Coconut Cake for his bday this past Dec 10th! And it blew his mind! You’re right, David, it’s really delicious! But I have to say so so so sorry that I couldn’t send you one this time around on your bday ;-)
From your The Sweet Life in Paris, I tempted some chocolate recipes from there: Chocolate Macarons, Chocolate Mousse, and Chocolate-Coconut Marshmallows (which didn’t turn out firm enough cause I was missing 5gr of gelatin…which I thought I could get away with it :-) Yum, yum, yum! My friends loved them all…I’ve become an addict of GREAT recipes now! Give me more…(what else did I try?; I gotta see some of my ‘firsts’ photo shots again to remember)
Your recipes ROCK! I love them and trust you for following them.
You’re my teacher, un vrai maitre, for anything sweet for sure. And you made me look GOOD so far…:-D
Thank You, Chef!
More successes, joy and happiness to you in 2010.
A bientot, Ciaooooo
Happy Birthday David! By the way, I completely agree that Karen Carpenter owns Christmas Carols :)
Un petit beurre, des toullioux!
I love your blog..You can’t be 51…you are adorable…Reading your blog is like being able to breathe. I, too, have lived in France and as an American I find your commentary to be spot on…..you own it!!
Bonne Annee!
Happy belated, David. I hope you enjoyed a splendid day. I do sympathize with you, and everyone else that celebrates birthdays around major holidays. You do suffer a bit due to the shopping, and many other festive extremes we non-birthday folks have indulged within. Fear not, I am sure that many delved into a bit of vicarious, though imaginary baking, all in your honor. We love you dearly and hope you enjoyed our toasted coconut cakes.
Many Happy Birthdays are wished for you.
P.S. I burnt my fingertips trying for a trans Atlantic delivery. Oh, and a few of my brain cells are frayed too. The ESP factor was vamped up extra high. It caused a brown out along the Eastern shore. Please blow these candles out, ASAP!
;)
Happy Birthday!! My sister’s birthday is the day after Christmas, similar to your situation. One positive thing is that more often than not, the entire family IS together because we make an effort to be together on Christmas. Hope you enjoyed your birthday. :) Happy New Year as well.
Happy Belated Birthday to you, David. And Happy New Year 2010! I’ll be in Paris soon. :)
Bon anniversaire Daveed! Hope its a good one!
Happy Birthday! May 2010 be a year of happiness, good health and much prosperity!
Happy Birthday David! Blessings to you for the new year.
Happy belated, David.
Regarding the use of “own” as being good (the best?) at, it could be translated by “maitrise”, although it is a bit slang-ish. As in: “les macarons, je maitrise…”
It’s similar in Spanish. Yo tengo _____ años. = I have _____ years. (The tilde on the n is crucial here.)
Happy birthday. Besos,
Ugh, my bad for not looking at the date on here, ha, oh well. Happy belated then!
Anna: That’s ok. The “tilda is crucial” comment gave me a good chuckle anyways! : )