Grandma's 85th Birthday Party

Grandma's 85th Birthday Party - October 2006
My grandmother turned 85 this year. The entire family plus longtime family friends surprised her with a wonderful Chinese banquet at Chef Chu's in Palo Alto, California. Click here for the full album of photos I shot.

Grandma was totally not expecting the surprise!

The Yang Clan (Elena, Janilla, Grandma, Mom, and Angela) poses for a group shot. Grandma was up there for a long time because everyone wanted a picture with her!

Okay, to business: the food. It was a ten course banquet that started with a delightful appetizer plate with seaweed salad, sliced vegetarian something or other (tofu), shrimp balls, a sesame anchovy mix, and sliced sausages. All of it was terrific.

My mom's favorite dish and one of my personal favorites too - Hunan Tofu in black bean sauce with garlic, green onions, and chilis.

Another favorite and a specialty of Chef Chu's is the lobster e-mein. The noodles are prepared differently than normal noodles. The dish is lightly flavored with ginger, green onions, and a hint of sesame.

A beautiful plate of vegetables was presented toward the end of the meal. These are lotus root with chinese broccoli, tomatoes, some sort of lily root, cucumber, black tree ears, carrots, and other goodies (I know, I should have paid more attention when Janilla was explaining it all to me).

The head chefs (Chef Chu is on the right) come in to see that everything is well and pose with the guest of honor.

The birthday girl with 100 sweet buns shaped as peaches (I lost the Chinese significance, but it's a good thing) and a special lotus candle. June made a delicious and gorgeous organic cake with sweet taro root filling from scratch!

By the end of the meal, everyone was stuffed! I asked Grandma if she was happy and she answered in Chinese that her heart was very very happy. I love her so much. Happy Birthday, Grops!

	Grandma was totally not expecting the surprise!
	The Yang Clan (Elena, Janilla, Grandma, Mom, and Angela) poses for a group shot. Grandma was up there for a long time because everyone wanted a picture with her!
	Okay, to business: the food. It was a ten course banquet that started with a delightful appetizer plate with seaweed salad, sliced vegetarian something or other (tofu), shrimp balls, a sesame anchovy mix, and sliced sausages. All of it was terrific.
	My mom's favorite dish and one of my personal favorites too - Hunan Tofu in black bean sauce with garlic, green onions, and chilis.
	Another favorite and a specialty of Chef Chu's is the lobster e-mein. The noodles are prepared differently than normal noodles. The dish is lightly flavored with ginger, green onions, and a hint of sesame.
	A beautiful plate of vegetables was presented toward the end of the meal. These are lotus root with chinese broccoli, tomatoes, some sort of lily root, cucumber, black tree ears, carrots, and other goodies (I know, I should have paid more attention when Janilla was explaining it all to me).
	The head chefs (Chef Chu is on the right) come in to see that everything is well and pose with the guest of honor.
	The birthday girl with 100 sweet buns shaped as peaches (I lost the Chinese significance, but it's a good thing) and a special lotus candle. June made a delicious and gorgeous organic cake with sweet taro root filling from scratch!
	By the end of the meal, everyone was stuffed! I asked Grandma if she was happy and she answered in Chinese that her heart was very very happy. I love her so much. Happy Birthday, Grops!