Blog Master G

I’ve been accused of letting my blog turn too much into a running-focused blog, and have been encouraged by more than one reader — including Dan of Fun in Saratoga, whom we last saw at the UPH Fundraiser a couple weeks ago — to write more about the restaurants we visit and the food we enjoy.

So without further ado, I present to you my birthday recap  — a beautiful evening of porch sitting and dinner at Leon’s, where Jen and I returned Thursday night to celebrate my birthday (one of several celebrations). After enjoying happy hour for the inaugural porch sitting of the season, we took to the road and began our walking trek to Leon’s, which rarely disappoints.

It was a fairly low-key Thursday night, with only a couple other occupied tables in the establishment. By the time we finished, we were the only ones left.

As I’d done once before, I ordered my own concoction: The chicken burrito (“Burro Ranchero,” which the menu describes as Rachael Ray’s favorite item to order when she goes to Leon’s), minus the chicken and with shrimp instead. I’m not sure how substituting shrimp for chicken makes the price go from $13 to $18, but that’s another story. Add some guacamole and it was delicious, as always. Jen ordered her favorite dish: The chile relleno, which was as fresh and as spicy as ever.

We each had a couple house margaritas — Jen’s on the rocks, no salt; mine frozen, with salt — and it was all the right ingredients for a perfect birthday dinner with my wonderful wife.

We rounded off my birthday weekend by seeing our friends Drew and Courtney play acoustic guitar at Jitters Cafe in Ballston Spa Friday night, followed by drinks with the gang at 9 Maple and Gaffney’s. Saturday afternoon Jen had lined up an awesome hot stone massage for me at Classical Concepts on Broadway (I’d highly recommend it).

Thank you to my wife and all our friends for the great birthday weekend!