Juniper & Ivy: A Toast to the Wonderful
People clearly view Juniper & Ivy as a “go-to” restaurant in San Diego, California, where they can celebrate the most wonderful events in their lives. When I went with a friend for dinner, at least four tables were celebrating special occasions - 2.5 wedding anniversaries and 1 birthday.
Along with the other two married couples, my friend should have been sitting with her husband celebrating an anniversary, their 22-year marriage. The other parties thought it was “our” party but we had to disappoint them and explain there was only a .5 anniversary between us.
After we ordered our splendid cocktails - a gin-based Gaze Hound and a vodka-based Under the Rose - my friend’s husband had just landed at the airport after a week of work elsewhere. By the time we devoured the first delectable “snack” of deviled eggs, the poor guy was at home alone drinking a beer and trying to convince a very grumpy dog to eat.
A bit of guilt did surface but my friend assured me, “Don’t be silly, this is probably why my marriage has lasted so long!” The other couples were in fact way behind her - only together for 4 and 6 years. With that issue quickly resolved, we proceeded to devour our way through plates of refreshing Baja stone crab, exquisite beef carpaccio, smooth Ensenada sea urchin and mouthwatering maple cured pork belly.
It was definitely a dinner worthy of a 22-year marriage. It doesn’t happen too often nowadays but my friends seemed to have found the key to marital success. I had gone to elementary school with both of them but they didn’t meet each other until high school during a ski trip. I think I might have even introduced them!
It was the first time I witnessed the spark of true love ignite - an exciting moment when a silent but palpable “BOOM!” could be detected by anyone standing nearby. They fell in love right there and then and have been together ever since. I never thought it would last a ski run, but it has so cynics (including myself!) begone!
Taking our time to savour the final dessert plates of caramelized peach mousse and yodel (devil’s cake full of chocolate goodness), we definitely felt as if we came to the right place that night. Renovated, renewed, passionate, creative, respecting the past but adapting to the present and celebrating the best of life through food - we could not have asked for more. Well, I take that back. The .5 who was at home this year definitely needs to come out to make 1.0 next year!
Juniper & Ivy 2228 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101 USA Tel: +1 (619) 269-9036 Website: http://www.juniperandivy.com/ Reservations: http://www.opentable.com/juniper-and-ivy?rid=114097&ref=1068