Every year my best friend, who is a total foodie, asks me to cook a meal for her birthday. It’s usually something she loves like my famous “big” salad, seared scallops, eggplant, and a starch. Pretty basic, but I still feel a bit of pressure to get whatever she imagined perfect. She typically requests exactly what she wants to see on the menu. But this year I switched it up on her, telling her to trust me and enjoy the surprise.
This decision to take control came to me after dining out with another friend a few months earlier where we enjoyed, an amazingly delicious six-course Omakase meal. Think of it like a tiny version of Tapas. It's very small plates with only 2 to 4 bites – except the diner doesn't have a choice. The chef dictates what will be served.
Omakase is a Japanese dining style where the chef selects the food for the meal, rather than the customer. “omakase” literally translates to “I'll leave it up to you”.
I was inspired to try to do something similar for my BFF’s birthday. Where I live in San Francisco, Omakase can cost anywhere between $95 and $165 per person. But I spent under $45 total to make this special birthday dinner. That’s also much cheaper than if I had taken her out for a fancy celebration meal. San Francisco dining is pricey!
At first, I was regretting my new plan. It seemed like I bit off more than I could chew. But with some careful planning, using mostly ingredients I already had on hand, and knowing my BBF’s specific likes (and most importantly her dislikes), I decided to go for it.
And it really paid off. The birthday girl was totally surprised (and floored) as I presented her with a printed-out menu for the evening. Months later, she’s still talking about that dinner and how thoughtful it was. Apparently, she’s also told some of our mutual friends, as they mentioned it when I ran into them.
But this post isn’t about the recipes. I’m not sharing to get you to recreate what I did. I’m hoping to inspire you to do your own thing. It’s about making someone feel special and making little bites that – in totality – have a big impact.
I know making a multi-course meal seems like it would be more work, but let me show you how I broke it down to tackle the tasks. The key was lots of planning, pantry items, and presentation.
Here’s the menu:
Seaweed Salad with Toasted Sesame Seeds
Bought: Seaweed salad $6
Pantry Items: Sesame seeds
Cold Rice Noodle Peanut Salad
Bought: Nothing
Pantry Items: Rice noodles, peanut butter, hot chili oil, nori seaweed snacks, chopped peanuts, fresh basil
Shrimp Ceviche
Bought: 10 jumbo shrimp $5, cilantro $1.50 for a bunch, avocado $2
Pantry Items: Red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, lime, nori
Seared Tuna on Fried Wontons with Wasabi Avocado Crema
Bought: Very small piece of Ahi tuna $6, wonton wrappers $2.50
Pantry Items: Sour cream, wasabi powder, avocado
Seared Scallops with Shaved Apple & Carrot Salad
Bought: 4 large sea scallops $10
Pantry Items: Apple, carrots, vinaigrette (oil, lemon, cilantro)
Tempura Shrimp with Mango/Pineapple Salsa
Bought: Nothing
Pantry Items: 4 tempura frozen shrimp, mango salsa, diced canned pineapple
Millionaire Pork Belly with Coconut Rice
Bought: Small piece of pork belly $5
Pantry Items: Brown sugar, ginger powder, cayenne paper, white rice, coconut milk, green onion
Mango Mochi and MangoCupCake
Bought: 2 mango cupcakes ($8)
Pantry Items: Frozen mango mochi
Total Spent = $43
Note: Remember that all prices are based on what I spent. Prices might be higher or lower depending on where you live and where you shop. Also, apologies. I was caught up in the moment during dinner and forgot to take photos of every course.
Truthfully, 8 courses were too much. I could have done 5 or 6. We were both very full. But it was my first time. Now I know better.
The trick for each course was to evaluate what I had and how I could make the most of it within my theme. I went with an Asian-inspired theme because I know my BFF loves that type of food, as do I. However, you could do this with any type of cuisine.
I’m thinking about Italian next time. I envision a tiny Caesar salad, a cold antipasto plate, maybe something with warm olives, or fried sardines, a simple but elevated sauteed spinach, roasted garlic and tomato with ricotta crostini, a giant meatball, and maybe a single large ravioli with pesto. And of course gelato for dessert. My mind is swirling with ideas. I’ll definitely need to edit it down.
Planning
When planning out this birthday menu, I knew it would be easier if I had a few items that could be prepared ahead. Since it was a two of us dining, I didn’t want to be cooking and plating the entire the time while she sat at the table. I wanted to be present and enjoy the evening with my friend.
I also wanted courses that were hot and dishes that were cold. That’s why I chose courses that could be done ahead (seaweed salad, cold noodles salad, seared ahi tuna. Ceviche, pork belly, store-bought cupcakes). That way, I only had to cook the scallops, and tempura shrimp, and fry the wonton. Otherwise, I was just adding sauces and putting on the finishing touches prior to serving. Additionally, some ingredients that I had to purchase (cilantro, avocado, etc.) were used in multiple dishes.
Pantry Items
I was tweaking the menu constantly to make most of the items I had in the pantry. For the shaved apple and carrot salad that I dressed with an Asian-inspired vinaigrette, I wanted to use pears but realized I had an apple, but no pears, so I pivoted. I also have a lot of Asian sauces, ingredients, and spices that were used in several dishes.
Presentation
I used small 6×6 plates and made sure to bring them out one at a time. I wanted each course to shine on its own. I also had soy sauce, hot chili oil, and wasabi on the table in case the BFF felt the need to spice things up. And we ate with chopsticks to add to the experience. To make things even more fancy, I also printed out a copy of the menu for each of us.
I found out that creating a multi-course meal inspired by my fabulous Omakase dining experience can be an incredibly meaningful way to celebrate someone special, even on a budget. With thoughtful planning, pantry creativity, and a focus on presentation, you can transform simple ingredients into an unforgettable dining experience. This approach isn’t about the recipes but about crafting moments that make loved ones feel valued. Whether it’s experimenting with Asian-inspired dishes or exploring Italian cuisine or something completely your own, the key is tailoring the experience to your guest’s preferences and ensuring a balance of preparation and enjoyment. It’s a gift of effort, creativity, and heart that resonates long after the meal ends.
