Treat of the Week: Bertie’s Birthday Burger Bash

Each year, we celebrate Bertie’s birthday in high style with a party geared toward things Bertie enjoys. Bertie, being a dog, like meats. So, hamburgers are a must. My mother makes juicy sliders with a variety of topping from imported cheeses to caramelized onions. Quite tasty! Of, course, Bertie gets his own—sans bun and happily gobbles it up.


This year, after Bertie opened his presents, and after he consumed his cheeseburger, we indulged in homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberry topping. My parents purchased a new ice cream maker which essentially takes all of the pesky “cranking” out of the process. The results were exceptional, served in beautiful silver mint julep cups.

The real showstopper, as always, was the cake. My mother, as we all know by now, is a real cake artist, and everything she makes is the best, but Bertie’s birthday cakes are always some of the most ingenious creation from her kitchen. Each year’s cake always represents Bertie in some way. Sometimes it’s a portrait, sometimes it’s a symbol of his interests. This year’s cake was a a full-length portrait of Bertie complete with foot-pads and black nose. His icing fur was made with two different pastry tips, and he’s even wearing a jaunty collar with a name tag!

Inside, lemon curd and light-lemon pound cake make for a decadent birthday celebration. He was given his own piece (quite small) on his own plate, and licked it clean.

A good time was had by all!