Since my birthday falls on the day after Christmas I rarely celebrate. My last birthday was a big one (you can do the math) and it had been 20 years since the last party so I decided it was high time to throw myself a bash, by taking 18 friends to opening day at Santa Anita Race Track, where we were feted in style. On a glorious sunny day, we had a 10 course Japanese feast served to us by our own chef, (beef tenderloin and chicken satay, duck roasted with star anise, salmon with soba noodles, asparagus with wild mushrooms, sushi and sashimi, crab cakes, fried bananas with coconut ice cream.)

They even made me a special birthday cake decorated with horses. As if that wasn't enough, they sent a handicapper to our table to teach some of the novices the ins and outs of betting. I guess it was my lucky day since I bet every race and came home with more money than I started with. With my culinary memoir, Siren’s Feast, An Edible Odyssey, launching next month, it felt like I was truly off to the races.

Hi everyone and welcome to my edible odyssey. Here I am in Paris, where I'm always sure to indulge some of my favorite things -- great food, travel and dogs. Parisians love their dogs so don't be surprised to see fur people at the table in restaurants. The only thing I really miss when I'm on the road, besides spicy Mexican food, is my dog Cisco, and here on a street in Paris, in Montparnasse to be exact, in front of one of the best crepe cafes in that glorious City of Light, I have stopped to greet a dog that looks a lot like my own handsome mutt.

My friend Michele took the photo. We've been friends since pre-school so Oprah and Gayle have nothing on us. You can't see my face but more will be revealed when my culinary memoir, SIREN'S FEAST: AN EDIBLE ODYSSEY, is launched in April 2008. Described by some who've already had a peek as "sex, drugs and gourmet food," it's also filled with fascinating characters, exotic locales and some of my favorite recipes. I can't wait to share it with you all.