Michel Richard Turns 60

Michel Richard (center) celebrated his 60th birthday this weekend ... culminating with a surprise party Sunday night orchestrated by his wife Laurence and hosted by Eric Ziebold at CityZen in the Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. The chefs present are too many to list (you know I'll miss someone) but those who stopped by included Thomas Keller (on Michel's left shoulder) and Jean Joho of Chicago's Everest ... and DC chefs that included Todd Gray, Roberto Donna, Xavier DeShayes, Kaz Okochi, Ris Lacoste, Francois Dionot, Jeff Bubin, Cesare Lanfranconi, Robert Wiedmaier, Mark Furstenberg, Eric Ziebold and his team of culinarians and many more. The Champagne flowed freely; the duck confit in the Parkerhouse rolls was decadently divine and who could pass on the apple crepes with foie gras butter.

But the evening was for Michel and celebrated in song, with cake of course .... and with many toasts, hugs and kisses.