I’m afraid I may have entangled myself in a very elaborate tradition.

Last month, somewhere along the 820-mile stretch of road from Boulder to Dallas, Will and I got talking about our dream week of meals. And rather than staying in the hypothetical realm, Will’s picks somehow morphed into a real plan for his birthday week, coming up a couple weeks later.

I agreed to make it happen–but in the interest in getting a few other things done that week, limited him to 7 dinners. (I know, I know, what kind of wife doesn’t also agree to whip up cheesecake, ice cream sandwiches, Turtle Pie, dessert pizza, milkshakes, apple pie, and baklava from scratch?!)

Here is what he picked, and what we feasted on from July 5 – 11:

Before you leave here thinking I’m a saint, its probably a good time to admit: I may have enjoyed this more than Will did, and I’m already eager to see his 2021 lineup.