A Sweet Chocolate Treat: Black Tie Mousse Cake

Olive Garden's black tie mousse cake - Rich layers of chocolate cake, dark chocolate cheesecake, and creamy custard mousse.

Today is my husband's birthday. We don't typically buy each other gifts anymore, but we do treat the birthday person to several meals out. You already saw one of the meals we ate out last week.

Today's feast, courtesy of the State College Olive Garden, featured spaghetti and meatballs and pasta e fagioli soup for him, and fettuccine and salad for me, plus a fettuccine to go, as well as breadsticks for both of us. Also of note: decor featuring curtain tassels just like the ones at Nonna's house, LOL!

Since he was a birthday person, he ordered a free dessert to go, the black tie mousse cake. What arrived was actually prettier than the photo we'd seen on the menu.

He ate it with gusto later in the evening with a very nice cup of fancy coffee; I even had a few bites and it was quite good. Happy birthday and many more! Now, mangia!

Our soundtrack song is Natalie Merchant, with Life Is Sweet.