At Parties That Cook, we often hear from people who want to celebrate birthdays, engagements and other happy occasions. But there was something about Joey that made him stand out as we planned a 30th-birthday party for his wife, Suzanne.

Maybe it was the way he chose our Sumptuous Small Plates event specifically with his wife’s love of cooking in mind.

Perhaps it was how he planned the whole thing as a surprise, spiriting Suzanne away so that she could return to a kitchen filled with friends, wine and a night of delicious food ahead.

It could have been the fact that he carefully photographed every bit of his kitchen on the sly, so that we could be sure the cooking setup was perfect. From the menu to the music, Joey put Suzanne’s tastes first.

That’s a guy who could be called a “keeper.”

In the end, Operation Gourmet Birthday went off without a hitch: Suzanne was wowed, the food everyone cooked was delicious (check out the Mini Sliders with Smoky Cheddar at right), and Joey gets hubby of the month, in our book.