How does a chef and restauranteur celebrate a milestone birthday? In the case of "Panini" Pete Blohme's 60th, a private party with a hundred or two close friends, food, drinks and a rocking band from Miami.

The Waterfront restaurant in Daphne was closed Saturday, Oct. 7, so staff could prepare for Blohme's birthday party. Guests were treated to an open bar, tasty bites like gumbo and cream-filled churros spread throughout the restaurant and music on the outdoor deck.

Blohme took to the microphone to welcome everyone and point out some of his friends who had traveled to attend like Chef Brian Duffy, former pro football player Stevie Brown and childhood friends from Fort Lauderdale.

Throughout the evening, friends took to the microphone to speak. Chef Brian Duffy shared stories of how he and Blohme first met and about their friendship over the years. Duffy is one of the chefs who are part of the Mess Lords, a group of chefs who travel the globe to cook for and with our military. It is a group that Blohme started with Guy Fieri and several chefs from the first couple of seasons of "Diners, Drive-In and Dives."

A retired Marine and one of the voices of The Scuttlebutt Network, a radio show broadcast from the USS Alabama, Tom Claxton took to the microphone also. He thanked Blohme and Nick DiMario for their work for veterans and presented them with a piece of the USS Alabama teak deck that was removed during the ongoing deck replacement. The board features a plaque and will be hung in one of the PP Hospitality restaurants.

Blohme's business partner and longtime friend DiMario also gave a short but emotional speech.

Guests enjoyed a slice of Blohme's favorite German chocolate cake baked by Chef Julienne Roach of Fairhope Chocolate and danced the night away to Miami-based band Xperimento.