friends and family understand your food requirements. they should know enough to either (a) ask about ingredients for you when letting the restaurant know it will be your birthday or at least (b) not be surprised if you have to ask about the ingredients of the dessert (or if you choose not to eat it). also, check the menu before you go to a restaurant on your birthday. assuming, of course, that you picked the restaurant for your birthday, you probably did a quick menu check to make sure there was an item or two that you could safely eat. while doing this, also check out the desserts. pay special 