When Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev was planning her 23rd birthday, she wanted to do something totally unique. She decided to book her friends an elaborate four course meal at Le Cordon Bleu Atlanta. The delish menu consisted of chicken satay kebab, coconut milk and lemongrass steamed Thai mussels, seared salmon and tun salad with avocado, beets and lemon vinaigaigrette and warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Woah, that sounds pretty tough to make! We chatted with Nina about how the big event went, her favorite cooking memories and her other birthday plans.

Seventeen: Happy birthday! Tell us about the dinner you made for your friends. What made you want to book such an elaborate meal?

Nina Dobrev: My birthday dinner was held at Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts where I hosted a culinary class, followed by a three course dinner that my guests and I prepared. I really wanted to do this because it’s not your typical birthday outing, and my friends and I love to cook! I mean, I love to try and cook. I’m pretty good, but I’m not saying I’m great. So that’s exactly why I wanted to learn from the best. There’s a certain type of bonding that happens when you cook with people you love, and this gave me an opportunity to do just that!

read full interview at seventeen.com