Nina Dobrev's 23rd birthday party: Details and pics from the event

"The Vampire Diaries" star Nina Dobrev turned 23 on Monday, January 9, but she was so busy working and flying to Los Angeles to collect her Best TV Drama Actress People's Choice Award, she didn't get to reallycelebrate until Saturday night.

While some celebs might want to be waited on hand and foot on their birthdays, Nina opted for a different approach: she cooked up a storm! Nina and her guests, including castmates Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Candice Accola, Zach Roerig, and Joseph Morgan, went to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta, where chefs taught them to prepare their own yummy food.

The "TVD" cast and friends learned to whip up Thai chicken satay kebabs, mussels steamed in coconut milk and lemongrass, a seared salmon and tuna salad... and, of course, warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Le Cordon Bleu also gave Nina a stunning cake, made to look like Elena's diary from the show.

Happy birthday Nina! (And congratulations on being the first-ever write in People's Choice Award winner. "Vampire Diaries" fans are fierce.)