Dining Out … with Friends at
Written By Mike Sanchez
Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower
Cheers to a full bar and great friends !
On a night under the shroud of C-19 mandated indoor dining shut-downs , Deb and I met with two of the loveliest and busiest people we know , Jennifer and Steve Tate . Our rendezvous placed us at a table outside Ladera Grill in Morgan Hill . We arrived as the sun began to grow weary from the day ’ s work .
At the very moment we “ safely and socially distantly ” said hello , we all realized that we hadn ’ t seen each other for an entire year . For us , the COVID-19 global halt stopped us for roughly a week before we found our feet again . However , the Tates never missed a beat . In fact , I had to remind them they were supposed to be retired . Once they adjusted their stride , they kept serving on the multiple boards , commissions , and committees they champion in service to the greater good .
Top of my list : libations . Our masterful server , Rene , handled us with care . I ordered the blood orange cosmo ( blood orange vodka , cranberry juice , lime , orange garnish in a chilled glass ). It was cosmic … as were the three that followed . Research for this article is a sacrifice ! Deb chose the Ladera Manhattan ( Redemption Rye whiskey , sweet vermouth , Angostura bitters , cherry , strained into a chilled glass ) Always responsible , she enjoyed it all the way through dinner . Steve went for the time tested 805 ( a light ale ), and Jen sipped the GLS pinot grigio ( Italian crisp white , with citrus and melon flavors .)
Appetizers : Unanimous choices were truffle mac and cheese ( orecchiette pasta , white cheddar , white truffle oil , toasted breadcrumbs , garlic cream sauce ), which was decadent — like comfort food from another dimension — and crispy buffalo cauliflower ( lightly breaded and fresh cauliflower , spicy buffalo sauce , served over micro-greens , blue cheese crumbles , celery , cilantro , with blue cheese dressing ). This dish was presented beautifully : glorious purple , green and orange against a pure white canvas , and bursting with flavor . The cauliflower was crisp to a pop , yet smooth to bite . The combination of buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing went off like the grand finale of a Freedom Fest fireworks show .
Just as the sun capitulated to the small but worthy Nob Hill Terrace , finally succumbing to the night , dinner arrived . A huge lamb osso bucco fan , I ventured out and ordered … osso bucco . Ladera serves the traditional pork version
Truffle Mac ' n Cheese Wild Mushroom Fettuccini
Pork Osso Bucco
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