DINING OUT ... WITH FRIENDS AT THE MILIAS RESTAURANT
by Mike Sanchez Photos by Mike Sanchez and Krys Pena
We recently had the pleasure of dining out with friends at the iconic Milias Restaurant in downtown Gilroy . Owners Adam Sanchez and Ann Zyburra , both renowned chefs , teamed up to re-open the restaurant in 2011 . Rich in history , the Milias was originally opened as the Milias Chop House in 1895 by Mr . and Mrs . George Milias Sr . A few decades later , George tore down his popular establishment to make way for the new 60 room Milias hotel and restaurant to take advantage of the steady traffic passing right through downtown Gilroy along the new Hwy 101 .
We were joined by our friends Erin O ’ Brian and David Cox , longtime Gilroy residents and community champions . Erin is the Executive Director of Community Solutions and David is the Executive Director of St . Joseph ’ s Family Center . Community Solutions provides 24-hour sexual assault , domestic violence , and human trafficking crisis line : ( 877 ) 363-7238 . Other services include mental health services , drug and alcohol recovery , parenting support and education , at-risk youth support , and more . The Center provides food resources , emergency rental and utility assistance , a transportation pass program , and employment services , and a host of other services .
With the help of their respective staff members and community support , these two have affected thousands of people in their decades of service to the community , changing many lives for the better . It ’ s always a fun time hanging with Erin and David . This evening we shared lots of laughs , good wine and great food . We shared stories of ( my ) bad hair styles and our favorite veggies while catching up and reconnecting . Did I mention we laughed – a lot ?
On this night , we had the place to ourselves . We wasted no time in declaring David the wine expert for the table . He delivered in style by suggesting the Mulderbosch Rosé . ( Mulderbosch Vineyards , Stellenbosch Coastal Region , South Africa ). The wine was refreshing ; with notes of strawberry , blood orange , and a slight touch of oak . It had a beautiful pink hue , and was just right for a relaxing Sunday evening . For appetizers , Deb suggested the pan seared Shishito peppers – of course she did ; it ’ s go bold or go home with this girl . They were very flavorful , mild and aromatic with plenty of roasted flavor . The Rosé paired perfectly .
Next came the mussels , rich with garlic wine and parsley . Wrapping up the Rosé , we opted to share the Wente Chardonnay on David ’ s recommendation . The Chardonnay was light and aromatic , slightly mellony with hints of citrus and apple . It complimented the flavorful mussels . David was two-for-two on the wine !
No steakhouse appetizer run is complete without serious protein . We unanimously selected Chef Adam ’ s signature grilled Mediterranean lamb chops . The chops were grilled to perfection – still rare inside . If I had to guess I ’ d say the preparation included garlic and spices ( possibly the local fave , “ Andy ’ s Rub ”), fresh lemon juice , and a hint of
56 FALL 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com