Growing up in the southern part of Florida, I'm hooked on Cuban food. With Miami's Calle Ocho just 2 hours to the east, and Ybor City in Tampa 2 hours to the north, I'm surrounded by its goodness, and eat it every chance I get. Whenever I find myself in Sarasota, a trip to Columbia Restaurant is a must and I always get the same thing--their very famous 1905 salad.
It's a tossed salad, made tableside, filled with cool iceberg lettuce, smoky Cuban ham, swiss cheese, salty green olives, and ripe tomatoes, tossed in a garlicky oil and vinegar dressing with freshly grated romano cheese sprinkled over the top. OOOOOMGOSH it's so good.
It serves 2 amply, and trust me when I tell you with certainty that you will want more than one bowl. Pair it with some buttery pressed Cuban bread and a sugary café con leche for dessert and you have one delicious meal to share with someone you love. I'm so jealous... :)
---------------------------------
(WHAT YOU WILL NEED)
It only takes minutes to throw together. The recipe as written by Columbia Restaurant is below. Add more or less of what you want. The changes I usually make are in italics
4 cups iceberg lettuce, broken into 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" pieces
1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1 ripe tomato, cut into eights
2 large plum tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup baked ham, julienned
1/2 cup swiss cheese, julienned
1/2 cup pimento stuffed green Spanish olives
1905 dressing, see recipe below
1/4 cup romano cheese, grated
1/2 cup romano cheese, grated
2 tablespoons Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
juice of 1 lemon
1905 dressing:
1/2 cup extra virgin Spanish olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Combine ingredients and toss with dressing. Place in bowls and serve immediately, adding more grated cheese to the top--
To check out Columbia Restaurant and all things delicious, because I know you wanna go there, click on the link below:
https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/Menus-By-Location/Locations/St-Armands-Circle
