Columbia Restaurant's 1905 Salad

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...  :)

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(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