Cocktails & Wine
Dining Out
with Friends at:
Written By Larry J. Mickartz
O
Appetizers
Chilled Prawn Cocktail
Seared Ahi Tuna
n a chilly January night,
we took our new Gilroy
friends, Nita and Danny
Mitchell, to Ladera Grill in Morgan Hill.
The evening started off well with the
Valet Parking at Ladera…a welcomed
service in the busy downtown.
Inside it was a typical busy Friday
night with a packed bar and full res-
taurant. We were ushered into a well-
situated corner booth. Our waitress,
Natalie, soon welcomed us and took
drink orders. Gin and Tonic for Nita, a
Cosmo for J.Chris, a tall Rum and Coke
for Danny, and a Pinot Noir for me.
Readers who are not familiar with
Ladera Grill should try it out. It has
a good feel, an excellent selection of
food, a full bar and an extensive wine
selection. If you think the wild life
photos around the room seem out of
place, look carefully at the lower right-
hand corner. You will see the signature of
Dan McCranie, a wildlife photographer
and owner of Ladera Grill! Ladera also
has some great outdoor dining space
Entrees
Teriyaki Tri-Tip Steak
along Monterey and down the south-
side, but a January evening was not
the time.
Before long we put in orders for some
appetizers. We selected: Seared Ahi Tuna
(Sashimi #1 grade ahi tuna, sesame crust,
teriyaki glaze, oriental slaw, jasmine rice)
and a Chilled Prawn Cocktail (Fresh
Lemon, Cocktail Sauce), and—at the
suggestion of our waitress, Natalie—
the Stuffed Portabella Mushroom (Goat
cheese, baby spinach, grilled apricots,
pinenuts, heart of romaine, olive oil,
parmesan dressing.)
The tuna got rave reviews. It was
fresh, well prepared and “perfectly
presented.” The Prawn Cocktail had
four large plump prawns. The Stuffed
Portabella was a little different than
the description but proved to be “the
surprise of the evening.” It consisted
of dressed romaine, a large stuffed
portabella and a glass of seasoned cherry
tomatoes. We placed the mushroom
on the dressed romaine and topped it
with the seasoned tomatoes. It was an
absolute taste delight…”a great blend
of flavors.”
Lobster Tail & Wagyu Rib Eye
Stuffed Portabella Mushroom
92
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
gmhtoday.com