Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011 You’ve Been Served

OK, I said I’d talk about the food at Rancho La Puerta, so I’ll concentrate on tonight’s “Fresh from the Garden and Sea” dinner menu. The menu states that the meals are calorie-controlled spa portions, but as you can see from the pictures, nobody is starving here.

We began our meal with a bowl of Sautéed Asparagus Soup with Garlic Crouton. I have always been a huge fan of soup, and this first course did not disappoint. The soup was followed by a Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Salad with Sautéed Olives in a Purple Basil Vinaigrette. The simplicity of this classic salad allowed the flavors of the fresh herbs and tomatoes to shine through.

For the main course, my husband chose the Provençal Tilapia with Rustic Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli in a Wild Mushroom Sauce, while I opted for the Homemade Fettuccine on Sautéed Spinach with Roasted Carrots and Puttanesca Sauce. As evidenced by the picture to the right, I was unable to keep myself from taking a bite before snapping a photo.

All of this bounty was topped off by a delicate Neapolitan Flan for dessert, artfully presented with dried fruit and a sprig of herbs. If this is health food, sign me up!