FOR THE SALAD:
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, cored and shredded
2 ripe tomatoes, cut into eighths
1/2 cup Emmentaler Swiss cheese, sliced and julienned
1/2 cup baked ham, thinly sliced and julienned
1/4 cup pimento-stuffed green Spanish olives (left whole)
2 teaspoons freshly-grated Romano cheese
FOR THE DRESSING:
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 cup extra-virgin Spanish olive oil
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Toss all of the salad ingredients together in a large bowl — except for the Romano cheese; set aside. In a small bowl beat together with a wire whisk the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and oregano. Very slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly, until fully the mixture is completely emulsified. Whisk in the vinegar and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper and set aside.
TO SERVE: Pour some of the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly. Add Romano cheese and toss the salad once again before serving. If there is extra dressing, serve it on the side for use as desired. — Serves 3-4
The Columbia Restaurant — since 1905!
Many years ago Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., a Spanish-Cuban immigrant, came to Tampa’s cigar-producing Latin Quarter with his wife, Adela, and their four young sons in search of opportunity and a better life. On Dec. 17, 1903, he helped to open the Columbia Saloon, which in 1905 became the Columbia Restaurant. The original restaurant over almost 120 years has expanded to cover an entire city block and is now the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. Casimiro’s descendants continue to diligently care for the Columbia Restaurant to help preserve his American dream. The Columbia in Ybor City is Florida’s oldest restaurant (now with seven locations in Florida) — and it is still owned and operated by 4th- and 5th-generation family members.
I have a very special, signed copy of The Columbia’s extra-large and very colorful menu from our visit there more than 40 years ago. What a wonderful experience it was to enjoy such an awesome meal of The Columbia’s legendary “1905 Salad” (tossed tableside) — and savor their special “Paella a la Valenciana”. It was prepared in a traditional paella pan with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamares, chicken and pork, and baked with La Bomba Spanish rice, extra-virgin olive oil, green peppers, Spanish onions, ripe tomatoes, garlic and a splash of white wine. Yum!!! 😋 Extra time was needed to prepare our paella, but we didn’t mind at all — we simply sat back and were thoroughly entertained by their very talented “Fire of Flamenco” dancers (performances are given only at the Ybor City location). Yes indeed, we had a very special evening at The Columbia! The famous restaurant is all the way across the country from us now — but we still can enjoy their delicious “1905 Salad” right here at home — and maybe even have a fun paella party!