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| - Because I like trying new things, I decided to order the elk tostada, served w/white bean "hummus" and roasted corn salsa. And because I ordered this, my mom went w/the curry pork quesadilla. My dad was able to find one thing on the menu that wasn't completely gross, in his taste: the Berkshire ham sandwich.
Fifteen minutes later, the Stetson arrived. I'd heard so much about this salad and had even gone to Cowboy Ciao's website to see what all the fanfare was about. Well, as beautiful as the salad looked online, it looked even more so in person. Delivered to the table, the salad is separated in six clean sections, each vibrantly colored and chopped into teeny, tiny pieces. All the flavors are complementary to one another. Topping the salad is a light, tangy, just-acidic-enough dressing that pulls all the pieces together, resulting in a well-composed salad that works perfectly as an appetizer for two.
About 15-20 minutes later, our entrees arrived at the table. My dad's ham sandwich, topped w/caramelized onions and bourbon mustard, and served on grilled brioche, was a tall sandwich w/thick slices of tender ham. The meat isn't your typical Hormel variety of deli meat; it was obvious that this came from a real piece of pork, not from a vacuum-sealed pack from the grocery store. Alongside the sandwich were thick, homemade potato chips. My dad dug in immediately, enjoying the sweet onions a lot. Although this sandwich is pretty gourmet, it was simple enough to please even my father's simple palate.
The presentation of the elk tostada was beautiful. The base of the tostada was a blue corn tortilla topped w/the white bean "hummus" and some melted cheddar cheese. Atop that were four or five large pieces of cornmeal-dredged elk. The consistency is similar to beef, but with a gamier taste. I would have expected it to be prepared medium-rare, but the elk seemed to be well-done, making it just a bit moister than a Phoenix summer. The creamy "hummus" and mild salsa helped lubricate the elk, though, so it wasn't a total bust. The entire dish could have also used some salt and pepper.
The standout meal on the table was my mom's quesadilla of the day. A large flour tortilla was stuffed w/pulled curry pork, caramelized onions, and cheese, and was topped w/a dollop of dollop of chipotle sour cream. The pork was tender, while the curry provided an unexpected but very welcome contrast in flavor. I'd never had pork w/curry, but I'd certainly give it another go because of the success of this dish. The quesadilla was a tad floppy due to it not being toasted/grilled/broiled quite long enough. I come from a family that appreciates crispness (it's a good thing my dad likes things burned, 'cause my mom tends to burn things), so I would have preferred more color and crunch in the tortilla.
Throughout the afternoon, the service continued to be attentive and friendly. We were brought our check not too long after the table was cleared, and we slipped the gift certificate into the folder-thingy to pay for our lunch. Our waiter wasn't quite sure what to do w/the certificate, but w/the help of the older gentleman who greeted and seated us, there were no problems. $50 later (not including tip), my parents and I were well-fed and content w/our lunches.
I'd like to go back to Cowboy Ciao for dinner, as my lunchtime experience there was so positive. The creative dishes on the menu make Cowboy Ciao a staple on my brother's culinary roster when he's in Phoenix, and I look forward to seeing how the restaurant's menu evolves as trends in the restaurant world change.
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