Cecile and I had a wonderful dinner with our good friends, Susie and Nelson Bye and Dianna Martin-Orloff and husband Norm
at Asa Restaurant in Los Gatos, an American restaurant with influences derived from generations of Spanish and Italian heritage. This cool eatery was established to celebrate the birth of the owner’s son, Asa, whose portrait proudly hangs on the back wall. The restaurant also honors the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley, emphasizing invention and creativity.
We started with cocktails, and Nelson generously provided a bottle of Montagu Cabernet Sauvignon for the table from his collection. Collectively, we enjoyed Rainbow Beet Salad, A bowl of Veggie Soup, Fresh House Burrata; Baja Striped Sea Bass; Hokkaido Scallops atop mashed potatoes, cabbage risotto, sautéed mustard greens; Asa’s Exotic Mushroom Pasta; Hand Cut New York Steak with organic broccoli and a side Truffle Fries; and Eggplant Parmigiano with Burrata.
Asa Restaurant features an airy, chic, and contemporary decor that creates a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for diners. The open and clean design contributes to an ambiance that makes it possible to have a conversation, even though the restaurant was filled to capacity. The interior is thoughtfully arranged with comfortable seating and a series of wine collection racks strategically placed like furniture to enhance the overall dining experience. For dessert, each couple shared an awesome Banana Bread Pudding with rum, vanilla, cinnamon, brandy caramel glaze and whip cream on the side.
After dinner, we all headed back to our home and had some bite-sized desserts and relaxed in our den to watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest and an array of guest singers and dancers. It was a perfect mix of a festive celebration and enjoyable conversation. Of course living out in California, where it is three hours earlier than NYC or 9pm, we call it celebrating New Year’s Eve on NY City time.
