My favorite restaurant is Cottonwood. Cottonwood sits up on a hill overlooking downtown Truckee, high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The building is an old ski lodge, and outside a rusty ski lift is falling over. In the dining room, a huge candlelit chandler is hanging from the railroad-tied ceiling, there are revealing windows and cloth covered tables nicely set. While you wait for your order, you can watch the trains going through town; you may even get an occasional bear walking in the bushes. In the winter it’s beautiful to sit and watch the snow dance and sparkle on the town. While in the summer you can enjoy the beauty and take in the fresh mountain air on the patio.

The explosive Caesar salad and the boozy French margarita, is a flawless combination. The Caesar is served in the traditional way of whole leaves; each one is individually smothered with made-to-order dressing. Raw eggs, anchovies, fresh lemon juice and cloves upon cloves of spicy garlic make up this incredible dressing. With this colossal salad, they place three homemade spicy croutons on top. Now if you don’t like garlic, then this is not the salad for you. The garlic is so powerful and intense; you will taste it for days.

The French margarita, also known as a “Frenchie,” is made with top-shelf tequila, mixer juice, a lime and topped with Grand mariner. It’s shaken to perfection and poured into a chilled, salt rimmed glass. After only a few sips you start to feel the margarita working. The food, staff and ambiance always make it a good time at Cottonwood.

” posted by armills