Best Gazpacho
STAFF PICK: This chilled soup is a cool and refreshing alternative to salad. While it's become a standard on most contemporary southwestern menus, everyone has his own style of preparation. Some prefer a thick purée, others favor a garnish of chopped vegetables on the side. Our favorite is the elegant presentation at Café Terra Cotta, 4310 N. Campbell Ave., served in a wide shallow bowl with a "tower" of vegetables as the centerpiece and garnished with a few sprigs of fresh cilantro. Finely chopped cucumber, red onion, tomato, scallion and avocado are compressed into a cylindrical shape, which you can eat separately or swirl into each bite. The rich, creamy avocado is a perfect balance for the spicy tomato base.
