One of our favorite spots for a date or to take friends for a delicious and unique meal, is a restaurant in Santa Ana, CA called Playground. The menu changes often and it’s so unpretentious - semi-casual while still feeling special.

Below is my attempted knock off version that satisfies the crunchy, spicy, creamy, sweet salad that is the Brussels Caesar at Playground.

The cornbread toasties can be made from boxed, store-bought or homemade cornbread. It is easiest with day-old bread. Simply crumble up a 5x5” piece of cornbread, or similar volume from muffins or a loaf, don’t hassle specifics here, it’s a garnish. Spread it on a parchment lined baking sheet and toast at 400° for about 15 minutes until browned on the edges. Set aside to cool completely and dry up. These are best made the day they’ll be used.

To char the jalapeño: If you have a gas stove, char it over the flame for about 5 minutes, rotating occasionally. You can also do this on a grill or under a broiler, just long enough to blister the skin. Remove the skin, stem and some of the seeds when cool to the touch.