Pacific Table, Please

My trip to Pacific Table was for a much needed dinner with a good college friend, who lives in Fort Worth with her husband.  I told her to choose the place, she and her husband both thought of this establishment instantly, and there we were.  It had a great feel and atmosphere the minute we walked in and the food completed the experience, leaving nothing left to be desired.  Pacific Table uses fresh organic produce and meats from sustainable farms and ranches in Texas.  My meal, being fresh and full of flavor, did not disappoint.

Menu Mentions:

There are many items on this menu that look equally delicious, fresh, and on the healthier side, making it hard to choose just one.  Pacific Table offers appetizers like grilled artichokes, a variety of sushi rolls, an array of fresh salads, a pecan veggie burger, blackened whitefish served with seasonal vegetables, porcini roasted chicken served with cannellini beans and spinach, and plenty of side dishes, including quinoa or kale salad, mashed potatoes, grilled brussels sprouts, and jalapeno slaw.  After much deliberation, I decided to go with the Brussel Sprout Salad,  while my friend chose the Ahi Tuna Salad and we split a California Roll as an appetizer.

The Brussel Sprout Salad was comprised of:

diced red onion (but not too much), roasted chicken, slices of Manchego cheese, golden raisins, chopped egg, chopped radishes, diced avocado, slivered almonds and a light vinaigrette dressing.  You can stop reading at this point and know you will get a tasty meal here, or, you can read on and get the inside scoop on this culinary success...

Nutrition Notes:

• Vitamin B12... chicken & eggs... helps your body's cells produce energy, supporting the body's metabolic rate and keeping you feeling energized.  Important for getting oxygen to the different tissues in the body (vegan & vegetarian athletes run the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and may benefit from supplementation).
• Vitamin C... brussels sprouts & red onion... helps with collagen production and protects against infection and cell damage (leading to healthy looking skin).  Helps the body absorb iron and folate from the foods we eat.  Onions may protect against certain cancers such as stomach, esophageal and colorectal.
• Vitamin K... brussels sprouts... an important factor in helping our blood clot.  Be careful about consuming too much vitamin K if you are taking any type of blood thinners as it will inhibit the effects of the medication.
• Calcium... Manchego cheese... supports strong and healthy bones.
• Iron... raisins & egg yolks... helps red blood cells transport oxygen to all or our tissues (skin & muscles).
• Vitamin E... egg yolk & salad dressing (the oil)... antioxidant that fights free radicals:  Involved in immune function, cell signaling and regulating gene expression.
• Lutein & zeaxanthin... egg yolk & avocado... help protect against age-related macular degeneration.
• Sulforaphane... radishes... cancer-fighting compounds.  Protect against oxidative damage in the body that can lead to cancer.
• Protein... chicken & egg white... aids in repair and maintenance of damaged cells due to sickness or injury (wound healing, recovery from surgery or recovering tired or torn muscles).
• Monounsaturated fats... avocado... may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Side Note: 

EGGS

• Did you know that eggs are a complete protein?  This means that they contain all of the essential amino acids (the protein components that our bodies cannot make on their own).  The egg white is the part that contains most of the protein.
• Eggs can add a great richness to dishes.  The yolks contain lecithin, an emulsifier that keeps the fat and liquid components together in creamy sauces like mayonnaise and hollandaise sauce.
• The white of the egg is what contributes volume and structure to items like meringues, angel food cake and souffles.  The egg white is also used to give gluten - free bread products their structure and volume (since they lack gluten, which usually takes care of this).

RAISINS

• Did you know that dried fruits like raisins may be just as good of an energy snack as sports chews or gels?
• Studies have found them to be equally as effective as the expensive chews and gels you purchase at athletic stores.
• Next time you head out for your long distance run, skip the fancy stuff and throw a baggie of raisins in your pack!

My Conclusions:  (Based on a ranking of 1 to 5... 1 = will not return;  5 = will return tomorrow)

Taste = 5

Nutrition = 4 (If you are watching calories and fat, I would be more sparing with the toppings.  I would choose cheese, nuts, or avocado to top the salad instead of all three.  You also do not necessarily need the eggs.  You will get enough protein with the amount of chicken on there plus a little cholesterol.  However, if you just love egg in your salad, it is a very tasty addition.)

Service = 5

Overall Ranking = 4.7

HG Sply Co

A couple of friends and I decided to try dinner on Greenville recently.  We chose HG Supply Co for its inviting upstairs patio and track record of delicious menu items.  The restaurant shapes its menu around the popular Paleo Diet, informing customers that it serves food from “wildlife and natural farming".  Although I’m not on the Paleo bandwagon, I do like this restaurant and find that the food is worth any wait you might encounter (usually pretty long).  Everything I have had here has looked and tasted fresh and been packed with flavor.

Menu Mentions:

The menu is full of unique items that could be a healthier choice.  Such items include: one of several salads, “The Gathered” bowl, their Market fish, Brick chicken, or the “Make Your Own” bowl.  The "Make Your Own" bowl is one of my favorites because you can build your own personal meal based on your food preferences. You can also boost the nutrition content of your meal by including one of many side dishes like the seasonal vegetables, Brussel sprouts, quinoa pilaf, wild mushrooms, or grilled fruit.

This Friday evening one of my friends chose the Market Fish, which ended up being a flavorful and perfectly cooked salmon over quinoa. I opted to create my own bowl with chicken, roasted vegetables and Brussels sprouts.  De - licious.

Nutrition Notes:

• Protein… chicken…needed for the growth, maintenance and repair of cells.
• Folate… Brussels sprouts… important for the assembly of DNA and other genetic material as well as cell division.
• Vitamin C… red bell peppers… antioxidant that protects cells from damage by toxins in our bodies, helps the body make collagen (a protein that aids in wound healing), increases iron  absorption when eaten with plant-based iron-containing foods, and promotes healthy joints, eyes, skin, hair, and immune system.
• Vitamin D… mushrooms… fat-soluble vitamin (needs fat to be absorbed in the body).  Helps the body absorb calcium from food and supplements, aids in muscle movement,  helps the immune system fight off bacteria and viruses and, with calcium, helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.
• Beta Carotene (vitamin A)… red bell peppers… helps build a strong immune system, is critical to good vision, and is important for cellular communication to support healthy functioning organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys.
• Inulin… onions… helps prevent constipation, keeps a healthy balance of bacteria in the colon, and can help lower blood cholesterol.
• Sulfides… onions… found to fight heart disease and cancer.  Onions are also know as “aromatics” which help bring out the flavors in dishes in which they are incorporated.

Side Note:  COCONUT OIL

I was informed by the waitress that the sweet potato fries are fried in coconut oil.  There have not been enough studies to prove coconut oil’s health benefits or that those potential benefits outweigh the negative impact it has on your health by being a saturated fat.  I chose the veggies and Brussels sprouts because I was told they are prepared in olive oil.  There is plenty scientific evidence out there to prove the health benefits of olive oil in helping lower cholesterol with its healthy monounsaturated fats.

My Conclusions (Based on a ranking of 1 to 5... 1 = will not return;  5 = will return tomorrow)

Taste = 5

Nutrition = 4

Service = 5

Overall Ranking = 4.7

Taco Diner Delight

Last week a couple of friends and I got together for a much needed catch-up dinner at the popular Taco Diner in Preston Center.  Seeing as most Mexican restaurants flaunt signature items like fresh flour tortillas, deep fried tortilla chips with some type of queso and creamy enchiladas, all accompanied by cheese, sour cream, and refried beans and topped off with their specialty margarita, I knew this would be a good challenge and eagerly agreed to the suggestion.  As soon as the waiter brought our big bowl of chips, I asked for corn tortillas to keep from mindlessly munching on the chips and began to navigate my way through the menu.


Menu Mentions:

Taco Diner would be a good choice if trying to stay fairly healthy (low calorie while still providing some nutritional benefits).  While it still offers the usual fare of queso, quesadillas, nachos with all the toppings, creamy enchiladas, and salads loaded with cheese, beef, bacon, avocado, sour cream and tortilla strips, it also seems to offer some lighter flavorful options with its Ceviche de Camarones, tacos with chicken, beef, pork, fish, or only vegetables all with different preparation options, Sopa de Tortilla,  Green Chile Chicken Posole, and Heather's Chopped Salad with lighter dressing options like a Chile - Lime Vinaigrette or Fat-Free Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Realizing I wanted actual tacos, I was able to decide on the Tacos al Pastor (one of the taco options with chicken).  So, I enjoyed their smoky and slightly spicy salsa with corn tortillas for an appetizer and the chicken tacos for my dinner.  The chicken was marinated in an achiote citrus marinade, which gave it a bold flavor, topped with fresh grilled pineapple, which added a hint of sweetness, and served in corn tortillas, keeping it light.  I added their salsa on top for an extra smoky kick.  Tonight I kept my beverage to water flavored with lots of fresh lemon and lime.  I ended up enjoying 3 of the 4 tacos and added the side lettuce and tomatoes to my tacos.  I left the rice alone as I had my share of starch/grains from the corn tortillas.  It was a flavorful and delicious meal that left me full and satisfied but not stuffed or regretful, which made my evening with friends an even better experience.



Nutrition Notes:

Protein... chicken... needed for the repair and maintenance of cells.  Important for growth and development during childhood, adolescence and pregnancy.
Fiber...  corn tortillas & lettuce... helps keep you full, promotes a healthy GI tract and can help lower cholesterol.
Vitamin C... pineapple & tomatoes... promotes healthy joints, hair and skin, a healthy immune system and good vision.
Manganese... pineapple... contributes to connective tissue, bone and blood clotting formation.  Contributes to fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation.  Needed for normal brain and nerve function.
Lycopene...  tomatoes & salsa... powerful antioxidant that helps prevent hardening of the arteries and certain cancers (lung, prostate, breast, bladder, ovarian, colon, and pancreatic)
Corn tortillas...  In place of the basket of chips, I ordered corn tortillas for the table.  Corn tortillas are a better choice than the chips on the table and the flour tortillas.  They are lower in calories and saturated fat than the chips and flour tortillas because the chips are fried and, often times, lard is added to the flour tortillas.  Plus, with corn tortillas you are getting a little fiber as corn is a whole grain.  With that whole grain comes some necessary minerals and a tiny bit of protein as well.



Side Note:  KID FRIENDLY
Taco Diner also has some healthier kid's meal options for those of you looking for places you can go and still find good options for your kids!  Try their Chicken Soft Tacos or Chicken & Veggie Quesadillas with a side of fresh fruit.

My Conclusions (Based on a ranking of 1 to 5... 1 = will not return; 5 = will return tomorrow)
Taste = 4 (I would add sliced fresh avocado next time)
Nutrition = 3 (Could add extra veggies to the tacos for nutritional boost)
Service = 5

Overall Ranking = 4