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
