Props to The Original Pancake House

As we get older, friends get married, start having babies, and start moving further away, causing us to shuffle around our once familiar traditions and routines in an attempt to keep hold of the strong friendships we have built.  This very situation is what brought me to Addison this past Saturday morning.  With one friend living in Addison, one living in Little Elm, and myself living in Dallas, we found ourselves somewhere in the middle at The Original Pancake House right off of Belt Line.  I had not been here before and, I will admit, my expectations were not exceedingly high.  I was picturing a big crowd, a very long wait (when I was extremely hungry), and typical pancake house coffee and cuisine.  I was there for the friends, not so much the food.

As I walked towards the entrance I was pretty sure I had this place pegged, passing couples and families sitting outside waiting, looking off into the distance with hungry glazed over expressions.  Yet, from the minute I put my name on the list I was faced with one surprise after another.  Here they are in chronological order:

First, there is a ton of comfortable seating for those who are having to wait - I'm talking two comfortable areas designated to waiting customers.
Second, there is a full coffee bar in the front so you can order any kind of coffee you want while you wait for your table (or you can eat at the bar).
Third, it was less than the 40 minute wait time they estimated us.
Fourth, the menu has items that have been designated a "heart - healthy meal" by Medical City (very cool) - just look for the logo.
Fifth, I can be a picky orderer.  The waitress was able to put together exactly what I wanted, no problem.
Sixth, my meal did not come out at the exact same time as everyone else (it maybe came out 4 to 5 minutes after) and so our waitress brought me a side of fruit, on the house, with everyone else's meals so that, as the waitress said, "you can have a snack while you wait".

Menu Mentions:

The menu here is pretty extensive.  They have your typical waffles, pancakes, omelets, and breakfast combos but they also have specialty items and what was most impressive to me was their "heart - healthy meals" that I mentioned early.  Menu items that are considered "heart - healthy" are designated with a symbol next to the name.  Having this mark means that the item as been analyzed by Medical City and it meets specific nutrition criteria.  There are a good 4 to 5 menu items with this designated mark.

Having gone on a long run that morning, I decided to start off the visit with a nonfat latte while I waited for my friends and our table.  The milk in the latte gave me quality carbohydrates as well as protein to refuel my tired muscles and hold me over until we could actually eat.  Once at the table I ordered the "One By Three" which is one egg and three buttermilk pancakes, but I substituted the buttermilk pancakes for banana pancakes, which were delicious.  Now, I know I could have easily picked one of the heart - healthy menu items, but that is my typical selection and this morning I really wanted something that I don't normally get.  So, I chose what I wanted, the banana pancakes, while still keeping things in check.  The banana pancakes were a fun treat that I never get, but they also offered carbohydrate for depleted energy stores and the banana added a natural sweetness (although not overly banana tasting) as well as a nutrient boost.  The natural sweetness that the bananas added was also able to take the place of lots of sugary syrup.  To balance the carbohydrates I made sure to get an egg on the side.  It's important to include protein in each meal to aid in satiety, among other reasons.  Combining a protein with carbohydrate slows the digestion of the carbohydrate, allows your blood sugar to rise and fall more gradually, and allows you to stay full longer.  Then I also got my small side of fruit as a bonus (fresh grapes, strawberries, and a little melon - substantial fruit - hurray!).  So, it was a delicious meal that was probably made even better by the excellent customer service and efficient manner in which everything was run.  Seriously exceeded my expectations.

Nutrition Notes:

Protein... milk & eggs... aids in the growth, maintenance and repair of cells (including cells damaged due to sickness or injury from surgery or sports / exercise).  1 whole egg is equivalent to 1 oz. of a "meat equivalent", containing about 7 grams of protein.

Resveratrol... red grapes (the skin particularly)... antioxidant that can help prevent stroke and heart disease.

Potassium... bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe... helps manage blood pressure and proper nerve and muscle communication and may reduce risk of bone loss as we age.

Fiber... fruit cup & bananas... helps keep you full, promotes a healthy GI system and can help lower cholesterol.

Vitamin C... strawberries... antioxidant that promotes healthy joints, skin, hair and a healthy immune system by helping the body build collagen and protecting against infection and cell damage.

Beta Carotene... cantaloupe... a carotenoid (along with lycopene & lutein) and a precursor to vitamin A that helps build a strong immune system, is critical to good vision, and is important for healthy functioning organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Lutein & zeaxanthin... eggs... antioxidants (and precursors to vitamin A) that can help slow the progression of macular degeneration, promoting eye health.

Vitamin D.... eggs... 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 support a strong immune system, and, with calcium, helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.  It's good to incorporate the whole egg now any again (as opposed to only the egg white) if eating without any additional dietary fat so that the fat soluble vitamin D, lutein, and zeaxanthin can be well absorbed.


Side Notes:  Bananas 

It's a known fact that a banana fresh and green from the vine is different than the yellow or brown banana that has been sitting in the store or on your counter for a week.  People either like or dislike one or the other for valid reasons.  While they still provide potassium, antioxidants and other nutrients with each stage, bananas actually do become sweeter as they ripen (or age) because there is a change occurring in their chemical structure.  A fresh green banana is primarily composed of resistant starch.  However, as it ages, this starch begins to convert to sugar giving it a much sweeter taste.

Even if you are not a ripe banana person, instead of throwing it out when it surpasses your preferred ripening stage, try using it to sweeten smoothies, or as a substitute for sugar and to add moisture in baked breads, muffins, cookies, pancakes and oatmeal.  With bananas you get added vitamins. minerals, and fiber that you don't get with refined white sugar.*

*If you have a medical condition that restricts your intake of potassium, speak with your doctor before making any modifications such as the above.



My Conclusions:  (based on a scale of 1 to 5... 1 = will not return; 5 = will return tomorrow)
Taste = 5
Nutrition = while my order was probably like a 4, there are certainly items on the menu with their "heart - healthy" meal mark that I think makes it deserving of a 5.
Service = 5
Overall Ranking = 5

A Win for The Wild Detectives

If you blink you'll miss it.  Nestled in a side street off of North Bishop Avenue, the main street running through Bishop Arts, is this cozy establishment called The Wild Detectives where the concept of restaurant, coffee shop, and bookstore meld together seamlessly.  At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than another house on the block.  However, on entering the front door you see that it is much more.  An assortment of concepts, from a bookstore to a coffee shop to a pre or post - dinner hangout, it can attract visitors of all types.  I have stopped in several times over the last few months for coffee but last weekend I went out of my way to venture here to work on a blog post and try a snack from their menu.  It was quiet and clean and, I soon learned, had a small but fresh and flavorful selection of food options in addition to delicious coffee.  The Wild Detectives offered me a relaxing afternoon with a great iced coffee and a fresh, flavorful, and healthier mid - morning snack.


Menu Mentions:

The Wild Detectives offers a variety of menu items.  It offers coffee and pastries in the morning (the pastries coming from Rush Patisserie), several sandwiches, snacks (such as a cheese board and a charcuterie board), pies from Emporium Pies, and a selection of local beers and fresh cocktails.

My big question on entering The Wild Detectives was, "would I be able to find a small breakfast - type item that wasn't a pastry?"  Don't get me wrong, I love a good muffin and croissant but today I wanted something healthier.  So, I asked the gentleman behind the counter if he had a non - pastry recommendation.  His instant response was to try the Pan Tumaca, a Mediterranean - style toast that they make.  My instant reaction was - hesitation - but I decided to go with it.  It sounded fresh, it sounded different, and the guy behind the counter seemed to feel pretty strongly about it.  Can't say no to that.  So I ordered this Pan Tumaca and a 2% Iced Latte.

Upon sitting down to start writing, the gentleman brought my iced latte and my toast to my table.  The Pan Tumaca consisted of a slice of toast ( I think sourdough), again from Village Baking Company, drizzled with Arbequina olive oil, topped with fresh grated tomato, topped with crumbled mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of garlic and herbs and Maldon Salt (a flaked sea salt).  So simple but so good.  I ate it slowly to savor it.  The tomatoes had tons of flavor - the ultimate summer tomato, and the olive oil, sprinkle of salt, mixed herbs and garlic, and fresh mozzarella complimented each other perfectly.  This item accompanied with my iced latte, which was smooth and refreshing was the perfect mid-morning snack on a ridiculously hot summer day in Texas.



Nutrition Notes:

• Lycopene... tomatoes...  powerful antioxidant that helps prevent hardening of the arteries and certain cancers. 
• Vitamin E... olive oil & tomatoes...  antioxidant that may help prevent cataracts, macular degeneration and skin damage and helps promote a healthy immune system.
• Monounsaturated fats... olive oil...  a healthy fat that can help improve cholesterol levels by increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and lowering LDL (bad cholesterol)
• Sodium... salt...  used by the body to control blood pressure and for the proper functioning of nerves and muscles.  About 40% of table salt (NaCl) is sodium.
• Calcium... cheese...  aids in maintaining strong and healthy bones and muscle contractions.
• Protein... cheese & milk... aids in the growth, maintenance & repair of cells (including cells damaged due to sickness or injury from surgery or sports / exercise) 
• Garlic... an allium, rich in phytochemicals that has been shown to fight against cancers of the stomach and may decrease the risk of heart disease.

Side Note:  Sifting Through Salt

The Basic Facts...

• Sodium is a component of salt (sodium chloride, or,  NaCl).  It makes up about 40% of salt.
• The daily recommended sodium intake for the average person is 2300 mg / day
• The daily recommendation is 1500 mg / day for those:
• over the age of 51
• who are African American
• who have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease
• One teaspoon of salt contains 2300 mg of sodium!

How Do Salts Differ...

• Salts differ based off of their size, texture and how they are made (sea salt, flour de sel, idolized salt, kosher salt, rock salt, table salt, etc.). 
• By weight, they contain the same amount of sodium.  By volume their sodium content may vary.  This is because some salts, like kosher, have coarser grains that do not fit together as easily allowing for less to fill a teaspoon in comparison to fine table salt.  Therefore there would be more sodium in a teaspoon of table salt than in a teaspoon of kosher salt.
• However, one kind of salt is not necessarily healthier than the other.

Does Anyone Need More Salt?

• Athletes may need extra salt if they are salty sweaters (will see it on their skin & clothes after a practice, game or workout) or if performing in normal or extremely hot environments for over an hour.

Hidden  / less obvious sources of salt include...

• Breads
• Cheeses
• Canned or jarred foods (vegetables, artichokes, beans, etc.)
• Soups
• Processed meats (deli turkey & ham, sausage, salami, etc.)
• Jarred marinara sauces / salsas

How Much Sodium Are You Eating & Drinking Each Day....??

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

Taste = 5 

Nutrition = 4.7 (they could offer fresh fruit or a fresh vegetable plate as a snack too or as a side.  They could offer whole - wheat toast; However, flavor-wise I think it's perfect as is.)

Service = 5

Overall Ranking = 4.9 

Bets on Braindead Brewing

In an attempt to fulfill our goal of branching out this summer and seeing all that Dallas has to offer, some friends and I decided to try a place called Braindead Brewing this past Friday night.

Nestled in Deep Ellum across from Cane Rosso, it is an open and inviting restaurant with a fun atmosphere.  Filled with a mix of long wooden tables and benches and your standard seating both inside and outside, it displays a local beer menu on chalkboards behind the bar and its food on a one - page menu at your table.  Here my friends and I ate great food, enjoyed local beer, and got to experience a fun new restaurant in the heart of Deep Ellum.


Menu Mentions

Upon ordering our food, my friends and I got to talk with, David, the chef.  He told us that they receive about 4 shipments of food each week so that everything is as fresh as possible and everything, with the exception of the bread & tortillas, are made from scratch.  They actually get their breads from Village Baking Company.  This is a post for another day, but if you have not yet been to Village Baking Company, I highly recommend it for a morning pastry and coffee.

So, this is a true test.  Can you really find a "healthy" / "healthier option" at a brewery and burger place?  Well, yes you can.  As long as you know what to look for, it's not as hard as you think.
After looking over the whole menu, I decided on the Beer Brined Chicken Sandwich.  The sandwich had tons of flavor but was not overly filling.  It ended up being a fresh and lighter, but still satisfying, option packed with flavor.  It was not heavy & greasy, leaving you feeling stuffed and overwhelmed like most bar and brewery foods.

The honey ancho chili rub gave the chicken a bold and zesty flavor and the stout mustard added depth to the dish but neither were overpowering.  The mix of strong and mild flavors like the rub, stout mustard, Monterey jack cheese, heirloom tomato pico, and fresh avocado complimented each other well.  The sourdough bread (complements of Village Baking Company) was just enough for the sandwich, soft and fresh, but did not steal attention from the actual ingredients that comprised the sandwich.  So often when you get a sandwich you are left feeling like all you ate was a loaf of bread... this was not at all the case here.  I had some of the sweet potato chips as my side (you have a choice of sweet potato chips or french fries).  While fried, they were sliced thin from fresh sweet potatoes that day.  They were light and crispy - a nice balanced side to the sandwich.  Just be mindful of your portions here since they are still fried.  Then, because we were at a Brewery, I had to order a beer.  I always say order what you really like and enjoy it.  It was  a perfect compliment to the meal on a hot July evening.

So, while this was "bar food" it was a better menu option, still delivering a little nutrition along with great flavor...

Nutrition Notes

• Protein... chicken & cheese... aids in the growth, maintenance & repair of cells (including cells damaged due to sickness or injury from surgery or sports / exercise).

• Vitamin B12... chicken... helps the body's cells produce energy, supporting metabolism and optimal energy levels.  Important for getting oxygen to the body's tissues (vegan & vegetarian athletes and those whose small intestines cannot absorb B12 run the risk of B12 deficiency anemia and may benefit from supplementation).

• Lycopene... tomatoes... powerful antioxidant that helps prevent hardening of the arteries and may protect against certain cancers.

• Vitamin C... tomatoes, cabbage, avocado & sweet potatoes... antioxidant that promotes healthy joints, skin, hair and a healthy immune system by helping the body build collagen and protecting against infection and cell damage.  

• Beta Carotene... sweet potatoes... a carotenoid (along with lycopene & lutein) and precursor to vitamin A that helps build a strong immune system, is critical to good vision, and is important for healthy functioning organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys.  

• Calcium... cheese... supports strong & healthy bones and aids in muscle contractions.

• Fiber... cabbage, avocado & sweet potatoes...  helps keep you full, promotes a healthy GI system and can help lower cholesterol.

• Monounsaturated Fat... avocado... can help improve cholesterol levels and, therefore, lower your risk of heart disease.

• Vitamin E... avocado... an antioxidant that helps protect the body against cell damage that can lead to cancer and heart disease.

• Lutein... avocado & cabbage...  a carotenoid (along with beta-carotene & zeaxanthin) that helps slow the progression of macular degeneration.  

Side Note:  ABSORB THE FACTS

• While protein is important to our diet, more is not always better.  Depending on the person, our bodies can only utilize about 20 to 30 grams of protein at one time.  If you are trying to increase your protein intake, look at consuming more frequent, smaller meals, containing about 20 - 30 grams of protein in each, throughout the day vs. trying to pack 40 + grams in at one meal.

• The lycopene in tomatoes is better absorbed in the body when the tomatoes are cooked so don't hold back on the homemade tomato sauces for pasta, stewed or roasted tomatoes.

• Your fat - soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, & K (and their pre-cursors like beta - carotene as well as leucine & zeaxanthin) need fat in order to be absorbed in the body.  So, when not a component of the food already, (for example, the monounsaturated fat in avocados will help the body absorb the vitamin E and lutein), try to include a little healthy fat with the food / dish (for example, roast your sweet potatoes with a little olive oil)

• Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the small intestine.  Those who have had surgery to the small intestines (like gastric bypass), have bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines, or who have a disease affecting the small intestines (like Crohn's or Celiac disease), may not be able to absorb B12 and should speak with their doctor about supplements.

• The body can only absorb about 500 mg of calcium at one time.  So, if you need to supplement, make sure to space out your intake for optimal absorption.

• It is important to include sources of vitamin C with non-meat sources of iron (dark leafy greens, beans, etc.) to aid in it's absorption in the body.

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

Taste = 5 (I wouldn't change a thing)

Nutrition = 4.8 (they could offer a non-fried side, but I would say the sandwich was a 5)

Service = 5 

Overall Ranking = 4.9