We're almost two months into 2013, and some of us are already losing sight of our New Year's resolutions. Eating healthy is hard when all you do is eat out. Hell, even cooking healthy is no walk in the park. Good thing we've got some news to share with your palate, belly, and heart.
Michael Boles, managing partner and owner of Haven, has teamed up with U-Fit owner and trainer Cody Patrick to present chef Todd Erickson's food to calorie-counting health freaks. OK, that's a bit insulting. Let's call them people who love eating out but have problems fulfilling dietary restrictions. Yeah, that's better.
You've likely heard of the paleo diet. In case you haven't, it's based on eating wholesome, contemporary foods from the food groups of our hunter-gatherer ancestors during the Paleolithic era, or the Stone Age. No wonder our ancestors were in such great shape.
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Anyway, every Wednesday Haven will present Paleo Gastronome, touted as "engineered nutrition you can build on." The dinner runs from 6:30 till 9 p.m. Don't worry about not having time to change after your sweaty workout. Sweat and hunger are welcomed and encouraged for the three-course meal.
The menu at last week's event consisted of shrimp cocktail gazpacho with basil and cucumber (135 calories and 13 grams of protein), citrus-brined chicken with olive tapenade, and heirloom tomato (250 calories and 30 grams of protein), and mango-agave nitro sorbet with protein (200 calories and 27 grams of protein).
The entire meal was well under 600 calories. The menu will change weekly but will always stay within the healthful 500-to-600-calorie range and around 50 grams of protein. The menu will be available for viewing every Monday for the Wednesday to follow, just in case you're one of those people who plans out your weekly meals. We're not here to judge.
Speaking of judgment: Todd hasn't forgotten about the happy-hour crowd of drinkers. And there are plenty of us. Mixologist Isaac is working on a cocktail that will be low in calories (around 90) and antioxidants.
So how does chef and owner Todd Erickson stay in shape when he's tasting everything in the kitchen? He runs every morning at the gym in his building. The view, he says, keeps him going. "My downfall is liquid nitrogen and ice cream. Running keeps it off."
The Paleo Gastronome gourmet dinner series is priced at $27 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.
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