Restaurants are challenging to eat at when you’re trying to eat healthy. The amount of salt and oil used to prepared dishes are typically a mystery which make determining the calories in a meal near impossible. Sometimes, when you think you are making a good food choice you come to find out that you ordered a fat – sugar – calorie bomb. And because your in a restaurant, and you ordered the food, you have two choices — eat the fat – sugar – calorie bomb or go home hungry.
A few years ago when I was working in Arizona and I ate a restaurant called Seasons 52. I thought the restaurant concept was genius- healthily prepared seasonal ingredient dishes that have their calorie counts listed on the menu.
You can only imagine my delight when I found out a Seasons 52 was opening in Chicago. Season 52 celebrates what’s good now by using seasonally inspired ingredients at their peak of freshness. They are known for small plates, signature cocktails and 52 wines by the glass. They use rustic cooking techniques (oak wood fire grilling and brick oven roasting) to bring out natural flavors versus using fat and salt. The result is healthy fare, lighter in calories than the ordinary restaurant meal.
For anyone with food allergies they offer alternative menus to accommodate special dining needs including lactose/dairy sensitive, sodium friendly, gluten sensitive, vegetarian and vegan. If you are gluten sensitive, consider using a gluten sensitivity self test kit for better awareness and management.
A few weeks ago, Charlie and I visited the Chicago location in River North to taste some of the new seasonal menu items. Once again Seasons 52 did not disappoint. We started the night with two refreshing cocktails. Mine was made with Meyer Lemonade, orange Grey Goose vodka, Meyer lemon juice, pineapple juice, and a bit of agave for sweetness. It was a perfect summer sipper.
We then split a heavily truffled (oh hell yeah!) sweet corn Parmesan risotto. It was hearty without weighing me down. I really liked the chive oil, it gave the dish a bright crisp flavor. I could eat this risotto over and over again and be a happy person.
We also split the crab wedge salad. I love a good wedge. I would have liked a little bacon (the seasoning did add a bit of smokiness), but otherwise it was delicious (minus the asparagus…gagging…hate asparagus..picked it out)
As an entree I went big.. rack of lamb. I was actually really full by this point so I only ate one of the chops and packed the rest up for lunch the next day.
I had a sweet finish to my meal too. I concluded with a a Mini Key Lime Pie Indulgence. I love just a little sweet to seal the deal at the end of a meal. Season 52’s Mini Indulgences are perfect.
Seasons 52 is a great casual restaurant offering season healthy choices. It would be a great place to start a girls night out or go for happy hour (woohoo Chicago now has happy hour!).
I love love love that you can have a filling that tastes great but won’t set you back or make you feel deprived if you’re watching your calories.
Disclosure: My meal at Seasons 52 was complimentary. All opinions are my own.
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