As salads as meals become increasingly popular, the days of offering merely house or caesar are a thing of the past.  Below is a list of the most stand-out salads in Austin, a city where the food competition {even for salads} is fierce.  Have a suggestion?  Leave a comment and I’ll be sure to check it out!  Looking for other bests in this great city?  My fellow food bloggers have got ya covered here.

Cantine “Nizza”

What it is: Oil-cured Spanish Tuna / Spinach / Green Beans / Potato / White Beans / Fried Capers / Soft-cooked Farm Egg

What I dig: A close friend of the salad niçoise, the nizza adds beans, potatoes, and fried capers to the mix.  This salad is vibrant, protein packed, and perfect for a weekend lunch.  Ask for a side of whipped feta – I promise you won’t regret it.

Café No Sé “Shredded Kale” Salad

What it is: Shredded Kale / Cauliflower / Crispy Rice / Currants / Dill / Cucumber / Optional: Egg

What I dig:  If a salad could be described as fun.. The tang of the dressing, subtle bursts of flavor from the currants and dill, and delicate crunch of the crispy rice, this salad is totally fun.

La Condesa “Mixa con Pollo Rostizado”

What it is: Roasted Chicken / Baby Arugula / Bibb Lettuce / Jícama / Radish / Grape Tomatoes / Avocado / Red Onion / Queso Fresco / Mustard Vinaigrette

What I dig:  So many crisp veggies! Jícama, radish and cucumbers add excellent crunch and texture.  And the roasted chicken is super tender and flavorful.

Josephine House “Winter Slaw Salad” with Seared Chicken Breast

What it is: Turnip / Beet / Swiss Chard / Brussels Sprouts / Shropshire Blue Cheese / Hazelnut Vinaigrette / Seared Chicken Breast

What I dig:  A unique combination of ingredients.  Although their menu is ever-changing, you can count on Josephine House for hearty salads with ingredients that will continue to surprise.

Blue Dahlia “Mozzarella Salad”

What it is: Fresh Mozzarella / Tomatoes / Basil Leaves / Basil Pesto / Mixed Greens

What I dig:  The generous serving of pesto and giant bed of greens.  A traditional Caprese salad, although delicious, always leaves me feeling like I ate a giant pile of cheese.  Having the ability to pair each bite with tomato, basil and a fork-full of greens makes for a more rounded meal.

Henri’s Smoked Trout & Avocado Salad

What it is: Smoked Trout / Avocado / Isreali Couscous / Pickled Shallot / Radish / Capers / Sherry Vinaigrette

What I dig:  Pickled shallots, a fish that isn’t salmon, and all the while, lightly dressed.

Elizabeth Street Cafe Grilled Gulf Shrimp Bún

What it is: Grilled Gulf Shrimp / Rice Vermicelli / Lettuces / Herbs / Cucumber / Carrot / Roasted Peanuts / Nuoc Cham

What I dig:  Okay, this isn’t really a salad.  But herbs!  I can’t help but add this dish when it is filled with fresh herbs and veggies and set on top of a pile of lettuce.  And the grilled shrimp of some of the most giant, best lookin’ in town, too.

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For more veggie-filled dishes around Austin, check out The Fresh Find’s favorite vegetarian eats!

 

Gosh, it’s been a long time since I’ve spent an afternoon with my food blogging buds.  Between our day gigs, night gigs, family time, friend time, and me time – it’s been quite the challenge to get this handful of busy bees together. Thankfully, our love of food and drink and desire to collaborate our knowledge of photography allowed us to pin a date on the calendar.  And a timely shipment of Lipton green teas gave us the perfect theme: an Asian-inspired tea party.

I took the lead on the main dish, while Jessica, Megan, Veronica, and Shef took care of drinks, snacks and desserts.  Together, we transformed Jessica’s house into a food blogger’s dream: natural lighting, studio lighting, textured surfaces, pretty plates, garnishes galore.  But the best props of all were our food and drink contributions.

Tea Party Menu

Lipton Green Tea Infused Cocktails

{Pure Green Tea & Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea}

Spiced Peanuts

Bite-Sized Banh Mi

Jicama, Edamame & Corn Salad

Matcha Panna Cotta

Matcha Cake Roll

Lipton’s updated green teas have a light, fresh taste, bright color and delightful aroma that made for such a vibrant addition to our party.  We had so much fun testing out each flavor.  Naturally, I gravitated towards the pure green tea, but the cranberry pomegranate green tea was a close second.

After a generous amount of time taking the most composed shots, we gathered around the table for some foodie conversation.  And when our food was finished, we moved to the living room {green tea cocktails in hand}, circled around a computer, and shared our best tips and tricks for editing food photos.  Overall, it was a lovely afternoon among the loveliest of company and I think we’re all in agreement that our next get together is already long overdue.

Check out the full line-up of Lipton Green, Black, and Herbal tea flavors here!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.