Spinning & Henrietta’s Table

16 May 2011 15 Comments

by Juggling With Julia in Restaurant Tags: , ,

For me, there is not much that can top a mind-blowing workout followed by a delicious meal.  Except, of course, when the meal is at an incredible restaurant, and I am surrounded by interesting and vibrant folks, all of whom share a passion for good food and nutrition.
This was my Saturday. I attended a special Spin & Lunch event sponsored by the Massachusetts Dietetic Association, which was planned by my pal (not to mention my blogging inspiration), Meg.  First, she kicked our butts during a very challenging Spin class at Harvard University’s Hemenway Gymnasium.  Then, we headed across the square to Henrietta’s Table for a late lunch.  This restaurant, whose motto is “Fresh and Honest,” also gets props for relying on local farms and fishermen to provide its ingredients.  The menu was full of greens, local cheeses, and spring vegetables, and every single entrée sounded so good.  When my turn came to order, though, the overwhelming excitement of it all (likely a combination of post-workout endorphins, a dwindling glucose supply, and the fact that I don’t get out much) made it impossible for me to make a decision. Thank goodness for the kind server who enthusiastically offered her recommendations and helped me to make up my mind.

And what a meal it was — an absolute smorgasbord for the senses as I saw, smelled and tasted each course.  First, I ventured into the unknown to try a Scotch egg.

Scotch egg

Photo by Katy Hartman

This little morsel of delight is a hard-boiled egg surrounded in sausage before being lightly fried. On top of some beautiful greens with a mustard vinaigrette, it was a wonderful start to the meal.  I shared half of it with the table, and we all agreed it was very tasty, not to mention colorful. Check out that yolk!

Next, I went with the barbecue braised slow-roasted Vermont pork shoulder, with braised yellow eye beans, wilted greens, and cheddar grits.  The pork had a nice kick, the beans were great (like a large black-eyed pea), and the cheddar grits were creamy and a perfect partner to offset the heat of the pork. I ate half and saved the rest to take home.

There is always room for a taste of dessert.  That, I needed no help in choosing.  As we were being led to our table on arrival, we passed a group of diners all being served the same dessert.  Several of us let out an involuntary gasp and said, “What is that?”

Photo by Heath Robbins

That, my friends, is chocolate bread pudding with caramelized bananas and vanilla bean ice cream.  Warm, sweet, and utterly decadent.  I was looking for a picture to show you here, and managed to find the recipe as well.  Whoa, Nellie!  Croissants, heavy cream, buckets of eggs, and more cream — no wonder it tasted so good!!

No, I don’t recommend eating like this every day.  But, I do believe that food is meant to be enjoyed and that just about anything you like can fit into a healthy lifestyle. This meal and experience is actually a perfect representation of the balance I aim for in my life– I get a good dose of sweat as often as I can, and eat meals that I enjoy that offer variety, appropriate portion sizes, and flavors and textures that satisfy all the senses. I never leave the table wanting.

Enjoy your life and the food in it!

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