Seasons 52

Four years ago I put this restaurant on my “must try” list. This month I was able to cross it off – don’t you love it when that happens?

When I attended the Corporate Athlete training program at the Human Performance Institute in Orlando back in 2007, my favorite nutrition instructor recommended that we check out a restaurant in the area called Seasons 52. We weren’t able to get reservations that week, but her suggestion stuck with me. When my family and I were in Orlando two weeks ago, my husband and I managed to get a table and it was, in a word, fabulous.

The instructor had billed it as a restaurant that really got it right when it came to healthful eating – delicious fresh food, beautifully prepared and presented, with reasonable portions. And, they’d pioneered a concept called “Mini Indulgences” in which they serve tiny portions of decadent desserts in shot glasses so you can end your meal with just a few bites of something really wonderful. I have a sweet tooth that does its best to run my life, so I just love this idea.  I also love that a number of restaurants have since picked up on it as well – after all, imitation is the highest form of flattery.

The menu changes with the seasons as the restaurant name indicates. We were there just a day or two after their summer menu had launched and it was simply fantastic.  Besides being able to count on fresh seasonal flavors, you’re also assured that no item on the menu has more than 475 calories. Portions are healthy but definitely not tiny! Why can’t every restaurant make this promise?

Between the two of us, we had:

BLT Flatbread applewood smoked bacon, organic arugula and summer tomatoes (shared before dinner with our friend)

Organic Tomato & Hass Avocado Salad with cilantro, organic arugula and grilled ciabatta

Caramelized Sea Scallops grilled and served with roasted asparagus and tomato-mushroom pearl pasta

Wood-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with herb polenta, broccoli, cremini mushrooms and shallot-Dijon glaze

Mini Indulgence Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse

Mini Indulgence Key Lime Pie

Everything was really good, but those desserts were just amazing. If you have the opportunity to visit a Seasons 52 yourself, I can highly recommend it. And if you don’t live near one, there’s one piece of the concept you can easily replicate – the portion size. How to do it? Just split your meal with someone and share dessert with the table. Bon Appetit!

Note: Seasons 52 is actually owned by the Darden Group, famous for brands like Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Try it anyhow. :0)