Howdy Partner – Floriole Edition

I have had a lot of work-related blind dates in my day, from potential design clients to the friend-of-a-friend looking to collaborate. It feels like I have at least one or two of them each week. And when it comes time to choosing a location, my dates love to suggest Floriole. And I always say yes. It’s bright and busy, and I love it there. But saying yes in the past also meant eating beforehand – there simply weren’t many options for me there.

So when my friend (and plant queen) Sara Gasbarra of Verdura suggested bringing Floriole on as an OPP restaurant, I got really excited. She introduced me to the owner, Sandra Holl, and I explained the program to her. She was totally into it, and said that she even wanted to work on a plant-based sweet (um, yes). We agreed to start with savory dishes, and she delivered some really awesome salads. You know those kinds of salads that seem to have only a few simple ingredients, yet you still can’t figure out how to replicate them at home? Well, these are those.

Sandra is big into seasonal ingredients, so her menu changes often. This April, she’s featuring these awesome, OPP-friendly salads: Cauliflower, Sweet Apple, and Almond; Spinach and Grain; and Butter Beans, Artichoke Hearts, Celery, and Walnut. Makes me want to go right now. No, really. I’m gonna go right now.

Find out more about Floriole on their restaurant page (hours, location, and other reasons why I love it).

Update: A veg and gluten-free sweet has arrived! Call ahead before stopping by to make sure they’re stock up. I have a feeling these will go fast.