The New Year is here and what better way to eat healthy and enjoy local restaurants with the return of Santa Monica’s annual Eat Well Week.
Now in its fourth year, the Santa Monica Travel & Tourism initiative promotes healthy eating after the holidays from Jan. 11-17.
In conjunction with California Restaurant Month, select Santa Monica restaurants will offer a specially crafted dish highlighting California’s native vegetable, the artichoke.
This year’s Eat Well Week will kick off 2016 by offering diners a way to eat well by harnessing the health benefits of the artichoke, which range from immune support, protection against heart disease, and high amounts of antioxidants, fiber, magnesium and Vitamin C.
Participating Santa Monica restaurants who will feature artichoke-inspired dishes include: The Albright, Border Grill, Capo, Del Frisco’s Grille, eLOVate, FIG, RawVolution, Locanda Del Lago, Perry’s On The Beach, Pono Burger, Sushi Roku, and Upper West.
Consumers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite artichoke dish throughout the week via social media for a chance to win prizes.
The chef whose Eat Well Week artichoke dish garners the most votes will also be rewarded.
“Santa Monica Travel & Tourism is delighted to continue a successful partnership with California Restaurant Month with a unique twist this year,” said Misti Kerns, SMTT president/CEO. “The artichoke is a quintessential California vegetable, and Santa Monica’s renowned chefs and farmers markets have enabled us to create some truly remarkable, artichoke-inspired dishes that will encourage diners to kick off 2016 in a healthy and delicious way.”
From grilled and fire roasted artichokes to ceviche, risotto and puree, diners can enjoy an assortment of artichoke delights throughout the city.
The Albright, Border Grill, Del Frisco’s Grille and Upper West will offer their take on the grilled artichoke.
RawVolution will offer a Raw Vegan Sweet Potato Puff stuffed with artichoke cream topped with cranberry chutney. eLOVate Vegan Kitchen will feature an Artichoke Ceviche with hearts of palm, tomato, cilantro, lime, escabeche, and chipolte aioli, and Locando del Lago will feature Risotto con Carciofi e Burrata with organic carnaroli risotto, artichoke, buratta cheese and parmesan.
“My eLOVate crew and I are honored to be a part of the Santa Monica community and Eat WellWeek,” said eLOVate Executive Chef Roberto Martin. “This is a great opportunity to share one of my favorite menu items: our Artichoke and Hearts of Palm Ceviche. This is a recreation of a Latin classic and a shining example of how well-known flavor combinations and unique ingredients can come together to deliver that familiar comfort food experience.”
Eat Well Week takes place from Jan. 11-17, 2016. For a complete list of participating restaurants and menu items, visit www.santamonica.com/eatwell.
