Whole grains are popping up on menus everywhere. From the elegant country club to the neighborhood pub, there are more creative and flavorful whole grain dishes than ever before to delight my insatiable appetite.  No matter where I go now, I find myself searching the menu to see what great things the chef might doing with whole grains.

These days almost every one of the eateries I visit has at least one choice, but what I’m looking for is the creative use of whole grains – something with a WOW factor! And sure enough, I’m discovering them and am always impressed by the flavors, textures and delicious dishes. 

Here are some of the highlights from my whole grain menu hunt:

A Culinary Resort
This past April, my husband and I spent the weekend at the Essex Inn for our anniversary. This quaint spot nested between the rolling hills of Vermont is a popular culinary resort with an award-winning fine dining restaurant and cooking classes.  The first night of our stay, we had reservations in their fine dining restaurant, Amuse.  We were greeted by the hostess then seated right next to the Chef’s Table.  Lucky me!  I listened in and frequently peeked over my shoulder to see what clever ingredients and tools the chef was working with.  But the real thrill was listening to our server describe the Barley Risotto.  She was right!  The risotto was every bit as creamy and decadent as its white rice cousin and even more hearty and comforting.  I’d consider driving the four hours north just to have another bowl of that!

A Neighborhood Brasserie
Weeks after our trip to Vermont, I ventured to a neighborhood favorite, Crave.  It was my husband’s turn to sample the whole grains this time.  Eagerly awaiting the recommendations and specials, he perked immediately after hearing about the Blue Corn Fried Chicken.  The cowboy in him couldn’t resist ordering this meal and was not disappointed.  Tender pieces of chicken were cleverly disguised in a purple coating – crunchy whole grain blue corn chips – a feast for the eyes and the taste buds!  Upon further conversation, we learned that this item has quickly become a favorite and earned a spot on the regular menu.

A Brew Pub
En route to our summer vacation spot in Maine, my mother and I stopped for lunch at the Sea Dog Brew Pub in Topsham, Maine.  Scanning the impressively diverse menu, I was awed to find a Southwestern Quinoa Salad on the menu.  I just had to order this ingenious dish!  It was a colorful plate; a bed of baby greens adorned with a large scoop of red quinoa dotted with bits of bright red roasted pepper, green soybeans, black beans, grilled corn and fresh cilantro.  The hearty salad was dressed with a tangy lime-cilantro vinaigrette and garnished with a wreath of blue corn tortilla chips, which were my preferred method of scooping a eating the salad (who needs a fork anyway?).  I loved this salad so much that I created my own version and posted it in our recipe section.

A Country Club
At a summer wedding at the Ballymeade Country Club on the Cape, we were blown away by the clever creations passed during the cocktail reception – creative and clever are understatements here.  There were the bleu cheese and walnut stuffed figs and ahi tuna served in miniature edible cones, but it was the quinoa appetizer that caught my attention.  A bite-sized patty of warmly seasoned lamb and quinoa sat atop a little cornmeal pancake garnished with a tiny dollop of cool tzatziki. As an extra bonus, I took the opportunity to share the benefits of quinoa with the other guests who were nibbling in delight and curiosity alongside me. 

The next time you’re visiting your favorite eatery, be sure to look for the whole grains and give them a try. Then, spread the word!  These restaurants and chefs need your support and want your business, and with our encouragement, they’ll make whole grains a mainstay on the menu. 

Want to know before you go? Click here to see our ever-growing list of restaurants with whole grains on the menu.  Have a favorite restaurant that’s already serving whole grains?  Email me the name and location, and I’ll add them!  Karen