Salads are usually thought of as a boring side dish. However, with the right ingredients and preparation, they can be a vibrant, satisfying meal on their own. The key to a great salad is the source, quality, and preparation of every single ingredient.
At The Bricks Pizzeria, we believe salad deserves to be more than a bowl of wilted lettuce and dressing.
We male all our salad using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Contact us for the best pizzas, pastas, and salad in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
How Do Quality Ingredients Impact Our Salads in Grosse Pointe?
Quality ingredients are the foundation of every salad. At The Bricks Pizzeria, we’re a farm-to-table restaurant, which means we get all our ingredients from local farmers and vendors.
In fact, we get many of our ingredients from our own 20-acre co-op farm, Fox Hollow Farm. Located in Metamora, Michigan, Fox Hollow Farm uses organic, sustainable farming practices to grow produce, herbs, grains, eggs, honey, and more. Anything we don’t get from our farm we get from suppliers within 100 miles of our restaurant.
We believe prioritizing local ingredients makes a difference in the taste of our salads for several reasons:
Local Sourcing
The quality of our salads depends on the quality of the produce and ingredients. Salads from farm-to-table restaurants often have a difference you can taste. This is because the ingredients don’t have to travel far to reach your plate.
By eliminating travel time, you ensure the ingredients keep their freshness, ripeness, and nutrient level.
Salad made with local ingredients often has a seasonal focus. The best restaurants create salads based on what’s currently growing in the area, maximizing freshness and flavor.
Pairing Ingredients
The best salads pair ingredients together thoughtfully, rather than just throwing them into a bowl. Unique ingredients with different textures that complement each other differentiate a chef-inspired, gourmet salad from a basic one.
Some key ingredients that elevate basic salad include:
- Dairy: A creamy, quality cheese can bring out the flavor of the greens. At White Buffalo, our creamy goat cheese in our Beet Salad or fresh Parmesan shavings on the Caesar and Antipasto salad add more texture while maximizing flavor.
- Roasted or Pickled Flavors: Roasted, preserved, and pickled ingredients add new flavors, textures, and depth. Our salads include ingredients like salami, peppadaw peppers, olives, and pickled onions to add acidity and deepen flavors.
- Crunchy Textures: A variety of textures is essential for gourmet salads. Croutons, carrots, and cucumbers add dimension when paired with the greens and softness of the cheese.
Preparation
The last element of great salads is the final preparation, including dressing, plating, and garnishes. Look for restaurants that use house-made dressings for their salads. Bottled versions often have more sugar and preservatives, while dressings made from scratch have more freshness and flavor.
Plating and the visual appeal of salad is equally important as the taste. Rather than just throwing everything into a bowl, the salads should be thoughtfully presented.
Visit The Bricks Pizzeria for the Best Salads in Grosse Pointe, MI
Salads don’t have to be a boring side dish. Make them the star of your meal with farm-fresh ingredients, exciting textures, and thoughtful preparation.
At The Bricks Pizzeria, we believe sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients transform every dish we make. We take great care to make many components of our dishes in-house for ultimate flavor.
We’re also proud to source many of our ingredients from Fox Hollow Farm and other local farmers. Our use of local vendors supports the Grosse Pointe community we call home.
Want to try our pizzas, pastas, and salad for yourself? Place your order online or make a reservation to dine with us in Grosse Pointe!
