EAT: FENNEL SALAD AT PEQUE ON 145TH

After a long holiday and doing some major restaurant reviews in December, we decided to check out some of the healthier options to be found uptown for 2016.  An iPhone app that calculates approximate calories for each ingredient also comes in handy for getting a better idea of calorie count and we put some of uptown's favorites to the health test. Pretty much anything around 300 or under will be the ones to look out for.

On the third day of our seven day salad challenge, we decided to try something different that was being offered up over at Peque on 145th Street between 8th and 7th Avenue. Instead of the usual mixed greens or kale, the tapas wine bar serves up a delicious looking, crisp fennel salad with persimmon and cut wedges of orange citrus.  Everything is tossed together with a light vinaigrette and a refreshing accent of chopped basil.  This entirely vegan dish tasted just as good as it looked and was only about 130 calories for the serving based on our calculations.  For $8 each, this was one of the best deals we have had uptown as far as taste, quality or presentation goes.  Everything paired perfectly with a glass of white wine which comes with no guilt because of the light meal during the early evening Happy Hour.