One might begin with an organic mixed greens salad and goat cheese croutons with an olive dressing, or sea scallops in potato crust with a balsamic-citrus sauce and parsnip puree.

A mixed greens salad also suffered from an overdose of vinegar.

Still, it doesn't hurt to order something with a vegetable base, like a mixed greens salad or a non-cream soup.

A "nibbles" menu includes everything from burgers to sushi to a huge organic greens salad weighed down with carrots, radishes and beets.

Recommended dishes: Phyllo-wrapped shrimp, oysters and mussels Arizona, crab cakes, seafood salad, seafood bisque, spinach salad, wild greens salad, loin of pork, veal chop, roast chicken, bouillabaisse, all desserts.

With a Caesar or seasonal greens salad, it would make a rewarding light meal, especially with the excellent house-baked rolls (notably the tomato-basil-thyme ones) served warm with four types of butter (plain, honey, strawberry and peach).

Fresh BBQ pork sandwiches, tender beef meatloaf on a toasted roll, freshly topped greens salad, quinoa salad with lentil soup.

This dish weighs in at less than 200 calories, so serve it with a mixed greens salad and roasted new potatoes.

The United States popularized mixed greens salads in the late 19th century; other regions of the world adopted them throughout the second half of the 20th century.

Also receiving kudos were the coriander and black-pepper-cured salmon topped with dandelion greens salad and a goat cheese salad dressed with a tasty champagne vinaigrette.