mint: keeping it fresh

Mint is one of those love/hate herbs, isn’t it? It seems to have quite a few enemies, and I’m convinced it’s because it’s an herb of extremes. You don’t ever really find anything that has just a hint of mint: Thin Mints, mint ice cream, toothpaste… If you’re going mint, you’re pretty much going all in.

Well I’m here today to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way, and that mint, when used in moderation (unlike its terrorist food cousin, ginger, whose sole purpose is to set off ginger-flavored suicide bombs in your mouth regardless of quantity or medium), can be both safe and enjoyable.

I learned this when I tried a new restaurant in Tallahassee a few weeks ago and ordered a lobster salad with heirloom tomatoes, balsamic vinegar–and mint. The mint couldn’t have been more than two, maybe three, leaves worth, cut in thin strips; and it brought such a refreshing, light and crisp flavor to the salad that I just had to try it myself for this salad with shrimp, lemon, and feta:

salad w/ mint

The verdict: Yum!

hot spot: poor herbie’s

Grandpa Ed at Poor Herbies. New Jersey, 2010

I made a trip to New Jersey/New York last week and have to tell you guys about Poor Herbie’s. Poor Herbie’s is an old family run pub and restaurant in Madison, New Jersey with an Irish-American feel and an Italian-American menu. Grandpa Ed first took me there when I was a sophomore in college, and that is when I first tasted Poor Herbie’s house salad with creamy Italian dressing. My life hasn’t been the same since.

House salad w/ creamy italian dressing, Poor Herbies

This trip marks the third time I’ve gotten to have that salad in the past 10 years, and even though there’s nothing to it but lettuce, tomato and dressing, I’ll be damned if it isn’t still super freaking delicious.

Of course, the company is always great, too. :)

my favorite salad

Salad:
Lettuce
Tomato
Onion

Dressing:
Salt
Pepper
Oil
Vinegar

It just makes me happy that something this simple tastes so good. :)