Dining Out for Life event Thursday to benefit HOPE nonprofit
BY JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
4/25/12 at 2:39 AM
Good karma will be on the menu at a number of Tulsa restaurants on Thursday.
More than 20 eateries will be donating 25 percent of their sales for lunch and/or dinner during the sixth annual Dining Out for Life event, which raises funds for Health Outreach Prevention Education (HOPE).
"It's a pretty simple idea," explained Jeremy Simmons, a clinic specialist for HOPE. "You just go and eat," and all proceeds will benefit HOPE's mission to provide HIV prevention and health promotion services.
Keo at 3524 S. Peoria Ave. has been involved in the event for five years, said owner Bill Hyman.
"HOPE just makes it easy for us to give back to the community," Hyman said. "It's well-organized, well-put-together, well-run, and we're just happy to do it every year."
This will be the first Dining Out for Life at Hey Mambo, Scott Moore's restaurant at 114 N. Boston Ave.
It's a cause close to his heart, he said, as a dear friend of his has been HIV-positive for 20 years.
All you have to do to help is order off the menu.
Want to splurge? Go with Moore's fettuccine alfredo, he said. Watching your weight? His eggplant Parmesan is baked, not fried.
Almost everything at Keo is healthy, Hyman said, first mentioning the restaurant's popular Vietnamese chicken salad.
Whether you're dieting or feeling decadent, each of the 21 local restaurants has something to suit you. Here are three, each with a trio of healthy options and another three that are a tad more hedonistic.
Yokozuna, 309 E. Second St.
DECADENT
Pork Belly Ramen. Topped with a fried quail egg, this tasty noodle dish features a spicy broth, plus bok choy, red onion, cilantro, Fresno peppers and lime.
Thai Tea Custard. A rich and creamy custard flavored with Thai tea leaves. It's served with whipped sweetened condensed milk and citrus honey, then garnished with lemon zest.
Flaming Volcano. One of our favorites at Yokozuna, a tempura-fried sushi roll with crab, chipotle cream cheese and jalapeno. It's then topped with langostinos (shellfish) and is served with scallions and eel sauce.
DIET-FRIENDLY
Fish Tacos. Grilled Mahi Mahi tacos - on either flour or corn tortillas, unless you ask for lettuce - filled with Asian slaw, avocado and cilantro. Pick the small salad of Romaine lettuce, carrots, sesame seeds, crispy wonton noodles and ginger vinaigrette instead of the sweet potato fries.
Yoko Pops. One of the most fun menu items, these sushi-on-a-stick treats are made with crab, spicy tuna, avocado, sprouts and cucumber.
Tuna Poki. Marinated Ahi tuna on a bed of daikon radish topped with wasabi tobiko. Very yummy.
Caz's Chowhouse, 18 E. Brady St.
DECADENT
Cheese Fries. Some of the best in town, these hand-cut fries come loaded with jack and cheddar cheeses. You can add bacon, chili, jalapenos and/or sour cream.
Chicken & Waffles. One of our naughtiest favorites, it serves up chicken tenders on a Belgian waffle topped with syrup. On the side: black-eyed peas.
The Big C. With two half-pound all-beef patties, this belly buster has double cheese, bacon and - as if it matters - lettuce, tomato and onion. Obviously, you'll want fries with this.
DIET - FRIENDLY
Grilled Salmon Fillet. This is one of the most enjoyable ways to get your dose of omega-3. It comes with mashed red potatoes, which are great, but they'll also do double broccoli, which is a wonderful antioxidant.
Grilled or Blackened Chicken Breast. This comes with a slice of cheese on top, too - and you do need dairy, right? Ask about the side salad, which has green apples, feta and sugared walnuts, with a lemon-herb vinaigrette (ask for the latter two on the side).
Santa Fe Salad. They top iceberg and Romaine lettuces with chicken, black beans, fire-roasted corn and peppers, tomato, guacamole, and cheddar and jack cheeses. Ask for half the cheese or for it to be served on the side. The tomato vinaigrette is tangy and tasty, but salsa as a dressing is fat-free and lower in calories.
Cosmo Cafe, 3334 S. Peoria Ave.
DECADENT
Euro Beast. This favorite features roast beef, avocado, roasted red peppers, cheddar, horseradish cream cheese, red onions and tomatoes. Up the splurge factor a notch by having it on a croissant.
Italian Quesadilla. Inside the sun-dried tomato tortilla is an eye-rollingly good combo of cream cheese, chicken, marinara pesto, fresh basil, mozzarella, cheddar and hard mozzarella. Would it ease your conscience knowing it comes with a side salad?
Sunshine Pizza. Second only to the Cosmo Curry Chicken Salad, our favorite entree at Cosmo is a baguette served with alfredo sauce, bacon, feta, pine nuts, tomatoes, chicken, mozzarella and cheddar.
DIET-FRIENDLY
Madras Vegan Chili. A delicious three-bean dish served with a little baguette (share with your table) and a side salad.
Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad. Brown rice tabouli with tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, feta cheese, balsamic chicken and pine nuts on spring mix and Romaine. It comes with an amazing oregano-mint vinaigrette.
Eberle Dhal. This awesome vegan-friendly dish has lentils and butternut squash, served with a fresh baguette.
What is HOPE?
HOPE is an independent nonprofit that has served Tulsa and surrounding communities since 1998.
Recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive HIV-prevention facilities in Oklahoma, HOPE is the only free, anonymous testing site in northeastern Oklahoma.
HOPE also operates the only statewide HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) resource hotline, and conducts a variety of targeted outreach efforts focusing on men, women, and underserved populations.
For more, call 918-749-8378 or visit tulsaworld.com/hopetesting
Dining Out for Life
Dining Out for Life will take place Thursday during lunch or dinner at more than a dozen local restaurants.
Local celebrities will be at all restaurants, which include Andolini's, India Palace, Joebot's Coffee Bar and Keo Asian Cuisine, all of whom will be donating a portion of their lunch sales.
Those donating a portion of their dinner proceeds include Baxter's, Caz's Chowhouse, Cosmo Cafe, Dalesandro's, Dilly Deli, El Guapo's Cantina, Elote Cafe, Fassler Hall, Hey Mambo, Joebot's, Lambrusco'z to Go, James E. McNellie's Public House, Mod's Coffee & Crepes, Shades of Brown, Smoke, The Tavern, The White Lion and Yokozuna.
Also, now through May 6, Whole Foods will donate all bag refund credits to HOPE.
For more, check out tulsaworld.com/hopetesting
Original Print Headline: Dine out, give back
Jason Ashley Wright 918-581-8483
jason.wright@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Splurge on Pork Belly Ramen at Yokozuna. JOHN CLANTON / Tulsa World
Splurge on Thai Iced Tea Custard at Yokozuna. JOHN CLANTON / Tulsa World
|
