Modmarket

PEOPLE HAVE TO EAT OUT ALL THE TIME.

At least, that’s what Modmarket’s co-owner Anthony Pigliacampo has concluded. Most households have two working parents now; life is busy.

“If you look at the history of the restaurant industry, it started out as something that was indulgent,” he says.

“The menus of the those restaurants were not designed with food you could eat every day.”

Healthy food is “becoming more necessary,” which is why he and business partner Rob McColgan came up with the concept for Modmarket.

The Colorado-based restaurant opens

Feb. 4 in the new Preston Hollow Village development at the northwest corner of Walnut Hill and Central, and promises meals under $10 served in under 10 minutes.

Modmarket carefully walks the spectrum, catering to hardcore health nuts and your average steak-and-potatoes customer. The restaurant’s two most popular menu items are the superfood salad with a spinach-and-kale blend, quinoa pilaf, feta, carrots, almonds, red grapes and champagne vinaigrette; and the steak sandwich on ciabatta bread with chipotle aioli, Muenster cheese, mixed greens and tomato. The calorie counts come to 606 and 660, respectively.

It shows that the common definition of “healthy” is changing.

“It doesn’t have to be so reductive,” Pigliacampo says. The 40 grams of fat in a salad dish comes from nuts and cheese and olive oil, rather than globs of ranch dressing.

The 12-inch brick-oven pizzas are made inhouse daily with whole-wheat dough, and you can opt for gluten-free. The selections range from crimini kale (487 calories) to barbecue (840 calories).

The company sources locally, sometimes. Right now, you’ll find winter citrus from Texas incorporated into certain dishes. The restaurant is more focused on seasonal produce, changing parts of the menu several times a year.

Pigliacampo also recognized that beer and wine are an important part of dining out, even if it is “fast food.” In addition to local craft beers, Modmarket has Tiamo organic wine on tap, starting at $2 a glass. The tap reduces bottle waste and lowers the cost — because who wants an $8 glass of wine to go with their $7 salad?

Modmarket originated in Boulder in 2009 and expanded through Colorado. The next stop was Texas. In addition to Preston Hollow, locations recently opened in Plano and Flower Mound, with more coming to Southlake and Richardson.

Pigliacampo says Dallas aligns with Denver — young, well-educated families who are active and outdoorsy and care about what they eat.

“Preston Hollow is a great illustration of that,” he says.

WHERE TO GRAB GOOD-FOR-YOU GRUB

Whether fast and casual, or slow and upscale, our neighborhood has long been a hub for fresh, whole foods. These are just a few other restaurants that cater to the healthconscious diner.

Green House Market

The popular food truck opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant inside NorthPark Center in December 2013, featuring locally sourced meats and produce. And, it gives the word “salad” a whole new meaning. Its veggie list includes a quinoa pilaf with mushrooms, leeks and bell peppers; forbidden rice with pomegranate seeds and butternut squash; and roasted beets with walnuts and feta. Order two with a choice of meat or fill up your plate with three heaping portions of different salads.

Cedars Woodfire Grill

Although it recently shuttered its Frisco and Plano restaurants, the location on the Cooper Aerobics campus remains open (to the public, by the way, not just Cooper members), serving unprocessed meals made without the use of freezers, fryers or microwaves. The menu features grilled everything — in bowls, salads, sandwiches or wraps. To indulge, try the adult grilled cheese with applewood smoked bacon. On Saturdays, kids eat free if they come wearing a sports jersey.

Zoes Kitchen

This fast-casual Mediterranean spot continues to expand in our neighborhood. It has already established popular locations at Preston and Royal as well as Inwood Village, with a new one coming to the Shops at Park Lane. The menu pleases both meat-eaters and vegetarians with grilled kebabs and salads. Plus, you can find all the calorie counts online.

Snappy Salads

With an emphasis on creative salad concoctions, the Preston-Forest restaurant can convert almost any meat-and-potatoes lover. Curious how much fat that dressing is adding to your veggies? Snappy Salads breaks down the nutritional info for each one on its website.

True Food Kitchen

The Plaza at Preston Center was abuzz in November 2013 during the opening of the first True Food Kitchen in Texas. The concept is based on the holistic cooking philosophy of Dr. Andrew Weil, known for his anti-inflammatory diet. The sit-down restaurant has an open kitchen swarming with staff. The menu features some standout dishes you don’t see every day, such as the edamame dumplings appetizer with daikon radish and white truffle oil, and the turkey lasagna with spinach and ricotta.

Seasons 52

For an upscale (yet reasonably priced) experience centered on only seasonal ingredients at their peak flavors, this NorthPark Center restaurant is great for a less-indulgent celebratory dinner. Every dish is less than 475 calories.

The Store In Lake Highlands

WAXING POETIC…necklaces, charms and bracelets, and custom pieces, to mix and match. Crafted by Bali artists, these pieces are beautiful and unique. 10233 E NW Hwy @ Ferndale (near Albertsons) 214.553.8850 Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30

TheStoreinLH.com

The Little Things

The Little Things is an online children’s shop offering unique and fun styles in sizes newborn to size 8. We carry toys, books, and gifts for all those little ones in your world. Find us at: shopthelittlethings.com 214-821-3015.

214.560.4203