Where to find high quality and interesting prepared salads

I'm looking for a source to purchase really good and interesting prepared salads, maybe a few of them, so I'd prefer one-stop shopping . . . perhaps an interesting pasta salad, quinoa, couscous, etc. Whole Foods offers some interesting ones, like a smoked mozzarella pasta salad, curried tofu, blackened chicken, etc., but I find that their flavors really never excite me. It doesn't matter whether it's vegetarian - looking for all ideas. So, any ideas, preferably on the north side of the city?

Also, although I love to cook, I'm doing these as additions to a large menu that I'm preparing so I have no additional time to make salads and I'm not looking for recipes. Thanks!

Try Trotter's To Go catering service. They have a ton of options, listed in the catering menu on their web site.

To give you an idea, just from the grains selection

Spicy Asian Pasta and Beef Salad / $12.95 per lb
Bulgur Wheat Salad with Cucumber, Feta and Kalamata Olives / $10.95 per lb
Organic Soft Wheat Berries with Dried Fruit and Roasted Nuts / $12.95 per lb
Whole Grain Quinoa with Citrus Cured Smoked Salmon, Dill and Bok Choy / $15.95 per lb
Israeli Couscous with Fresh Vegetables and Dill / $10.95 per lb
Angel Hair Pasta with Straw Mushrooms and Chile Vinaigrette / $13.95 per lb
Cavitappi Pasta with Spinach Pesto, Parmesan Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes / $10.95 per lb

There are salad options too, as well as hot & cold veg & potato dishes.

I'm fond of the arugula & watercress slaw, & the bulgur salad.

Just in case WF ends up being most convenient, I find that a nice squeeze of lime or lemon, or a few shakes of decent vinegar perk most of their salads right up. They are bland but the ingredients are usually good so that has been my fallback.

boudreaulicious wrote:Just in case WF ends up being most convenient, I find that a nice squeeze of lime or lemon, or a few shakes of decent vinegar perk most of their salads right up. They are bland but the ingredients are usually good so that has been my fallback.

2nd-ing the WF recommendation. In particular, I've really been enjoying the Spicy Asian Slaw and the Kale Salad lately. Definitely a spritz of lemon juice or some good balsamic helps a lot.

I think Zebda shines with salads. From their website:

SALADS:
$5.00 House Salad
Mixed greens, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and tomatoes with an olive vinaigrette.

$8.00 Zebda Couscous Salad
Chicken kebab, apricot, grilled vegetables and toasted almonds with a harissa vinaigrette.

$9.00 Salmon Salad
Sweet potato, roasted red peppers, tomato confit and mixed greens with preserved lemon vinaigrette.

$7.00 Spinach Salad
Goat cheese, artichoke, Portobello mushrooms, and roasted shallots with a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette.

$8.00 Chicken Curry Salad
Caramelized figs, olives, roasted grapes, toasted almonds, and mixed greens.

$8.00 Grilled Tofu Caesar
Crisp romaine, roasted tomatoes, cured black olives, garlic parmesan crouton and a non-dairy Caesar dressing.

$7.00 The Watermelon Salad
Feta cheese, cucumber, red onions, and mint with eau de fleur d’orange vinaigrette.

I'm sure Kate would be happy to work out catering options/pricing. I really like the House Salad's Olive Vinaigrette and can vouch for the Spinach salad as being delicious.

Zebda
4344 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 545-7000
www.zebdachicago.com

Thanks for the recs so far. Yeah, Whole Foods is so convenient, especially since I'm looking to pick up maybe 3 large side salad containers. Maybe a little work on their salads is the trick.

I've definitely considered Trotters to To - and thanks Lynn for the Zebda rec . . . interesting and on my way home from work.

Does anyone have experience with Real Kitchen or City Provisions in terms of side salads? Do they have them, and if so, are they any good? Thanks again.

BR wrote:Does anyone have experience with Real Kitchen or City Provisions in terms of side salads? Do they have them, and if so, are they any good? Thanks again.

I do a tiny amount of business with City Provisions, and my customers have loved their seasonal quinoa salad and also sriracha egg salad (not to mention their potato latkes).

I've also really enjoyed the salads at First Slice (the Ravenswood and Michigan Ave. locations), both their more main course green salads but also their different side salads--beet, quinoa, etc. Their website is not very helpful right now, so you might just call them:

First Slice Pie Cafe
4401 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
773-506-7380