There are moments in life that cause you to eat healthy whether you want to or not.
For example, as an expectant mother, I’ve been cutting out all the unhealthy items I love and replacing them with more fruits, veggies and lean meats than ever before.
This has been both a blessing and a curse. The blessing: as I cut fat, salt, sugar and all the other bad stuff, I feel great (and I think I look pretty good too), baby bump and all. The curse: while options are growing, finding healthy lunch or dinner still can sometimes be difficult.
One afternoon I was on the hunt (again) for something tasty and healthy to satisfy my endless hunger. I just so happened to be at the Fashion Mall at Keystone. I was going to settle for a restaurant I had been to several times, but then I caught a glimpse of Piada.
I went to my smartphone and Googled the restaurant. “Italian street food. Sounds interesting,” I thought. I found the restaurant had a line almost out of the door. This is a good sign.
While waiting I had time to peruse the menu. During my studies, I learned that Piada offers three categories of food in three options: Piadas, or wrap sandwiches; pasta street bowls that contain angel hair pasta with a grilled item, sauce and your choice of veggies; or salad street bowls that contain greens, a grilled item, veggies and dressing. Or you can “create your own” meal.
They also have appetizers such as lobster bisque soup or Cannoli chips; and a kids menu.
Using the process of elimination, I immediately weeded out a Piada sandwich because I didn’t want anything in “sandwich form” and I didn’t want to step out of my comfort zone and try the bread. Ok, now pasta or salad.
I looked over the pasta and salad items and decided to do a “create your own” in the rosemary, garlic and lemon chicken option. I still needed to choose salad or pasta but I decided to ask one of the servers and make a choice. If I were to choose the pasta, I’d certainly go with the fresh basil pesto sauce; for the salad, balsamic dressing.
I moved up a few steps in line and decided to review the menu once again.
I decided upon a regular sized Tuscan Chicken Salad with crispy chicken fritte, mixed greens, cucumbers, bruschetta tomatoes, fried onions, pancetta and spicy tuscan dressing. The salad was $7.95.
To wash it down, I choose Italian peach tea, $1.75. With tax, my meal was $10.57.
The salad had a pleasant kick to it and the tea was very refreshing. My lunch also came with a piece of Paida sandwich bread, with a delicious herb and garlic flavor.
The lady in front of me chose pasta and as I ogled her lunch, I told myself next time I come to Piada, I’m getting the pasta. Or maybe the salmon piada. Decisions, decisions.
I don’t go to the Keystone area often, but Piada Italian Street Food is worth a special trip. And if Italy has swanky, healthy street food, I just may need to make a special trip overseas.
Piada Italian Street Food
8601 River Crossing Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 581-9955
1380 South Rangeline Road
Carmel, IN 46032
(317) 564-4877
