Summer is salad time: fresh ingredients, quality lettuce make these greens distinctive.

• Author: Lavrakas, Dimitra
• Position: Alaska Business Power Lunch

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Eschew iceberg lettuce. While it may contain good fiber, its nutritional value is less than romaine or other leaf lettuces. Dried and cut iceberg could be blown into the sides of a house for insulation. Plus, it's pretty tasteless and cheap and that's why it's used as filler in salads. But don't be fooled, demand a higher grade of greens.

ORIGINAL CREATIONS

That's why we love the Glacier Brewhouse salads the salads are imaginative and nutritious. You can add any of these yummy toppers--wood-grilled wild Alaska salmon, pan-seared Alaska halibut, grilled chicken breast, cold-water bay shrimp, kippered-style smoked salmon, or pepper-crusted Ahi tuna. Sizes offered are either as a side or an entree. Both are reasonably priced.

A special favorite is the spinach and pear mix with a baby spinach field mix, pear cider vinaigrette, shaved prosciutto, ripe Bartlett pears, chevre goat cheese, figs and candied walnuts. All the major food groups are there and in such a luscious combination.

The blue cheese salad is a runner-up--mixed greens, red flame grapes, caramelized pecans and Stella blue cheese crumbles.

And the Brewhouse's Caesar is among the best in Anchorage, with a nice touch of shaved and not grated Parmesan.

As for dressings, this eatery is a stand out. No bottled or dry mix salad dressings here. They are as varied as the salads and just as creative. We prefer our dressing on the side, because we love salads and the taste of good greens. And we watch our calories too.

FAMOUS SALADS

Simon and Seafort's in downtown Anchorage is another great place for salads because you can enjoy three in one with the three-salad sampler. Maytag blue cheese: romaine, chopped egg, slivered almonds, blue cheese; Chophouse Cobb: roast chicken, avocado, chopped egg, bacon, tomato and Maytag blue cheese dressing; and Broadway pea salad: water chestnuts, bacon, creamy pepper dressing. This is a good way to find a favorite.

The Cobb salad has an interesting and star-studded history. Searching the kitchen for something to serve Grauman's Chinese Theater owner Sid Grauman, Robert H. Cobb, who owned the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, chopped up whatever he could find in the fridge. The Cobb was born and it became a staple on the menu.

The signature seafood Louie comes with grilled salmon, Dungeness crab, bay shrimp, deviled egg and Thousand Island dressing. Great Alaska seafood showcased on one plate.

The grilled maple chicken with sliced...