To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.

With the recent heat wave in Tahoe, having a cool, crisp and refreshing dish to lean on is a welcome commodity – and this week’s feature is a perfect example. Not only does it double down on the fruit and greens, but it comes together in such a sweet and creamy harmony that you can’t help but forget about the warm temps outside.

To paint the picture, a combination of arugula and mixed greens are topped with a truckload of citrus wheels, seasonal fruit and burrata along with a house made citrus vinaigrette then finished off with a balsamic glaze and sunflower seeds. And as long as I’m talking about a painted picture, this is the Mona Lisa of fruit salads – it’s a gorgeous piece of art that pops with intense colors and flavors.

No matter what seasonal fruits and citrus you’re getting, one thing is for certain, there’s going to be a lot of it. Every bite radiates with sweet tanginess but it’s when you get a smidge of the burrata that this dish goes fully nuclear. It erupts with a creaminess that enhances every item on the plate – yes, even the greens – and it has such a great balancing effect to the acidity and tartness that even Philippe Petit would be impressed.

You know when you’re eating out and you’re asked if you would like a salad or fruit for your side dish – this is the best of both worlds combined … on steroids … at the peak of their powers … with bells and whistles. Anyway, you get the hint. At least I hope you do.

Elements Eatery and Bar is located at 3310 Lake Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe. For more information and menu items you can reach them online at elementstahoe.com or by phone at 530-650-9004.