100 Favorite Dishes: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens

No. 73: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens
While many eateries tout their use of seasonal ingredients, it's not often that you can find a dish that truly represents what's coming out of Colorado farms right now — especially at a quick-service restaurant. Never fear: With the special Alferd Packer salad,  MAD Greens has created a bowl of pure Colorado love — but it's only available for a short time. The oddly named salad is made with Palisade peaches from the Clark Family Orchard, roasted Olathe sweet corn coming from Ahlberg Farm, and crisp green beans straight from the vines at Petrocco Farms in Brighton. Also gracing the bed of romaine are dots of tangy goat feta from Jumpin' Good Goat Dairy in Buena Vista and citrus-grilled chicken. They're all tied together with a light balsamic vinaigrette, which heightens the tangy-sweet combo of peaches and goat cheese.

Give thanks for this bountiful, healthy lunch to chef Dan Long, one of the founders of MAD Greens and the company's chief culinary officer. Through mid-September, you can get this salad at any of the fifteen Colorado locations. While you're there, check out such other tasty options as the Siam I Am salad with kale, soy beans, quinoa and spinach; the Annie Oakley panini, made with slow-roasted chicken, bacon, swiss and avocado; or the fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. The first MAD Greens opened in 2004 in Centennial and over the past decade, the company has opened stores across the state and in Arizona, Texas and Utah.

Convicted cannibal Alferd Packer would have surely stuck to Colorado veggies if there had been a MAD Greens nearby when he was making his dining decisions. And, as a bonus, $1 for every Alferd Packer sold will be donated to Denver Urban Gardens.

Hungry for more? All the dishes in our 2016 countdown are linked below.

No. 100: Masala Beef at Biju's Little Curry Shop
No. 99: Bacon Shrimp and Grits at Bacon Social House
No. 98: Porchetta and Kimchi Sandwich at Brider
No. 97: Squab-and-Sunchoke Tortellini at Abejas
No. 96: Housemade Burrata at Viand
No, 95: Schweinshaxe at Rhein Haus
No. 94 Kimchi Jeon at Seoul BBQ
No. 93: Zuppa Pomodoro at Parisi Italian Market & Deli
No. 92: The Ocean Salad at Sushi-Rama
No. 91: The Signature Bowl from Churn & Burn
No. 90: Green Chorizo at Los Compadres
No. 89: The Diavola Calzone at Pino's Neighborhood Pizzeria
No. 88: Biscuits and Green Chile at the Noshery
No. 87: Chirashi at Izu Sushi
No. 86: Brisket and Ribs at GQue Championship BBQ
No. 85: The Tornado at the Chowder Room
No. 84: Korean Fried Chicken Wings at Yong Gung
No. 83: A Meatball Hero at Lil' Ricci's New York Pizzeria
No. 82: Shakshuka at Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen
No. 81: Late-Night Ramen at Brazen
No. 80: Potato Tacos at El Tejado
No. 79: Corned Beef Heart at theWay Back
No. 78: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Snarfburger
No. 77: Sweet Corn Mezzaluna at Bar Dough
No. 76: Duck Confit at Table 6
No. 75: Croque Monsieur at Fire
No. 74: Tahini Cookies at the Preservery