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Y ou grab the proverbial blanket, I'll bring the basket, and Picnik — the new eatery situated in the posh retail development Montrose Collective — will prepare the comfort food, albeit with a healthful slant. The Austin concept was created by Naomi Seifter nearly a decade ago when she set out to invent better-for-you fare that's just as flavorful as its less health-conscious counterparts, with a menu that leans into paleo-inspired recipes and gluten-free options devoid of refined sugar, seed oils, gluten, and peanuts. Seifter's Houston location is her first outside of Austin and was fashioned by HapstakDemetriou+ with an emphasis on nature: large windows that bathe the interior with natural light, greenery, and seating that spills out into the shaded courtyard. Here is a menu that even the most compromised diner riddled with food allergies can enjoy along with their dining companions. Start with a cocktail — yes, they serve booze and have even created a tasty line of canned cocktails you can tote along for picnics in the great outdoors. Picnik is known for its butter coffees. Order your favorite variety, from cappuccino to pumpkin spiced, lightened with grass-fed butter in place of cream, with whey and MCT (medium chain triglycerides), an oil supplement often used by athletes for a quick energy boost. As you might expect, trendy avocado toast ($14) graces the menu, along with French toast ($14) and a hearty farmhouse breakfast made with eggs, no- sugar bacon, and smashed Yukon potatoes ($15). For dinner, start with the loaded smashed potatoes, where t h e r o a s t e d Yu k o n g o l d s are crisped and smothered in delectable cashew queso with bits of bacon and a squirt of cilantro crema ($13). The mighty grass- fed burger is topped with melting organic raw cheddar, house-made bacon jam, and pickles, all nestled in a scratch-made sesame bun ($20). To gild the lily with any dish on the menu, there's a menu of adaptogens ($1.50 to $3.50 each). New to the concept? They're essentially dried herbs, roots, and other plants such as mushrooms that are reputed to help our bodies restore balance and manage stress. At Picnik, they're served as a side you can sprinkle like seasoning. For the benefit of your health, request reishi to promote relaxation, sharp to enhance your energy level, or lion's mane to tweak your focus and enjoy a sense of better well-being. Picnik at Montrose Collective, 888 Westheimer Road, picnikrestaurants.com. By Laurann Claridge. Echoes photography Rebekah Flores. Packing a Picnik the Great New Greek Cafe Echoes & F ans of vinyl rock can likely relate to the name of Georgeos, Fivos, and Alexia Kazilas' cool new Montrose bar, music venue, and eatery, Echoes Cafe. Frankly, the allusion flew right over my blonde highlights until Georgeos — son of Fivos and a fan of all genres of music — explained that "Echoes" is a Pink Floyd track on the Meddle album. Echoes Cafe is situated on the second story of Carriage Glass & Detail, (Continued on page 60) Echoes Cafe Pan-seared calamari with green olive parsley sauce, crispy garlic, and red Fresno chilies at Echoes Cafe 56