True Food Kitchen, an innovative eatery developed in partnership with Phoenix-based Fox Restaurant Concepts and best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil, will celebrate its official grand opening on Monday, May 9th at Santa Monica Place.
Under the guidance of Chef Michael Stebner, True Food Kitchen offers a globally inspired, seasonal menu appealing to anyone seeking a more balanced lifestyle. True Food Kitchen embraces high-quality, locally and regionally sourced ingredients to create a pure, simple menu that tastes great while nourishing the body, mind and spirit.
Sam Fox, CEO and president of Fox Restaurant Concepts, said, “Los Angeles has a tradition of being at the forefront of health and fitness, as well as a passion for quality, innovative cuisine. Those same virtues have inspired True Food Kitchen. Our goal is to offer a dining experience that feels as great as it tastes.”
“Those with dietary restrictions often have limited choices when eating out. True Food Kitchen offers a wide variety of dishes to satisfy those with specific food intolerances as well as those simply looking for a flavorful meal they can feel good about eating,” said Chef Michael Stebner. The menu at True Food Kitchen features global cuisine, influenced by the Mediterranean, Asia and California. High-quality grains, vegetables, wild-caught fish, certified Angus natural beef, and free-range chicken are featured, and a variety of dishes are offered as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free, and menu notations easily identify these choices.
A sampling of featured lunch menu selections include: Tuscan Kale Salad, Lemon, Parmesan & Bread Crumb; Organic Tomato & Roasted Vegetable Pizza; Turkey Burger, Provolone Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato & Avocado on Flax Seed Bun; Wild Ahi Sliders, Radish, Avocado, Cucumber, & Wasabi Aioli on Sesame Brioche; Steak Tacos, Avocado, Cotija Cheese, Anasazi Bean and Tomatillo Salsa. Lunch selections range from $6-17.
Heartier, healthful dishes are served on the dinner menu, such as: Spaghetti Squash Casserole, Fresh Mozzarella, Organic Tomato & Zucchini; Sashimi Tuna Salad with Avocado, Cucumber, Edamame & Ginger; Teriyaki Brown Rice Bowl, Asian Vegetable, Sesame, Avocado, choice of Tofu, Chicken, Shrimp; Pan Seared Halibut, Snap Peas, Asparagus, Purple Potato & Umami. Prices range from $6-25.
During Saturday and Sunday brunch, many lunch dishes are offered, in addition to breakfast items, including: Antioxidant Muffin, Cranberry & Olivello Glaze; Tofu Scramble Wrap, Soy Chorizo, Pasilla, and Anasazi Bean; Breakfast Burrito, Egg, Turkey Bacon, Provolone, Anasazi Bean & Salsa; Market Vegetable Scramble, Sweet Potato Hash, Onion & Two Eggs. Brunch options are priced from $3-17.
Specialty beer and sake complement the menu. Wine selections are chosen based on the wineries’ commitment to organic, biodynamic and/or sustainable farming practices. A variety of house-made cocktails feature fresh-squeezed juices, herbs, and organic spirits. Natural refreshments, including fresh juices and elixirs, are also available.
The design and menu selections of True Food Kitchen are location specific. The Santa Monica location features additional entrée choices, plus a full bar and expanded specialty cocktails. Elements of nature are found throughout the interior and exterior, including a living wall on the hostess stand and planter boxes outside the entry filled are filled with fresh herbs. The décor’s color palette of lemon-twist yellow and apple green features light and dark wood tones, soaring ceilings with exposed beams, and large sliding windows. A patio spans the entire length of the restaurant, featuring plenty of seating for small and large groups at tables and lounge seats.
In keeping with Dr. Weil’s healthy living philosophy, many materials selected for the restaurant are environmentally friendly, including high-efficiency kitchen equipment, low-voltage LED lighting, low-VOC paint, reclaimed wood floors, compostable takeout containers and a Natura Water Purification Unit used to create still and carbonated bottled water in-house.
The 6,500-sq. ft. True Food Kitchen at Santa Monica Place was designed by Sam Fox and Judi Testani of Testani Design Group. The interior boasts 5,500 square feet, with seating for more than 90 guests, including two large communal tables for flexible seating and a centrally located bar that seats an additional 26 people. An expansive 1,000-sq. ft. heated outdoor patio features seating for over 70 guests and is surrounded by a concrete planter wall.
Fox Restaurant Concepts opened the first True Food Kitchen in Phoenix in 2008. The restaurant recently expanded the concept to Newport Beach, CA and Scottsdale, AZ, making the Santa Monica location the forth in the United States.
True Food Kitchen is open seven days a week. Reservations are available for parties of 8 or more, with take-out service as well. Underground and valet parking available. True Food Kitchen is located at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 172, Santa Monica, CA 90401. For more information, call (310) 593-8300 or visit www.truefoodkitchen.com.
About Fox Restaurant Concepts
Launched in 1998, Fox Restaurant Concepts is the parent company of 13 unique concepts located in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas: The Arrogant Butcher (Phoenix); Blanco Tacos + Tequila (Scottsdale, Tucson); Bloom (Denver, Scottsdale); Culinary Dropout (Scottsdale); The Greene House (Scottsdale); Modern Steak (Scottsdale); Montana Avenue (Tucson); NoRTH (Denver, Kansas, Scottsdale, Austin, Tucson); Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Marketplace (Scottsdale); Sauce (Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson); True Food Kitchen (Newport Beach, Phoenix; Scottsdale); Wildflower (Tucson); and Zinburger (Phoenix, Tucson). The concepts range from upscale casual and fast casual to mixed food service and retail operations. Fox Restaurant Concepts are all unique and fresh in cuisine, style, service and design and are dedicated to offering the highest quality food, with exceptional service in a stylish and comfortable atmosphere.
About Dr. Andrew Weil
A world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Weil is a best-selling author and editorial director of DrWeil.com, the leading online resource for healthy living based on the philosophy of integrative medicine. Dr. Weil’s books include the national bestsellers: Spontaneous Healing; 8 Weeks to Optimum Health; Eating Well for Optimum Health; The Healthy Kitchen, and Healthy Aging. He also authors the popular Self Healing newsletter and is the Director of Integrative Health & Healing at Miraval Life in Balance Resort. Dr. Weil is an internationally-recognized expert for his views on leading a healthy lifestyle, his philosophy of healthy aging, and the future of medicine and health care. As a columnist for Prevention and TIME magazines and a frequent guest on Larry King Live, Oprah, and the Today Show, Dr. Weil provides valuable information and insight on how to incorporate conventional and complementary medicine practices in one’s life to optimize the body’s natural healing power.
