I recently visited True Food Kitchen in Scottsdale, Arizona with my boyfriend, Gary. This restaurant is a collaboration between Dr. Andrew Weil and Fox Restaurants (an Arizona fine-dining restaurant group). Dr. Weil promotes an “anti-inflammatory” diet as being the best way to eat, and his food pyramid and dietary philosophies are provided on a printed card for all diners to read. Unusual items on the menu include olivello juice (a fruit that, according to the staff, has three times the antioxidants as the currently-popular acai berry), farro (a whole grain with a similar texture to barley), and tempeh (a cultured soy product that can be grilled or sautéed as a meat substitute).
We tried the Andy’s Elixir – olivello juice with agave nectar and soda water, before dinner. It tastes vaguely like orange juice, in a “That’s not orange juice!” sort of way. Gary loved the stuff. I can’t say it was my favorite, but it was tasty enough to order again sometime.
For our appetizers, we ordered the raw fish of the day – albacore tuna with thin slices of cucumber and mild radish, garnished with avocado and a citrus vinaigrette, along with the caramelized onion tart with smoked garlic, black figs, and gorgonzola. Both were fabulous. The onion tart was more like a crispy crust pizza, and the flavors went perfectly with my zinfandel.
Our entrees were butternut squash ravioli with a yogurt-based cream sauce, and pan-roasted chicken with asparagus, fennel, farro, and walnuts. The ravioli was good. The chicken was outstanding – full of flavor, tender and juicy. The farro was pleasantly chewy and quite tasty, especially with the sauce that was drizzled over the grain and vegetables. One thing I especially loved about this dish – the chicken was skin-on, as chicken is supposed to be.
For dessert, we shared the orange olive oil cake, which came with a small scoop of blood orange sorbet. This was another amazing dish – great flavors, wonderful textures, beautifully presented. I just wish I hadn’t had to share it!
Gary said this was the best restaurant he had ever been to. We were both very impressed with the food, and the staff is well-trained in the nutritional concept of the restaurant. I love that the menu consists of primarily whole foods, prepared in a way to satisfy the foodies that Gary and I both are. I highly recommend visiting True Food Kitchen next time you are in Scottsdale.
Check out their wesbite at http://foxrc.com/true_food_kitchen.html