Tag Archives: True Food Kitchen

True Food Kitchen Chopped Salad

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I recently had lunch at True Food Kitchen after a far too long hiatus, and I was once again reunited with my favorite Chicken Chopped Salad.  This salad is a staple at True Food, and is even included in the cookbook.  After enjoying the salad once again, I finally decided it was high time to recreate the True Food Kitchen chopped salad in my own home.

For the most part, this recipe is pretty similar to the one in the cookbook, only in my version I omitted the chicken and the farro because I didn’t have them on hand.  I also didn’t use the champagne vinaigrette, but I’m sure any salad dressing would do.

If you get a chance, please recreate this True Food Kitchen chopped salad.  It’s delicious, nutritious and super easy to make.  Next time I will definitely add farro and chicken to mine to give it the real True Food experience.

True Food Kitchen Chopped Salad (adapted from the True Food Kitchen cookbook)

truefoodkitchenchoppedsalad

Ingredients:

9 cups mixed baby greens

1/3 cup unsweetened dried cranberries

2 ounces manchego cheese, shaved or diced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chopped dates

1/4 cup chopped marcona almonds (I used silvered almonds)

Directions:

In a large salad bowl combine your baby greens, almonds, cranberries, dates, cheese and salt.  Toss well and serve with a dressing of your choice.

 

Must Have Salad

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A little over a month ago I was invited to a media dinner at True Food Kitchen, and if you read the post, you will recall how I promised to recreate the salads that we had that evening.  The salad I came up with wasn’t exactly like the ones at True Food, but it was quite delicious.  I served it at our Golden Globes party this past weekend and it was a big hit!

The best thing about this salad is you can customize it to how you like it.  Don’t like goat cheese?  Leave it out or swap something else in.  Not a fan of dried cranberries?  Try dried cherries or another dried fruit instead.

Whatever you decide to do, just promise me you will make this salad because it is that good.  And it’s equally as good the next day as well.

Harvest Vegetable Salad

harvestvegetablesalad

Ingredients:

3 cups lactinato kale (Trader Joe’s sells this kale pre-washed in a bag – I highly recommend getting!)
1 cup sliced radishes
1/2 avocado, diced
¼ cup pepitas
¼ cup dried cranberries
2 cups roasted butternut squash
¼ cup goat cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350F. Peel and cube your butternut squash and place on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until the squash is tender (but not mushy).

While the squash is roasting, rinse your kale and rip into small pieces into a large mixing bowl and add the olive oil. Gently toss the kale (or massage the kale if you will) in the olive oil until well coated. Add the radishes, avocado, pepitas,dried cranberries and your salt and pepper. Toss everything together until well mixed, and then add your goat cheese.

When the butternut squash is done roasting, you can either add to the salad immediately for a warmer salad, or you can let it cool and then add to the salad.  Enjoy!

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Love at First Sight

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It’s no secret that I love cookbooks, but when I found out the True Food Kitchen one was available, I had to get my hands on it.  My mom and I dined at True Food Kitchen this past weekend, and by the time the meal was over, I had the cookbook in my hands and was pouring over it.

Aside from the beautiful photography and the excellent recipes, this cookbook also has lots of useful information, such as the True Food Pantry, which lists out some of the main ingredients True Food uses in their recipes and what the health benefits of each ingredient are.  The book is divided into 9 different course sections including breakfast, appetizers, drinks and pasta to name a few.

I’ve already earmarked some of my favorite recipes from the restaurant (Chicken and Farro Salad anyone?) and can’t wait to try a few new to me recipes such as the Bison Chili and the Summer Vegetable Casserole.  There’s also a Parsnip, Carrot and Zucchini bread I have my eye on for making next weekend.

If you like good food made with fresh, natural, ingredients, I highly recommend getting this book.  You can get it at any True Food Kitchen restaurant or order it off of Amazon.com.

 

Weekend Snapshots

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Is anyone else having a hard time believing we are over halfway through summer?  I mean, August starts this week!  I still have a lot of summer-y things to do including have a bonfire at the beach, make sangria, go bike riding either to or along the ocean, and figure out how to make corn syrup-free marshmallows so I can enjoy some smores.  Thankfully summer seems to last into September in Southern California, so I suppose I have a little extra time.

This past weekend was filled with good eats, good friends, and scoring a good deal on a dress to wear to a wedding I am attending in Colorado next month.  All in all, not too shabby of a weekend.  Instead of a play-by-play, let’s let the pictures speak for themselves.

Saturday brunch at one of my favorites, True Food Kitchen:

A visit from one of my besties:

The Olympics (yeah swimming!) with a side of green juice:

New summer reading:

Fresh fish for dinner with honey roasted carrots and potatoes:

And watermelon, obviously:

2011 Food Highlights

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As 2011 wraps to a close I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the dining adventures that I had over the past year.  There were some highs, there were some lows (cough Ecco) but overall it was a great year for food.  I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings!  I already have some places on my must try list…

Here is the best of the best for 2011:

Best Organic Restaurant:  True Food Kitchen

My love affair with True Food Kitchen began early this year and hasn’t let up since.  I love the breakfasts, the freshly made hummus, the light flatbreads and of course the mojitos.  There will definitely be more True Food Kitchen in 2012.

Best Italian:  Cucina Alessa

Cucina Alessa is by far the best Italian restaurant I’ve been to in the O.C.  All the pasta is freshly made and the butternut squash ravioli is something else.  If you are looking for the real deal when it comes to Italian food, this is your place.

Best Mexican:  Mi Casa in Cabo San Lucas, MX

Mariachis, margaritas the size of your head and authentic Mexican cuisine.  Does it get any better?  I think not.  The chicken enchiladas were the best ones I’ve had in a long time.

Best Bar:  SideDoor

SideDoor was an early discovery in 2011 and I’m sad to say I haven’t been back since.  I loved the pub feel, loved the food, and loved the wine.  More return trips are in my future.

Best Burger:  Paul Martin’s American Grill

Paul Martin’s breathed fresh life into Irvine’s dining scene and I hope to see more places like this in 2012.  The burger I had was cooked to perfection and was incredibly juicy and flavorful.  The dirty martini that went with the burger didn’t hurt either.

Best Dessert: Sugar Blossom Bake Shop

Sugar Blossom Bake Shop was a refreshing change from your standard cupcake-chain fare. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Sprinkles, but I also loved the delicious cupcakes and unique flavors that Sugar Blossom had to offer.  In addition to cupcakes Sugar Blossom has cookies and other treats, namely a chocolate covered macaroon that I basically had a love affair with.  The carrot cake cupcake comes in a close second.

Best Bakery/Breakfast:  C’est Si Bon

C’est Si Bon isn’t new to Orange County, but it was a new discovery to me this year.  The scones are amazing, the croissants are nice and flaky and there is always a line out the door.  That should tell you something right there.

Best Cheap Eats:  Bruxie

Waffle sandwiches that are freshly made at a cheap price?  Sign me up.  Bruxie makes delicious waffle sandwiches with delectable fillings such as eggs and bacon, fried chicken and pastrami.  If you are skeptical about the idea of a waffle sandwich fear not – these sandwiches are a must try.

And that’s a wrap for 2011!  Bring on the good eats 2012!

True Food Kitchen: Appetizer Edition

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Every year for my birthday I have gotten to pick what restaurant I want to have my birthday feast at.  Past year choices have included Bluewater Grill, Taste (in LA), and Lola’s (also in LA).  This year though the choice was pure and simple:  True Food Kitchen.

Since discovering True Food Kitchen this past spring, it’s become my new food obsession.  I love the open decor of the restaurant, the simplicity of the dishes, and of course the mojitos.  Everytime I walk out of the restaurant I leave with a smile on my face and a happy belly.  And no, True Food did not ask me to write that, but if they are looking for a spokesperson, I am available…

So why is this post called appetizer edition?  Well, I’ve written about the mojitos, commented on the overall food, so why not focus on a couple of appetizer standouts?

First Up: Carmelized Onion Tart with Fig and Gorgonzola

What better way to kick off a birthday celebration than with this beautiful tart?  It was light, crispy and loaded with flavor.  I loved that the onions didn’t overpower the fig and gorgonzola taste and it didn’t feel heavy at all.  I could’ve eaten another one of these.  Seriously.

Next: Pita and Hummus

I don’t know what True Food Kitchen does to their hummus, but it is pretty fantastic.  Maybe it’s the fresh tomatoes, olives and feta on top, but I almost ALWAYS order this dish when I dine here.  The pita is whole wheat and fresh out of the oven, and the servers are always willing to give you extra pita triangles to scoop up the remaining bits of hummus.  Definitely a win.

And Last: Chicken Sausage Pizza with Fontina Cheese

Source: StyleEater.com

I may have cheated and ordered this dish as my entrée, but I have ordered it as an appetizer in the past so let’s just roll with it ok?  This pizza has delicious chicken sausage with just the right amount of spice and is topped with tomato sauce and fontina cheese.  It may not sound like the most exotic pizza around the block but it is definitely loaded with flavor.

Once again I had another delicious meal thanks to the wonderful people at True Food Kitchen.  I was even brought out a Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble as a dessert!  As you can see there is no said photo of the Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble because I was about 1.5 Mojitos deep and the camera was long forgotten.

Looks like I have an excuse to come back to True Food Kitchen for a special “desserts” edition next!

Current Foodie Favorites: What’s up June

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Every now and then I like to talk about some of my current (ongoing) food obsessions over at Sweet Potato Bites.  With summertime just around the corner, I felt it was time for another food obsession list.

Without further adieu…

1. The Acai Mojito at True Food Kitchen

There’s something about this mojito that was just so light and refreshing – maybe it was the Veev Acai, or the lemon juice or the fresh blueberries in the drink but it was just delightful.  I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time at True Food Kitchen this summer enjoying these mojitos.

2. Bruxie

Have you been to Bruxie yet?  If not, you really need to make it a priority to get down there and enjoy one of their delectable waffle sandwiches.  Seriously people, these are really good.  You can read more about my first experience with Bruxie here.

3.  Everything at Taco Mesa

I love Taco Mesa (and Taco Rosa) and nothing to me says summertime like enjoying some freshly made tacos and an ice cold beer.

4. The Scones at C’est Si Bon

C’est Si Bon may be a new (to me) food discovery and it’s certainly left an impression.  I spend nights dreaming about their raisin scones.  No, seriously.

5. Watermelon

Now that the temps are warming up – I can’t get enough.  Watermelon for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack?  Sounds good to me.  Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top and it’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

6.  The Calamari appetizer at Kitayama

I love pretty much everything at Kitayama but I really liked this Calamari appetizer.  It had the great calamari crunch but then also had a slightly spicy flavor to it.  Yum!

7.  The Shrimp Quesadillas at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar in Cabo San Lucas

Oh. My. Word.  These quesadillas were pretty fantastic, so fantastic in fact that I had this meal twice.  I plan on trying to recreate this shrimp quesadilla goodness at home, or at least see how Taco Mesa stacks up.  If you ever find yourself in Cabo San Lucas be sure to go to the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar and order the shrimp quesadilla at the Delfines pool bar or Tomatoes restaurant.

I was too busy stuffing my face with quesadillas so I never took a photo, so here’s a view of Cabo instead.

Ahh…summertime.