True Food Kitchen Keeps It Real for Health-Conscious Foodies

Summer is upon us, guys, and I think it is about time to tell you about a restaurant whose bites taste as good as you'll look at the beach!

True Food Kitchen began in the “Valley of the Sun”, Phoenix, Arizona. The concept began when health guru and author Andrew Weil agreed to pair his “anti-inflammatory diet” with Fox Restaurant Concepts and skilled chef Michael Stebner. From this collaboration, a menu that focuses on preventative health care and based on integrative medicine was born. True Food Kitchen is a certified green restaurant, which means you are enjoying your food in a environmentally responsible space, following guidelines regarding water efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable furnishings and building material, sustainable food, etc. All of which compliments your happy taste buds and healthy eats!

The seasonal menu is chock full of unique savory dishes that use the freshest and highest quality ingredients, like edamame dumplings, spaghetti squash casserole, a panang curry, and even dairy-free organic chocolate pudding! Who knew such tasty combinations could be made from food that is so healthy? True Food Kitchen is also the only restaurant in the nation that has Olivello juice, a powerful antioxident and extract from sea buckthorn berries.

With three locations -- two in Arizona and one at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California -- I am psyched to share with you all that there is now a TFK in Santa Monica, near the corner of 2nd and Colorado!

If you love trying new and healthy ways of eating, visit http://www.truefoodkitchen.com/ and get excited about welcoming a new destination for brunch, lunch, dinner, and cocktails that will have you feeling good and looking better! See you there!

Fig & Olive Brings Their Unique Tastes to L.A.

Who would have thought that you could design a concept for a restaurant specifically around extra virgin olive oil? Not me, but fortunately for the rest of us, Laurent Halasz, the founder of Fig & Olive, did just that, and with fantastic results.

Fig & Olive, which just opened in Melrose Place on Wednesday (March 2), boasts an impressive collection of over 30 different types of olive oil from varying regions (such as the south of France, Italy, and Spain) that encompass fruity, buttery, and peppery varietals as well as infused olive oils with truffles, lemon, and basil. Is your mouth watering yet?

Fig & Olive is such a unique concept it had to be successful. All of the details that go into choosing these specific EVOOs are used to create extraordinary and unforgettable dishes. After taking New York City by storm, Fig & Olive has finally branched out to the West Coast and spreading joy with every bite! I attended the opening on Wednesday, and the experience was way better than I could have expected. The event was put on by two of YH’s favorite people, EMC|Bowery's Ben Rousso and The Supper Club's Tamsin Lonsdale. Bending under lots of pressure, openings can sometimes go horribly wrong with unpreparedness and so-so food, but Fig & Olive nailed it, I can only imagine how even better it will be over time.

Let me take a moment to mention the decor -- it was amazing. As soon as you walk in, you feel as if you are stepping into a warm and intimate setting in the Mediterranean (exactly what they were going for). After walking into the smell of rosemary and olive trees, there is a display of their olive oils and a long white marble communal table with a tasting bar, a great place for getting to know other people during a fine dining experience. Even the smoking patio was the coolest I have ever seen. The main dining room is separate and has a view of the open kitchen, so you can get a first-hand view of the talents of Chef Pascal Lorange people. I had the most pleasant experience, and hats go off to General Manager Hardeep Birdi for making sure everything ran so smoothly.

All in all, Fig & Olive is sure to be the next best thing to hit L.A.’s culinary scene. I look forward to the next time and encourage anyone looking for a unique dining experience to give it a try. You wont be sorry!