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!

The Stagecoach Music Festival Arrives in Indio on the Heels of Coachella

The polo fields of Indio, California, sure are seeing a lot of traffic these days. First, the insanely popular Coachella Music Festival breezed through town; followed by The Big Four, which showcased the head-bangin' likes of Metallica, Megadeath, Slayer, and Anthrax; then, finally, The Stagecoach Music Festival.

They had a very big field to fill, but country music lovers of the West Coast seemed to have no problem doing it, as the fifth year of Stagecoach went off without a hitch on the very same turf that Coachella occupies annually.

Saturday, April 30th, and Sunday, May 1st, collectively drew over 120,000 people bearing the warm weather for a good ol’ California get-down, and just like its more famous festival cousin, some big names hit the stage, including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker (yes, of Hootie & the Blowfish!), Josh Turner, Easton Corbin k.d. lang, and Rascal Flatts, who announced to the crowd that Osama bin Laden had been killed... surely a memorable moment for the patriotic patrons. Even one of my favorites, the First Lady of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson (who actually dated Elvis once) joined in on the celebration.

Amongst all of the hootin’ and hollerin’, the '70s hippie fashion that was infused at Coachella was no doubt replaced by cowboy boots and hats, with the occasional farmer’s tan!

It was a very country couple of days, but that didn't mean that the influence of other genres weren't heard loud and clear -- The Gourds put on their rendition of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice,” and Mr. Rucker took the crowd back to the '90s with some old-school Hootie, all of which deserves a big Yee-haw!

I’m already shining my boots for next year.

A Bright Future for Odd Future

With a beyond impressive list of performers at Coachella, the buzz everywhere I went was aimed at hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or as you might have heard of them, simply Odd Future.

This pack of young either still in or fresh out of high school skateboarders hailing from Los Angeles are making huge waves in the music industry and are holding down the title of hip-hop’s latest phenomenon while gracing the cover of Billboard Magazine, being one of the most sought-after groups at SXSW, and even being recommended by ?uest Love to perform on "Jimmy Fallon".

At any given time, Odd Future is made up of about 11 members: the leader, Tyler the Creator and his little brother Earl Sweatshirt (who apparently cannot be in the group until he is of age and back from boarding school -- Mom's orders!) are two dominant voices; Syd tha Kyd is currently the only female member; then there are Hodgy Beats, Mike G, Domo Genesis, Left Brain, Frank Ocean, The Super 3, Jasper Dolphin, and Taco Bennett.

Although often being lumped under the genre of "horrorcore" for their dark, vivid, and disturbing lyrics, the group denies it, describing their music as cinematic, saying they make “soundtrack music”, and if you listen to any of their songs, it will sound like a movie from front to back. “It’s f***’in art,” says Tyler The Creator.

For a group that's been compared to the likes of Wu Tang Clan, Odd Future was underground for far too long, and now as they grow into super-stardom, we hope (but know) that we will continue to hear and see more from OFWGKTA as they each for greatness!

Odd Future will be touring the East Coast starting May 12 -- check out oddfuture.com if you want to join them on a night of moshing and tearing things up! And to get a peek at the goings-on in their heads, visit their blog: oddfuture.tumblr.com.

YH Celebrates 1 Year of Amazingness!

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Young Hollywood Studios at the Four Seasons, and I have to say, it’s been a phenomenal ride. I couldn’t be more pleased with how it has worked out and the success it has become. Here’s to many more years!

In honor of the milestone, I wanted to share with you all, my Top 5 favorite interviews so far. This endeavor couldn’t have become what it’s been if not for the exceptional talent we’ve had on our white couch. So, without much further ado, in no particular order:

1) DANE COOK – YH goes live! For the first time, YouTube presented live streaming footage, and we were honored to be a part of this technological breakthrough. And who better to have live (and uncensored) in the Studio than Dane Cook?

DANE COOK

2) TINIE TEMPAH – This British import is a superstar in the making, and he’s got loads of charm to boot. Check out the “Written In The Stars” singer’s visit and lesson in proper tea-drinking:

TINIE TEMPAH

3) JESSE EISENBERG – Right before he blew up in The Social Network, this incredibly talented actor was one of our earliest Studio guests, and I was so impressed with how smart and humble he is. We couldn’t be happier for his success!

JESSE EISENBERG

4) DREW BARRYMORE – Actress, director, producer… This gal has been there, done that, and she’s as amazing as ever. So easygoing and down to earth, when she first walked into our Studio, she said, “This is friggin’ awesome!” And so is she:

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5) NICOLAS CAGE – Here’s another guy that has been around forever, and has even won an Oscar, but he couldn’t have been nicer and more interesting when he came by the Studio with Jay Baruchel to chat about The Sorcerer’s Apprentice:

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That’s just a very small tip of an enormous iceberg, you guys. And it’s only going to get better. Thanks for taking the ride with us!

BlackBerry Aiming for the Top of the Tablet Game with the PlayBook

It hasn’t even been released to the public yet, but already the word on the street for the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is outstanding. And since I am a guy who appreciates a great gadget, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of them last week during the SXSW conference. All I can say is, get your touch-screen fingers ready for this tablet, guys!

Some of the PlayBook’s key features include: a 7” touch screen, up to 64 GB of memory (with 16 and 32 GB model options), dual front and rear facing cameras, HD video and audio playback, and the ability to run multiple apps simultaneously, making multi-tasking a breeze. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet also weighs less than a pound and is ultra thin, which means you can take it just about anywhere; it could easily fit in the front inside pocket of a man’s coat, or a woman's clutch purse!

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is hitting the streets April 19th, at prices as low as $499. To get a sneak peek of just how amazing this thing is, be sure to check out our exclusive SXSW coverage on the site!

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!

Trevor Bayne Races to the Top

When your Twitter followers go from 6,000 to 31,000 in two days, you probably just did something pretty awesome. For 20-year-old Trevor Bayne, that something would be becoming the most recent (and youngest) winner of the “Great American Race,” AKA the Daytona 500.

He has been on the go ever since, but the champion driver managed to stay stationary long enough for a recent pit stop at the YH Studio. Following the lead of his childhood idol, Jeff Gordon, Trevor has become the youngest driver to win the title. He once carried a Jeff Gordon lunchbox around as a kid, but we will not be surprised if this Knoxville, Tennessee native's face soon ends up on a lunchbox of his own.

Trevor filled the Studio with his winner’s glow and the huge championship ring he is proudly rocking. And after those 500 miles (which adds up to 200 laps), it’s no wonder Trevor still feels like he is going in circles. He has practically become a celebrity overnight, to the point where none other than Pamela Anderson interrupted his phone conversation with friend and NFL Quarterback Tim Tebow for an introduction. Although he has accomplished quite the feat by being the second person to win Dayton on the first try, Trevor exudes humbleness good old Southern charm, appreciating host Jessica Smith's referring to her grandparents as “mamaw and papaw,” as well as finding it complimentary that her mother and grandmother are newly found “Cougars” and have the "Tennessee Hots" for him.

Trevor describes his accomplishments as “the craziest moment of my life,” and we can't help but suspect that he is destined for more winner’s glory.

Check out our interview with Trevor below, and look out for number 21!