Originally published in the April 6, 2011 issue of the Coast Report
By Britney Peraza, Staff Writer
With an adjective like true underlined in the name, I had high expectations for the True Food Kitchen and they were more than fulfilled.
The restaurant focuses on natural ingredients to keep the body healthy without sacrificing taste. The whole menu is based on Andrew Well’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Food Pyramid, which is focused on the ingredients needed to sustain a healthy physical and mental life.
The restaurant’s interior cultivates an eco-friendly look in its high ceilings, wooden and glass decor, green plates and planted grass sectioning off the tables. The relaxed aura adds to the sophistication of the atmosphere.
I started off with a refreshing red moon soda which was a mix of pink grapefruit, yuzu and agave. The tall glass paired with a slice of grapefruit made the essence of real chic come alive and the smooth taste with a kick of sweetness cleansed my mouth after every bite.
The soup of the day cleverly titled immunity soup was a delicious mushroom stock base with onions, shittake mushrooms, carrots, blanched broccoli and astragals root. The stock was a little strong but the vegetables added their own oomph to the soup to lighten the taste.
My main dish of choice was the natural certified angus beef steak tacos. Every second of eating these tacos was an experience in itself mainly because of the tenderness of the steak pieces that were piled high on tiny corn tortillas.
The steak’s juices and woodsy spice complemented the avocado, sprinkled cotija cheese, and tomatillo salsa laying gracefully a top the meat. Since the three tacos are assembled and prepared like three bite sized street tacos, each bite gives you a taste of every flavor.
Accompanying the tacos was a bowl of heavenly anasazi beans with a hint of cotija cheese, onions and tomatoes. The kitchen was a true success that left me feeling balanced and satisfied.
The True Food Kitchen’s prices range from $6 to $12 for appetizers and $7 to $24 for entrees.
The restaurant is located in Fashion Island at 451 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach.
