Fresh local and regionally sourced food is always a score. Make it delicious and you’ve got a winner.

True Food Kitchen accomplishes just that.

The brainchild of best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil and Fox Restaurant Concepts, True Food Kitchen was first introduced to the Valley two years ago at the Biltmore Fashion Park. Now, the Scottsdale Quarter has gained a tasty addition to its restaurant repertoire.

The menu at True Food Kitchen is unlike those at typical restaurants. Locally and regionally sourced ingredients create a simple but satisfying menu. Helpful guidelines in the menu allow patrons who are vegan, vegetarian or prefer gluten free to quickly choose their meal.

The new location also has other sustainable elements that add to the restaurant’s “green” vibe. It is partially powered by solar panels and has an herb garden adjacent to the restaurant that is utilized for many of the restaurant’s dishes. It also features high efficiency kitchen equipment, waterless urinals (saving 40,000 gallons of water a year), reclaimed wood floors, compostable take out containers, low voltage LED lighting and much, much more.

One of the neatest green factors I enjoyed is the reusable wine bottles, including a Chardonnay from a local winery in Flagstaff, Kind Vines. The bottles have painted labels and glass corks and are returned to the distributor to be washed, sanitized and reused. A real throwback to the old school milkman days.

Of course, the sustainable theme is felt throughout the restaurant’s décor with elements of nature visible in the fragrant herbs, potted plants and flowers dotting the interior and exterior.

But enough about the green stuff, let’s get to the food. The cuisine at True Food tastes different right away, but only in the best way possible. Every flavor, texture, and aroma is enhanced — you can simply taste the freshness in each bite. We began our meal with shrimp dumplings, comprised of shiitake mushrooms, brocolli, kale, ginger and cilantro – that packed just the right amount of punch.

Then we moved on to some entrees: Chicken Sausage Pizza topped with tomato, fennel and fontina as well as the Teriyaki Rice Bowl, made up of Asian vegetables, sesame, avocado and shrimp. The pizza was made with organic flour, spelt and flax seed and you can almost trick yourself into thinking it was as healthy as pure veggies.  But indeed, the normal greasy, pit-of-the-stomach feeling you get after eating pizza? Gone! These slices tasted fresh and invigorating, a testament to the quality of the ingredients.

The rice bowl was also a hit. Diners have a choice between pairing the dish with tofu, chicken or shrimp. I chose the shrimp option and was also blown away with the result. Just like the pizza, the rice bowl left me feeling satisfied but not stuffed. Each ingredient had its own unique flavor that harmonized perfectly together.

To top it off, we selected a flourless chocolate cake, made with 72 percent cocoa and topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel. The decadent treat was so good, we didn’t even miss the flour.

For an appetizing and healthy meal, True Food Kitchen is a fantastic choice for the health-conscious foodie with a hearty appetite.

If You Go:

Scottsdale Quarter
15191 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-265-4500
www.truefoodkitchen.com