I always love reading about healthy places others go to eat, especially since restaurants like these are hard to come by!
So I knew this week when I was visiting my family in California, I had to share with everyone a natural foods restaurant we ate at! Just in case you are ever in the neighborhood... :)
True Food Cafe, where do I begin! My mom and dad ate here a few months ago and right away my mom told me she wanted to take me there! It's located in the heart of Orange County at Fashion Island Mall, if you've ever been there it's well...it's a little heaven on earth!
The restaurant's atmosphere was fantastic and so fun and inviting. Everything was so bright, fresh, and natural!
One of my things when judging on whether a restaurant is good or bad is how full it is during 'meal times', and trust me...There were a lot of people waiting to get in!
The first thing we did when we sat down was look at their Natural Refreshments they had to offer, and this is where the excitement really started to kick in! I LOVE restaurants that offer fresh juices and drinks, but as many of you know this isn't something you find often..If ever!
Our drinks were:
Hangover Rx: Coconut Water, Pineapple & Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice (Pictured Left)
Ruby Moon: Ruby Grapefruit, Yuzu, Agave, & Soda (Pictured Right)
Kale Aid: Kale, Apple, Cucumber, Celery, Lemon, & Ginger
Usually for Boo I always order water, but I really really wanted to try their Honey Lemonade :)! Unfortunately the little gal was being quite possessive over it, so I had to sneak little drinks here and there when she wasn't looking!
The menu was beyond...how do I put this...beautiful! :) Everything was full of nutrients, veggies, handmade, fresh, and totally Diva-Approved! I have to add that my husband would totally try most items on the menu, which is saying a lot. They had a selection of meaty sandwiches, pizzas and burgers, which any husband would love!
Our second order was the appetizer, and shocker...we chose the hummus :)! It was one of the BEST hummus plates I've ever had, and that says a lot coming from a hummus whore like myself. It was topped with a greek salad of olives, feta cheese, cucumber, and seasonings. If you want the recipe, check out the Cookbook, which features tons of other recipes from the restaurant!
For the main coarse, I wanted to try everything on the menu. (At this point having a table with 20 friends would have been ideal, that way I could try everyones food!) My mom and I both ordered salads, but now I wish I would have ordered something different so I could have tried it!
Mediterranean Chopped: Cucumber, Olive, Cherry Tomato, Quinoa, Feta, Marcona Almond & Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette (Topped with Salmon)
I have to take a second to talk about the Kids menu...
Hands down, one of my favorite parts of this meal! It was SO relieving to read a kids menu that didn't include Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, or frozen chicken nuggets! Every item on the menu was fresh, kid friendly, and something that I would be extremely happy to feed my child!
Almond Butter, Apple & Banana Sandwich with Grain Nut Bread and Carrot Sticks (Wish the BEST homemade Dill Ranch!) (Pictured Left)
Spaghetti Squash Casserole: Fresh Mozzarella, Organic Tomato & Zucchini (Pictured Right) My sister in law ordered this and it was one of my favorite dishes! It was so comforting and full of veggies,which is a plus!
Harvest Chopped Salad: Squash, Apple, Pomegranate, Walnuts, Goat Cheese & Balsamic Vinaigrette (Topped with Chicken)
So would I ever go to True Food Kitchen again if I had the chance?
That's like asking if I would like a piece of chocolate cake...Yes!Yes!Yes!
And it's right next to a large selection of shopping, which well, makes it the perfect stop for anybody! :)