What) Andrew Weil, M.D., met Phoenix restaurateur Sam Fox in the late 1990s at one of Fox's restaurants in Tucson. After spending time with Dr. Weil, and in particular after cooking with him at his ranch, Fox came to understand how delicious healthy food can be, and realized that Dr. Weil's concept for a restaurant (one that serves great food that just happens to be good for you) could work. In 2008, the first True Food Kitchen opened in Phoenix. It was an immediate success, and inspired Fox and Dr. Weil to open new locations in the southwest.

    You don’t have to be a die-hard Yogi to dine at True Food Kitchen. You need only a desire to give your body nutrients, and your palate something memorable. The basis for Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet isn’t meant to deprive a healthy body of great flavors, it’s meant to take popular trends in cuisine and pair them with healthy living. Try the kale and quinoa, you’ll live longer. Drink the seabuckthorn and acai, you’ll feel better. At True Food Kitchen, we want you to feel better, live longer, and make your mouth happy in the process. (1)

    “Take it from a juicer this place is the bomb!! Great fresh juice drinks and a very clean and healthy menu. We had the lentil soup and the kale salad. The kale salad was unbelievable as its only prep was a chop and a maceration in fresh lemon juice followed by a simple addition of chili flakes, parmesan and olive oil and was this ever divine! The lentil soup was hardy, healthy and filling. The prices are good and the decor and service are top notch!" (2)

    Where) 15191 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale   1-480-265-4500   Open daily 11am – 9pm

    Why) As I was preparing the Buckys for this trip, Pam requested that I find a restaurant that featured Kale on the menu. Fulfilling this request was not as easy as it sounded but I was able to find this place as well as the Beets Café in Austin, Texas. We ate at both of these places but this is the only one that deserved it's own Buckys entry.

We had to park a few blocks away and on our walk to the restaurant Pam got distracted by this corridor of palm trees that surrounded ...

... the restaurant. This picture is evidence that we must have had a conversation about why the trunk looks the way it does.

Once that alleged conversation was done I do remember that I got distracted by this
interesting advertisement that was in the window on the other side of the side of the restaurant.

After I was done gawking we proceeded into the beautifully designed restaurant and ordered some kale off the menu.

Although I didn't take this picture of our table or the food that was brought to it, I do remember that the kale was surprisingly good. (3)