True Food: Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure

When Andrew Weil and Sam Fox opened True Food Kitchen, they did so with a two-fold mission: every dish served must not only be delicious, but it must promote the diner's wellbeing. True Food supports the same mission, with freshly imagined recipes that are seasonal, inviting, and easy to make. Showcasing fresh, high-quality ingredients and simple preparations with robust, satisfying flavors, True Food demonstrates how easy it is to eat well at home. With essays on topics ranging from farmer's markets to proper proportions, the book includes more than 125 original recipes from Dr. Weil and chef Michael Stebner, such as Curried Cauliflower Soup, Corn and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli and Vegetables with Parmesan Broth, Spicy Shrimp and Asian Noodles, Bison Umami Burgers, Chocolate Icebox Tart, Pomegranate Martini, and much, much more.

"For those who believe that 'health food' will never be as satisfying as gourmet food laden with cream, butter, sugar, and salt, holistic wellness pioneer Weil (Spontaneous Happiness), restaurateur Fox, and chef Stebner have created a chain of eateries, True Food Kitchen, to prove them wrong. This title gathers more than 125 recipes from Weil's personal collection and others he developed with Stebner, the chain's executive chef, that conform to Weil's Anti-inflammatory Diet Food Pyramid — diners at True Food Kitchen are handed a copy before they peruse the menu — and incorporate cooking methods and ingredients from Mediterranean and traditional Asian cuisines. There are many options for vegetarians of all stripes, low-carb and low-fat eaters, paleo dieters, and the gluten-sensitive, and discussions of healthy eating practices (seasonal produce, portion sizes, whole grains, etc.). An entertaining chat between the authors gives insight into the difficulty of making unfamiliar items like sea buckthorn juice (better known as a component in natural beauty products but used here in sorbet, a muffin glaze, and drinks), sambal oelek (a spicy chile paste), and astragalus root (a Chinese medicinal herb) palatable to mainstream Americans, while adapting to popular demands for red meat, coffee, and alcohol. Ethnically inspired choices include breakfast tabbouleh with kiwi, strawberry, and lime juice; Gado-Gado, an Indonesian salad dressed with peanut sauce; a soup made with immunity-boosting astragalus root, garlic, and shiitake mushrooms; and salmon sauced with a kasu paste derived from sake. The brief dessert section reflects Weil's philosophy that Americans consume too many sweets; but on special occasions, readers can indulge without guilt in a nondairy Middle Eastern pistachio confection or a vegan, gluten-free chocolate pudding. Agent: Richard Pine." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Andrew Weil, MD, is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and a partner of True Food Kitchen. He is the author of several bestselling books, including Spontaneous Happiness, The Healthy Kitchen (coauthored with Rosie Daley), Healthy Aging, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, and Spontaneous Healing. He lives in Tucson, AZ.

Sam Fox is the founder and CEO of Fox Restaurant Concepts, and has been nominated three times for Restaurateur of the Year by the James Beard Foundation. He lives in Scottsdale, AZ.

Michael Stebner is the executive chef overseeing all True Food Kitchen restaurants. He lives in Scottsdale, AZ.