Photo courtesy of True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen, the newest addition to Garden City’s Roosevelt Field, was originally slated to open this spring. But Covid-19 had other plans. Still, even a pandemic could not prevent this award-winning and seasonally minded restaurant from opening its first New York location, right here on Long Island. With a health-minded approach (the restaurant takes its cues from an anti-inflammatory food pyramid, which pays mind to ingredients, flavors, and health benefits, for a well rounded approach to dining), True Food Kitchen is off to a good start.
True Food Kitchen was co-founded by integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil and is dedicated to letting the seasons speak for themselves. Currently, fall is just beginning to shine through. A vegan, gluten-free butternut squash soup is on the menu. So, too, is an organic heirloom tomato salad, served with watermelon, cucumber, turmeric ponzu, jalapeño, and cilantro. Other starters include a roasted corn and tomato flatbread, with goat cheese, arugula, and pumpkin seed pesto; Korean-style jackfruit lettuce wraps, served with pickled shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, and cucumbers; and edamame dumplings with white truffle oil.
A vegan pizza is made with almond ricotta, caramelized onions, and butternut squash, but non-vegans can also enjoy two cheesy pies: the margherita and the chicken sausage version. For entrees, True Food offers a grass-fed burger, a turkey burger, a wrap filled with grilled chicken and avocado, shrimp tacos, steak tacos, sustainably sourced salmon, and a casserole made from spaghetti squash. There is also a series of grain bowls and salads that can be eaten either as appetizers or as full meals.
For entrees, True Food offers a grass-fed burger, a turkey burger, a wrap filled with grilled chicken and avocado, shrimp tacos, steak tacos, sustainably sourced salmon, and a casserole made from spaghetti squash.
Dessert has not been neglected. Chia seed pudding, squash pie, and a vegetarian, gluten-free flourless chocolate cake are all on the roster. Even the “refreshers”—alcohol-free libations (though the restaurant does serve alcohol), some of which involve tea, are both wholesome and thoughtful. Sparkling peach tea, “Kale Aid,” watermelon lemonade, prickly pear tisane, and honeydew limeade are just some of the recent additions to the drinks list.
With the pandemic in mind, the restaurant has made critical modifications to ensure guests’ safety. The outdoor dining area has been expanded to allow for more outdoor guests. Staff is now undergoing daily wellness checks and socially distant seating and face masks for staff have been implemented as a policy. Menus are single-use, recyclable, there are contact-free ordering options, and the restaurant is undergoing strict disinfectant protocols to ensure everyone’s safety. Takeout is also available. True Food Kitchen is a welcome addition to Long Island, at a time when we all need a bit of a healthy boost.
