True Food Kitchen

My parents came to visit me other day, so we went out to lunch in Santa Monica near the promenade. After mulling over potential restaurants, we chose True Food Kitchen, which is known for their healthy dishes and seasonal ingredients.

 I loved the modern interior and open, airy space

True Food Kitchen has a great selection of drinks, since they don't sell regular sodas like Coke. I had "The Natural," made of fresh ginger, agave, and soda.

Shirataki Noodles - green curry, snap pea, asparagus, oyster mushroom and cashew. This tasted great, although I wish it came with more noodles.

 They had these adorable herb gardens outside the restaurant. Great idea!

Have you tried out any new restaurants lately?

-Lauren

Garlic Pasta with Chicken & Red Bell Pepper

Do you ever find yourself planning a meal around one ingredient? That happened to me the other day. Instead of giving up on the lone red bell pepper I had sitting in the fridge, I found a really delicious recipe that saved the day. Click here to view the full recipe.

 Garlic Butter Pasta with Chicken and Red Bell Pepper

I substituted the crab with chicken, used less butter, and didn't use pine nuts. The great thing about recipes is that there is (usually) room for adjustments. I loved the taste of the garlic butter sauce, and the red pepper was a great compliment to the overall flavor of the dish. I highly recommend!

Try using whole wheat pasta. It's healthier for you, and tastes just as good as regular pasta.

Do you have any tips/recipes for cooking with bell peppers?

-Lauren