If you can’t already tell, the holidays are right around the corner.

Your neighbor has most likely overly decorated his front yard and you’re probably sick of hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” on the radio. If those sentences describe you even slightly, then that’s unfortunate because I love all of it. I like seeing festive lawns, people in ugly Christmas sweaters, and I play Christmas music year round. If you don’t want to hear Christina Aguilera’s My Kind of Christmas blaring from my speakers, I’d suggest you don’t get in my car. What I love most about the holidays is (as you probably guessed) the holiday inspired food. I enjoy going to restaurants that create dishes that make you feel like you’re eating the holiday spirit. Wait, that came out wrong. I like restaurants that create dishes and drinks that promote the holiday feeling whether they incorporate seasonal ingredients or they create traditional plates. With that in mind, I was excited to check out some of the seasonal plates from True Food Kitchen in Santa Monica.

I’ve visited the Pasadena location a few times since it opened early in October and have enjoyed my lunches on each trip. I like how beautiful the restaurant is and that they serve healthy and delicious plates and drinks. Somehow they’ve managed to make the meat lover in me appreciate a vegan and gluten free dish. David Blaine couldn’t even make that kind of magic happen; yet somehow True Food Kitchen did. Regardless, I was sitting at a table in the outdoor section in the Santa Monica location. Since I was there for holiday inspired food, I already knew what to get and placed my order with the waitress. A few minutes later, my cocktail and food made its way to my table.

The cocktail of the night was the Autumn Orchard Sour ($12). A small glass was filled to the rim with muddled pear, juiced apple, lemon zest, and mulled brandy, with cinnamon on top of an orange slice. I’m still the food blogger who hasn’t found a hard liquor that works for me. Usually I opt for sweet, fruity, and light cocktails, but after reading the liquor in this drink I was hoping I would be able to manage it. After a few sips I was pleasantly surprised. For a drink with Brandy in it, I assumed it was going to be much stiffer, but it was full of enough fruit and juices that it relaxed the potency of the brandy. With that, the cocktail was smooth and moderate to go down. It didn’t have too much weight to it and it didn’t feel like was going to get me wasted. Taking that in, I was free to enjoy this one to the fullest.

To eat I had the Seasonal Ingredient Salad ($13.50). The vegan and gluten free dish took a handful of Brussels sprouts and placed it with slices of butternut squash, cauliflower, white beans, pomegranate, toasted mulberry, and a horseradish vinaigrette. The white bowl presented a brightly colored assembly of vegetables, fruits, and beans that was charming to the eye. As I took my first bite, I noticed the drizzle of the vinaigrette over the salad immediately. It was light with a creamy air to it, which gave what could have been bland veggies, a delightful dressing. Thankfully, the veggies weren’t bland on their own whatsoever. As I got through the vinaigrette and directly to the squash and cauliflower I enjoyed the lightly charred exterior that let some of the deep taste of the veggies escape with each bite. Like the squash and the cauliflower, the Brussels sprouts tasted just as good. While some Brussels sprouts can be bitter, these were done just right so that they didn’t overpower the dish with their flavor. My favorite element to the entire salad were the mulberries. The scattered fruit brought a sweet crunch that made the serene salad feel complete.

For dessert I planned to have one dish only, the Squash Pie ($7). This seemed like it would be more than enough because the gluten free and vegan pie was placed on a gluten free graham cracker crust and topped with a dollop of whipped coconut cream. As I started to eat it, the pie tasted like more than enough dessert. It was smooth and solid, but not as “cloudlike” soft as pumpkin pie. Although squash pie also doesn’t have the creamy richness as pumpkin pie, the squash version is still nice.

While I thought the pie would be my only dessert, the manager heard what I ordered and suggested a second. “You have to have the Apple Goji Crisp ($7). It’s my favorite.” He said. He didn’t have to try hard to convince me because that single sentence got me to order it. Even though I already had dessert, I was so glad that I ordered this one once it came to the table. The dessert took almond crumble, apples, and topped it with vanilla ice cream. From the first spoonful, my immediate reaction was a blissful eye roll followed by an involuntary, “What the hell?” This dessert was incredible! The vanilla ice cream is a beautiful topping to the warm apple slices and filling. The almond crumble gives it a light crunchy texture that is then accented by the goji berries. This is the type of dessert that would make you do things you wouldn’t normally do; like give your ex a Christmas present that isn’t garbage. Because we all know our ex’s only deserve garbage.

For one of my first holiday dinners this season, I’m glad I got to have it at True Food Kitchen! The restaurant has created simple holiday and season inspired cocktails and food that make you welcome the close of the year with open arms. From the drink that felt like autumn to the pie that feels like a Christmas Eve by the fireplace, True Food Kitchen puts holiday warmth in every plate that leaves its kitchen.

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Address: 395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 172, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 593-8300
Hours: Monday through Thursday – 11:00am to 9:00pm, Friday – 11:00am to 10:00pm, Saturday – 10:00am to 10:00pm, and Sunday – 10:00am to 9:00pm
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