LIDO BOTTLE WORKS
The seasonal vegetables at Lido Bottle Works will get you excited about eating healthy . As one of the restaurant ’ s best-selling dishes , you will find the presentation is a show-stopper — full of color that speaks to the heart of every season . This beautifully displayed , all-vegan dish of marinated , roasted , cooked , grilled and pickled ingredients arrives in a wreath formation atop a wooden board . A decadent , freshly made pistachio butter lies beneath a gorgeous bounty of both red and golden beets , Brussels sprouts , sweet potatoes , purple broccoli , cauliflower and turnips . The final touch is a sprinkling of fennel frond , white pomegranates , almonds and sea salt , which makes it more like a salad than a simple plate of vegetables . While this is a vegan dish , guests can also add protein if they desire . ( 949-529-2784 ; lidobottleworks . com )
A rainbow of marinated , roasted , grilled and pickled produce can be found in the seasonal vegetables dish at Lido Bottle Works .
FROM TOP : NIYAZ PIRANI / KNIFE AND SPORK PR ; TALIA DINWIDDIE ; COURTESY OF TRUE FOOD KITCHEN
Surprising flavors come together in the mango broccoli taco at Gracias Madre .
GRACIAS MADRE
While Justin Haefler , executive chef at Gracias Madre , is not vegan himself , he rekindled his love affair with cooking by exploring new dishes for the plant-based restaurant . Haefler embraced the venture with open arms , bringing a 16-year background in crafting Mexican cuisine to the table , and stepped into the world of vegan cooking ; he immediately felt an enormous hug back . One of his favorite menu items on the lunch menu is the mango broccoli taco , which contains a surprising blend of ingredients . The broccoli is either battered in rice flour and fried crispy , or roasted with olive oil , garlic and salt . It ’ s then layered atop a corn tortilla with cabbage , dressed in mango-habanero sauce and topped with mango salsa , pickled onion and a sprinkling of microcilantro . It ’ s a bright , vibrant dish that can take you outside your comfort zone and allow you to experience a parade of flavors — plus , it ’ s just a great taco . ( 949-386-8100 ; graciasmadre . co )
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN
Tangy teriyaki and nutty quinoa come together with an array of fresh veggies in a bowl available at Fashion Island ’ s True Food Kitchen . The restaurant delivers a delicious blend of quinoa , broccoli , rainbow carrots , green beans , bok choy , shiitake mushrooms , snap peas and Asian herbs , all stir-fried in a teriyaki sauce atop brown rice in the teriyaki quinoa bowl . The sauce is an irresistible mixture of sweet and salty , full of flavor from pineapple , Fuji apples , ginger , green onion , orange juice and tamari — the perfect complement to this textured entree . “ I love this dish , because it has more vegetables than any of the other entrees or bowls ,” says Matthew Padilla , the brand ’ s culinary innovation chef . “ It has a full 7 ounces of fresh vegetables , and the substitution of quinoa in place of the classic rice with teriyaki makes this dish an icon for the food we try to create at True Food Kitchen — wholesome , healthy , nutrient-packed and delicious .” ( 949-644-2400 ; truefoodkitchen . com ) NBM
This stir-fry dish is packed full of veggies and flavor at True Food Kitchen .
NEWPORT BEACH MAGAZINE 31