CHEERS

CHAMOMILE COCKTAIL

True Food Kitchen’s Tee Time offers intoxicatingly refreshing means to stimulate the senses

Since its founding in 2008 in Phoenix, True Food Kitchen’s menu has been focused on a singular philosophy: food should make people feel better, not worse, and that great tasting food and thoughtfully crafted beverages can serve as the foundation for a life well lived. “As much a lifestyle as a culinary concept, our team is a collection of chefs, restaurateurs and mixologists working hand-in-hand with renowned doctor of integrative medicine Dr. Andrew Weil on recipes that follow an anti-inflammatory food pyramid,” says Jon Augustin, vice president of food and beverage for True Food Kitchen. “This extends beyond just our food menu to our cocktails as well.” Case in point: Tee Time ($14). “While the base of the cocktail is Tomatin Dualchas, which is a scotch whiskey with a delicate flavor known for its candy sweetness peppered with hints of pine, lemon, and green apples, we infuse it in-house with aromatic chamomile, a critical aid in digestion and natural medicine that helps reduce anxiety and fight insomnia,” Augustin says. The infused scotch is then combined with Barrow’s Intense, a liqueur made with fresh ginger versus extracts or artificial flavors. “Ginger fights inflammation and is high in antioxidant properties, which help ward off illness,” Augustin sys. The spirits are paired with fresh lemon juice and house simple syrup, and shaken with ice before being strained into a bucket glass with ice. “We garnish Tee Time with half a lemon wheel as well as a touch of chamomile to add to the visual appeal, aromatics and, of course, boost the wellness properties even further,” Augustin says. The result is refreshing and slightly herbal and sweet with notes of citrus and ginger. True Food Kitchen, 15191 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; 480.265.4500; www.truefoodkitchen.com.

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTO BY JENELLE BONIFIELD