Many home chefs buy air fryers because, as one columnist for The Kitchn puts it, they can “fry as many vegetables (think: potato chips) with less oil than I need for frying. “Today, the True Food Kitchen chain, which has forty-five locations in 17 states, all owned by the franchiseless company, brought its fried specialty menu to the air, True Crisp’d Chicken.
Its press describes it as “only air fried and free of hormones and antibiotics, which is rare in highly advertised kitchens. “
True Food Kitchen was introduced in 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona, under the auspices of expert restaurateur Sam Fox (who is no longer involved) and Dr. Andrew Weil, who continues to serve as a menu consultant. Its expansion has been muted in recent years with two openings in 2023, one in Los Angeles and one in Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Weil’s hometown, and two new locations will appear throughout the rest of 2024.
When I interviewed its then-CEO, Christine Barone, in January 2019 (who she replaced through John Williams in March 2023), she described the Holy Grail of True Food Kitchen as “how to have healthy and delicious food at the same time. “He noted that it is one of the few restaurant chains that does not offer fries, and still does not.
But what’s left is: Will consumers accustomed to crispy poultry fries produced through competition Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, and KFC rave about True Food Kitchen’s air-fried poultry steaks?
True Food Kitchen is looking to differentiate itself with the shape of the ever-popular Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
Less so when air frying
When asked about her perspectives on air frying, Marion Nestlé, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public fitness at New York University and of Food Policy, responds that she “doesn’t use a lot of fat for frying and has a lot fewer calories. “. And it makes it less difficult to maintain a proper weight.
And Sabrina Hollander, a registered dietitian and nutrition coach founded in McLean, Virginia, adds: “So, for those who love fried foods but are looking to reduce their fat intake, deep fryers are a winning combination. »
No hangover for your steaks
CEO John Williams said he brought True Crisp’d Chicken, which debuted in October 2023 at its flagship Biltmore location in Phoenix, Arizona, because “when you think of poultry steaks, they’re almost universally loved, yet heavy fryer leaves have a hangover. He challenged his culinary team, led by chef Matt Padilla, to create a tender, “better-for-you” product.
His crispy poultry sandwich, he says, “has the golden crunch of a tender classic and is gluten-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. “
In fact, it comes with kale salad, pickles, and dressing and has levels of 420 to 520 calories depending on the serving.
It has also managed to keep its costs moderate, though higher than Sweetgreen’s and Chipotle, with the True Crisp’d Chicken sandwich costing $17. 25 and the Buffalo Chicken Ranch salad costing $19. 50.
Your four maximum items
Williams says his most popular dishes, besides the poultry sandwich, are: 1) the Ancient Grains Bowl, which includes glazed sweet potatoes, onions, French fries, portobello, avocado and whole grains, 2) the grass-fed burger, 3) the Poke Bowl, which includes tuna, organic black rice, avocado and mushrooms.
It appears in cities, but Williams says it has spread to suburban neighborhoods and urban centers.
When asked if he posts calories for menu items, Williams says he includes “nutritional data for his dishes. “
True Food Kitchen scored highest on Yelp, averaging over 4. 5, indicating visitor satisfaction. But the reaction on Yelp to a dinner at his restaurant in Naples, Florida. The location varied, as if it were. For example, Tyronne from New York wrote that “health-conscious foodies will love dining at True Food because of the green food option. The menu is full of salads, main courses and desserts that have been thought, in a nutritious way, through the chefs appointed to take advantage of food at the service of the science of healthy living.
But Kenneth from Naples had dinner with four people, sat down, they didn’t recognize him and waited 8 minutes for someone to come serve them, and the eating place was empty. He believes True Food “needs to get its act together. ” Josh, a True Food business owner, responded that he was sorry their night was not passable and left the general manager’s phone number to rectify the situation.
In the end, what makes your True Crisp’d Chicken sandwich different?Williams says crispy poultry sandwiches are “fried in inflammatory oils and contain excess gluten and sodium. “Their poultry sandwich is “air-fried with avocado oil and left in brine for 12 hours. “The result, he says, is a tasty poultry sandwich, which is “healthier. “
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