Nutritionist Lyn-Genet Recitas first published her anti-inflammatory diet book, "The Plan," six years ago. Since then, it's gone on to become a New York Times bestseller, been translated into 15 languages, and spawned two cookbooks plus a meal-delivery service.
Now comes the restaurant. Opening this Saturday, May 18, Lyn-Genet's Kitchen at 3473 Broadway in Hamilton Heights will feature an elevated comfort food menu based on Recitas' list of "least reactive"–or non-inflammatory–foods.
Ingredients like chicken, steak, sourdough bread and avocado get the green light, while turkey, pasta, and eggplant are big no-nos. "It's all about the chemistry," explains Recitas, who once ran a holistic health center in Harlem.
Every item on the menu will also be low-sodium–a boon for anyone struggling with hypertension–and more than half of the choices will be vegan or vegetarian. The bar will serve affordable wine from Spain (about $6 per glass) and cocktails made with fresh herbs such as lemon balm. (Somewhat of a theme, herbs will also fill the flower boxes surrounding the sidewalk patio.)
At a recent tasting of appetizers and desserts, dishes ranged from avocado fries with a sweet-and-spicy dipping sauce to creamy coconut broccoli soup to almond flour chocolate pie (aka So Rich You Could Die Chocolate Pie).
As for entrees, Recitas mentioned dishes such as heuvos rancheros made with carrot-and-chia-seed crackers. But don't let the food substitutions fool you. No stranger to the restaurant industry–she helped launch Keith McNally's Balthazar and Pastis–Recitas still aims to please: "We don't shy away from the burger and fries."
