Valley's Most Awarded Chef to Open Fast-Casual Eatery, Stratta Kitchen

Opening on Monday, August 3, enjoy chef Alex Stratta's seasonal Mediterranean-style dishes for dine-in, takeout or delivery

(PRESS RELEASE) - Opening on Monday, August 3, inside a vibrant, art-filled space in North Scottsdale, Stratta Kitchen (8260 N. Hayden Rd., 480-597-9195) serves up fresh, seasonal and chef-crafted fare in a welcoming counter-service atmosphere. Led by the James Beard Award-winning chef, Alex Stratta, in partnership with the Genuine Concepts restaurant group, Stratta Kitchen will be open daily for lunch and dinner, available for dine-in, takeout or delivery via convenient online ordering. Most important, Stratta, who also starred on "Iron Chef America" and earned a prestigious two Michelin stars for his eponymous eatery in Las Vegas, has personally handcrafted his menu to offer a deliciously approachable twist on flavorful Mediterranean fare, with most dishes priced at less than $12.

So why did Arizona's most awarded chef ditch fine dining to open his own fast-casual kitchen? "Today's diners are looking for high quality, natural and flavorful food that's both convenient and accessible," Stratta says. "The Mediterranean approach to cooking is sunny, inherently healthy, light and full of flavor focusing on fresh, seasonal and optimum quality ingredients."

But those are more than just buzzwords for chef Stratta, who developed the Statta Kitchen ethos during his own health journey, overcoming colon cancer, changing his lifestyle, and losing close to 100 pounds in the process. To regain his health, Stratta gravitated towards a natural, whole foods approach to cooking and eating.

Plus, to ensure that the service and atmosphere at Statta Kitchen are as warm, and welcoming as the bill of fare, chef Stratta has partnered with Phoenix-based Genuine Concepts, the neighborhood-focused restaurant group behind The Vig, The Little Woody, The Womack, Ladera Taverna y Cocina, and The McMillan. "We're beyond excited and proud to work with a world-class chef like Alex Stratta, and Stratta Kitchen is the perfect fit for our family of hyper-local, community-driven restaurants and bars," says Genuine Concepts co-founder, Tucker Woodbury.

Boasting an ever-changing menu brimming with a number of naturally dairy-free, gluten-free and vegetarian options, Stratta Kitchen makes it easy (and enjoyable!) to cater to a number of dietary needs and preferences without limitation. Broken down into To Share or Not to Share, Greens, Grains, and The Goods, the menu also tempts with a selection of house-made specialty sauces to adorn any meal. Plus, the quick-serve setting will allow diners to pop in, order and go about their day, or sit and relax with a glass of wine of a craft beer. Examples of "To Share or Not to Share" starters include Vegetable and Potato Fritatta; Whipped Ricotta Cheese and Walnut Romesco; and Baked Artichoke, Spinach and Goat Cheese Dip.

"Greens" options include Beets and Apples with roasted golden beets, arugula, caramelized apples, goat cheese cracker, pistachio and balsamic crunch; and Mistral with Moroccan-spiced eggplant, Tuscan kale, Turkish apricots, Marcona almonds, spicy chickpeas and pickled red onion; and "Grains" include dishes such as the Cali Coast featuring toasted quinoa, rainbow cauliflower, avocado, and Medjool dates; the Vegetable Pistou Soup with seasonal vegetables, white beans, Israeli cous cous, San Marzano tomato, Tuscan kale and a pesto drizzle; and the Terra with green lentils, wild mushrooms, spinach, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and spiced purple yams.

Guests can choose from a variety of choices from the "Proteins" portion of the menu including Alaskan Sterling Salmon, Grilled Haloumi Cheese, Free Range Chicken Breast, Crispy Sea Bass, House-made Herbed Turkey Sausage, Grilled Wild Mushrooms, and Char-Grilled Strip Steak. Diners can also customize their meal with a selection of inspired sauces such as Balsamic-Elderberry Vinaigrette, Moroccan Spice Tahini, Chimichurri made with cilantro, parsley, jalapeno, olive oil and toasted cumin; and more. To round out the menu, "Sweets" include Pistachio Baklava, Warm Walnut-Date Cake, and Goat Cheese and Honey Panna Cotta.

Open daily from 11 am until 9:30 pm, Stratta Kitchen is located at 8260 N. Hayden Rd. #A102 inside the Mercado on Hayden shopping center in Scottsdale, AZ 85258. For more information call 480-597-9195 or visit www.strattakitchen.com.

About Alex Stratta: Back in 1989, a 24-year-old chef named Alessandro "Alex" Stratta first landed in Scottsdale, charged with putting the then-new The Phoenician resort on the map. But now Stratta-who won the prestigious James Beard Best Chef: Southwest Award here in Scottsdale before going on to star on "Iron Chef America" and earning two Michelin Stars-has returned to take on his greatest challenge yet: Serving up chef-crafted, healthful and delicious food in an vibrant, affordable and fast-casual setting at Stratta Kitchen.

About Genuine Concepts: Genuine Concepts, co-founded by Tucker Woodbury and Jim Riley, has a rich history of creating unique environments that quickly become neighborhood-defining hangouts. What began with The Vig Arcadia, has grown into a collection of hyper-local, community-driven restaurants and bars packed with genuine people, serving genuine food and drink. For more information on Genuine Concepts, visit www.genuineconcepts.us.

Alex Stratta Opens Fast-Casual Eatery Stratta Kitchen on August 3