"A diamond in the rough" is the old saying, typically reserved for individuals (and restaurants) that are just starting out but posses’ a "special" something that few, if any can equal. That's what I found when I was invited to join Healthy Traditions Network's president, Rosanne, for lunch at Ridley's Real Food Restaurant. This gem, located in Detroit, was discovered by Dan Corrigan, HTN's web guy who just happened to acquire William Parker's restaurant as a new account, and, as synchronicity continued, just happened to notice a copy of Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions Cookbook on the counter.

Considering the fact that most individuals are trying to find a way to save time by "eating on the run however and whenever any fast food can be found," this restaurant has made it a point to go back to the basics, and prepare real nutrient-dense organic food the way it was intended to preserve flavor and nutrition. Why? Here is William's Story.

William has spent many years in the food business, starting out as a summer-only ice cream vendor, at the same location, he soon expanded to include quick meals like fried chicken, hamburgers and other processed foods. Unfortunately, these unnatural, unhealthy foods eventually took a toll on his health and William became a very ill man.

"As owner operator of Ridley's Home Cookin' Family Restaurant, I was knocked off my feet by a life threatening case of neural toxicity. I consumed grapefruit juice while taking a prescription medication that came with a precaution of adverse reaction if I ate grapefruit or drank grapefruit juice. Altogether I was in the hospital and/or nursing home for a total of five months or 150 consecutive days during 2005. Towards the end of my confinement these constant questions kept plaguing my mind. 'How did I get here? Why did this happen to me?' After much reading and studying, I finally came to the conclusion that my condition began many years ago due to the quality of the types of foods I had been eating nearly all of my life. I had been the victim of the 'SAD' diet (Standard American Diet) filled with thousands of man-made chemicals. I was ignorant to the harm they would eventually do to my body.'

William's health crisis resulted in a restaurant that "is not a health food restaurant but rather a real food restaurant." They a dedicated to preparing tasty home cooked meals that regular customer has com to crave, using healthier ingredients, free of man-made chemicals and processes. Ridley's entire menu utilizes only the freshest, locally grown (when available) or organic, nutrient dense foods and ranges from appetizers to dessert. Some of his entrees include beef or bison steak & burgers, chicken, a "catch of the day", and sides ranging from Whipped Potatoes and Collard Greens to Brown Rice and Heart-Healthy Oven Fries.

Ridley's mission is to "provide our customers delicious, healthy food regardless of what their choices may be." So, the next time you are making plans to eat dinner out, remember Ridley's Real Food Restaurant and when you're there, don't forget to say 'hey' to William!!!  William's favorite saying is "REMEMBER -- If you fail to take time and effort to eat healthy you will ultimately have the time to be sick."