There…I said it. It’s true. I’m not a culinary sophisticate! Don’t get me wrong…I love to eat…I’m just not as adventurous as one would think given the position I’ve gotten myself into!
Food…hmmmm…I would say I’m a Comfort Food Darling. So my New Years resolution is to get more nervy, more brave, and try, try, try new things! I just hope I don’t look like a tight lipped toddler doing it, being force fed what , to me, might be seen on Bizarre Foods …… all the while trying to look sophisticated wearing something like my Horacio Nieto original little Red Dress (a spring 2010 must have return, just add some fun Turquoise accessories!) and my Gucci Shoes.

If a chef or cook can make something way off my comfort food scale of Mac and Cheese and Burgers without me knowing the onions are in there, well, you have my attention!
Just as Coco Chanel says, “remove one accessory before walking out the door…” I guess that’s what you could say I feel about the Onions! C’mon, there has to be SOMEONE else out there that’s a freak like me when it comes to those things!? Yuk!

As for my background in Fashion and Beauty…well, that I can attest too. Former runway model, stylist and current Fashion Show Producer, as well as all around girl who simply loves clothes, shoes and make up…I’ve spent the better part of my life wearing one hat or another in the Fashion Industry!

Lucky for me I’ll have some help along this journey from some fabulous Chicago Fashion Designers, the famed D.C. Crenshaw (for without which we wouldn’t have the legendary E Fete.net ) and some other foodie friends and loved ones, including my husband, Greg Frederick, owner of That Pickle Guy Products, as I dive into new Haute Dishes! Quite the line up if I don’t say so my new foodie self! Self appointed of course!

As I made my Maiden Voyage with my husband Greg…(I figured I’d start where someone knows me well enough to not be grossed out if I have to, ummmm…ya know…politely expel food to my napkin…) we headed to City Gate Grille, an American Mediterranean Restaurant in Naperville this past weekend, located at City Gate Centre, 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, Ill.

Speaking of Maiden Voyages, my just out of the box Kelsi Dagger Over the Knee boots accompanied us as well…and as suspected…splashed the scene with edgy style, paired with skinny jeans and a jeweled Eastern Tunic . Even our conservative Naperville ladies were swooning and complimenting! Ahhhh, but back to the food….

In a nutshell….I don’t like fish but I want to like fish for all of those fabulous health benefits. Every time I go to try…something about the texture, the image of the actual fish itself, God forbid should it have any kind of smell to it…even what most would describe as ‘fresh’ freaks me out a little. So, given I rarely try it…I left it up to Chef Dave (that’s Executive Chef David Sapp actually!) to see if he could change my mind.

My husband suggested the Grape Leaf Wrapped Sole in Lemon Sauce because it’s “ super mild” he promised…okay, “but it’s wrapped in Grape Leaves,” I said, “I like my grapes in my glass personally and the leaves, well, I really don’t know if people should eat those…” In reminding me of my promise to try new things…I sighed and told the waiter to bring me the Sole. It was so good, I nearly leapt out of my OTK boots…which, believe me would’ve been quite a long jump, as much of a long jump that I would’ve liked the Sole! It was light and flakey, took on the flavor of the lemon sauce and grape leaves it was wrapped in, a cool combination AND I really liked the grape leaves…lemony and a lightly salty in their own right. My husband, Greg, had the Sea Bass…I actually liked it! It ,too, was light, flakey, and not too strong! The side dishes for both of our meals was spinach and a cole slaw with too much onion (NO, I did NOT try that!) (I’m not there yet guys!) and we both agreed they were a little overpowering and kind of confusing with the flavors of the delicate fish.

A minor setback would be that the bathrooms are out of the restaurant and down the stairs, which is inconvenient. The décor is really modern and stylish, warm and elegant all at the same time. All in all, we’d go back and since I didn’t die or anything from trying something new, next time I may even try the Sea Bass all for myself! Now…to schedule that lunch with one of my favorite Chicago Fashion Designers, Horacio Nieto!