Gateway Market's Got Class

This weekend I really needed a mental pick me up. I needed something to help me affirm that I was wealthy, sexy and classy. I decided that the best thing to do, of course, would be to go out to a "cafe." I specifically wanted to go to a cafe because a cafe has a feel that a restaurant doesn't. It's that European (especially French) feel that I love so much. I had a few places in mind: Gusto (which I didn't know at the time was a pizza place), Palmer's Deli & Market (which was a lot nicer before they renovated), Noodles & Co., and Gateway Market's Cafe. I literally drove to all 4 of them, looked around and looked at their menus. I was actually planning on going to Palmer's deli because I had been there before and I just LOVED what I had seen but I feel like they lost a lot of their charm when they renovated. It's like they cut out half of their options. When I walked in there, it just felt empty. It could have been the time of day. I went to Noodles & Co but I really didn't want to take a chance that the bowl of food would be too small, plus, it didn't have that cafe feel. I drove to Gusto and once I read that it was a Pizza place, I drove off because I didn't want pizza. Then I went back to Gateway. (I say "back," because that was the first place I went.)

(Not my pic)

When I first walked into Gateway, I was quite pleasantly surprised. I had no idea it was a fancy-schmancy, Whole Foods/Trader Joe's type place. Wow. Can I just say totally European/New York/California. I felt like I was in a charming adult candy land. They had organic this and fresh that. Local this and exotic that. It was awesome. There's so much to explore in there. Here is a little taste of the inside:

(The one above isn't my pic)

I actually left and went to Palmer's because I had been wanting to eat there for a while but like I said, it was different than the last time I went. I came back to Gateway, looked around at all of the delicious options: Brands of Water that I'd never heard of, Amish Rotisserie Chicken (haven't had Amish chicken since I lived in MI.), the Pastry Shelf...My God. I had one of those rich, moist, dripping cinnamon rolls covered in pecans! My God it was heavenly. I still have some on top of the fridge. Tomatoes I had never heard of...I love tomatoes.
(That's my pic of their water )
(I took that pic for my mom.)

(<========== Here's my Pecan Cina-Roll)
But I had a mission. I wanted something delicious and classy to eat that was going to make me feel as special as I am. I waltzed into the cafe and looked at a paper menu because I can't stand looking up at those chalk menus. I want to really review my menu. I had narrowed it down to about 3 things: A Chicken Club sandwich- no bacon in the club- which was fine cause I didn't want bacon but I just found it strange that they named it "club." I've never heard of a club sandwich that didn't have bacon on it; a Corned Beef Reuben and they had a Tuna steak or something that caught my eye, but I really didn't feel like fish. I checked the menu to see if they had Pastrami instead of corned beef and they didn't, so I decided on the grilled chicken club. This chicken club sandwich was made with a Pesto Aioli sauce. I had never heard the word "aioli" before so of course, I asked how to pronounce it. (Ah-Oh-Lee) It's the green sauce on my sandwich below:

I was hesitant to order the onion rings because they were thin cut and I thought the were going to be too thin but it turned out well. I ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio and went to my seat. The meal came out and goodness gracious. It looked delicious. (That is my meal =============>)

Great portion size. They served the sandwich on a Focaccia Bun (like they were reading my mind) with extra provolone cheese (just the way I asked for it) and the pesto aioli. When I took a bite into that sandwich, I tell you the truth, my taste buds were restored. I had grown so weary of eating turkey sandwiches everyday at work; I needed something to remind me that food was awesome. This place did the trick. The chicken was juicy, the sauce was great, the onion rings weren't too thin or too greasy. Everything was on point and the service was great. I will definitely be going back to this place, not only for food but for groceries. I can't believe it took me so long to go. I am also going to take my bath salt there and see if they'd be interested in selling it.

(<========= My Bath Salts)
Not THAT would be cool! Alright everyone, I know I haven't been blogging as much but I've been really busy. I am going to do my best to blog when I am inspired. (Like I was this weekend.) Thank you Gateway Market, for being so classy and wonderful.

Anthony Bourdain's Food Porn, "Reviewer Card" and Restaurant Blogging

I have made a decision. I was in the shower and I was thinking, "I should start a restaurant review blog". Let me give you a little back story so you don't think I'm just a blogging flake. I love cooking. I Fucking Love food. Let me just tell you, thinking about food long enough just might get me....well, I'm sure you can figure out what I would say next LOL. Can someone say, "Hot and Bothered"?...Anyway, my Ex Husband used to always tell me that I need to open a restaurant (which I am not going to do...EVER) and he would also say that I should  be a chef. I used to make all kinds of things for him, from
Guyanese Curry to his favorite of my dishes that he calls "Salmon Bread".

I would always say to him in return that what I should do is review restaurants. I was thinking about my own blog and a limiting thought in my head suggested that it would not be specific enough of me as a blogger if I blog about restaurants as well as the other things I blog about, but then the free spirit in me said, "Why the hell not?"



Fact of the matter is, I love going out to restaurants and I enjoy reviewing them. I love the experience; it is very sensual and romantic to me. My dream has always been to be able to afford to go out to restaurants that serve food like this: ------------->
and review it.




I think it would fit perfectly with my blog, as my blog is about ME, my life and sensuality. Now the reason all of this came up is because Philip Defranco had mentioned on his YouTube show today that there is a new card out called the "Reviewer Card".

Now, when I first thought about the reviewer card, I thought, "What a great way to get complimentary meals, meet the chef, and present a facade of professionalism". But there are some cons to the reviewer card, and for me, they are all ethical. It basically boils down to this: Yeah I will get free meals, discounts, coupons, meet the chef, etc. BUT I am not going to get honest service if I show this card right away. If it were me, I would not pull this bad boy out until the end of the meal or at least until I had been there a few times and got an honest experience. I don't even mind having to be approved to be able to purchase the card for $100...(Yes. That's right. I said Approved to Purchase...), because think of all of the benefits that come from having it!

Anyway, it's really not even about getting this reviewer card; it's about doing something that I said I have been saying for a few years now that I would love to do, and that is eating at all sorts of diverse restaurants (especially when I go out of the country) and  reviewing them. Which is one of the main reasons I LOVE the show
No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. I mean come on! Come On! World Travel, best food in the world from all sorts of different types of spots...I saw this dude go to Africa and eat Ostrich Egg out of the dirt with the San people (Bushmen) of South Africa. Talk about raw!

Me being able to live a fraction of the type of life he lives would be a dream come true! Being able to live that sort of lifestyle is the reason why I work so diligently to build and grow my brand. It is the reason why I work out, because if I am going to be going all over the world eating all sorts of fatty foods like this: ------->
I have to be able to have the discipline to work it off or else I am going to become obese, and that's not healthy. Anyway, that's about all. I gotta get going cause I got some stuff to do and I gotta get up early in the morning. I will keep you updated and next time I go out to eat, best believe, I will be writing you up a tasty restaurant review.

XOXO

Lola K.