Model Bites: Napa Valley Grille

People like to eat. People like to see pictures of food. I like eating food, so this new column is the perfect recipe for my blog. Introducing Model Bites. I was so inspired by all the delicious Instagram photos and the chatter about models and their eating habits that showcasing my appetite for yumminess only makes sense. I hope you enjoy. For the first installment, I visited Napa Valley Grille in Westwood to see what dishes the chef's cooking up this season.

With the changing of the leaves comes a changing of the menu for this rustic piece of heaven called Napa Valley Grille. The restaurant adds dishes that comfort your belly like Warm Brussels Sprout Salad with Pancetta, Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Pepitas, and Garam Masala Rack of Lamb to an already exquisite selection of food. Executive Chef Taylor Boudreaux pulled from an eclectic mix of cuisines including Indian, Italian, and his own creole roots for the fall harvest menu. My mouth was watering just looking at the list of appetizers and entrees, then my stomach started growling, and I knew it was time to order.
I wanted to try some of the new items but still get a taste of the restaurant's tried-and-true staples. First up was the Sweet Corn Agnolotti, a delicious ravioli-like pasta filled with a corn purée. Then came the Black Figs and Prosciutto drizzled in balsamic and extra virgin olive oil with a dollop of buratta. The dish had great texture with savory and sweet flavors, but still light and delicate. The next few dishes had me swirling in a food coma. From Chicken Kale Salad to Blue Crab Cakes...Steamed Mussels with spanish chorizo and white wine... The Larry Turkey Burger with smoked cheddar and a side of sweet potato fries. Oh my gracious! My eyes must have been bigger than my stomach, because I didn't leave room for dessert. This rarely ever happens, I swear. But if I'd had space for anything else, it would have been either the Butterscotch Bread Pudding or the Chocolate-Studded Zabaglione with Chocolate Tuiles.

I highly recommend dining at Napa Valley Grille this fall. Chef Taylor has filled the menu with fresh, seasonal ingredients and created some amazing dishes. So enjoy and feast until your belly says it's satisfied.
Buon Appetito!

Thanks to Wagstaff LA for a most exquisite lunch experience!

Eat Like A Model

Don't Feed The Models were the words on a shirt my old roommate used to wear. I get it. There's a common misconception that glamazons starve themselves for fashion. That we only eat celery and drink water to prepare for a photo shoot or a fashion show. We never indulge in anything sweet. And that we all have eating disorders. Ha! On the contrary, we do enjoy food. Some of us even like to cook. In this edition of Blank Like A Model, we'll explore the eating habits of those wild creatures on the catwalk.

Writing this as I stuff my face with chicken and asparagus

Food is an essential part of life. It nourishes us, gives us energy, and tastes good. There's this myth that models don't eat. Sometimes you'll see a photo of a model gnawing on carrots and chugging water backstage at a fashion, and you think "Is that all she eats?!" The truth is, we like food. It's just difficult to grab a healthy bite to eat when you're running around from shoot to shoot. We'd rather put things into our bodies that are going to give us the vitamins we need to sparkle than greasy fast food.

With all that said, we do still have our guilty pleasures. British supermodel Jourdan Dunn loves McDonald's. Sessilee Lopez tweets about her brownies ganache. And I throughly enjoy overdosing on Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream. Eating these things isn't something we can do everyday. We've learned to enjoy the finer foods in reasonable amounts. Maybe once a week, I'll order pizza. But you can guarantee that the very next day I'll be exercising off all that cheese and pepperoni.

So here are my model food rules to live by:

1. Start your day with something in your belly - You need fuel for your fire, so eat a little something for breakfast.

2. Eat your greens - I'm not talking about just a boring salad. Pack your daily diet full of kale, spinach, and other leafy greens. They pack plenty of vitamins like A and C, and can also help protect you from heart disease and diabetes. Some leafy greens even have calcium to build strong bones.

3. Get your protein - According to WebMD, the right amount of lean protein can help manage your weight while also keeping your tummy full. Go for meats without a lot of fat, egg whites, and even soybeans.

4. Say yes to fresh - Put things into your body that are still living or organic. Go for foods that are free of chemicals, aren't canned, overcooked, or frozen. I know these things are convenient, but are they really giving you the nourishment you need? Probably not.

5. Scale back on foods that are going to make you bloated - That means certain beans, dairy, and anything that's already bubbly. Cheeseburgers, bean and cheese burritos, Frappucinos with extra caramel and whipped cream are all on that list. Steer clear of salty foods because these help your body retain water weight.

6. Everything in moderation - You can't avoid everything, but you shouldn't have too much of anything. Go light on sauces, dairy, sweets, and processed food. Don't pile too much food on your plate either. Keep your portions reasonable.

These are just my personal guidelines, and by no means am I a nutritionist. This along with regular exercise is what's worked for me. You have to find what works for you. Be realistic and make the extra effort to treat yourself to the good,healthy food. Remember, if you are what you eat then make sure you're a plate of grilled veggies and brown rice and not the #1 with special sauce add a Coke.