Photos of White Chocolate Grill’s Bobby Fitzgerald on Regis and Kelly

Today was White Chocolate Grill Chef-Owner Bobby Fitzgerald’s big day in the national media spotlight as he appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly… uh, actually… Live with Regis and William Shatner as Kelly was apparently on vacation.

Based on his video submission (two posts below) of the White Chocolate Grill’s hardwood grilled Citrus Soy Glazed Salmon, he was selected as the winner of this week’s “Ultimate Hometown Grill Off”. 

 

 

I connected with Bobby briefly earlier this week and he was clearly very excited about this opportunity.  Of course, if you saw the segment it was easy to see that he felt right at home and handled it like a seasoned pro.

Congratulations again Bobby.  For the rest of my Naperville readers, if you are wondering what all the hype is about, why not head over to White Chocolate Grill in Freedom Commons (off Diehl Rd.) this weekend and find out for yourself.

It’s Official… Bobby Fitzgerald, Chef-Owner of White Chocolate Grill, to Appear on Regis and Kelly

A quick footnote to my posting below, it’s official… Bobby Fitzgerald, Chef Owner of White Chocolate Grill, will be featured on Live with Regis and Kelly tomorrow, Friday, June 26th.  Congrats Bobby, I can’t think of anyone more deserving.  If you would like to sample his winning hardwood grilled Citrus-Soy Salmon recipe, head on over to White Chocolate Grill.  SM

DOUBLE FEATURE – Bobby Fitzgerald of White Chocolate Grill Vying for Regis and Kelly Appearance AND Newest Chicagoland Apple Store to Open Doors in Dowtown Naperville

As summer has abruptly heated up over the last couple of days, so has the pipeline of World of Naperville postings.  There were two big pieces of news I wanted to get out and wasn’t sure which to post first, so I decided to post both as a first-ever World of Naperville Double Feature.

First, with fingers crossed, an overdue congratulations to White Chocolate Grill Chef-Owner Bobby Fitzgerald on being a finalist in a recipe contest which could land him a special appearance on Live with Regis & Kelly later on this week.  If you haven’t eaten at the Naperville White Chocolate Grill, what are you waiting for?  Get over to Freedom Commons now for one of the most unique culinary experiences Naperville has to offer. 

I’ve gotten to know Bobby over the past year and have to say that I think I’ve met my match in terms of energy, vision and goals for one lifetime.  At an age not far from my own, he’s really making his mark and is on the rise in the U.S. restaurant industry.  Below is a sneak peek at the video submission in which Bobby manages to get upstaged by his adorable “chef apprentice” daughter. 

My second post is regarding what I personally find as one of the most exciting new business announcements for Downtown Naperville.  First, allow me to premise what I’m about to say by reiterating that I’m generally not a big fan of national chain retailers taking up space in Downtown; however, this one is a big exception on a personal level. 

The final renovations are nearly complete as Apple will be giving Naperville it’s very own Apple Retail Store which will be located in the former Sharper Image space on Jefferson Ave. just west of Main Street. 

As you can see, in celebration I’ve proudly posted a photo of my own Mac G5 tower  to the right.  Perhaps it’s a “Mac thing” but the great value of Apple Retail Stores is not merely the fact you buy Apple products, such as Power Macs, iMacs, iPods, and of course iPhones, but most importantly the on-site training which is typically provided at each store.  Needless to say, I’m always looking to expand my knowledge of Apple and related products and software. 

I don’t have a firm date, but I believe I heard the Naperville Apple Store will open its doors sometime in August.  SM

Naperville Photo of the Week – The Amazing Shrinking Millenium Carillon

Here’s a Naperville image I captured that proves that things are not always quite as they may seem.  There resides an excellent moral to this photo of a Riverwalk lamp post which appears to tower over the Millennium Carillon at Rotary Hill.

In life, sometimes things are not always as they appear.   As a matter of fact, many situations in life are quite different than the assumptions we draw at first glance.

I am reminded of a favorite story I once heard that reinforces this very lesson.  There was a man who was relaxing by a pool during a much needed vacation in Florida.  He turned his chair away from the pool to enhance his relaxation.  All of a sudden, he heard someone jump in the pool, leaving a big splash in their wake which sent pool water flying up onto the man.  After entering the water, there could be heard playful thrashing all around which continued to splash water upon the man.  At first, he tried to forget what was going on behind him but soon it was unbearable.  Angry from the relaxation this apparent horseplay was robbing from his vacation, he arose from his pool lounge chair and turned around to the confront the inconsiderate trouble-maker.  However, when he turned around, much to his shock he saw that the person he thought was being disrespectful was actually drowning.

A very different reality.  When it comes to Naperville, it’s important for us all to not judge the proverbial “book” by its ”cover” no more than we want those who live outside of Naperville judging us just because we live in Naperville. 

Sometimes, the slighest shift of perspective can make your world look very different.  If a difficult situation or person in life is weighing heavily on you, why not reach out and engage the problem or the individual head on to determine the actual truth.  You just might discover that the whole situation was not quite as it appeared.  It just might change your life.  SM 

The Secret to Happiness is…

In taking advantage of some much needed family time today, we headed over to Naperville’s Kerasotes Showplace Theaters to catch the new Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian  whose trailer my boys have been emulating for weeks now.  I must confess, we didn’t see the first installment of Night at the Museum, but somehow I was sure we would catch up.

I expected a laugh-sprinkled good time leaving us thinking about what would happen if the same thing happened during our next trip to the Field Museum in Chicago.  Something I didn’t expect was a great life message to be delivered within the story. 

Within the first couple of scenes, Robin Williams potrayal of Teddy Roosevelt led to a moment in which he was about to share the secret of happiness to the crackberry-distracted Ben Stiller character, Larry.  The moment was lost and William’s Roosevelt turned back into the wax museum sculpture.  Somehow, I think we all knew that we would receive the answer by the end of the film.

Stiller’s character is a former museum security guard who had made it big as an inventor of such transformative products as the “glow-in-the-dark” flashlight.  Larry seemed distracted and annoyed in his new life since leaving his post as a security guard… a job in which he took great pride.

By the end of the film, we are re-visited by Roosevelt who appropriately completes the statement he started by saying the secret to happiness is doing what you love. 

The secret to happiness is doing what you love. 

How timely to utilize an escapist comedy to deliver what I believe is an important message to all who are struggling through the stresses of life and trying to better define happiness in these uncertain times.

Are you doing what you love most in life?  Are you living your life purpose?  

I encourage you to imagine how it might feel and the effect it might have on those around you if you were to once and for all begin the journey of your dreams in doing what you love most in life.

Mint Juleps, Southern Food and Great People Highlight Kentucky Derby 135 Party in Naperville

Some thought is was a longer shot than Mine That Bird to think that I would find enough people interested in the Kentucky Derby here in the Western Suburbs and Greater Chicagoland area to pull off a daylong traditional Derby Party.  I’ve always liked longshots and Saturday turned out to be the perfect day for bringing a little Derby tradition to our Naperville home.  With much thanks to my wife and fellow co-hosts of Tim Courtney, John Dallas Jr., Eric Broughton and Jason Jacobsohn… better known as the Fantastic Five.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned in our previous posting, the was plenty of fresh mint juleps and Kentucky food, including Keene’s Kentucky Country Ham from Bardstown, Derby biscuits, Derby Pie from my mom’s own recipe, Roasted Garlic and Marscapone Cheese Grits, Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Corn Casserole, homemade Kentucky Beer Cheese and much more.  I would like to publicly thank my wife for all of her efforts, support and tolerance in the construction of this genuine Kentucky experience.  I’m from Kentucky and she’s from New York so let’s just say she was a great sport.  I also want to thank my mother-in-law who was in town and provided allot of great help.

To get everyone in the full spirit, we featured a special bourbon tasting which consisted of 8 different Kentucky Bourbons.  In addition to the bottle of Willett Pot Still Reserve we contributed, other guests opted to bring a bottle as well.  In the end, we had the following Kentucky brands:  Willett, Jefferson’s Reserve, Bulleit, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam and Evan Williams.  Judging by the bourbon levels in each bottle on Sunday morning, the clear favorites were the Willett Pot Still Reserve and Woodford Reserve.

In our party’s “winner takes all” betting pool on the Derby race, I will say that nobody picked the 50-1 shocker of Mine That Bird.  Of course, at the end of the day a great Derby Party is all about a gathering of great people and I want to thank everyone for coming out to Naperville to share in this wonderful tradition. 

 

 

 

Countdown to My Old Kentucky Derby Party at My Naperville Home

Being a Kentucky native, you might imagine how homesick I tend to get this time of year as we approach the rich tradition of the Kentucky Derby, or as Kentuckians refer to it… the first Saturday in May.

Though the actual Kentucky Derby, traditionally the fifth race of the day, lasts only a couple of minutes, Derby Day in Kentucky is the culmination of the month-long Kentucky Derby Festival.  Throughout the month of April, there are countless Kentucky Derby Festival events, including steamboat races, hot-air balloon races, concerts, parades, celebrity galas, formal balls, plenty of fireworks, lots of indulgent Southern food and much more.

Churchill Downs opens its traditional Spring meet the Friday before Derby Day, which is known as Oaks Day, which ends with the running of the Kentucky Oaks.

I am asked all the time how many Kentucky Derbys I’ve attended at Churchill Downs and, as any Kentuckian would understand, it’s only been one.  Let’s just say my job out of college put me at the epicenter of the VIP Kentucky Derby experience.  Nonetheless, most Kentuckians prefer to by-pass the crushing madness of Churchill Downs in exchange for a hosted Derby Party.  Kentucky Derby Parties are legendary and full of tradition. 

I’m excited to be launching a Kentucky Derby Party tradition this year at my Naperville Home.  Wish I could invite everyone, but space is limited at “My Old Naperville Home”.  But “weep not more” my friends as here is some insight into what I have planned for the big day.

First, my guests will begin arriving around post time for the first race of the day, around 12:00 EDT/1:00 CDT.  ESPN is covering breakfast at the Downs as well as all races leading up to the actual Kentucky Derby race. 

The menu will include plenty of Southern Bluegrass Tradition:  Country Ham I’ve shipped in from Keene’s Hams in Bardstown, Kentucky Derby Breakfast Yeast Biscuits, Garlic Cheese Grits, Fried Chicken, Kentucky Beer Cheese, Derby Pie and much more.

Our guests will certainly get in the spirit with a nearly 200 year-old recipe for Mint Juleps, which consists of a minted sugar syrup blended with fresh mint, crushed ice and straight Kentucky bourbon.  Additionally, we will also have a bourbon tasting line-up for 5-10 lesser-known Kentucky-based brands.  

Speaking of bourbon, did you know that 90% of all bourbon whiskey in the world is produced in Kentucky?  There are over 80 Kentucky-based bourbon brands who export their tradition all over the country and world… even Tennessee.  Bourbon is known as the official American Spirit and takes its name from Bourbon County in Kentucky where some of the earliest whiskey was placed into charred oak barrels for transport from which bourbon derives its color and distinctive flavor 

I grew up very close to bourbon country and even as a child I can remember riding past the  Jim Beam distillery on the way to my grandmothers house and smelling the familiar bourbon mash in the air.  Makers Mark  is located just outside of my mother’s hometown of Lebanon. 

If you are interested in the history and tradition of bourbon, you should consider making a trip to Kentucky to cruise the Kentucky Bourbon Trail where you can visit and tour eight distilleries.

As for me, it’s back to the last minute details as Saturday approaches.  SM

Support Your Favorite Local Naperville Restaurant PLUS My Open Offer to Restauranteurs

Looking around town these days, it has become clear that if you have a favorite Naperville restaurant that you love, it’s important to support them in these tough economic times.  Our restaurant community is doing everything it can to help you stretch your dollars further and if we are to continue to enjoy such a vibrant dining scene, we need to reciprocate in helping them keep their doors open through these tough times.

There are plenty of good deals for the taking.  For instance, my family and I headed over to Gematos Wood Pit BBQ tonight for a quick impromptu dinner and discovered a special offer on their world class ribs on Monday and Tuesday nights… $9.99 for a half-slab dinner and $15.99 for a full-slab, both of which include choice of potato as well as cole slaw or beans.  Of course, those wonderful wood pit aromas are always free. 

Now, here’s an open challenge to all Naperville restauranteurs out there from the World of Naperville.  If you are looking for a way to extend special exclusive hunger stimulus offers to Naperville residents I will help you promote them via the World of Naperville for free.  Two catches:

1)  The special deal must be exclusive to World of Naperville readers and be offered for a limited time only. 

2) The restaurant owner or general manager must contact me directly at worldofnaperville@yahoo.com.  In other words, no PR firm representatives or agencies.  This is my offer to you as a restauranteur.

Now get out there everyone and help keep your favorite Naperville restaurants open.  SM    

“Check Please” Naperville – A Review of Pizza Fusion

I’m sitting here watching what has been one of my favorite shows dating back to my years living in Chicago… WTTW’s ”Check Please“.  As suburbanites, we are usually on the receiving end of the joke when it comes to foodie oratory about their favorite haute haunts.  However, I was very proud to see that one of our trademark “Downtown Naperville Welcomes You” signs has made it’s way into the opening sequence of the show.  We’ve officially arrived on the Chicagoland map as a dining destination!  Of course, we Napervillians have known this for a while now. 

Speaking of dining in Naperville, after finishing a late evening baseball practice the other night, we grabbed the family of one of my son’s teammates and headed over to the recently opened Pizza Fusion at the new Whole Foods shopping center at 75th Street near Rt. 59.  We were all feeling a little crazy with hunger and looked forward to some nice post-practice pizza.  Even more, I’m always on the hunt for new types of pizza.

One only needs to see the reserved parking spaces for energy efficient cars to get the hint that Pizza Fusion is all about organic earth friendly food.  Feeling very environmentally aware, our starving caravan streamed through the front door to discover a wonderful aroma amidst the combination of a no frills pizza shop matched by a bar and small dining room.  You can peer right back into the kitchen to see a rather interesting rounded spinning pizza oven.

There is definitely a commitment to organic ingredients ranging from the pizza to the organic brews.  Despite a host of appetizer and salad offerings, this place is about the main event… Pizza!

The thin-crust pies come in an indivdiual (4 oblong pieces) and a large torpedo shaped pizza.  Ingredients range from the usual suspects which will make the kids happy to a little more refined toppings, such as goat cheese and sun-dried tomatos.  Crusts include white, whole-wheat and gluten-free offerings.  Prices for pizzas range from $7 – $18 

I’ll have to say the prices are pushing the envelope just a little for what Pizza Fusion offers.  I was worried the pizzas would be thin and skimpy, thus leaving the natives wanting more.  However, the combination of rich flavors more than made up for their misleading appearance.  The sauce was fresh and sweet combined with a delicous blend of mozzarella and provolone cheeses. 

You are definitely paying for higher quality ingredients; however, if you are looking to fill lots of hungry bellys with pizza on a budget, perhaps you might want to steer your energy efficient vehicle to the always scorching hot-and-ready oven simmered lower grade pizza joints around town.  Of course, don’t forget to pick up some antacids on your way there.   

As for me, I was very satisfied that Naperville now has another excellent pizza option which transcends the standard Chicago thin and deep dish.  If you are craving delicious pizza with environmental purpose, head on over to Pizza Fusion for a new experience.  They are located on W. 75th St. and Beebe Dr. just 1 block east of Route 59.  SM

Discovering the True Meaning of “Wealth” in Your Life

Over the past couple of months, I’ve written a number of postings about life purpose and looking toward challenging times in life as opportunities (see all of my Life Purpose category postings).  

The economic downturn has provided ample opportunity for us all to reflect upon life’s true meaning in finally getting that little push that we often need in life to move out of our complacent zone.  Even more, we have also witnessed the results of our country’s destructive obsession with financial and material wealth. 

The good news is there’s always an abundance ”wealth” within our reach at all times, yet we often overlook.  A type of wealth that can exceed our greatest expectations in terms of the love and happiness it can bring.  This wealth I speak of is the unique love, purpose and potential which resides within us all.  A place where our true strengths and passion in life are placed at centerstage in the service of others. 

Looking for a place to start?  Well, if the World of Naperville has yet to provide the level of motivation you need to get your life on the right path, I would recommend an upcoming event in May featuring James Arthur Ray, President/CEO of James Ray International. 

Having appeared shows ranging from Oprah to Larry King,  James Arthur Ray has helped many pursue their life dreams by achieving a true level of “harmonic wealth”  in life which balances the physical, relational, mental, spiritual and financial.

I will be the first to tell you that I’ve only heard about James Arthur Ray and have never attended any of his seminars.  However, a very close friend of mine who shares a very similar life philosophy, as well as a deep passion for filmmaking,  has been attending Ray’s seminars for over a year now and he has really found a transformative peace which is helping him shape the life of which he has always dreamed. 

Based upon my friend’s personal testimonial alone, I encourage anyone regardless of where you are along your life path to considering take a closer look, even if only to engage is some personal reflection.  

Upcoming Event:  On May 6th, there is going to be a free live event in the Chicago area (TBD) hosted by James Arthur Ray himself, entitled The Secret of Attracting the Life You Want. 

The event is free, but you need to register right away to ensure a seat.  To register, Click Here.  I think I’ll check it out myself to see what my friend Rick has been talking so much about.

Live well my friends!  SM