Hot Dish
Inside the Gulfshore's Dining Scene
06/24/09Hot Dish: June 24, 2009Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene. Watch the Flames at Mercato’s Piola Piola, at Naples’ Mercato, is literally the hottest new kid in town. Just east of AZN and The Pub, the Italian restaurant with a warm, contemporary décor is a great place to go for delicious, authentic pizza, pastas, beef or fish. Nearly all dishes are between $9 and $19—and you can see the flames of the blazing brick oven where the thin-crust pizzas are fired for two minutes. Como pizza at Piola in Naples. My Como pizza’s paper-thin, rich Parma ham and luscious porcini mushrooms sat atop a light tomato sauce and mozzarella base. It was light and delicate, with surprisingly fresh bold accents. Two or three can share this, or dozens of other pizzas, for $11 to $16. Open 5 p.m. to... Posted at 03:18 PM | Permalink |
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06/10/09Hot Dish: June 10, 2009Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene. French Bakery Gets New Owners—and Rave Review I can only rave about the French Bread Oven! Baker/co-owner Andre Gratesol and co-owners Eric and Tomasina Truglas bought the bakery two months ago, and the difference is amazing. I’m not usually a dessert person, but after a few tastes, I went home with a dozen different breads and pastries to, ahem, share with friends. Really! One French friend’s eyes lit up as she named some of the goodies. “There’s a Tropezienne, and that’s an éclair vanille like they make in Paris. This is a claufouti—a sort of custard with fruit, and that Mille feuille [Napoleon] is now mine—so there!” French Bread Oven Sales Manger Paul McDermott with co-owners Tomasina and Eric Truglas. ... Posted at 03:44 PM | Permalink |
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06/03/09Hot Dish: June 3, 2009Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene. Naples Loses Ruth’s Chris Fine Dining Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Naples’ Coastland Center mall just closed after barely two years in business. I dined there with friends twice last month. Each visit, there were at most only 10 other diners present from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in a restaurant that can seat 250. The quality of food and service were very good, and I took home an extra bread pudding! Full dinners can easily cost more than $100 per person. Neighbors Kona Grill and Ruby Tuesday both closed last year. However, VIVI, which opened just a month ago on Ruth’s Chris south side, flourishes with entrée prices half that of the steakhouse. Ruth’s Chris Web site states: “Thank you for your loyalty and patronage to our... Posted at 03:53 PM | Permalink |
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05/27/09Hot Dish: May 27, 2009Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene. The Caribbean Comes to Naples Sheraz Khan, the feisty, European-trained chef/owner of Sweet Mama’s Island Cuisine, serves island-sized portions of tasty Caribbean dishes, with a nod to her Trinidad roots. A blend of European, African, Asian and Indian cuisines, Sweet Mama’s uses spices and fresh produce that make for a special treat. Sweet Mama's Chef/owner Sheraz Khan with jerk chicken platter. I favor lunch’s $6.99 jerk chicken with island rice and peas, and recommend the dinner menu’s red snapper escoveitched ($16) or the spiced duck with a tamarind sauce and red pepper jelly ($19). The sides of corn casserole and mac ‘n’ cheese are tops! While in Europe, Khan studied in Italy. She can serve up great pasta and... Posted at 03:17 PM | Permalink |
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05/13/09Hot Dish: May 13, 2009Inside the Gulfshore’s dining scene. Famous Pastry Chefs Create Sweet Prize for Food Fest High Bidder As people excitedly bid on incredible food and wine packages at the recent Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest auction, Fort Myers’ own famous chocolatier Norman Love and Food Network Challenge Host and Executive Pastry Chef Keegan Gerhard decided—on the spot—to offer a Desserts Dinner for 12. Chef Norman Love, Retta Singer, Chef Keegan Gerhard, Elliott Singer and Chef Brian Roland at the Singers' Dessert Dinner. It was served May 3 at the Naples home of winning bidder Retta Singer, who donated $15,000 to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Retta and husband Elliott’s kitchen was the epicenter of an unforgettable epicurean evening. Gerhard,... Posted at 03:33 PM | Permalink |
