Hot Dish
Inside the Gulfshore's Dining Scene
09/24/08Hot Dish: Sept. 24, 2008Wicked Fare Comes to Fort Myers…“Deep Sea” Dining in Naples…Economy Kills Kona The Capital Grille Offers Intimate Setting, Group Portions Southwest Florida’s first The Capital Grille opened for dinner on Monday. Well known in many U.S. cities for serving fine steaks aged on premises and fresh seafood, the Grille complements these with a selection of nearly 400 select wines with Philip Holcombe, affable sommelier and manager, readily available. The 276-seat restaurant gives a warm, intimate feeling, much like being in an elegant 1890s private club, with subtle lighting to accent brass, etched glass and red mahogany paneling set off by oil paintings and fine taxidermy. The bar seats 32, yet seems smaller with its narrow, conversation-friendly aisle. The... Posted at 08:31 PM | Permalink |
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09/10/08Hot Dish: September 10, 2008Breaking Bread at Whole Foods…Trifecta of Steak…Wine Dinner on Third Whole Foods Market Opens in Naples Whole Foods Market celebrated its first Naples store’s grand openingat 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5 in the Mercato complex on U.S. 41 at Vanderbilt Beach Road. I lined up with hundreds of others to get the first peek at the culinary cornucopia, and we got hunks of fresh bread and a recycled bag as “bragging rights” for our effort! Whole Foods Market This unique, 52,000-square-foot store—with individual departments that manage to feel “people-sized”—is raising the bar for other grocery stores on service and selection. I liked an Indian-style hot food creation at one stand and the pulled pork and chicken wings at another stand. There were tiny cups of... Posted at 06:18 PM | Permalink |
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08/27/08Hot Dish: August 27, 2008Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene Neapolitans give The Keg Steakhouse a hearty welcome The Keg Steakhouse and Bar opened its newest Naples branch this week at the site of the former Sanibel Steakhouse. It has been wildly successful, packed with diners every night. Satisfied patrons leaving the restaurant told me why: The steaks come in at the middle price point, some with veggies and potato included, unlike many competitors who only offer those sides a la carte. Grilled salmon at The Keg The sirloin classic includes a Caesar salad, vegetables, mushrooms and a large baked potato for $20.45; the 7-ounce bleu cheese filet mignon, wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, has a twice-baked potato, all for $23.45. Salads, seafood—such as a $21.95 grilled... Posted at 08:13 PM | Permalink |
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08/13/08Hot Dish: August 13, 2008Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene Wilim takes over Crü as Roland takes on Naples Brian Roland will soon leave his role as executive chef at Crü in Fort Myers to migrate south to Naples. In October, he will become executive chef for M Waterfront Grille in the former site of Maxwell’s at Village on Venetian Bay. The new menu has not yet been announced, however expect the best! Crü’s new executive chef, Richie Wilim Jr., the restaurant’s former chef de cuisine, seamlessly moves up the culinary ladder, maintaining his signature innovative cuisine. The restaurant scene is healthy, innovative and tasty wherever these two fine chefs are involved. IM Tapas offers authentic Spanish fare IM Tapas executive chef Isabel Pozo Polo and... Posted at 06:33 PM | Permalink |
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07/23/08Hot Dish: July 23, 2008Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene Go out to eat this week! Naples Originals, the grassroots association of more than 40 local, independently owned Collier County restaurants, is celebrating its first Restaurant Week through Sunday (July 27). In honor of what will become an annual event, member restaurants are offering a lunch prix fixe at $10.08 per person, and dinner $20.08 per person (not including tax or gratuity). The specials are unique to each restaurant. Naples Originals is donating $1 for each Restaurant Week lunch or dinner served to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Nice! You get a great meal, and others in Collier County benefit directly from your participation. To learn which restaurants are members of Naples Originals, visit the Web site at... Posted at 04:00 PM | Permalink |
