As Memorial Day rolls around, we’re inclined to think about what it means to be American. One of this area’s restaurateurs attempting to answer that question through food is Michael Hernandez. He’s been at it for decades, first with Zoe’s on Fifth, then with Bistro 41 in the Bell Tower Shops and recently back downtown with HobNob Kitchen & Bar. The latter expertly hits on the plurality of our collective cuisine—tuna wontons, bucatini pasta and these picnic-favorites-turned-appetizers, a clever play on bacon and eggs spruced up with bits of candied pork belly and tomato jam. And Hernandez is gearing up to do it again with Midtown Kitchen + Bar near the Coastland Center Mall. We’ll just have to see how he’ll next bring elements of our culinary landscape into focus.
720 Fifth Ave. S., Naples, 239-580-0070, hobnobnaples.com
