Winter Southern Style
away in a shopping center, The Local
is gaining traction serving farm and
sea-to-table cuisine that is delicious,
fresh, local and healthy. The RitzCarl to n N ap l es , which emerged
October 1, 2013 from an extensive
renovation, has just debuted the new
dining and cocktail establishment.
Dusk brings the atmosphere of the
beach at twilight indoors and features
an outdoor patio providing scenic
Gulf of Mexico and preserve views.
Naples, Marco Island
and the Everglades
F
lorida’s Paradise Coast, which
includes Gulf Coast beach cities
of Naples and Marco Island and
the western portion of the Everglades,
is becoming one of the South’s burgeoning “foodie” locales, as the area’s
culinary scene continues to evolve
with an influx of high-profile events,
new restaurants, a growing number of
organic farms supplying produce for
chefs, restaurants and local farmers
markets, food tours and more.
NEW AND HOT
A flurry of hotly anticipated new restaurants has recently elevated the
Paradise Coast dining scene. Downtown Naples’ Osteria Tulia resembles
an exquisitely-restored old world
Italian farmhouse, the perfect setting
for innovative peasant-style dishes
from locally-popular chef Vincenzo
106 FOOD TRAVELER | WINTER 2013
Betulia. Chef Charles Mereday
continues to surprise and delight at
Mereday’s Fine Dining with his prix
fixe lunch and dinner selections, all
based on the highest quality ingredients available each day. Masa brings
an elevated level of Latin American
cuisine to the north Naples localfavorite nightspot Mercato. Tucked
LAY OF THE LAND
Stroll around Naples’ downtown thoroughfares Fifth Avenue South and
Third Street South and you’ll find an
array of cosmopolitan establishments,
from tropical, open-air bistros and
Caribbean cuisine to small restaurants with a distinctive club-like feel
like Osetra, featuring caviars along
with an extensive selection of sushi,
champagne and a full menu. Sea Salt
continues to delight with high-quality
ingredients sourced both locally and
globally, exquisitely prepared. A series of cooking workshops followed by
tasting menus last summer received
rave reviews. Stand-out desserts and
an excellent selection of wines, along
with gourmet-to-go items can be
found at Tony’s Off Third, or enjoyed
along with a full menu in a more refined setting at Ridgway Bar & Grill next
door.
Romantic beachfront dining, complete with stunning views of the
nightly sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, can be enjoyed at the beach resorts
in Naples and on Marco Island. The
Turtle Club at Vanderbilt Beach Resort
in north Naples is a long time favorite
with locals and visitors alike, with its