Chef Gavin Makava Bringing the world to the table Chef Gavin Makava Some of Naples’ most memorable dining experiences aren’t happening in restaurants at all. Chef Gavin Makava, founder and executive chef of The Rose House Naples, brings an international culinary perspective directly into his clients’ homes through private dinners, cooking classes and catered events. His story begins far from Naples, shaped by family, mentors, and kitchens around the world. We sat down with Ch

How Bill Lubin turns private dining at Bistro 821 into an experience to remember Photography by Gareth Rockliffe Bistro 821 offers the only second-floor private dining room on Fifth Avenue South, with stunning evening views of the Avenue. Tastefully appointed for a business dinner or classic dining experience, it’s also a space clients can transform into a magical setting uniquely their own. Former business owner Bill Lubin is the man-behind-the-curtain as well as the first

A decade of saving, supporting, and celebrating Southwest Florida dining A Decade of Dining with Purpose: Sizzle Dining Turns 10 Ten years ago, Sizzle Dining began as a simple, slightly audacious idea: eleven days of specially priced multi-course dinners at roughly two dozen Naples restaurants during the slowest stretch of the year. Today, that spark has grown into Southwest Florida’s premier culinary event, a monthlong celebration that fills dining rooms, supports community,

This September, two of Naples’ favorite sister restaurants are inviting neighbors to pull up a chair for a cause. Old Vines at Mercato and The Supper Club, located in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt, are participating in Sizzle Dining, Southwest Florida’s premier culinary event, running all month long. Sizzle Dining offers diners a delicious excuse to explore the region’s best kitchens through specially priced, multi-course menus – and every meal gives back. For each Sizzle Dining

Where Naples living meets unforgettable dining After more than 35 years selling Naples real estate, we’ve learned that helping clients find the perfect home is only part of what we love to do. Just as much fun is introducing them to the restaurants, hidden gems, and local favorites that make Naples feel like home. One question we hear all the time is, “Where do the locals go?” Our answer depends on the day, but one restaurant has never left the conversation: USS Nemo. For mor

Where Naples Living Meets Unforgettable Dining "Danny is in the kitchen at 4 a.m., preparing the bakery selection from scratch - something you truly have to see (and taste) to appreciate." In real estate, we often talk about location, presentation, and that intangible moment when something just feels right. As we continue writing for Old Naples News, we’re reminded that the same holds true in dining - and our recent visit to Saigon to Paris Café delivered on all fronts. For t

Gareth Rockliffe Fine Art Photography An intimate conversation with the chef whose restaurant sparked the dining renaissance of Fifth Avenue South It was Valentine's Day, 1994. Jesse Housman, age 32, was serving the first dinner in his career as a chef. He could never have imagined that one day he'd own that restaurant. Or that 32 years later, Bistro 821 would remain the longest running restaurant on Fifth Avenue South. Finding my passion "My father, a scientist, had hoped th