Naples Potpourri by Bill Barnett

Bill Barnett

It’s hard to believe that the Naples season is nearly over as we approach April. This is the time of year with the best weather, the most traffic, and everyone is just plain busy. I basically do a form of hibernation for the next month if there is such a thing! I love Fifth Avenue South, the Third Street restaurants and shops, and all the other great amenities to be found in downtown Naples. But, there is a catch to all of this with me, I don’t venture out in the evenings to these places. Rather than make a reservation at one of the fine restaurants, I would prefer to let one of our visitors or tourists have that reservation.

Even on the rare occasion that my wife Chris and I will venture out during the season, we make sure to call for an early reservation. That way we know we can get in a few days in advance, and we are done before the restaurant gets busy. After all, we have from May through December to pretty much dine wherever we like without the traffic and hassle.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of the few people that you might talk to and start complaining about all of the above and I’m going to be the one that defends it! We worked hard to make Naples what it is today, and it only gets better. Of course, the traffic is another story but we all manage to deal with it and whining about it doesn’t fix it. To the best of my knowledge, we have yet to find a workable solution, although we sure do try!

Returning to some of my memories of early Naples: the year was 1973 and moving to Naples from New York was definitely culture shock! It was like a whole new life and every day was a fun adventure. I can’t help but remember the two real restaurants that made up Naples fine dining in 1973. Both were located within 5 minutes of each other. One was Picadilly Pub, the other St. George and the Dragon. Picadilly had good food and offered entertainment, but to this day and I’m serious, I have never had a better piece of Prime Rib than I had at St. George and the Dragon.

Being from New York dining for me was a struggle and it took some getting used to. It was an interesting time then, everyone knew everyone, and when a new store was being built or was opening, we all knew about it immediately. Especially a new restaurant! Now don’t get me wrong we had diners that were good, no chains back then, so good home cooking, but nothing on the higher end. Slowly but surely, we were growing and one day back then a tiny restaurant opened up on Fifth Avenue South and the word spread like wildfire that they were indeed different.

The restaurant was called the Chef ’s Garden and was owned and operated by two affable young men, Tony Ridgway and Beirne Brown. The first night my former wife and I dined there I was so excited with the menu that I ordered four entrees! Of course we couldn’t eat them all, but the food was delicious, and we took home what we didn’t eat. That was really the beginning of fine dining in Naples, and they really shaped what the dining scene is today in Naples, Beirne became a world class Sommelier and he, last I heard, was a top executive with the Cruise Lines. Along the way they took a new partner in with them, her name was Suki Honeycut, and she was and still is a first-class wine connoisseur and not only took charge of the Chef Garden’s wines but opened her own shop as well. Tony can still be found in the kitchen at Ridgway’s on 13th Street in Olde Naples. He still has that magic touch with preparing fine food daily and nothing comes out of that kitchen that he hasn’t approved.

The best for last today! If you ever get the opportunity to visit our brand new Gulfshore Playhouse and see a play, jump on it! It is one of the most magnificent buildings I have ever seen, nothing was spared building this playhouse. The talent comes from Broadway in New York, and the schedule of the plays that will be and are there and the actors and actresses, along with the directors are first class. Thanks to our Founder, CEO, and Artistic Director Kristen Coury along with our great philanthropic donors and friends this would have never been possible. Kudos also to the City of Naples for donating the property for their parking garage which will be finished March 17 (hopefully).

Just as Baker Park notched out a niche to become a part of Naples History, I predict Gulfshore Playhouse will not be far behind as they will be an icon for generations to come.

All the Best,
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor

I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com