International Trend Arrives in Naples

NAPLES, Fla. – February 5, 2009 – Always on the culinary cutting-edge, Naples Tomato is the first Florida restaurant to introduce the “mozzarella bar,” a cheese tasting concept already popular in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and throughout Europe.

Originating in Rome at the famed Obiká restaurant four years ago, the mozzarella bar was made popular in the U.S. by renowned chefs Mario Batali and Nancy Silverstein at their L.A. restaurant, Osteria Mozza, and other restaurateurs in major metropolitan areas have followed suit by offering the creamy dairy concoction as a menu mainstay.

The mozzarella cheese-tasting concept is the same as with Naples Tomato’s approach to wine in that several varieties are available in small portions, which allow the taster to compare flavor, texture and style. Naples Tomato offers five mozzarella choices during the peak-tourist winter months and plans to offer three cheeses during the summer season. The daily selections feature a combination of Italian, California and homemade cheeses, consisting of cows’ milk, buffalo milk and burrata. The mozzarella bar also includes antipasto accompaniments such as sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, marinated mushrooms, roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes with pesto, and Italian meats.

“This is going to be fun,” states co-owner Jack Serfass, noting Naples Tomato was the first Florida restaurant to introduce the successful Enomatic wine system over two years ago. “It makes the foodie in all of us smile! We believe the mozzarella bar is a natural complement to our American-Neapolitan menu and wine lounge.”

The homemade mozzarella and burrata cheeses are made daily. The Italian cheeses are shipped via international air service to Miami and then rushed across the state by refrigerated truck to arrive at Naples Tomato within 48 hours of being made. The Italian cheeses are vacuum-sealed in a pouch with water and opened the day of serving, versus other offerings where the cheese is made weeks earlier.

The mozzarella bar is available daily and the menu offers individual portions starting at $9 for lunch and $10 for dinner.

The national award-winning Italian restaurant, located in Tamiami Square in North Naples, has developed a loyal patronage and the area’s largest wine club since opening April 2005. A new dining terrace, which opened January 2008, makes it one of the largest restaurants in Naples (spanning five shopping bays and approximately 9,000 square feet total). Adjoining the restaurant’s main dining room and full-service bar is the wine lounge and tasting room, featuring the popular Enomatic self-serving wine system that offers 48 selections in 1oz, 3oz and 6oz tastes on demand. Naples Tomato is also the only restaurant in Southwest Florida that offers a display pasta kitchen making homemade pasta with the lamination technique.

Naples Tomato is located at 14700 Tamiami Trail North. Hours of operation are 11:30AM – 12:00AM seven days a week. Complimentary valet parking is offered from 6:00PM-10:00PM. For more information about Naples Tomato or the Naples Tomato Wine Club call (239) 598-9800 or visit www.naplestomato.com.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 5th, 2009 at 5:50 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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About Naples Tomato

Naples Tomato is your place for Vine Dining.™ Vine Dining is a uniquely American way to experience the Mediterranean lifestyle, where every meal is a celebration of life. You can effortlessly match inventive cuisine and unusual wines to your mood, the moment and your budget. You can enjoy a glass of wine with cheese before the theatre, or a simple bowl of pasta or perfectly prepared fish at an intimate table, or a special family dinner with wine pairings. Naples Tomato offers Neapolitan fare reinvented with American flair: homemade pastas, award-winning lasagna, fresh local fish and other specialties in creative preparations.

Media Contacts:

Janice Brown Janice Brown & Associates, Inc.
603-764-5800

or Jack Serfass Naples Tomato
239-598-9800