Local Flavor
Fast Food
Speedy, healthy meals in Naples.
BY SHARON KENNY
When the idea of cooking or going to a restaurant sounds unappealing, picking up lunch or dinner to take home or to the office is a great alternative.
Two of my all-time favorite dishes in Naples are from Matthews & Gardner Caterers, which in addition to a very successful special-order catering business, has a small storefront at 1250 Tamiami Trail (239-434-2611). Anne Matthews and Fred Gardner worked in some of Naples’ best restaurants and country clubs until deciding to go into business for themselves 11 years ago.
Catering in Naples has changed since they started. “People are more adventurous, more cutting-edge now with their selections,” Matthews says. “Parties are getting smaller and more casual, and international food is popular with just more flavor in general. We’re also seeing a move away from fusion-style cooking, although California-style has never been popular in Naples.”
Matthews and Gardner pride themselves on using fresh ingredients. “We don’t use ‘fake food’—this is real cheese, real butter,” Matthews says.
The best-selling main courses are fish. Soup is also popular; at least three soups are always on the menu. When the chunky vegetable soup is one of them, it sells out. “It’s our best-selling soup of all time,” Matthews says. The double smoked bacon and tomato soup is the best tomato soup I’ve tasted, and I try to always have a container in my fridge.
Matthews & Gardner’s menu (which changes weekly with just a few constants) also contains a variety of salads, sandwiches and about six main courses—including a creamy turkey Tetrazzini and a poached salmon with green goddess dressing. The biggest seller 11 years ago is still the biggest seller today—the fried chicken salad. Crispy breaded chicken breast is sliced into bite-size pieces over romaine lettuce with orange slices and almonds and a honey-mustard dressing. A recent offering, curried chicken salad with egg, bacon and sliced apples, made for a delicious lunch, but it isn’t yet one of the regular menu items.
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