Pelican Bay, Naples, FL USA

Ordered at the North Beach restaurant at Pelican Bay in Naples, on the West Coast of Florida.

When it comes to Florida, I’m an east-coast-veteran. From Miami to Jupiter, I’ve been to all of the “hot spots” along the coast where grandparents congregate. So when my mother invited me to spend the weekend with her in Naples, I was intrigued and excited to check out the west coast.

Sunsets over the water with dolphins swimming and happy hour flowing, who could beat that?

Upon arrival I immediately loved the west coast vibe that the atmosphere and its residents gave off, so close yet so far from the east coast of Florida.

Lunch on our last day was spent beachside with a side of cool breeze and a hint of waves crashing in the background. Even with the old average age, the bar at North Beach in Pelican Bay was full of life at 12noon.

Just when I thought the moment couldn’t get any better, the lunch menus arrived, and the Pelican Bay Club – no description or ingredients to accompany it – was displayed with pride, and I put my order in with a side of tabouli. We conversed, enjoyed the scene, and waited patiently for our meals.

A thick, ripe tomato greeted me upon arrival, produce I was expecting in Florida. Turkey, ham, and bacon met me with both pleasure and intrigue; a classic trio of sandwich meats. The green lettuce, shmeared with mayo, and the thin slice of American cheese, both didn’t overly wow me. Still, in this moment, it was hard to complain about anything.

I liked the Pelican Bay Club Sandwich and I enjoyed how filling it was. But the tabouli was unlike any I’ve had before, and half of me wanted to go back into the kitchen and educate the chef on how to accurately prepare this easy and delicious side dish. That would have to wait until next time, however, as my mother and I were off to find shells on the beach and enjoy the afternoon…

Location