The concept of Fire & Rice was conceived when owner, Paul Schmidgall, visited the small island of Meorca off the coast of Spain while stationed with the U.S. Air Force in Europe.  There, he learned the process of creating authentic paella from an elderly woman and was so inspired that he created a new vision: to bring paella to the United States, and with that, Fire & Rice – The Original Naples Paella! was born.

Al Sloan working at the Bonita Bay Beach Club

At Fire & Rice, we have been bringing original paella to Naples and Southwest Florida for nearly a decade and have franchised locations throughout the US.  People rave about our original paella, and our Fire & Rice team brings energy, fun, and excitement wherever we go. Whether it’s a catered event or the Farmers’ Market in Naples or Marco Island, people delight in our amazing paella and unique communal dining experience.  ​

Wherever you see our Fire & Rice team, you know there is fun involved.  Whether you’re at a party, event, or visiting our food truck at the market, you’ll see us right out in front preparing magnificent paella before your eyes. The beautiful, gentle aroma of the paella will touch your senses, and when you take your first bite, it will exceed every expectation.

Mixta paella at the Bonita Bay Beach Club

To learn more about Fire & Rice, take a moment to read about our story about the original paella experience. Also learn more about our locations, check out Fire & Rice in the news, take a peak at our photo gallery, and get the latest inspiration from Fire & Rice – The Original Naples Paella! on our blog.