Franchising your business can be exciting, but it can also be complicated.  As a franchisor, you need to keep evolving within the framework of your business model while managing the many moving pieces that contribute to the success of the brand. All the while, you need to network, build relationships, and connect with your peers so that you can keep learning and continue to grow your business. 

When building a franchise, some of the best learning opportunities come from other franchisors who have been in your shoes before and can offer strategies for growth and overcoming challenges. This is the exact reason why Chef Paul Schmidgall, founder of the booming Fire & Rice franchise, is headed to the International Franchise Association Convention in Orlando this February. 

The IFA works to advance the future of franchising while advocating for and protecting its members and their businesses. When you’re a member of the IFA, you are part of a franchising community where people learn from one another through networking and mentoring opportunities. The IFA also motivates members with tools and solutions that set you up for success while offering support at every stage of franchise development through events, programs, and other resources.  

During the convention, Chef Paul looks forward to participating in networking events and educational sessions, including summits, learning labs, receptions, roundtables, and more. There, he will connect with top-tier success stories and learn how to overcome shared challenges. 

This year, the lineup of keynote speakers at the convention includes Simon Sinek, author of The Infinite Game, who will ask the question, how do we win if there is no end? Sinek says, you can’t win, but you must know how to outlast your competitors. Also speaking is Kevin Hochman, President and Chief Concept Officer of KFC US, who will share an inside look at how the brand re-established itself, and former NFL athlete Trent Shelton, who will discuss what motivates you for success and how to break free of toxic environments.
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It’s going to be an exciting and rewarding three days!

Are you considering owning and running a franchise? If you like food and interacting with people, owning a Fire & Rice may be the right opportunity for you! If you’d like to learn more about our paella catering franchise opportunities, call Chef Paul today at (239) 269-8857. He’d love to talk with you!

We’re excited to announce that Fire & Rice has added another farmers’ market to our weekly rotation.  Now you can find us on Thursdays from 9 AM – 1 PM at the River District Farmers’ Market in downtown Fort Myers. We’ll be there every Thursday morning, cooking up our award-winning paella right out in front for everyone to see.  We hope that you’ll come down and see us and join in the fun! 

Formerly known as the Downtown Farmers’ Market, the Fort Myers River District Farmers’ Market is the oldest farmers’ market in Lee County.  In 1995, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency organized the market so that local vendors could rent inexpensive, convenient spaces and sell their wares directly to customers at reasonable prices.  The concept took off, and the market has been a fixture in Fort Myers ever since.

​The number and variety of vendors has expanded over the years, and now you can find people bustling about in search of the perfect local products, including produce, organics, tasty baked goods, smoothies, nuts, pickles, BBQ, cheese, fresh cut flowers, Essential Oils, coffee, and, now, paella! It’s a lively place, particularly in season, and a great place to visit for breakfast or lunch. 

At River District Farmers’ Market, you’ll find Fire & Rice at the center of all the activity enthusiastically preparing delicious paella in large, shallow pans out in front for everyone to see. We’re passionate about paella, and it shows! Our chefs interact with the crowd and encourage people to join in the preparation process. It’ fun and exciting, and everyone wants a turn!

Using only the finest ingredients dating back to 16th Century Spain, our chefs combine chicken and sausage with imported saffron and Bomba rice for a delicious flavor and texture you can’t deny. The paella is a beautiful palette of primary colors, and gentle aromas fill the air, touching all the senses. People come together and delight in this unique culinary experience, and when they taste our paella, it exceeds every expectation.  Many of our clients have traveled all over the world and say that our paella is the best they’ve ever had! 

If you’ve never tried paella before, the time is now!  Come down to the Fort Myers River District Farmers’ Market this Thursday in Centennial Park and visit Fire & Rice. Just look for our food truck and come say hello. If you can’t get there early, you can pre-order our original paella online, and we’ll put some aside for you before we run out.  Just make sure to pick up your paella before the market closes. We hope to see you there!

If you’d like to learn more about Naples’ original paella or are interested in our paella catering services, contact Fire & Rice at (239) 269-8857 or book your party online!  We look forward to hearing from you! 

When you’re considering investing in a franchise opportunity, you may toss around various concepts in your mind and undergo significant research. Once you’ve contemplated business models and growth opportunities, there are some important questions you’ll need to ask yourself: Can I see myself doing this every day? Is this something I will enjoy? Do I have the right background to be successful? 

Even without diving into the Fire & Rice business model, it’s clear that preparing amazing paella and interacting with people at private parties and various venues are fundamental to business operations. If you like food and enjoy interacting with people regularly, Fire & Rice may be the right opportunity for you.

You may wonder if you need to be a classically trained chef to run a Fire & Rice paella catering franchise successfully. The answer is, no. While some Fire & Rice franchises are owned by chefs, most are not. In fact, our franchise owners come from varying backgrounds, including the military, the communications industry, and, not surprisingly, the restaurant business. 

At Fire & Rice, we give you all the tools you need to prepare our award-winning paella. If you enjoy cooking and being around food, you have what it takes to prepare this delicious, traditional dish.
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When you come on board as a franchisee, you’ll have everything you need to operate the business. With more than a decade of experience behind us, you’ll have the advantage of learning from our successes as well as our mistakes. We’ve done all the hard work. All you need to do is take the business and run with it. 

Our new franchisee training is phenomenal. New franchisees spend approximately one month at our original location in Naples, Florida. There, you train with Fire & Rice founder, Chef Paul Schmidgall, to learn the day-to-day operations of the business and strategize for growth in your territory.

Chef Paul is highly invested in his franchises.  Once training is complete, he’s there to support you in your venture. Chef Paul even travels to locations throughout the year to lend a helping hand during the busy season. 

If you’d like to learn more about Fire & Rice paella catering franchise opportunities, contact Chef Paul today at (239) 269-8857. He’d love to talk with you!

​January kicks off the height of paella season, and we couldn’t be happier to see all the friendly, familiar faces down at the farmers’ market and on the party circuit. Now that all the snowbirds are back in town, everyone’s excited to reconnect and enjoy their time together during the best months of the year. 

​What’s the most enjoyable way to reconnect with friends in Naples this January? By hosting a Fire & Rice party, of course. Our parties are a unique twist on catering in a communal dining setting that’s fun and exciting for everyone involved.  Not only is our paella delicious, but our chefs create an energized atmosphere wherever we go. The experience is fun and unique, something that your guests will remember for years to come.  

​For more than a decade, Fire & Rice has been catering private parties and events in the Naples’ area, and each experience is unforgettable. From the moment guests arrive, they know they’re in for a treat. They watch our chefs enthusiastically prepare award-winning paella in large, shallow pans right out in front for everyone to see, and energy fills the room. We’re passionate about paella, and it shows! 

As guests greet each other and socialize, they watch us with interest and gradually move toward the pans. Our chefs engage the guests and encourage them to participate in the preparation process. The excitement builds, and everyone wants to join in on the fun. Smiles are abundant, and laughter is all around. People love being part of the paella preparation process!
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When the paella is ready, we call the guests up to the pans and serve them.  The communal dining experience is warm and inviting, and people feel a sense of camaraderie as they connect over a meal that they helped create. It’s a comfortable and sensual experience, with beautiful food, gentle aromas, and divine flavors like you’ve never encountered before.  

At Fire & Rice, our paella is authentic in every sense of the word.  We use only the finest ingredients dating back to 16th Century Spain, and our preparation process is steeped in tradition. By combining chicken and sausage with imported saffron and Bomba rice, we create delightful flavors and textures that are simply out of this world.  We can swap out the meat with seafood or combine the two, and vegan options are also available. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you serve Mixta Paella, Paella Valencia, or Paella de Marisco, your guests will delight in a culinary experience like never before. Tapas are also available as well as dessert!

If you’re looking for a unique alternative to traditional catering fare, contact Fire & Rice today at (239) 269-8857 to learn more about our Naples catering, or book your party online!  We look forward to helping you celebrate with your friends this season!