This year, we’ve all had to be a little creative when it comes to celebrating special moments. With December right around the corner, finding the perfect way to enjoy the holidays with family and friends may feel like a challenge. At Fire & Rice, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be! 

The holiday season is upon us, and while people want to get together, they also want to be safe. The good news is that Fire & Rice can create an elegant celebration in your Naples backyard with our award-winning paella catering. By entertaining outdoors, you’re surrounded by the fresh air and can distance as you see fit.  Just sit back and relax, and let our chefs take care of the rest! It's safe, easy, and delicious!

Imagine dining al fresco with the people you care about most on your deck, porch, or patio.  As usual, your table looks gorgeous, and your natural surroundings are a sight to behold. As everyone delights in the environment, our chefs capture your attention as they prepare award-winning paella in large, shallow pans nearby. 

Everyone admires the preparation of this exquisite dish, with its palette of primary colors.  The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and gentle aromas fill the air. Your guests are relaxed as they anticipate a wonderful meal together. The setting is perfect, and you relish in the fact that everyone is having the time of their lives.  
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During the paella preparation, we use only the finest ingredients dating back to 16th Century Spain.  By combining chicken and sausage with imported saffron and Bomba rice, we create a unique, gentle flavor and texture, like you’ve never encountered before. Meats can be substituted or combined with seafood, and vegan options are also available, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.  

With options such as Mixta Paella, Paella de Valencia, and Paella de Marisco, the presentation is stunning. When your guests take their first bite of our delicious paella, it will exceed every expectation. Many of our clients have traveled all over the world and say that our paella is the best they’ve ever tasted.

If you’d like to create a fine dining experience in your own backyard, call Fire & Rice today at (239) 269-8857 to schedule Naples paella catering.  We look forward to hearing from you and making your outdoor celebration one that will be remembered for years to come. 

​Throughout the pandemic, the people of Naples have still had a strong desire to come together and celebrate the special moments in life – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, graduations, and more. With restaurants at limited capacity, making it almost impossible to get reservations, and a lack of local events, residents quickly ran out of interesting dining options. It was at this point that Fire & Rice paella catering decided to create opportunities. 

Fire & Rice founder, Paul Schmidgall, knows the Naples’ lifestyle well, having catered parties and events, big and small, in a wide variety of venues for more than a decade. Instead of allowing the pandemic to slow his paella catering franchise down, he adapted to the new reality and created alternative dining solutions that were safe and fun.

Fairly quickly, Schmidgall knew that it was critical to adapt to COVID-19, which has proven to be the ultimate challenge for hospitality businesses. For however long this virus was going to stick around, the structure of his franchise needed to change. And he did it: The Fire & Rice franchise has been thriving through the pandemic – not just in Naples, but at other locations throughout the country.

How did Fire & Rice do it?

Like many restaurants, they started doing take-out.  Next, they started offering paella delivery.  But, as the novelty of those services began to wear off, Schmidgall realized that they needed to do more.  It was critical to get to the root of what the people of Naples really wanted: to gather and interact with others safely over a delicious meal.

Soon, Fire & Rice started booking condominium complexes and HOA communities throughout the Naples area during the week, creating outdoor dining opportunities for residents on-site. People could pre-order their paella, ensuring no-contact payments, and walk outside their front door to the Naples’ food truck, pick up their paella, see people, and socialize!  
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All over Naples, residents came together at a safe distance to mingle with neighbors and friends over a unique dish in their own communities.  This wonderful opportunity was exactly what people had been craving.  Not only was the paella delicious, but it was safe, fast, easy, and inexpensive! Before they knew it, Fire & Rice was bringing original paella to Pelican Marsh, the Villages of Monterey, Marbella Isles, the Tall Pines community, and the Contessa. People couldn’t get enough of the paella or the social experience. 

Early this fall, Fire & Rice began offering an outdoor paella catering experience where residents could dine al fresco in their own backyard.  Since restaurant dining options were limited, people jumped at the chance to celebrate over beautiful plates of paella on their decks and patios. It was a huge hit!  Not only did they enjoy a personalized menu, but they were also entertained during the preparation process and able to linger as long as they like!

If you’d like to learn more about more about Naples’ paella catering opportunities, call Fire & Rice today at 239-269-8857 or book online.  We look forward to hearing from you and helping you create unique dining experience in your neighborhood or home.