Chef Paul Visits Prince Edward Island this August to Source Mussels for Naples’ Award-Winning Paella Catering

What’s special about Prince Edward Island? This beautiful province is on Canada’s East Coast and is separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the Northumberland Strait. Just a 10-minute drive across the Confederation Bridge from the mainland, PEI is known for its beautiful red beaches, red soil, rolling hills, and scenic farmland, offering some of the most stunning vistas in the world.

If you love the outdoors, nothing beats running, hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in Canada’s smallest province, and the warm water during the summer months is a delight! If swimming, parasailing, snorkeling, or seal watching piques your interest, it doesn’t get much better than PEI.
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The food scene is also magnificent. The ocean is full of fish and shellfish, and the farmland is rich with meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables. The abundance of fresh ingredients is an inspiration to local chefs who prepare their creations in quaint restaurants all over the island. ​

​PEI Mussels: The Perfect Addition to Naples’ Best Paella Catering 

Why is PEI so special to Fire & Rice? The mussels! The ocean climate and tidal patterns in PEI are optimal for raising mussels, making them highly sought after in the US. As far as nutritional value, PEI mussels are a rich source of protein and low in cholesterol, sodium, and fat.  Consistently wonderful, their sweet flavor and plump, firm texture make the perfect addition to our award-winning paella in Naples.

The best time of year to visit PEI is from mid-July to mid-August, and Chef Paul takes a trip up to the island each summer to meet with his mussel vendor and look at sourcing options. As PEI mussels are a key ingredient in Fire & Rice’s seafood paella dishes, Chef Paul must source the best of the best.
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The investment of travel time as well as personally inspecting the mussels pays off when it comes to preparing paella year-round, particularly during the busy season. You’ll experience the delicious flavors and textures of PEI mussels first-hand when you enjoy our Mixta Paella, Paella de Marisco, or our event package. ​

​Naples Paella Catering from Fire & Rice: The Ultimate Paella Experience

When you see Fire & Rice at a party or event, you’ll know there’s fun to be had. We’re passionate about paella, and it shows!  Our chefs enthusiastically prepare the paella in large pans right out in front for everyone to see, and the guests are drawn in as the excitement grows. As people gather around the pans, we encourage them to be part of the preparation process. It’s fun and exciting, and everyone wants a turn! 

Using only the finest ingredients dating back to 16th-Century Spain, we fuse the flavors of chicken and sausage, seafood, or combinations of both, with saffron and Bomba rice through a traditional preparation process, and the results are out of this world, like nothing you’ve encountered before.  Many of our clients have traveled all over the world and say our paella is the best they’ve ever tasted.

If you’re interested in our unique Naples paella catering experience, call us at 239.269.8857 or book your party online.  We look forward to sharing our paella with you!