Survive and Thrive: Here is Your Snowbirds “Welcome to Florida” Checklist

​If you happened to watch NFL football this past Sunday, you saw snow – lots of it. And I don’t mean the TV static interference that happens on occasion. For example, thousands of Buffalo Bills fans weathered through non-stop falling frosty flakes from kickoff well into the evening hours.

As I write this, the temperature there is 17º F at 11:50 in the morning on January 3, 2022, the day after the Bills beat the Atlanta Falcons 29-15.

But if you’re not a football fan, and if you’re not a winter weather fan, you have better things on your mind now that you’ve landed in Florida for the winter.

​Lucky, lucky you.
 
Once you’ve wiped that smile off your face, grab a pen or pencil and get your snowbird vacation home ready for some fulfilled, easy no-snow-zone living.
 
Here’s the Fire & Rice Welcome to Florida Snowbirds checklist.
 
FIRE & RICE WELCOMES SNOWBIRDS TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER
 
√ Now that you have arrived in the Sunshine State, if you drove here from the north, head to the nearest car wash and get rid of the road salt and winter gunk that is most likely all over your vehicle.
 
√ Once you’re at your snowbird house or home for the season, open up your screened windows and doors and let the fresh air welcome you naturally.

​√ As the fresh air is circulating, grab your vacuum cleaner and Swiffer dust mops and kiss those dust bunnies goodbye. Your vacation space deserves to be as free of dust and dust mites as it does of snow.
 
√ Now it’s time to get back in the car and head to your nearest supermarket. Be sure to stock up on the essentials so you don’t have to be schlepping all over the place. One and done, that’s the snowbird survival motto.
 
√ On the way home, be sure to stop at your nearby farmers market to stock up on those fruits and vegetables that were most likely picked that very morning. You’re sure to find avocado, bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, grapefruit, lettuce/greens, kale, oranges, strawberries and tomatoes.

​√ And remember to add some color to your vacation home while at the farmers market and grab a bouquet or two of fresh flowers to set a calming and beautiful mood for yourself and visitors to come. Birds of Paradise easily say “Welcome back to Florida” with their fiery orange mane.

​√ While visiting the Vanderbilt Market, Marco Island and/or Third Street Market, be sure to stop by and see us at the Fire & Rice tent and food truck. Our Vanderbilt location opens at Saturdays at 8:00 am and closes at 1:00 pm. It is located at the intersection of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach Road, across from Naples Family Fitness, in the middle of the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt. The Marco Island Market is held Wednesdays from 7:30 am until 1:00 pm at Mackel Park. Our Third Street Market location opens a tad earlier Saturdays at 7:30 am and closes at 11:30 am in the Neapolitan parking lot between Third Street South and Gordon Drive.

​PAELLA PARTIES ARE THE BOMB DIGGETY SO BOOK YOURS NOW
 
In addition to visiting us when you’re out and about in Naples and Fort Myers, be sure to contact us to book your next Fire & Rice paella party. Both of our Florida locations will bring the best paella to guests in Naples and Southwest Florida. As an alternative to your typical catered affair, Fire & rice creates magnificent, aromatic, authentic paella on site with only the finest ingredients. Many of our clients have traveled all over the world and rave about our very own paella, saying it’s the best they’ve ever tasted!

​For a look at our catering menu, click here. Our Fire & Rice Mixta Paella features sizzling chicken, sausage, saffron, Calasparra rice, roasted peppers, white fish, clams, mussels, jumbo shrimp, peas and is finished sublimely with fresh lemon.
 
Our world famous Fire & Rice Paella Valenciana pleases the most discriminating foodies with our blend of Calasparra rice, vegetables, chicken, handmade sausage and seasonings.

And for seafood lovers, be sure to try our Fire & Rice Paella de Marisco. It’s our classic seafood paella where we replace the meat with an assortment of white fish, clams, mussels and jumbo shrimp. A total YUM!
 
Should you be hosting a cocktail party where lighter fare is desired, we can be your go-to solution, too. Our Tapas menu features selections like ​Roasted Dates with Pineapple and Bacon, Tortilla Española and Jamon Serrano.
 
HERE’S HOW TO FIND FIRE & RICE IN FLORIDA
 
Our local telephone number is 239-269-8857. To connect with us online while you’re here, click here and complete the event form and book your Fire & Rice paella party. You and your guests will be incredibly happy that you did.
 
Feliz Año Nuevo and welcome back to Florida!