Grouper Perfection, Naples Florida [Pictures]

LTH,

I've been hanging with RevrendAndy on the Grouper Coast of Florida. Aside from spending time with 5 of my favorite people in the world I've, not surprisingly, been hunting the elusive Grouper.

We started fast and loose with an incredible three piece grouper basket at Andy and Lana's favorite, Grouper and Chips in Bonita Springs. Crisp, greaseless, moist, flavorful grouper. The perfect way to kick-start a Grouper hunt.

Grouper and Chips


Day Two of Quest for Grouper found us at Bonita Bay Club, once again, Grouper perfection. Not only Grouper perfection, but house made thick cut potato chips and perfect strong, but not bitter, iced tea.

Bonita Bay Club


Next up on the Grouper Trail was The Fish House in Bonita Springs. Here, if possible, the Grouper was, while still delicious, a bit on the weak side. Flaccid tough flour coating, slightly overcooked Grouper flesh and runny tarter sauce. Fries were good, the place is fun, with a crab shack atmosphere and outdoor seating area, but the Grouper was slightly below par for prime Grouper area.

The Fish House


We circled back to Grouper and Chips so our fiends, who missed Grouper and Chips the first time around, could sample fried Grouper perfection. At Lana's recommendation I deviated, slightly, from my all Grouper all the time lineup and had a combo basket of Grouper and shrimp. The shrimp were excellent, fleshy, moist, crunchy dry batter, but, well, Grouper is Grouper.
Incredibly enough I was so overcome by Grouper I didn't take a picture.

The Beached Whale, the restaurant, not us, in Fort Myer's Beach is a ever-so-slightly run down bar/crab shack with a pleasant roof top seating area. Very diverse clientele with an even mix of mom-pop-kids type tourists, bikers, and the women who love them, tan muffy/chads taking a break from the chilly North and spaced out beach types. Polo meets Biker Leather meets sandals w/black socks meets faded Bad Dog tee shirts.

OK, enough scene setting, how was the grouper? In a word, excelled, though with a twist. The Beached Whale gives their meaty Grouper filets a final roll in crushed corn flakes for extra crunch. From my perspective it works very well, I love all things crunchy.

The Beached Whale


Second to last, as we plan on having one more little slice of heaven before we leave the Grouper Coast this afternoon, was The Tropical Reef. A vest pocked sized gem in the Naples Cheesecake Company strip mall. Don't let the location or size turn you off. Tropical Reef is pleasant, white tablecloth, slightly upscale, though reasonable prices, with an interesting wine list, and friendly staff.

Picture does not do Tropical Reef's corn flake crusted Grouper justice.


Right about the third Grouper I was so overcome with the glory of Grouper I got a Grouper Tattoo, man was my wife ticked off.


Unfortunately it's time to bid adieu to the Grouper coast, not to mention The Rev and Lana. One more Grouper for the road and we're off.


Enjoy,
Gary

Gary

Great pics. You give new meaning to the term groupie.

I was so overcome with the glory of Grouper I got a Grouper Tattoo, man was my wife ticked off.

Was it the tattoo that ticked Ellen off, or the fact that you blew valuable vacation time in jail having it applied ?

John

Multi,

I am pretty sure I went to the Beached Whale for Grouper the last time I was visiting my parents in Venice. We're going there again in a few weeks, and I would like to return to Beached Whale and maybe check out that place in Bonita Springs.

Seems like breading and frying is pretty standard with grouper, which I guess is the way I prefer it, too.

I know Rev, like you, cooks a lot...did you consider making any grouper at home?

Hammond

David Hammond wrote:Seems like breading and frying is pretty standard with grouper,

Grouper is TERRIFIC Cardinale:
Sautee momentarily, add garlic, marinara, pepperoncini and white wine and clams, cover and cook just until the clams open, add parsely. Often I'll take the grouper filet out before adding the rest and add it back right at the end.

Really. I'm shouting here. But its not like you can get really fresh grouper in Chicago. When next you're down in Venice, try it if you can find some really fresh black grouper (which lives in deeper, colder water than the yellow and reds, ergo has less worms and parasites).

Gary, now I never have to go home again. I can just print your pix on soluble paper sprayed with Fishtastic and eat them.

You might know that commercial grouper fishing's ground zero is Madeira Beach (basically, Clearwater), and that commercial fishing of the loveable predators was banned from Nov 15 through the end of last year. (Good beach bars stocked up on quality frozen fish, bad ones sold other stuff as Gulf Grouper.) It appears that you, my friend, were in the right place at the right time, as the real deal flooded back into the local market.

Remember, you can get a reasonable facsimile at the bar at Joe's Stone Crab here. Used to be, long, long ago, that a fried Grouper sammy was a legit reason to go to Hooters in Chicago.

Re frying and serving the sandwich burger style, I think it's the only way to go. However, most every place offers grilled, blackened, etc. Many groupies go with grilled, since there is less room to hide bad/fake grouper.

Gary, if I see you around the neighborhood enjoying Russian Eggs and whatnot, I'll bring a pic of my 5-year-old's grouper costume from Halloween this year.

Your next steps to Grouper nirvana are to try minuta (grouper) milanesa on Cubano-Chino fried rice in Tampa and catch you a grouper (or spear one).

But what about the shrimp?

JeffB wrote:Gary, now I never have to go home again. I can just print your pix on soluble paper sprayed with Fishtastic and eat them.

Jeff,

Perhaps chef cantu can imprint the grouper and its essence on some rice paper!

-ed

I got my first job thanks to pictures I took of sunset from the beach in Naples. It still looks great.

Thanks for the memories.

Last week in Venice, Florida, we stopped by Marker 4 and had some excellent grouper nuggets: hefty hunks in a very non-greasey corn-meal flour. I like fried fish, I can't help it, I know it's bad for me (high cholesterol, according to last month's blood test), but after a day at the beach, I can't resist.

The cole slaw at Marker 4 was also very good -- I double-downed on slaw sides.

Hammond

I lived in that area for 5 years. Thank you for the mini-vacation. You have transported me from this frosty Chicago morning to Florida.