I think my first crush was Shaun Cassidy.
He was a Hardy Boy and he had me at his first, Da Doo Ron Ron.
My parents didn’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day other than giving each other cards. I don’t remember any flowers. They never just went out together. Romance was not in their vocabulary.
When I grew up, they each celebrated with me individually. I got cards, Mom would bake cookies, Dad would send me flowers.
Nowadays, I get to spend Valentine’s Day with my favorite person, G.
Oh, and G’s card game is on point.
February in Naples, Florida is tricky if you want to go out to eat. It’s season so that means all the snowbirds from up north are here. Lots of traffic and lots of people dining out. Also, Naples is not what I would call a food destination. What passes for a good meal here, well, let’s just say I beg to differ.
After some brainstorming, it hit me. We went to Captain and Krewe, a sentimental favorite from our first time in Naples.
I could only find this picture of the restaurant/oyster bar/fish market, but I had to share. This is G’s friend, Neil (the best man at our wedding), showing us just what he thinks of himself.
Neil visited us in late January 2016, almost two months after my mom died. God, it’s still so hard to type those words. My fingers paused in mid-air as I decided what to say instead of “I lost my mom”.
We bought stone crab and Neil made the best French fries.
I remember sitting on the lanai late into the evening with G and Neil and laughing so hard. Even in that moment, the grief so heavy it was a blanket wrapped around me, I caught myself thinking, I can still laugh, so there’s hope.
My friend, Cheryl, came to visit a few times during our first stint in Naples. I’d pick her up from the airport and drive straight to Captain and Krewe. It was our thing. We sat at the bar, ordered appetizers, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and settled in for a couple of hours, catching up and planning our visit itinerary.
Equal photo for Cheryl with her fave flowers.
So this Valentine’s Day, G and I walked right up to an empty sidewalk table at Captain and Krewe. As natives of New York and Ohio, we still get a kick out of wearing shorts and dining outdoors in the month of February. I’m not sure that will ever go away.
After lunch, we went for a walk through the park just across the street from the restaurant. Then it was time for the main event. Dessert!
G took me to one of my favorite places in town, Norman Love Confections.
We chose ten chocolate truffles, or my preferred word, bonbons. Then, I decided that I needed an instant dessert and ordered pistachio gelato to go.
Yes, these were amazing.
I can’t finish up a Valentine’s-themed issue without a salute to that new version of the holiday, Galentine’s Day (courtesy of Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope.)
As Leslie (Amy Poehler) says in season two, episode sixteen:
“Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”
I care about you. Please don’t forget to eat your greens.
Norman Love Chocolates! One of my most memorable gifts!
I love places that rich histories and stories that we can look back on, like this restaurant. So glad you got to revisit it and add another layer!