Julien Bernard, executive chef at Moorings Park Grande Lake, is the secret ingredient to three of Naples’ hottest restaurants.
Naples is known for having an abundance of great restaurants, and the editors of U.S. News and World Report compiled a list of dining venues that cannot be missed. Among their favorites were Blue Provence, Bar Tulia, The Bay House, EJ’s Bayfront Café, Caffe dell’Amore, T-Michael’s Steak & Lobster, Campiello, Osteria Tulia, USS Nemo, Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro, Gumbo Limbo at The Ritz-Carlton, Sea Salt, The Turtle Club, and Brooks Burgers.
While all of these restaurants are outstanding, there is another list of Naples restaurants not widely known to the general public worth investigating. These Southwest Florida restaurants are so exclusive that they require membership.
Membership Has Its Privileges
Tucked within the upscale community of Moorings Park Grande Lake are three extraordinary restaurants only accessible to members of Moorings Park Communities’ three luxurious senior living communities. These five-star restaurants provide a unique dining experience that can’t be found anywhere else in Naples.
“Residents of our three communities, Moorings Park, Moorings Park at Grey Oaks, and Moorings Park Grande Lake have access to nine private restaurants, three at each of our communities,” says Tom Mann, Vice President of Moorings Park Communities. “These restaurants are as fine as any of the restaurants on 5th Avenue South, plus, they have one big advantage. These restaurants are only available to our members. That being said, we regularly invite boomers and seniors who are interested in learning more about Moorings Park Grande Lake to our delicious and informative lunch and learns. It’s a great way to get a sense of the quality of the food and the beauty of the community.”
“Part of the reason we were drawn to Moorings Park Grande Lake was the clubhouse. It really feels like you are at a resort. The three restaurants, the swimming pool, the fitness center, the salon and spa, the theatre… just everything. It’s spectacular!” says Marvin Easton who sold his house in Port Royal to live at Moorings Park Grande Lake.
Michelin Star Ratings
The secret ingredient to three of Naples’ hottest restaurants? Moorings Park Grande Lake’s Executive Chef, Julien Bernard.
“Chef Julien knows what it takes to deliver memorable dining moments,” says Mann. “He is a fine demonstration of Moorings Park Communities’ commitment to making our communities and restaurants truly special. Part of the joy of this job is the striving for excellence. We’ll never feel like we have ‘arrived’, but that pursuit drives us.”
With an expansive culinary background, the young Parisian chef delivers a Michelin Star-rated dining experience.
Deliciously Diverse Cuisine
Moorings Park Grande Lake is home to three five-star restaurants: Zest, the poolside café and bistro, Savor 26, an upscale, yet casual “go-to” with a playful menu, and BlueStone, a fine dining restaurant with an emphasis on prime meats and seafood. Members also have the treat of having access to five-star dining right in their home with meal delivery.
Some items members can find on the menus include beet carpaccio with goat cheese, a variety of delights from the raw bar, like fresh shucked oysters and colossal stone crab, a wagyu tenderloin with shaved black truffle, and a miso-glazed Chilean seabass with exotic mushrooms. Additionally, all pasta is freshly crafted in-house with an imported Italian bronze-cut pasta extruder, and each pizza is baked to order in a custom Marra Forni brick pizza oven.
“I just want to have the best ingredients on the plate,” says Chef Julien. “If you have good ingredients, you can make any dish the best dish. The quality will be there.”
Multi-Sense Dining
The Moorings Park Grande Lake five-star restaurant experience engages all five senses with sights of world-class architecture from London Bay, sweet sounds of music and live entertainment, the feeling of fine, hand-selected glassware, linens, and tableware, and of course, the food that tantalizes your tastebuds and smells divine.
The extensive and diverse background of Chef Julien allows Moorings Park Grande Lake to offer a variety of cuisine that exceeds expectations and offers a unique flair. The meaning of serving cuisine to some of the most cultured and well-traveled individuals that call Moorings Park Grande Lake home is what drives him each day.
“Food is happiness,” says Chef Julien. “When people sit down in a restaurant, they know they’re going to enjoy the moment. I want to make sure [guests] are always happy and impressed; to see their smile from the plate and that they’re enjoying their meal. Food does in fact bring people together.”
Discover Naples’ Finest Cuisine for Yourself
Moorings Park Communities offers an exceptional dining experience, ranging from casual to fine dining, with Simply the Best® restaurants that feature unique menus, celebrated wine lists, and impeccable service, and you’re invited to see for yourself. Discover a lifestyle beyond compare across three award-winning campuses, where luxurious residences, breathtaking views, state-of-the-art amenities, and, of course, concierge physicians and personalized healthcare are all included. To learn more, attend an event, schedule a private tour, or call 239-451-5509.
