Yum Yum Yabba; Naples Dining

Bone-in rib eye with stone crab claws

Yabba Island Grill has been a mainstay on the trendy 5th Avenue South in Naples for its causal island cuisine and rousing nighttime scene. I remember many a nights dancing after dinner service to some of the area's best DJ's.

But over the years, the party vibe has faded and a more family friendly atmosphere embraced. The changes have continued with a recent upgrade in aesthetics and tweaks to the menu.

Seared Ahi appetizer

Gone are the bright green colors, in are comforting blue tones and dark wood in this $300,000 renovation project. Fabric still draps the ceiling of the main restaurant and bar while the front dining room has a more cozy romantic feel.

New, inventive hand crafted cocktails are teasing, tempting and pleasing; basil lemon drop, balsamic berry blast and green chile gimlet to name a few. The wine list has also been updated with mostly reasonably priced selections form around the world.

While the menu is still loaded with fresh seafood, the restaurant is branding itself as a casual, affordable steakhouse...with a bit of island flair. I recently enjoyed a meal that included juicy, salty oysters, seasonal stone crab claws and a beautiful, tasty ahi tuna appetizer.

For a main course I shared a seared wahoo served with seasonal vegetables, as well as steak medallions topped with a rich and creamy combo of crab and shrimp; one of the many new steak and seafood combo's Yabba is now offering. Both dishes were keepers.

If it's been awhile since you've been to Yabba, it's time you go back and check out the changes.

Cooper's Hawk Opens in Naples

It's official....today Southwest Florida residents can experience a Napa-style wine tasting room without traveling cross country. Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant opens its southernmost location to the public on US4 in North Naples, between Wiggins Pass and Immokalee Road.

I got a sneak peak last week and met CEO and Founder Tim McEnery who said his expansion in Naples has created more buzz than any other new location opening to date. Perhaps it's the midwest connection; the company's origins are in Illinois.

While I didn't get to try much of the food, the menu looks inviting with a range of gourmet selections such as Asian pork belly tostadas, comfort foods like spaghetti and meatballs and healthful options the likes of Mediterranean salad with shrimp. This menu was specifically designed to reach a wide range of palates and cover all demographics and it works according to McEnery.

The thing that appeals to me most is the fact that each dish is matched with a Cooper's Hawk's wine for the perfect pairing of flavors.

The wines also cover a wide range to appeal to both the average wine drinker as well as those who have more discerning palates.

The grapes are mostly domestic, shipped to the winery in Illinois for crushing, fermenting and bottling. The tastings start at $7 for eight selections. I preferred the wines in the second tier LUX tasting ($12). The LUX Pinot Noir has even won some awards.

The sparkling rose is made from syrah and chardonnay, methode champenoise, and has that bit of yeast you would expect. I also tried the sparkling Blanc de Blanc which was served at the 2008 Presidential Inauguration. It was peachy, floral and a bit more sweet.

I was most interested in trying the special barrel blend after being tempted by the tap on our tour. It was my favorite of the tasting; a bit of funk on the nose, oak, spice and a bit of perfume. If you like bolder wines be sure to try.

I did step out of my comfort zone by sampling the Rhubarb wine. I don't have much experience with rhubarb other than some hard candies I've tried over the years. As suspected, the wine was sweet, maybe good for dessert with strawberry pie or shortcake.

The stand alone tasting room and restaurant is 11,000 square feet with floor to ceiling windows designed to bring the outdoors in and if you really want to be outdoors, there is a terrace. It's not just about wine as Cooper's Hawk also has a full bar inside.

Upon entering you are greeted by a large retail shop with all kinds of cool accessories along with shelves of wine. The tasting bar is fun for both groups and individuals wanting to learn more about wine, the Cooper's Hawk brand.

And if you  like the brand, you can join the wine club where for as little as $18.99 a month you'll receive a bottle of your choosing, invites to special events and other perks.

Welcome to the hood Cooper's Hawk. Cheers.