Holiday leftover makeover: Le Colonial chef’s easy no-recipe salad
Thanksgiving leftovers get a makeover: No recipe needed for this Vietnamese turkey salad from Le Colonial’s executive chef Anthony Gargano.
Many often wonder why Thanksgiving has a specific food item like turkey when Christmas Eve and Day do not, at least in the U.S.
It seems the big holiday to close out the year is a free for all, with many choosing their own dish annually or a different one every year.
The good news is if you don’t want to cook, you’ll have many options of what to eat in restaurants throughout Collier County.
Consider this handy list as your guide to who and when places are open.
Only the dates open are listed, so plan accordingly. And if you’d like your restaurant to be on this list, please email dosborn@gannett.com.
NAPLES
Baleen: Serving dinner from a special holiday menu 5-10 p.m. Dec. 24. And Dec. 25, enjoy Christmas Brunch with Santa 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (9891 Gulf Shore Drive; 239-598-5707; laplayaresort.com)
Bay House: Open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 from 4-9:30 p.m., serving a la carte dinner menu all night long. (799 Walkerbilt Road, Naples; 239-591-3837; www.bayhousenaples.com)Bicyclette Cookshop: From 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 24, enjoy Feast of the Seven Fishes that includes crab fried rice, corn focaccia, chilled “catch” of the day, and Toronto tiramisu. $95 per person. (819 Vanderbilt Beach Road; 239-514-3333; bicyclettecookshop.com)
Bar Tulia Mercato: Open Dec. 24 from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (9118 Strada Place; 239-438-1031; bartulia.com)
Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar: Open Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. (4270 Gulf Shore Blvd N.; 239-649-5552; baysideseafoodgrillandbar.com)
Café Normandie: Open Dec. 24 for dinner only and with a prix fixe menu only (3756 Tamiami Trail N.; 239-261-0977; cafenormandienaples.com)
Chops City Grill: Open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 from 4:30-9:30 p.m., serving a la carte dinner menu all night long. (837 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 239-262-4677; www.chopscitygrill.com
Hogfish Harry’s: Open Dec. 24 (600 Neapolitan Way; 239-776-7623; hogfishharrys.com)
Keewaydin’s: Open Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 from 3:30-9:30 p.m., serving a la carte dinner menu all night long. (711 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 239-262-5787; www.keewaydins.com)
Bistro La Baguette: Open Christmas Eve and Day for lunch and dinner, with Champagne brunch Dec. 25. (3560 Tamiami Trail E., Naples; 239-403-7861; bistrolaguette.com)
Le Colonial Naples: From noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 25, featuring several Christmas specials along with its ala carte menu. Specials include two small plates, Sup Tom Hum ($19), a Lobster & Winter Squash Bisque with shrimp and chive dumplings, tobiko, and micro herbs; and Goi Ga Chua ($24), Hamachi Crudo with scallops, celery, watermelon, radish, pickled cucumber, ikura, and coconut lime dressing. Christmas entrée specials include Vit Quay ($38), Duck Confit with black-tea cured Hudson Valley duck leg, parsnip, squash, saffron braised beans, and spiced duck jus; a special dessert, Triple Chocolate Mousse Decadent ($15) (457 Fifth Ave. S.; 239-372-9700; naples.lecolonial.com)
Naples Grande Beach Resort: The Catch of the Pelican, the hotel’s restaurant, offers an a la carte menu noon-8 p.m. Dec. 25. Starters include jumbo lump crab cake, entrees such as braised short rib and desserts of crème brûlée or sticky toffee pudding. Adults $89, $45 children 12 and younger. (475 Seagate Drive; 239-594-6325; naplesgrande.com)
The Oasis: Open both days 11 a.m.-2 a.m. and featuring a Christmas Pop-Up Bar (1046 Pine Ridge Road, Naples; 239-649-0800; theoasisnaples.com)
Old Vines Naples at Mercato: Hosting Christmas Eve four-course, prix-fixe feast. (9105 Strada Place, Suite 3125, Naples; 239-591-5351; oldvines.net/mercato)
Old Vines Supper Club: SOLD OUT (2795 Davis Blvd.)
Ocean Prime: Open for early dinner until 8 p.m. Dec. 24 and 25. (699 Fifth Ave. S.; 239-430-0404; ocean-prime.com)
Pazzo: Open Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. (853 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 239-434-8494; pazzoitaliancafe.com)
The Real Macaw: Regular menu Dec. 24. Hours: bar 3-10 p.m.; dining room and patio 5-9 p.m. (3275 Bayshore Drive; 239-732-1188; therealmacaw.com)
Sails: Open Dec. 24 and 25 (301 Fifth Ave. S.; 239-360-2000; sailsrestaurants.com)
Sea Salt: A la carte menu Dec. 24 at lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. (1186 Third St. S.; 239-434-7258; seasaltnaples.com)
Seasons 52: Open Dec. 24 (8930 Tamiami Trail N., Naples; 239-594-8852; seasons52.com)
Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar: Hosting a “Bad Santa Christmas Eve Brunch” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Guests can enjoy $10 Jingle Juice and Patron shots, a $42 “Santa’s Shotski,” which features four Espresso Hot Shots (espresso, Licor 43 and whipped cream) and brunch menu items like Tres Leches French Toast and Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles. (In Mercato, 9118 Strada Place, Suite 8155; 239-399-3313; tap42.com)
Ted’s Montana Grill: Open Christmas Eve from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., featuring a 22-ounce USDA Choice Beef Porterhouse Steak, topped with lemon butter sauce and served with a choice of side, in addition to its regular menu and gluten-free menu. The Porterhouse Steak Chef’s Feature will be available daily until Dec. 29 with limited availability. Ted’s has also partnered with Giving Kitchen, which helps food service workers in need, including those impacted by the recent hurricanes. Each time a guest orders one of our new cocktails ― the Basil Hayden Blackberry Smash or the Autumn Spiced Sour Martini with Tito’s Handmade Vodka ― a percentage of sales will be donated to Giving Kitchen. (8017 Plaza Del Lago Drive, Estero; 239-947-9318; tedsmontanagrill.com)
Truluck’s: Open Dec. 24 from 4 to 9 p.m. (698 Fourth Ave. S.; 239-530-3131; trulucks.com)
Warren Naples: Open Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. (111 10th St. S.; 239-330-2611; warrennaples.com)
BONITA SPRINGS
C Level Restaurant & Cocktail Bar: Open Dec. 24. (450 Bonita Beach Road SW, Bonita Springs; 239-221-7046; c-levelbar.com)
Chops City Grill: Open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 from 4-9:30 p.m., serving a la carte dinner menu all night long. (8200 Health Center Blvd., Bonita Springs; 239-992-4677; www.chopsbonita.com)
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point: On Christmas Eve, the resort will host the “Horses and Hot Cocoa” event with Track and Trail, a local organization dedicated to rehabilitating thoroughbred horses, as well as a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. And Christmas Day, the resort will host an extravagant holiday buffet between 1-7:30 p.m. at Tanglewood ― A Southern Kitchen. Menu features a carving station with slow-roasted beef ribeye, a Christmas country ham, and a dried fruit stuffed turkey breast served with a classic sausage stuffing. It will also feature fresh seafood selections, gourmet salads, a poke station, stir fry options, and several desserts ranging from warm sticky toffee pudding to a hazelnut chocolate mousse cake. (5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs; 239-444-1234; hyatt.com)
Petar’s Restaurant: Opens at 5 p.m. Dec. 24. (3300 Bonita Beach Road SW, Suite 120, Bonita Springs; 239-249-4064; petarsrestaurant.com)
MARCO ISLAND
Italian Deli and Market: Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Christmas Eve with live music from 6-9 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day. (902 Park Ave., Marco Island; 239-394-9493; www.MarcoIslandItalianDeli.com)
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@gannett.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.