A lot has changed in Naples in the last year and Pelican Bay is no exception. As Hurricane Ian devastated the area, our food & beverage outlets sustained significant damage. While the road to recovery is sure to be long and a bit uncertain, Foundation staff remains positive, resourceful and committed. The food & beverage team is taking this opportunity to focus on ways to refine restaurant aesthetics, enhance menu offerings and streamline operations.While it may be quite some time before we are ready to debut the exciting enhancements, we would like to share our vision for the future of dining at Pelican Bay. MARKER 36 AT NORTH BEACH Prior to Hurricane Ian, Marker 36 was closed for seasonal maintenance repairs and upgrades. The Foundation enlisted the help of local interior designers to enhance the dining area’s ambiance, both inside and outside, with more efficient seating, upgraded lighting and a brighter, fresher feel. The overall goal was to capture the essence of beachside dining in a way that enriches Chef Erinel’s Caribbean flair. Expect to see a refined inside dining area with elevated booths along the east wall allowing for clearer sunset views and a more intimate family-style dining experience. The outside dining room will receive fresh outdoor furniture and the ability to accommodate more seating, with unobstructed views of the water being a top priority. Right before completing the finishing touches on the inside dining room, significant damage from Hurricane Ian was sustained. Luckily, most of Marker 36’s damage appears to be exterior and, once it is safe to resume repairs and upgrades, the project will continue on course. We hope to see Marker 36 open by the end of 2023. SANDBAR AT SOUTH BEACH Sandbar’s triumphant return is moving a bit slower. Since Sandbar received substantial damage both inside and outside, the process to rebuild is quite arduous. These challenges have not stopped the food & beverage team from workshopping their best ideas to enhance the member experience. While decisions are yet to be made and changes evolve, the overall aesthetic of Sandbar will encompass a Mediterranean look and feel, which will be complemented by fresh and light menu offerings when it reopens. IN THE MEANTIME Considerable strides have been made to adapt to our circumstances post-Hurricane Ian. Alongside several other departments, the food & beverage team worked tirelessly to ensure that beach and food & beverage amenities were restored in record time in comparison to surrounding beachside amenities in the area. Less than three months after the storm, food & beverage services began again in a limited but successful fashion at the South Beach walkup bar. Due to inadequate access to proper kitchen equipment, food & beverage options were limited. However, the culinary team paired with distributors to supply quality, pre-made, ready-toeat menu options alongside pre-made beverages to accommodate members the best way possible. While the process to rebuild is time consuming, our ability to adapt has become our specialty and we are excited to introduce our very own food truck! The culinary team has worked with a company out of Miami to custom build a food concession trailer that is set to debut in early 2023, until at least one restaurant is restored and operational. The food concession trailer is an innovative way for us to provide hot food prepared on-site to the membership. You can expect to see your traditional favorites like hamburgers and hotdogs alongside some new and fresh menu items that the culinary team is excited to share. Staff would like to extend their gratitude to the membership for their continued input, support and patience as we navigate an unprecedented time in Pelican Bay. Stay tuned and keep up with restaurant progress — we are confident that the wait will be worth it! PELICAN BAY’S FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS DINE IN THE BAY Pelican Bay Member Guide 2023 90 PelicanBay.org
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