Top chefs, fine wines, good times: USA Today's Wine & Food Experience in Naples

Foie gras gougeres.

Pronounced goo-jher, it's fun to say. Better to eat.

And that’s what Gasparilla Inn’s top toque Nick Marchesano and his team served, setting a high bar for elegant nibbles at USA Today’s Wine & Food Experience at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples.

When gates opened at noon on Saturday, the sun was shining on guests eager to hit the tents for an afternoon of fun with high-end spirits, wine and food from several of Southwest Florida’s best chefs as selected by Chef Jared Bobkin, Culinary Director for USA Today Network Ventures. You might recognize him from his two seasons as a chef contestant on Hell’s Kitchen.

At noon in the VIP admission line, Naples resident Chuck Ardezzone was excited about “tasting great wines, eating great food and meeting cool people.”

For Tian Luo, the festival was a “great way to say farewell to Naples.” Her Experience ticket was a surprise going away/girls' day out party with her friends because she’s moving to Tampa this week to start a new position as a cardiac surgery PA.

Also queuing up were Fort Myers foodies and good cooks in their own right Jeanne Wakenight and Peggy Chandler, among the 585 VIP ticket holders who scored admission at noon.

“The wine certainly makes it a bonus. It’s a perfect day for it.”

A total of 1,500 tickets were sold.

An hour in, Diane Sipp from Fort Myers called it “the best food event.”

When an event ticket says rain or shine, it's smart to plan for both

Hyde N Chic's Chef-Owner Andy Hyde was getting ready to take the tented stage at 1:30 p.m. to demonstrate his recipe for mushroom strudel, one of the top 10 things this reporter has eaten in Naples.

The audience was settling in just as the deluge hit.

Rain that Naples needs. If only it would hold until 4:01 p.m. when the event ended.

But it didn't.

Like floor seats at a U2 concert, Hyde immediately drew an SRO full house and warmed up the crowd by serving guests delicious carrot-turmeric soup.

However, the rain and the added audience seeking shelter from the storm added a delay for the next presenter, renowned florist and author Laura Dowling who served at The White House as chief floral designer during President Obama’s administration.

Before scoring that prestigious job, she was a policy analyst and part-time florist. When the global search for the official position kicked off, her husband urged her to apply. What started with hundreds of applicants was whittled to a final few where she emerged victorious after being challenged to create the setting for a state dinner honoring India.

For Stephen Buzza, Events Director for USA Today Ventures, his definition of success has to do with the guests.

“If they're having a good time, I’m having a good time.”

And despite the downpour, everyone who stayed through the storm continued having fun.

Case in point: Serious dance moves were spotted in the crowd from quite a few who probably spent time during the downpour imbibing at BMW’s Bubbly Tent and at Nauti Beach's rum pavilion, where tropical cocktails served in coconut shells was the drink du jour.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Good times found at USA Today's Wine & Food Experience in Naples