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140 restaurant deals: Ultimate Collier guide to Sizzle Dining 2026

140 restaurant deals: Ultimate Collier guide to Sizzle Dining 2026

Kendall Little | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

  • The 10th annual Sizzle Dining event will run throughout September in Southwest Florida.
  • One hundred forty restaurants will offer discounted, prix fixe menus to boost business during a typically slow month.
  • A dollar from every Sizzle Dining meal sold will be donated to Blessings in a Backpack SWFL.
  • The event aims to raise over $100,000 to help provide food for local children facing food insecurity.

For Southwest Florida foodies, September has become much more than the end of summer.

What was once one of the slowest months of the year for local restaurants is now one of the region’s biggest culinary celebrations, encouraging diners to discover new favorites, revisit beloved spots, and score a deal along the way.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, 140 restaurants across Southwest Florida will take part in the 10th annual Sizzle Dining event, offering prix fixe menus and exclusive dining experiences throughout the entire month.

The annual promotion gives locals a chance to try everything from neighborhood gems to high-end destinations while supporting a local cause. Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe menus, then donate a dollar from every meal sold to Blessings in a Backpack SWFL, which helps provide food for children facing food insecurity during weekends.

With dozens of first-time participants and restaurants ranging from casual breakfast spots to upscale dining experiences, this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the largest in Sizzle’s history.

Read the full article and view delicious photos on naplesnews.com!

There’s so much to do here, are you looking for a home in beautiful Southwest Florida? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples fest named No. 1 again by USA Today 10BEST

Naples fest named No. 1 again by USA Today 10BEST

Dave Osborn |Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Make that two years in a row.

The Naples Winter Wine Fest has been named No. 1 in the USA Today 10BEST for the second year in a row. The annual fest also was named top dog in 2025.

“We are delighted to once again be recognized as the best wine festival in the United States,” said Lisa Juliano, senior vice president, Naples Winter Wine Festival & Event Production, in a news release.

“This honor is a tribute to our incredible trustees, volunteers, partners, vintners, chefs, supporters and patrons who made this recognition possible.”

Who made 10BEST list
Three out of the top 10 wine fests are in Florida.

See the list and read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Forbes has named the 250 greatest living self-made Americans.

Among the elite group: A few Naples residents, who also happen to be billionaires.

The new list is the latest installment of the Forbes 250 initiative — a year-long project launched in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

The Self-Made 250 List spotlights Americans whose journeys began with a “profound disadvantage” and whose success stories are defined by “resilience, reinvention and ambition.” Listees include well-known celebrities and icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Lebron James and Dolly Parton.

Locals on the list include long-time Naples resident Shahid Khan, ranked at No. 21.

Khan, 74, owns auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate and the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Forbes, he immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan with $500 in his pocket, before building his industrial and sports empire that includes the Fulham Football Club.

Per Forbes, the business mogul is also the richest man in Naples — and Southwest Florida. He sat at No. 193 on the 2026 World’s Billionaires list by Forbes, retaining his position as one of the top 200 wealthiest people on the planet.

Who else is on the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples Winter Wine Fest auction raises millions for Collier children

Naples Winter Wine Fest auction raises millions for Collier children

Kendall Little | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Money can’t buy sunny skies in Naples, but it can buy an all-inclusive luxury wine trip to Italy during the Naples Winter Wine Festival live auction.

Though skies were gloomy and rainy, hundreds gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Tiburon on Saturday, Jan. 31, to place competitive bids on luxury experiences during the annual live charity auction.

After an overnight call to move the Festival indoors due to weather, attendees used the cold conditions as an excuse to break out designer coats and scarves. Inside the Ritz-Carlton were dozens of tables full of both savory and sweet options for attendees to sample. Desserts were the most eye-catching items, with macarons that looked like burgers, smoked candied bacon-wrapped Oreos, and hibiscus cola creations.

The Grand Tasting room featured not only savory bites, but also tables lined with rare and vintage wines, many that aren’t otherwise accessible to the general public. Guests mingled and sipped wine throughout the afternoon leading up to the live auction.

Festival goers dressed to impress with sparkling designer tops, skirts, bags, jackets and of course, shoes. I mean, what else would you wear to bid hundreds of thousands of dollars on once-in-a-lifetime experiences?

This year’s auction lots were impressive to say the least. From wine excursions in Napa Valley to VIP experiences in France and Italy, there were over 50 luxury lots to bid on. The auction took place under an iconic white tent decorated with sparkly chandeliers and multi-colored lights.

“Every dollar on this day under that tent stays in Collier County,” NWWF public relations consultant Clay Cone said.

More about this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival with photos on naplesnews.com.

Naples fest named No. 1 again by USA Today 10BEST

All-stars & innovators: Naples Winter Wine Festival 2026 reveals chefs and vintners list

Kendall Little | Naples Daily News

In about five months, you can get a taste of Napa Valley without leaving the comfort of Naples. The Naples Winter Wine Festival is set for Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, 2026 and is stacked with celebrity chefs and innovative vintners.

This year’s roster is impressive, with James Beard winners, Michelin-starred chefs, and pioneering restaurateurs like Nancy Oakes, Joe Flamm, Karen Akunowicz, and Dean Fearing. Leading the team of exceptional chefs is “Chef de Cuisine” Dustin Valette, acclaimed chef-owner of Valette and The Matheson in Healdsburg California. Valette carries a family legacy dating back to the 1820s, continuing a long line of culinary excellence.

“The Naples Winter Wine Festival has earned a reputation for attracting many of the nation’s top award-winning chefs, and this year is no different,” Kelley Bailey, 2026 Chef Committee Chair said in a press release. “Our lineup includes a number of celebrity chefs who have consistently participated in the NWWF for several years along with a handful of fresh new faces who are making their debut.”

Read the full article and see photos/video on naplesnews.com.

Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086 to view homes in Naples and surrounding communities.

Best in America: USA Today ranks Naples Winter Wine Festival No. 1

Best in America: USA Today ranks Naples Winter Wine Festival No. 1

Kendall Little | Naples Daily News

Naples is grabbing national attention yet again ― this time for wine.

The USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the best in lifestyle, food and drink, and travel. The most recent set of awards were completely revolving around wine.

USA Today readers and judges recognized the Naples Winter Wine Festival as the best wine festival in the country, beating out events in California and New York.

“We are just really thrilled and honored and excited to be recognized as the best wine festival in the United States for 2025,” said Naples Children & Education Foundation CEO Maria Jimenez-Lara.

USA Today ranked the Naples Winter Wine Festival as the No. 1 wine festival in the country.

  1. Naples Winter Wine Festival (Naples)
  2. The Festival of Forgotten Grapes (Los Angeles)
  3. Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Read the full list, and view photos and video on naplesnews.com.