Mother’s Day Brunch and More

Mom has spent a lifetime making sure you eat right, so this Mother’s Day, turn the tables and treat her to brunch or dinner at one of these memorable spots.

A Naples Tradition

For the Mother’s Day brunch traditionalist, no place does it quite like The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. A tradition in its own right, The Naples Beach Hotel has been serving area moms a gourmand’s spread in the River of Grass Ballroom for more than 40 years, creating memories that have bridged generations to make each diner feel as if the expansive buffet and delicacies were made specifically with them in mind—because they were.

   This year, the menu sounds divine. Mains will include poached herbed grouper with tropical fruit salsa, chicken scaloppini with lemon caper parsley sauce, and a carving station serving roasted prime rib with rosemary au jus—and that’s just the entrées.

   For the breakfast stalwart, all bacon and sausage favorites will be on hand, accompanied by an array of egg-based options, including an omelet station and eggs Benedict, while the Franco-centric crêpe station will delight with made-to-order selections. For the sea-foodie, options include a choice of shrimp cocktail, a selection of smoked fish, and a sushi and sashimi station stocked with all the favorites. For the sweet tooth, desserts are plentiful and devilish. There is even a children’s buffet so you don’t have to hear the dreaded, “I don’t like it.”

• The Mother’s Day brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $70 per person ($22 per child), which includes complimentary Champagne and valet parking. For more information, visit naplesbeachhotel.com/mothers-day.

Don’t let the special day end at brunch; treat mom to a day of pampering at The Spa. Appropriately named the Mother’s Day Pampering Package, mom will enjoy a 50-minute Relaxation Massage, which includes a complimentary upgrade of either hot stones or aromatherapy; a 50-minute Classic European Facial; and a 25-minute Tropical Salt Scrub. At the end of this two hours of ultimate pampering, mom will enjoy a glass of bubbly and chocolate-covered strawberries in The Spa’s Relaxation Lounge, as well as a complimentary Signature Body Souffle.

• The Mother’s Day Pampering Package costs $189. For reservations, call 239-659-4304.

Treat mom, and grandma, to a walk in a prehistoric park at the Naples Botanical Garden this Mother’s Day. On May 10, the sprawling botanical masterpiece will welcome the special ladies in your life for free (regular admission for all others), with the first 100 mothers and grandmothers receiving a special potted herb as a gift. But be forewarned, dinosaurs are on the loose in the garden, stalking the otherwise tranquil and serene landscape, giving guests a chance to live out those Jurassic Park dreams.

   Mother’s Day in the Garden will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10. Make a day out of your visit and treat mom to the Fogg Café for breakfast or lunch. Manned by the folks at Lurçat Catering, the café specializes in a garden-to-table menu, with fresh, seasonal ingredients acting as the basis for the culinary inspiration. Part of the garden’s 25,000-squre-foot Chabraja Visitor Center expansion, Fogg Café opened in October 2014, adding to the dynamic offerings at one of Naples’ true growing cultural gems.

• For more information, visit naplesgarden.org.

Angelina’s Ristorante’s take on classic Italian cuisine has become a staple of the Paradise Coast dining scene since opening its doors in 2008. The menu draws from all of Italy’s culinary regions, while the wine list, dominated by a massive 30-foot display tower, was meticulously drawn up to compliment each and every dish crafted in the kitchen. For Mother’s Day, the Bontia Spring’s dining hot spot and winner of Naples Illustrated’s Dining Award for Best First Date, will be serving a delectable prix fixe, four-course meal, including an antipasti station in the lounge serving fresh fruit and yogurt, smoked fish, cured meats, and a selection of cheeses. With a rather vast menu of choices for diners to choose from, we are offering our most stomach-grumbling selections as a primer:

Farm Fresh

Starter | Eggs in Purgatorio: baked farm egg in spicy tomato sauce and garlic bruschetta.

Main | Filet and Farm Eggs: seared filet mignon, pan-fried egg, eggplant caponata, and fingerling home-fries.

Dessert | Lemon Curd: shortbread cookie, blueberries, and whipped cream.

The Italian

Starter | Artichoke-Ricotta Pizzette: artichokes, ricotta, roasted peppers, and garlic.

Main | Mediterranean Tuna Salad: caper-crusted medium-rare tuna, fingerling potatoes, hardboiled egg, green beans, frisée, and Taggiasca olives.

Dessert | Cannoli Napoleon: Sicilian cannoli, ricotta, chocolate drizzle, and candied orange.

Comfort Food

Starter | Zuppa de Piselli: chilled English pea soup, pancetta, and whipped mascarpone.

Main | Rosemary Honey Brined Grilled Chicken: Belle & Evans chicken breast, fingerling potato salad with pesto, and roasted yellow peppers.

Dessert | Lemon Curd: shortbread cookie, blueberries, and whipped cream.

Brunch will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is $65 per person, $15 for the children’s menu. Reservations are required; call 239-390-3187 for a seat at the table. For the complete menu, visit angelinasofbonitasprings.com.

The Mother’s Day fun is starting early at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. From May 8 through 10, kids can treat mom to a free trip to the zoo. Join zoo staff for a full day of activities, including “Meet the Keeper” talks discussing some the zoo’s animal ambassadors (honey badgers, 10 a.m.; zebras, 10:30 a.m.; Malayan tigers, 12:15 p.m.; the giraffe herd, 1 p.m.; leopards, 2:30 p.m.; giant anteater, 3:45 p.m.); a feature show at Safari Canyon, complete with animal encounters (11 a.m. and 3 p.m.); alligator feedings at Alligator Bay at 11:45 a.m.; and an in-depth look at the slithering creatures at Shoreline Trail for Jungle Larry and Safari Jane’s Snakes Alive! show at 1:45 p.m.

• The Naples Zoo’s Mother’s Day Weekend runs May 8-10. Moms admitted free with a paid child’s admission. For more information, visit napleszoo.com.