No, I haven't been cooking . . .

You might wonder why no posts since January 2nd.  The last few days have left little to write about.  We went to Carrabbas (which has no live music) on Monday.  The food was fine, especially the tasty Lentil with Sausage soup.  We were at the bar eating our soup when a woman sat down next to us and ordered a bowl, saying she had been craving it for days.  It's that good.  So if you haven't had it, you should.  That place is always packed so service is a little spotty. It can be a long wait for a table but you can usually get a couple of stools at the bar within a few minutes.

Tuesday night, we ventured down to the Snook Inn on Marco Island.  Although they do have live music outside in the open-air chickee hut-style bar area, it was a just okay singer/guitar player with taped music.  In my mind, little better than karaoke.  And the food is just adequate.  But that is not what draws the crowds.  It has that Florida feel with a fabulous view of the water and you can sit and watch the boats go by and maybe some girls in bikinis coming from the beach.  A party is always going on any time of day with raucous groups of people drowning out the music.

Actually the highlight of the evening was when we decided last minute to stop at Erin's Isle.  We sat at the bar and ordered a drink while listening to Bobby Gideons on keyboard and Bob Leary on guitar/mandolin/banjo - not really sure (maybe all) since we were not sitting where we could see very well.  If you have lived around Naples/Marco Island for long, you will recognize their names.  Bobby Gideons has quite a loyal following and there is a reason for that - he has charisma!  He is famous for his jazz jams previously at the Olde Marco Inn and now here.  He plays a great dixieland piano and also country and every other kind of music anyone could ask for.  A few songs even brought a several couples onto the dance floor.  I am not personally a fan of dixieland or ragtime, but this night he and a few members of the audience played a couple of bluegrass tunes that blew me away!  This is close to home and we'll be coming back again so I'll report more then.  Bobby performs from 6 -10pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Erin’s Isle Restaurant and Irish Pub, 6190 Collier Blvd.