Patrick - I know you are out there.

You have answered several queries of mine in the past - recently we were deciding whether to return to Naples or try the S Carolina beaches - guess what? Naples won!! We are heading over from the UK again this summer and despite toying with the idea of a condo or hotel this time(again good advice from you), my girls (and hubby, of course) plumped for a house with a pool again in the Briarwood area.

So, Patrick, I have a strange one for you this time.... my younger daughter is thirteen and consumed by all things American (high school, proms, all the stuff on these glossy teen tv shows and movies) and believe it or not one of the things on her 'most wanted' list for this holiday is that she wants to eat Chinese Takeout in those little square boxes with the handle on the top!!! I told you it was strange!

We have the best chinese takeout in the UK in our town (I know this cos my mum was chinese and even she would eat from there!!)but they serve everything in nice plastic boxes with snap on lids - not the same apparently! We were in San Francisco last summer and had the most glorious takeout there too - but again no cute cardboard boxes! She was distraught! Can you help?!!

As for the rest of us - I am compiling an extensive list of where to eat from your many recommendations and after trawling the excellent Fodors once again. We will definitely try the Calistoga Bakery and Cafe. Best place for steak though? Oh, and while I'm here - I LOVE coconut cream pie. Now there's a few challenges for you!!

Looking forward to hearing from you!!

What a fun group of challenges!

First of all, the bad news. Chinese food here is dismally lacking. If you have wonderful Chinese takeout at home(isn't that "take-a-way" to you?), I think you're going to be sadly disappointed here. I have done some quick and cheap and it was OK, not much more than that at a little place on East 41 across from Rattlesnake Hammock Road, next to the big new Publix.

Another option and much better is P.F. Chang's on the north trail (US41), and they will prepare takeout in those cute little cartons, and many people deliberately over order in person so they can take home in those containers. By the way, I've been unable to get over my depression gained when I broke open my fortune cookie there one day to find NOTHING inside!

Best place for steak? I've really been impressed with Sanibel Steak House on Vanderbilt Beach Road just west of Airport Road. Also nice on their big verandah under fans.

Stoney's downtown is great steak, and Flemings on North 41 is also very, very good. I love their big side dishes you can share. The bone-in steaks are the best there! And when all is said and done, you can't get a better steak in Naples than at the dark and wonderfully oldfashioned St. George and the Dragon where they still use waitresses in uniforms and meals come with a tossed salad, but you dine in a wonderful world of carved wood and nautical antiques.

Coconut Cream Pie? Wow, I used to be addicted to the stuff at the Beach BarBQ on the way to Ft. Myers Beach from Ft. Myers, but I'm not sure that place even still exists. We'd get it in the afternoon warm from the oven with the toasted coconut on top -- amazingly better than after being refrigerated.

It seems Kelly's Fish House used to have coconut cream pie, but I'll have to check that out.

By the way, if you get a little homesick while in Naples, I'll do a plug for the English Pub on Linwood (hard to find in a commercial area between Davis and East 41, east of Airport Road). It's a place owned, run, and inhabited by lots of ex pats, and the food is actually better than any regular British pub I've ever eaten in. Wonderful smoked salmon club sandwich at noon, decent bangers and mash, and good shepherd's pie, as well as lots of other things. Huge selection of beers, including many on tap. Darts, games, quizz nights, and entertainment. There's always something going on there and always a crowd these days. The British have invaded Naples!

Patrick you are a marvel!

Actually, we were going to try P F Changs largely on your recommendations in other postings. We even had a look at their menu on the website - now we've even more reason to go. Sad isn't it?

George and the Dragon?!! Seems almost too good an opportunity for us to miss really doesn't it - patron saint and all that!! Actually we are the kind of Brits who usually avoid anything with the words 'Ye Olde' in them or anything that boasts a 'genuine English pint' - why take coals to Newcastle? (do you have that saying?). Once the girls grew up a bit we aimed to steer clear of Orlando for exactly that reason. Parts have been turned into the worst of British holiday resorts (and living in one - Great Yarmouth in Norfolk - we should know) and are best to be given a wide berth. But anyway, I digress - back to the George and the Dragon - if the food is good, then that's a good enough reason to visit for us!!

Ha! I knew I couldn't be the only one around with an unhealthy relationship with coconut cream pie!! Would you believe that the best slice I ever had was in a hotel in Pattaya in Thailand?

Well, that was far too easy for you really wasn't it? I'll have to try harder next time. In the meantime, thanks as ever for the benefit of your local knowledge and your obvious love for Naples.

PS> You are right - it's 'takeaway' here! My daughter, Emma, would be proud of my use of the American vernacular.

Ohhh...while you are here , can you tell us what 'homecoming' is? That has us stumped.

Not sure which use of the term homecoming you are looking for, but high schools and colleges have "Homecoming" in the fall, usually accompanied with a major football game (you know -- the sport with that funny looking oval ball) and often a dance. It is geared for former graduates to return for celebrations. Is that what you are referring to?

anne
Homecoming Queen (that was me, back in another life)
The graduating class votes for a Homecoming Queen & King and that girl and boy get to sort of rule the Homecoming Dance held for the seniors..as far as I can remember
I never thought about the schools in the UK not having similar events..nothing like a prom?
I think the dingier the Chinese restaurant and the more MSG they use, the better your chances of getting the little cartons these days, seems like everyone uses the plastic with snap lids.
PFChangs is so popular here, we have not been able to get in the times we have gone to ours. Maybe we should take the drive to Naples

Well, Scarlett you're welcome to come to Naples, but you can usually expect a good hour wait at ours too. We went one night after a movie about 10 or so, thinking we'd get right in, and still had to wait a half hour for a table.

And Chang's does use the little wire handled carboard containers.

Did you ever Not Think and put one of those cartons in the microwave?

Now Scarlett, don't let out the secret that you're really not the domestic diva we all imagine!

LOL

And don't put the sparerib bags in the micro either unless you are feeling like creating 4th of July fireworks...Believe me.

Who would've thought they were foil-lined!

At least in our area of California, the Chinese take-out cartons don't always have wire handles anymore--that's so the cartons can go right into a microwave oven.

That's nice, but as most people know, here in Florida we're about a decade behind most of the country -- maybe two decades behind California!

Thanks as ever - who'd have thought Chinese takeout could inspire such an exchange of views? We will be sure to give ourselves plenty of time for an assault on P F Changs - we'll be on holiday anyway - where's the rush?

Thanks for the heads up on Homecoming. Nothing like that here - regrettably, sport in our high schools seems an endangered species. As for football - the round ball dominates here (mores the pity - we're a rugby family ourselves). The schools have begun to introduce proms here - more commonly called graduation/leavers balls - complete with the stretch limos but definitely no corsages. Probably vomiting in the bushes later though - drinking rules are much more lax here and many reach 18 in the final year before university!!

Try Bo-Lings (on east side of 41,north of Bonita Beach Rd)in Bonita Springs-Wonderful!!