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Fuse Global Cuisine
2500 Tamiami Trail N., Naples; 455-4585, fuseglobalcuisine.com
When Greg Scarlatos left Angelina’s of Bonita Springs, devotees wondered where he had gone and what was next. Last year we got our answer in this small yet handsomely appointed space on U.S. 41 just north of Golden Gate Parkway. Scarlatos is hands-down one of the best chefs in the area right now, and you can depend on him to consistently deliver bold flavors and thoughtfully sourced ingredients down to the exact farm and grade of meat. Moreover, he imbues a creative vision into his dishes that is ambitious and sophisticated—and, of course, tasty. Inspired by food memories from his childhood and those of whom he collaborated with on Fuse, he riffs on old themes in unexpected ways. Take, for example, the brioche French toast with cherry marmalade and mascarpone cheese that gets an unlikely yet delightful partner in pan-roasted duck confit and foie gras. We’ve never come across that before, and we hope for other such surprises in the future.