Fire & Rice Food Truck / Pop-up
Spanish · Naples, Florida
★★★★½ 1 review(239) 269-8857
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My First Time Trying Paella. Both Chicken and Seafood Versions Were Good.
During my visit to Florida, I had the pleasure of experiencing Fire & Rice catering at an event, where they prepared two tantalizing pans of paella—one featuring chicken and sausage, and the other brimming with shrimp, mussels, and clams.
Although I suspected I might have encountered paella at some point in the past, this was, to the best of my recollection, my first true taste of this Spanish delight.
As I engaged in conversation with the cook, he shared the fascinating origin story of the company's owner, a military veteran who discovered paella overseas, later attending culinary school and establishing a flourishing paella business with mobile kitchens across several Florida cities.
Delving into the culinary details, my curiosity led me to inquire about the rice, aptly named "Bomba rice" from Spain—hailed as the most expensive rice globally. This rice variety possesses a unique ability to absorb copious amounts of liquid, a trait vividly evident in the photos capturing the saffron-infused liquid being absorbed by the grains.
Now, onto the culinary critique. The rice emerged as the star, flawlessly cooked, moist, and bursting with flavor. The vegetables, tender and fresh, complemented the rice impeccably. Both variations benefited immensely from the addition of flavorful liquids, though I found the chicken and sausage paella somewhat disappointing as far as the flavor and texture of the meat. I believe it could have been the use of dark meat to cook the dish.
The seafood paella, resembling its poultry counterpart, featured an enticing array of additional vegetables—zucchini, broccoli, and cauliflower. While the mussels and clams were decent, the shrimp stole the show as they truely absorbed a lot of the flavor.
As you can see from the photos, all the ingredients started off completely raw aside from the red peppers, which were roasted and chopped in advance. The combination of everything blended together to make an excellent meal.
Choosing a favorite between the two proved challenging, prompting me to return for seconds and even requesting an a combination of shrimp, chicken and sausage paella. The robust and distinct flavors of both varieties swayed the preferences of our group, leading many to sample both offerings despite everyones pre-order selections.
As a paella novice, my lack of comparative experiences prevents me from providing an expert evaluation. However, my scoring predominantly reflects the unique flavors. If you're a paella enthusiast and find yourself in the Lakewood Ranch area during the winter months of Nov-Mar, tracking down Fire & Rice might just be a flavorful adventure worth embarking upon. (Their contact information can be found in the attached photos.
Fire & Rice - Business Card
Fire & Rice - Paella finished pans, chicken & Sausage (left) Seafood (right)
Fire & Rice - Adding roasted red bell pepper.
Rice soaking up saffron
Adding saffron
Cooking the Vegetables
— Paul