Nationally Recognized Restaurant Naples Tomato Awards First Franchise License, in Stamford/Greenwich, Connecticut

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EWINE, LLC to Bring "Vine Dining" to the Stamford/Greenwich Area

NAPLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Naples Tomato Franchising, LLC today announced that it has awarded its first restaurant franchise license to EWINE, LLC of Southington, Connecticut, for the Stamford/Greenwich, Connecticut area. Naples Tomato is an award-winning restaurant concept that originated in Naples, Florida. Naples Tomato offers a uniquely American approach to Mediterranean food and lifestyle - Vine Dining™ - that delivers the value and flexibility of casual dining with the casual elegance of finer dining.

"The Stamford/Greenwich area is the ideal place for a Naples Tomato because of its affluence and the number of wine drinkers. That's why we targeted the area for our first franchised restaurant," said Jack Serfass, co-founder and co-chairman of Naples Tomato Franchising. "We can't think of a better partner than EWINE, LLC. We look forward to having EWINE and the people of Connecticut help us evolve and grow our Vine Dining concept."

EWINE, LLC principals have strong track records in building and operating successful businesses throughout Connecticut, including restaurants, long-term health-care facilities, and commercial and residential construction companies.

"As food and wine lovers, my wife and I were instantly intrigued when we first ate at Naples Tomato, and we can't wait to bring this experience to others here in Connecticut," said Ed Jamele, Jr., president of EWINE, LLC. "This area is primed for a restaurant that fits easily into people's lifestyles, with creative food and wine and good value for their dollar. Naples Tomato has many different ways to appeal to guests. There's the wine program with the self-service wine bar, the take-home market, the pasta kitchen, private dining, catering and of course the restaurant itself. And it helps that it's Italian, as I am!"

The new Naples Tomato will open in 2010.

Vine Dining is a new approach to franchising that emphasizes homemade foods made from local ingredients, rather than prepackaged and frozen foods. Thorough training and detailed recipes replace commissaries, so food can be prepared fresh on premises. Franchisees make the commitment to hire culinary-skilled employees in the kitchen and experienced hospitality staff in the dining room. Naples Tomato restaurants do not contain deep fryers. The restaurants make pasta from scratch on premise and also make all sauces on premise using premium ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes. Restaurants track guest satisfaction openly on the Internet via Twitter, Facebook and OpenTable, and publicly monitor the operational performance of each location.

"We started out with the belief that guests know when a restaurant is pre-preparing or freezing its food, and our experience with a large clientele over the last several years has proven this to be true," said Jack Serfass. "We intend to bring a change to franchising with our Vine Dining approach, and set a new bar for the casual dining industry."

Founded in 2005 in Naples, Florida, Naples Tomato has award-winning recipes. It has been field-tested by more than 300,000 guests, and refined with constant feedback from a discerning and well-traveled clientele.

Naples Tomato announced on October 14, 2009, that it would begin awarding franchises, beginning in the Eastern United States. The firm began targeting Fairfield County, Connecticut, on January 2, 2010. Naples Tomato plans to award only one more license in Fairfield County this year before focusing on Westchester County, New York, and Bergen County, New Jersey.

The Vine Dining Concept

Naples Tomato's Vine Dining concept combines American culinary inspiration with the characteristics of the Mediterranean lifestyle:

Flexibility - a personalized experience every time, no matter what diners spend, what they choose to eat, or how much time they stay
Homemade food made from fresh ingredients by skilled culinary experts
Great value - fine-dining quality at budget-friendly prices that match diners' lifestyles
Spirited service and personal engagement with the people behind the food and wines
Good neighbor, friend and active part of the local community

About Naples Tomato

Naples Tomato is your place for Vine Dining™. Vine Dining is a uniquely American way to experience the Mediterranean lifestyle, where every meal is a celebration of life. Naples Tomato offers Neapolitan fare reinvented with American flair: homemade pastas, award-winning lasagna, fresh local fish and other specialties in creative preparations, along with an innovative, award-winning wine program.

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