Got an absolutely terrific South Florida based party band for you…L-TRIBE (www.L-TRIBEBAND.COM)

Recently caught this 5 piece group at the Seminole Immokalee Casino and I gotta tell you–these “guys” can literally play anything…from the 1950′s–to current hits by artists like Adele, Beyonce, Rhinna and Linkin Park. Over the years, I’ve been to a ton of South Florida weddings, bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, conventions, holiday parties, lounges, bars, restaurants and I’m telling you that L-TRIBE is right up there with the best bands in our neck of the woods.

When you check L-TRIBE’s website, take a close look at the “BIOS” section. Of note, the band’s drummer/founder Lionel Harrison is the son of the late Wilbert Harrison who in the 1960′s had massive hits with “Kansas City” and “Let’s Work Together.” When “prompted” by the audience, Lionel performs dynamite versions of his father’s legendary songs. Also of note, the group’s female vocalist Selena Serrano is one of South Beach’s hottest club performers- her recent recording “Sound Killa” debuted at #12 on Billboard’s ‘Bubbling Under R&B” charts. For you old fogeys out there, Selena also “does” some terrific leads on hits like “At Last”–”Bad Girls”–”Respect”–”I Will Survive.”

If this kind of group is up your alley, do yourself a big favor and check them out.

L-TRIBE performs all over South Florida…past appearances included joints like– Blue Martini (Boca Raton, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach), Hard Rock Seminole Casino, JB’s On The Beach (Deerfield Beach), Smith & Jones (Fort Lauderdale), Riverside Cafe (Vero Beach).

The other day “we” did Best Regular Pizza in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Let’s see what you guys come up with for the best coal oven/woodfired/brick oven pizza in the same counties.

If 1960′s rock n’ roll cover bands are your deal…then you gotta checkout Orange Sunshine–a local quintet that does some of the best Beatles-Turtles-Beach Boys-Box Tops-Rascals
covers that you will ever hear.

Although this “local” group has only been around for 2-years–it has garnered an absolutely enormous following. During the past year, Orange Sunshine has appeared at numerous casinos, parks, country clubs and bar-restaurants. Two weeks ago, I and about 5,000 others caught them at Greynold’s Park in North Miami where they opened for Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals– and they killed it…I am telling you, these guys are right-up there with the best 60′s cover bands that I have seen in South Florida.

Like I said before, if you like-love 60′s rock n’ roll…you gotta check Orange Sunshine out. The band has a number of upcoming “free” South Florida gigs booked–so for the price of zip, zippo, nada–you can have a really great time.

You can check Orange Sunshine’s audio/video/playlist/schedule at www.orangesunshine.biz.

The other day “we” did best fast-food burgers in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Let’s see what you guys come up with…looking for the best “regular” pizza (not coal oven) in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Got an interesting “stock play” for you guys…Yelp, Inc. (NASDAQ: YELP—B $20.00–A $20.01)

I’m kinda hoping that you guys know what YELP is!

In a nutshell for those who don’t, Yelp, Inc. owns/operates Yelp.com. (www.yelp.com).

Yelp.com is a website where individuals can write–or–read reviews/comments about all kinds of businesses. In addition to reviews, there are various advertisements/deal-coupons.

Just so you know, I am a regular-Yelp reader…The site has turned me onto some really great restaurants. I also “compare” my restaurant reviews to those of Yelp “reviewers.” By the way, some of those guys really know their stuff.

Yelp, Inc. went public on March 2, 2012 at $15 a share. Since that date its trading range has been $19.36-$31.96. Right now as I type, it’s trading at 20 bucks a share.

Now nothing for nothing, Yelp isn’t the only “site” that has reviews-etc. There are guys like OpenTable, Angie’s List, TripAdvisor–just to name a few. There are also tons and I do mean tons of sites that do “deal” coupons like Groupon and Living Social. The point here, this internet review/coupon/advertising business…is relatively new and is loaded with players. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that this “business” has way too many players–is way too crowded and in the coming year or so, will see many of these web-companies “fail.” Let’s get real, how many ” discounted massages” are you gonna buy online? So…

Now, you got to do your own DUE DILIGENCE…but my research “tells” me, that YELP has a real shot at becoming THE dominant player (or at least one of the dominant players) in this particular business segment. I think that the Company’s potential is HUGE. From what I can tell, the public markets haven’t really been paying attention to YELP…it seems that giants like Groupon and Living Social (which is partly owned by Amazon) garner most of the pr–negative/positive. Yelp, seems to be “treated” like a step-child.

Stock research is a strange-animal. The same information may seem positive to me, but negative to you. All I can tell you on the research-front is that in my “travels” I talk to a ton of people—and I’M telling you, that I have found that the population using YELP’s reviews is GIGANTIC. Now so you appreciate this “thing”—reading a review on YELP and YELP generating revenue from your “visit” are two totally different things…and I do mean two totally different things. My research tells me, that YELP’s management is smart enough, nimble enough, clever enough, to convert your eyeballs into hard-cash. Call it a gut feeling, but I’m of the opinion, that the “20 year olds of this world” unlike many of us old farts who took typing classes in junior high school—will eventually “pick” YELP as their favorite. I know it’s a big call, but that’s what I think! When the “collapse” comes to the online coupon business, look for massive corporate failures and consolidations. The bet here, YELP will be the winner, not Groupon, not Social Living, not OpenTable.

Like I said a few seconds ago, MY (operative word here MY) research tells me, that YELP’s stock is going to be a big winner.

If this type of “stuff” is your game, do some homework and see–if you see the “potential” that I do.

By the way, I currently have no Yelp, Inc. position long/or short…and have no intention of taking one druing the next 72 hours.

Recently received the following email…

Jeff,

Like you I love a good fast food burger. What are your 5 best picks in the Dade, Broward and Palm Beach areas?

Thanks,

MBG

——————–

Thought you guys might like to “send” in your favorites. Keep the picks to joints where you “order/pickup” at the counter. May-be another day, we’ll cook up a list for waiter/waitress burger joints.

Got something here that I can’t exactly wrap my arms around…Sweets From Heaven & Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory.

To make a long story-short…

Yesterday, I killed some time in Boca Town Center–while Mrs. Jeff Eats roamed the mall looking for God knows what…For one solid hour I entertained myself- checking out people (most had no packages) and “thinking” about stuff like-how poorly the mall’s new food court “mix” and lay-out was–and what a goldmine the Apple Store was.

Anyway…right near the food court is an “upscale” candy store named Sweets From Heaven. I’m gonna assume that all of you guys have been to big regional malls and have seen and been in “some version” of an upscale candy store. For the record, Sweets From Heaven is a small national chain with a number of franchised locations in the United States. Not sure why, but in some malls the “store-concept” is called Sweets From Heaven and in others it’s called Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory. You can check the chain’s website www.sweetsfromheaven.com for locations/details. For our purposes, there is 1-Sweets From Heaven in Boca Raton, 1-Fuzziwig’s in Fort Myers, 1-Fuzziwig’s in Orlando.

Now, I may be giving you guys too much credit here, but I don’t think so… but, when you saw these “candy stores” which look like amusement parks/candy factories– loaded with bulk candy and kids’ novelty items- didn’t you say to yourselves, “Boy! I wish I was a kid, but man, this stuff costs a fortune.” Well, if you didn’t…I did—and as I walked around the store I couldn’t believe the prices that this joint was getting for the most basic of candies.

Now, if I recall my basic PS 179 math, there are 16 ounces to a pound. To be perfectly honest with you. I don’t recall the exact “brands” or exact ” $-amounts” but Sweets From Heaven was hitting up customers for something like $7.95–$14.95 lb. Like I said a few seconds ago, the brands may not be exactly the same, but I kinda think that I know what, M & M–Twizzler Licorice–Good & Plenty candies look like. Now, nothing for nothing, but on many standard candies- guys like Walmart, Target, Costco are fetching something like 23-30 cents per oz. I’m gonna let you guys do the math. By the way, this morning before writing this piece I checked my cupboard and visited a Walmart and Costco to make sure I wasn’t talking out of my hat.

Now, I know that businesses like Sweets From Heaven rely on “impulse buying.” It just seems to me, that there is impulse buying and then there is IMPULSE BUYING.

Like I said at the top of this discussion, Got something here that I can’t exactly wrap my arms around.

The next fast food “craze”—sushi!

You know and I know-that at times us-Americans can over do a good thing. You do remember “mom & pop” video stores, don’tcha? If you don’t think that current food crazes…self serve yogurt, cupcakes and upscale burgers aren’t headed for a serious day of reckoning, you might like to think again. For sure, there are going to be a handful of survivors, but I’m willing to bet you a lunch of your choice, that in the next couple of years there are going to be a ton and I do mean a ton of very-very unhappy franchisees. Seriously folks, do you really think that Jeff Eats’ 1-mile square Boca neighborhood- needs something like 14 self serve yogurt joints, 9 upscale burger spots, 23 mom & pop red sauce Italian restaurants? Hate to sound like a quiz-master here, but do you know what overkill is?

From what I’m hearing and seeing, the next fast-food craze about to hit America…SUSHI!. The best way to describe this “concept”—think Subway, Blimpie’s, or your favorite sub shop…you know the deal, you tell the guy/gal behind the counter how to construct your sub-sandwich in this case it will be your “roll.”

Checkout a small company—how do you roll? at www.howdoyouroll.com. For right now, how do you roll?–has a total of 11 stores in 6 states. I know-that with only 11 stores this “chain” is a mere-blip on America’s franchise map. By the way, for our purposes, how do you roll? currently has 2-Florida locations–Gainsville and Jacksonville. For the record, last week I was in a –how do you roll? store which literally just opened in Tucson, Arizona right next door to the University Of Arizona. Wanna talk jammed? During the 3 days I was “out there” I saw a constant and steady line waiting to get in…Now I’m no expert on sushi, but a gut feeling tells me that this fast food sushi concept is going to be huge “around” college campuses–and there are plenty of college towns in America.

Mark my words…fast food sushi joints are the next craze. Now, how do you roll? may not emerge as the dominant player–but my money says, that the “concept” is going to spread like a wildfire…and of course, like yogurt, burgers, cupcakes will eventually get over-done.

Got something a little different for you guys…

Over the past 6 months, I and Mrs. Jeff Eats have attended several “major” catered functions at both the Boca Raton Resort & Club and The Mar-a-Lago Club. To “protect” the innocent, I’m not going to go into what type of events they were, but these were big “blow-out” affairs with heavy duty decorations, orchestras, djs, suits/ties, gowns, tuxedos.

If this isn’t your bag, no problem—I’ll catch you tomorrow.

To make this as short as possible…many South Floridians consider the Boca Raton Resort & Club and The Mar-a-Lago to be two of the “best” catering facilites in the State, not to mention the country. For the record, The Mar-a-Lago Club is owned by Donald Trump. Boca Raton Resort & Club is owned by Boca Resorts Inc. who acquired it from Wayne Huizenga in 2004.

Ever go to a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, or other fancy party where the food and service stunk?

Now for sure…a good orchestra, a good dj, good decor, a good crowd–can make a party loads of fun. That said, every affair that I’ve attended at the Boca Raton Resort & Club and The Mar-a-Lago Club “featured” lousy food and piss poor service. Just so we are straight, I’m talking LOUSY and PISS POOR– now, I’m ball-parking here, but I’ll bet you that in my 62 years I’ve attended over 250 “big” events and Mrs. Jeff Eats and I have personally made 5- down here in South Florida alone. I think it’s fair to say, that the food/service at the Boca and Mar parties were right up there with the worst of the worst.

Anyway…you now know about 2 joints not to have a big party at.

By the way, is Trump still running for President?

Remember HYPE doesn’t necessarily make something good.

As a kid growing up in Brooklyn (1950s-1960s) at 811 Cortelyou Road Apt. 6M—two ice cream “trucks” Bungalow Bar and Good Humor competed on a daily basis for “us” kids’ business. When I think back on those days, I can’t believe that ice cream bars were 5 & 10 cents, pizza was 15 cents a slice, a small coke was a nickel, a hamburger was 20 cents, french fries were a dime, a haircut was 50 cents, for 50 cents you got to watch two movies and three-four cartoon shorts and a gallon of gasoline was going for 20 cents a gallon…I also remember my mother “buying” me and my brother an encyclopedia–one book every week for $1 until the set was completed from the local Waldbaum’s Supermarket. Crazy as it may sound to “youngters” out there- but every couple of blocks, there was a candy store, local market, bar, bakery, diner…back then most families only had 1- car, there were no shopping malls and kids either walked to school or rode the public bus which was 15 cents and the bus driver made change for you. There was no Starbucks-Costcos-Walmarts-Targets-Wendys—but there were plenty of Chock Full O’ Nuts, Nedicks, Ebingers. There were no soda machines that let you mix 100 different Coke flavors, but all of the candy stores had soda fountains and ice coolers which you stuck your hand into- and searched the freezing cold water for the bottle you wanted.

This one is open to everyone.

Tell Jeff Eats of days long past.