* Happy Father’s Day!

This contest started on 6/18/17. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $25 PDQ Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $25 PDQ Gift Card to give to one of you guys…

The game- the first 15 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $25 Gift Card is good at any PDQ location (eatpdq.com for locations, menus, prices, info).

Posted on December 22nd, 2015

***** PDQ, 2341 North Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, (954) 785-6285.

Real simple story to tell…

PDQ’s chicken tenders are absolute dynamite! They come either “crispy” or “grilled.”- 25 tenders run $31.80 and 50 go for $57.50.

Just wanted you guys to know, that on New Year’s Day 2016- Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are having a whole bunch of people over to our house…

We just placed an order for 100 crispy- and 100 grilled tenders with PDQ’s Pompano Beach joint – we also got other stuff ordered… For the “math challenged” 2 x $57.50= $115.

When Jeff Eats sees a good deal, I like to tell you guys about it!

PDQ has 23 joints in Florida. You can check locations/menu/prices/info at eatpdq.com.

_________

Posted May 4, 2013
***** PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality), 2015 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409, (561) 594-1906.

On April 30, 2013 Jeff Eats told you guys about PDQ a “new” fast-food/casual chicken chain–that is scheduled to open its West Palm Beach location on Sunday, May 5, 2013. The April 30, 2013 writeup is reprinted “after” today’s “thoughts.”

For the record, this afternoon Jeff Eats “ate” at a Family & Friends outing in the West Palm Beach store and I gotta tell you, this joint is going to be an absolute homerun.

Before I tell you about my “meal”—for what it’s worth, I don’t really care for the name PDQ. To me, the letters P D Q really don’t convey what this joint is all about. Nothing for nothing, but the owners of this business have created a fast food/casual hybrid…think Panera Bread and you may appreciate where I’m going with this. What they “got” is an order at/pick up at the counter fast food restaurant that looks like an upscale sports bar. I loved the look of the joint (and yes, it’s got a load of large flat screen TVs) but if you do some checking, many people use the term PDQ to mean “fast” or “right away”…that said, I think the last thing that PDQ wants is for you to think of its food as being “fast food” The store is logoed with big letters that say, “People Dedicated to Quality”–so Jeff Eats sees where the PDQ comes from (actually if we wanted to get technical here it should be PDTQ)…personally, I wouldn’t have used PDQ because to a great number of people PDQ means “other” things. Jeff Eats’ personal favorites -Pretty Damned Quick and Pennies Dimes Quarters.

Now that Jeff Eats has pontificated on the PDQ name…let’s talk food.

First let me start by saying, this 4,200 square foot free standing building is absolutely great looking…it has a drive thru and looks like something right out of the Florida Keys. There is also a huge open kitchen and you can see everything being prepared. In talking with the its founders (who by the way, created the Outback Steakhouse chain) everything is freshly made and the restaurant has no freezers. While there, Jeff Eats got a kick out of watching the staff squeeze 100s of lemons for the fresh-squeezed lemonade—For you wise-guys out there, yes! I got a kick out of watching, nothing sinister, lewd or whatever your devious minds maybe thinking!

Jeff Eats “tried” the tenders, hand cut fresh French fries, chicken Caesar salad, fried chicken sandwich, turkey breast sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, chocolate shake, apple slices with toffee—and I’m telling you, every item and I do mean every item was delicious. For the record–the food was “on the house”…which made it “easy” to literally order almost every menu item. If I got one bitch, I thought that the fries had just a drop too much salt on them—trust me, that one little itsy bitsy “problem” is easy to cure. Just a quickie, if you take a look at Jeff Eats’ 1/19/2007 Outback Steakhouse “review” note the salt-complaint… Goes to show you, Jeff Eats and the guys running this joint are consistent, if they are anything.

Check www.eatpdq.com for menu/prices/locations/pictures.

In talking to management, there are currently 4 Tampa, 2 North Carolina, 1 Oakland Park, 1 West Palm Peach PDQs…and “for” our purposes-2013-2014 planned locations-Wellington, Boca Raton and Pompano Beach.

Let me wrap this one up this way…

Based on what I saw, ate and heard PDQ is going to develop into a major national chain. The guys behind this deal know exactly what to do and how to do it…that is if they–

Just lose the salt shaker…

*****
April 30, 2013
PDQ’s menu features lightly fried chicken tenders/sandwiches, grilled chicken and turkey breast sandwiches, salads, French fries and shakes.

Just a quick heads-up…Jeff Eats is “hearing” tremendous things about a brand new-fast food chicken chain PDQ which currently has 4 Tampa/1 Oakland Park/1 West Palm Beach/2 North Carolina locations.

Haven’t tried the joint out yet, but some buddies of mine-told Jeff Eats that PDQ (Oakland Park) makes amazingly delicious grilled chicken/fried chicken tenders/turkey/salads/fries/shakes. One caveat, three of those buddies way back when- thought that the Edsel was going to be a homerun and the fourth guy to this very day-claims that aliens abducted him in 1989.

As I mentioned 4 seconds ago, there is one location in Oakland Park…this coming Sunday-May 5th, PDQ is opening a second South Florida location in West Palm Beach.

Check www.www.eatpdq.com for menu/locations.

For what it’s worth–the chain is owned by one of the guys who created the Outback Steakhouse chain. Nothing for nothing, a few quick conversations with a handful of fast food/casual restaurant developers–had them figuring that PDQ had a real shot to develop into a major chain. The consensus was, that PDQ may appeal to a huge segment of Chik-fil-A’s customer base that is looking for a more diversified menu. Throw in 4,500 square foot stores/with drive thrus that are open on Sunday—and just maybe, PDQ has the formula to be a homerun-chain.

Jeff Eats is gonna check this one out…if you get there before I do, let me know what you think.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-6/18/17- Thomas Donut & Snack Shop)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

EVERYTHING

Thomas Donut & Snack Shop
19208 Front Beach Street
Panama City
(850) 234-8039
thomasdonutandsnackshop.com
Latest Review: 5/16/16

You know what scarily good means?

All I can tell you guys- is that this Thomas Donut & Shop joint is so good- that it would be stupid for Jeff Eats to single out just “one” item or dish for special mention.

If you live in/visit Panama City Beach, this joint is an absolute must try!

Posted on May 16th, 2016 · American Breakfast Desserts Fast Food

***** Thomas Donut & Snack Shop, 19208 Front Beach Stret, Panama City Beach, Florida 32413, (850) 234-8039.

Got something real terrific for you guys- Thomas Donut & Snack Shop in Panama City Beach.

The best way to describe Thomas- fast food donut shop (order/pickup at window-counter, indoor/out-door seating) that also makes “everything” that your doctor has countless times told you not to eat!

You can check menu/prices/info at thomasdonutandsnackshop.com.

Real simple tale to tell you guys…a recent-ridiculously long drive from Boca Raton to Panama City Beach found Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “eating” at Thomas Donut & Snack Shop and I gotta tell you, that the food/vibe were so good-that we were literally “like pigs in shit.”

Thomas Donut & Snack Shop is open 7 days a week 6am-10pm.

The only negative angle to this tale is that- pig or no pig, Thomas Donut & Snack Shop is 552 miles away from Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats’ Boca Raton lair…

Oink! Oink! Oink!

* Shuli Egar.

Just announced- national touring headlining “blue” comedian- Shuli Egar-is set to play the Boca Black Box in Boca Raton on Friday Night, June 23, 2017 at 10pm.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Eats have seen Shuli-in action and he is hilarious!

If you can handle an absolutely brilliant “blue” comedian- you will love Shuli Egar!

The Skinny:

Shuli Egar
Friday Night, 6/23/17 (10pm)
Boca Black Box
8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Box Office:(561)483-9036
Tickets: bocablackbox.com also- check goldstar.com (discount tickets)

from shalomshuli.com

ABOUT SHULI EGAR
SHULI EGAR truly knows that if you’re going to make it in comedy, you’ve got to hustle. His start in stand up began with him bombing every night in nearly empty casinos along the Las Vegas Strip. But in 2002 Shuli’s luck would change. That’s when he met the one and only Howard Stern.

SHULI’s love for The Howard Stern Show started in middle school. He moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles to start his stand-up career and was a frequent caller to the Stern Show. After seven years of weekly calls, he was invited to play a round of blackjack with Stern and his gang while the show was in Las Vegas. As it happened, he won more than just money gambling at the table that day. Despite having no journalism experience, Shuli was brought on as a correspondent for the Howard 100 News team and has been reporting on all things Howard ever since.

In addition to his work on the Stern Show, Shuli co-hosts The Jay Thomas Show, the Dr. Harry Fisch Show on Sirius XM, and he has contributed to the Scott Ferrall Show and Miserable Men.

SHULI has toured the country as part of “The Killers of Comedy “ and “Ronnie’s Block Party”, and he regularly performs stand-up in clubs all across the U.S.

* The City of Boca Raton’s Summer in the City 2017… The Long Run- Eagles Tribute.

Just in case you guys were wondering where Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats will be tonight- Friday, June 16, 2017 at 7:30pm.

The Long Run is one of America’s best Eagles tribute bands- the concert is a complimentary deal!

THe Long Run – Eagles Tribute
MPA Summer in the City MPA Web Square
Hosted by the City of Boca Raton
Friday, June 16th, 2017
Doors: 6:30 PM, Show: 7:30 PM
School of Rock Boca to open for the main act from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The City of Boca Raton’s Summer in the City series promises a line-up of FREE Friday night live music and movies under the moonlight from June 9th through August 12th at Downtown Boca’s Mizner Park Amphitheater.

Tribute concert attendees ages 21 and over can sample a variety of craft beers from Hollywood Brewery at the Beer Garden starting at 7:00 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, car pool and use free parking at City Hall and the Boca Raton Library. Food and beverages will be available to purchase inside the venue. No outside food or beverages are allowed.

Summer in the city sponsors include Downtown Boca Raton, the City of Boca Raton, School of Rock, Hollywood Brewery, Floridian Community Bank, KIND Bars, and Marine Max and Junior’s Restaurant & Cheesecake.

FAQs:
– For full Summer in the City Concert and Movie dates, myboca.us.
– Seating: Chairs and blankets are welcome. For your convenience, chairs will be available to rent for $5 cash inside the venue
– Food and beverages will be available to purchase inside the venue. No outside food or beverages are allowed.
– Shows are rain or shine

For venue FAQs : http://myboca.us/pages/mizneramphi/faq
TICKETS: This event is free and open to the public, no ticket required

* Amazon To Acquire Whole Foods For $42 A Share- Deal Valued At $13.7 Billion!

Just announced…

Jeff Eats is thinking that- In addition to a retail grocery business, Amazon is acquiring a boat-load of brick & mortar locations to distribute “products” ordered online from…

We’ll just have to wait and see how this all plays out!

from myfox8.com

Amazon is making a big bet on physical stores and the business of food.

The online retail giant announced Friday that is buying organic grocery chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in cash.

Amazon said it will continue to operate Whole Foods stores under that name as a separate unit of the company.

The deal shows Amazon’s interest in moving into the business of operating traditional brick-and-mortar stores, even as traditional retailers crippled by Amazon’s growth have announced a series of store closings.

It also shows Amazon’s growing interest in groceries. And it demonstrates the financial might of Amazon, whose market value is greater than that of the 12 largest traditional general retailers combined.

“Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO.

***** Jet’s Pizza- Gluten Free Pizza.

Long story short, yesterday Jeff Eats and old friends Steve Rapapport and Bob Robinson- “ate” lunch at Jet’s Pizza, 8903 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434, (561) 852-5700. Steve who follows a gluten free diet had a Jet’s $8.99 8″ x 8″ Gluten Free Pizza Topped With Pepperoni- which he raved about it and I gotta tell you that the three bites that I took- were shockingly good! Now for sure, the 8″ x 8″ was no match for the $12.99 8 Corner Turbo Crust Pepperoni Pizza that Bob and I split- but like I just said, the 8″ x 8″ Gluten Free Pizza Topped With Pepperoni was shockingly good!.

The point of this story, Jet’s Pizza makes gluten free pizza that really works!

For you guys not familiar with Jet’s Pizza- national take-out pizza chain with something like 350 (currently 31 in Florida) joints!

You can check jetspizza.com for Jet’s Pizza locations/menu/info.

Steve’s- 8″ x 8″ Gluten Free Pizza Topped With Pepperoni

Jeff Eats and Bob’s- 8 Corner Turbo Crust Pepperoni Pizza

Posted September 6, 2015
***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 9/6/15- Jet’s Pizza).

One (actually I should say two) of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

SIGNATURE 8 CORNER PIZZA
$12.99
&
JET’S BOAT
$8.99

Jet’s Pizza
8903 Glades Road
Boca Raton
(561) 852-5700
jetspizza.com
Latest Review: 9/6/15

Jet’s Pizza is a national “takeout” pizza chain. I’m thinking that it currently has something like 350 stores in 17 maybe 18 states.

Last week, Jeff Eats “tried for the first time and took-out twice” from the Jet’s Pizza which opened in Boca Raton-3/15. Night #1 it was the Signature 8 Corner Pizza, Night #2 it was the Signature 8 Corner Pizza with pepperoni and a Jet’s Boat (think calzone and you’ll be thinking right- stuffed with mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, sausage, pepperoni and topped with butter/Romano cheese- $8.99) and I gotta tell you, the pizza and boat blew me away. No ifs, ands, or buts-one of the best “calzones” that I’ve ever had- as for the pizza, think Sicilian/deep dish and it was absolute dynamite. Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, if Mrs. Jeff Eats let me-do this joint twice in one week, the food had to have killed! Trust me, the lady…before I get in trouble here, let’s just leave it- that the food killed!

Like I said, Jet’s is a national takeout pizza chain. Some stores have seating, the one in Boca Raton -no seating. By the way, there are a ton of Jet’s Pizza joints in Florida- you can check jetspizza.com for locations/menu/info. Just between you guys and Jeff Eats- this Jet’s Pizza is one-hot franchise with a huge number of stores currently In development!

Let me wrap this up for you, that Signature 8 Corner Pizza and Jet’s Boat were terrific. Jet’s also has other types of pizzas, salads, wings, subs- so there is plenty of stuff to choose from.

Look!

Jeff Eats knows his crowd- and right about now, some of you guys must be saying…Hey Jeff, you-losing your freaking mind or what? This Jet’s is a takeout chain and these kind of joints make cheap garbage-so you been smoking or something?

Putting the “smoking” aside for the moment,

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats LOVED the pizza and the boat…

I’m telling you guys, give this chain a shot!

This contest started on 6/15/17. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $25 Hurricane Grill & Wings Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $25 Hurricane Grill & Wings Gift Card to give to one of you guys…

The game- the first 20 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $25 Gift Card is good at any Hurricane Grill & Wings location (hurricanewings.com for locations, menus, prices, info).

Posted on April 2nd, 2014
***** Hurricane Grill & Wings.

If you guys check, back on 6/6/08, 4/28/10 and 2/18/11 Jeff Eats did “stories” on Hurricane Grill & Wings…In a nutshell, the write-ups talked about food and in large part about a Customer Loyalty Rewards Program that was a dismal failure. If you like, you can review those stories–as to my “thoughts” back then-about the wings/burgers/salads that this chain served up–as well as the loyalty system employed.

Anyway…

Last night, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats had dinner at the Hurricane Grill & Wings located in Boca Raton. Long story short, friends of ours were “heading” back-up to New York this morning and Hurricane Grill was a convenient spot to meet at-before they started their trip.

Not going to discuss the current state of the chains’ Loyalty program…I will tell you that the salads, wings, cheeseburger sliders and key lime pie that we shared were all- right on the money. Suffice it to say, we enjoyed the food and the service was good-despite the fact that the joint was packed to the rafters with kids–because something like -Balloon Lady Night was going on.

The main reason I am telling you about this “outing” -is that I noticed a flyer on one of the doors advertising a “free” Tom Petty Tribute Show…when Jeff Eats asked the GM about the band, he indicated that every Saturday night, the Boca Raton restaurant and the Hurricane Grill & Wings in Wellington have live bands performing. In Boca-an out door tent is set up in the parking lot next to the restaurant and in Wellington the bands play inside—

So…

You guys now know where you can catch some good wings/burgers/salads–and enjoy some live music while you eat.

The suggestion here is to check Hurricane Grill & Wings’ website www.hurricanewings.com for South Florida locations/menu/check dates-bands performing.

One final thought, the Boca Raton and Wellington locations are owned by the parent company–others in the area are franchised joints…the point, the franchises may or may not have “live” music-so it pays to check what’s-what with them.

Just so you know-Hurricane Grill & Wings currently has 6-Florida outposts–Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens (2), Wellington, Royal Palm Beach.

* What Are Cherries Good For?

An interesting read…

At roughly $3.99 per pound- Jeff Eats kinda thinks it pays to play!

from mercola.com
August 02, 2014
What Are Cherries Good For?
By Dr. Mercola

Story at-a-glance

The antioxidant activity of tart cherries was found superior to that of vitamin E and comparable to commercially available antioxidant products
Sweet cherries contain fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, each of which may help play a role in cancer prevention
Tart cherries are anti-inflammatory and may help lower your risk of gout attacks and reduce pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis
Consuming tart cherry may help increase your melatonin levels and improve your sleep
Consuming tart cherries may activate PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors) in your body’s tissues, which helps regulate genes involved in fat and glucose metabolism

Cherries are a favorite summer fruit in the US, where about 370 million pounds are grown each year.1 With a short peak season (May to July), high susceptibility to disease and short shelf life after harvest, cherry season comes and goes in the blink of an eye.

If you enjoy cherries, now is the time to get them if you live in the US (although if you decide to save some for later, put them in your freezer where they’ll keep for up to one year). Come September, fresh cherries will be long gone for another year…

8 Top Health Benefits of Cherries
Cherries, which are members of the same fruit family as peaches, plums, apricots, and almonds, are often regarded as a “dessert” fruit for use in pies, or perhaps as a garnish for cocktails (the maraschino cherry).

But cherries have a healthy side too, one that may actually offer therapeutic benefits to your health, as cherries are rich in antioxidants and many other health-promoting compounds.

There are two primary varieties of cherries you should know about: sweet and tart (also known as sour cherries). Sweet cherries, such as Bing cherries, are best eaten fresh (and raw), while sour cherries develop a fuller flavor when they’re used in cooking (which is why they’re often used for baking).

Tart cherries are also used to make juice concentrates that may offer some unique health benefits. Some of the most notable health effects of cherries include…

1. Antioxidant Protection

Cherries contain powerful antioxidants like anthocyanins and cyanidin. One study found the antioxidant activity of these substances isolated from tart cherries was superior to that of vitamin E and comparable to commercially available antioxidant products.2

Sweet cherries also contain a small amount of quercetin, which is among the most potent in terms of antioxidant activity and a wide range of other health-promoting properties.3

2. Cancer-Preventive Compounds

Sweet cherries contain fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, each of which may help play a role in cancer prevention. According to the National Cherry Growers & Industries Foundation:4

“The potential role of sweet cherries in cancer prevention lies mostly in the anthocyanin content, especially in cyanidin. Sweet cherries are a good source of cyanidins, which appear to act as an antioxidant and in this role may reduce cancer risk…

A study… using human cancer cell lines demonstrated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of mutated cells exposed to cherry anthocyanins…

Further research suggests that the growth arrest characteristics of cyanidin are likely, at least in part, to be a result of significant inhibitory effects of these cherry components on epidermal growth factor receptors…

Finally, there is compelling evidence from basic science that cyanidin may also promote cellular differentiation and thus reduce the risk for healthy cells to transform to cancer.”

3. Reduce Inflammation and Your Risk of Gout

In a study of over 600 people with gout, those who ate only a ½-cup serving of cherries a day, the equivalent of about 10 or 12 cherries, or consumed cherry extract, had a 35 percent lower risk of a subsequent gout attack.5 Those who ate more cherries, up to three servings in two days, had an even lower, 50 percent reduction in risk.

Gout occurs when the metabolic processes that control the amount of uric acid in your blood fail to do their job effectively. The stiffness and swelling are a result of excess uric-acid-forming crystals in your joints, and the pain associated with this condition is caused by your body’s inflammatory response to the crystals. Past studies have found:

Eating two servings of cherries after an overnight fast lead to a 15 percent reduction in uric acid, and lower nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels (which are associated with inflammatory diseases like gout).6
The researchers noted the study supports “the reputed anti-gout efficacy of cherries” as well as “evidence that compounds in cherries may inhibit inflammatory pathways.”

Consuming tart cherry juice daily for four weeks may lower your levels of uric acid7
4. Support Healthy Sleep (Melatonin)

Cherries contain natural melatonin, which is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger that helps “cool down” excess inflammation and associated oxidative stress. It also plays a vital role in sleep and bodily regeneration.

Based on daily environmental signals of light and darkness, your pineal gland has evolved to produce and secrete melatonin to help you sleep. Research suggests that consuming tart cherry juice not only help increase your melatonin levels but may also improve time in bed, total sleep time and sleep efficiency. According to researchers:8

“…consumption of a tart cherry juice concentrate provides an increase in exogenous melatonin that is beneficial in improving sleep duration and quality in healthy men and women and might be of benefit in managing disturbed sleep.”

5. Arthritis Pain Relief

Cherries contain many anti-inflammatory compounds, and research suggests they may help to relieve pain from inflammatory osteoarthritis.

According to one study, women with osteoarthritis who drank tart cherry juice twice daily for three weeks had significant reductions in markers of inflammation. They also had a 20 percent reduction in pain. The researchers noted that tart cherries have the “highest anti-inflammatory content of any food.”9

6. Reduce Belly Fat

In an animal study, rats fed tart cherry powder along with a high-fat diet gained less weight and built up less body fat than rats not fed tart cherries. They also had lower levels of inflammation and triglycerides, suggested a potential role in heart health.10

7. Reduce Post-Exercise Muscle Pain

Athletes who consumed tart cherry juice prior to long-distance running experienced less pain than those who did not. It’s thought that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tart cherries may have a protective effect to reduce muscle damage and pain during strenuous exercise.11

8. Lower Risk of Stroke

Consuming tart cherries may activate PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors) in your body’s tissues, which help regulate genes involved in fat and glucose metabolism. This activation may help to lower your risk of heart disease, and research suggests eating cherries may provide similar heart benefits to prescription drugs called PPAR agonists.12, 13

This contest started on 6/9/17. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $25 Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $25 Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza Gift Card to give to one of you guys!

The game- the first 15 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $25 Gift Card is good at any Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza restaurant (for locations, menu, info- blazepizza.com).

Posted on March 4th, 2015
***** Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, 2146 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 923-9353

Way-back on July 3, 2014 Jeff Eats did a story (reprinted down below) about California based “make your own” pizza chain Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza-and its plans to enter the Florida market…

Long story short, Blaze currently has something like 60 locations nationwide which include 1-in Boca Raton, 1-in Fort Lauderdale. 1-in Gainesville, 1-in Sarasota…locations in Davie, Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville are under construction.

Yesterday, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats gave Blaze’s Boca Raton joint which opened a couple of weeks ago- a shot and I gotta tell you that we were impressed! By the way, the joint has both inside and outdoor patio seating- so you guys with dogs…

Now, nothing for nothing, Henry Ford invented this assembly-line “thing” a hundred years ago, or at least I think he did…and Subway and Chipotle have it down to a science…that said- dough, pick your sauce, pick your toppings- into a stone hearth oven for 3 minutes- pay $5-$10- 11″ pizza delivered to your table!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats did a Simple Pie (mozzarella, parmesan, red sauce) and a Meat Eater (pepperoni, crumbled meatballs, red onion, mozzarella, red sauce) and like I just said, very impressed. Delicious crust, nice sweet sauce- and it didn’t taste like “fast food”…as good- as most of the full service coal-oven and wood fired pizza joints down here-that bang you for a whole lot more money!

For sure, Blaze has the obligatory salads- but the real game here is pizza.

Trust Jeff Eats, you won’t be disappointed!

You can check the Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza story/menu/locations/info out at blazepizza.com.

Blaze Fast- Fire’d Pizza is open 7 days a week 11am-10pm

One final note, not to sound like a college professor or nothing- but if you check, Jeff Eats has a couple of stories about the “make your own” pizza business- hopefully this “pizza segment” doesn’t mimic the self-serve yogurt craze of just a few short years ago…a word to the wise to potential franchisees and others- THERE ARE ONLY JUST SO MANY OF THESE TYPE JOINTS THAT ANY ONE GIVEN MARKET CAN COMFORTABLY HANDLE!

_____
July 3, 2014
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza.

Way back on December 29, 2011 Jeff Eats did a story on-the make your own fast food pizza business. If you like, you can read that story, if not, not!

Anyway,

In recent years, a number of “make your own pizza” joints have opened in the United States…you can do the research-there are a ton of franchise operations peddling the concept…right off the top of my head, Uncle Maddio’s, Top That! Pizza, Your Pie, Pie-Ology, Pie-Lingual, MOD Pizza, Pie Five Pizza–if Jeff Eats “gave” it some thought, I’m sure I could up with other-names.

Real simple concept,

You pick your dough, you pick your sauce, you pick your cheese, you pick your toppings…the pizza is “assembled” in front of you at the counter, then cooked and delivered to your table. No brain cancer surgery here, you’ve seen the “assembly line” formula used on subs, yogurt, soft serve, burgers, hot dogs-before.

Just wanted to let you guys know -that Lebron James just invested in a Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza franchise that plans on opening 10 Florida stores…not sure of exact locations, but at least one of these-make your own pizza joints will be in Boca Raton -and plans to be open sometime within the next 6 months. Really know very little about Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza except that the parent comes out of California and that it currently has something like 25 locations in the western part of the United States with a heavy presence in California.

Can’t resist…I guess that all of that Heat money is burning a hole in Lebron’s pocket.

So,

Let’s keep an eye out for Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza…and see if Lebron knows how to play in the fast food make your own pizza league.

You can follow Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza at blazepizza.com.