* White Castle’s Crave Mobile.

Jeff Eats got this “one” from his buddies over at burgerbeast.com.

“White Castle’s Crave Mobile will be gracing us with its presence at the “Welcome Back To Miami, White Castle Party” at Magic City Casino on Tuesday November 17th from 5-10PM.”

I must be getting old, ’cause Jeff Eats’ knew nothing of this FANTASTIC HAPPENING!

Like you guys, I’m gonna follow the story at burgerbeast.com…

* Franchise Frenzy:

A recent e-mail from reader Jason M.

From: Jason M.
Subject: Franchise Frenzy

Message
Body:
I read this article in the South Florida Business Journal and was
wondering what you think about the viability of these restaurant chain wannabes.
These restaurant owners have awfully grand ambitions. Then again, it takes
great ambition to make great things happen.

Keep up the great work on the
blog!

Yours,
— Jason M.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

4 South Florida-born food
franchises that want to go national

Sep 28, 2015, 2:29pm EDT

Emon
Reiser
Reporter

South Florida Business Journal

South Florida is a
breeding ground for creative food concepts, and some of those successful local
eateries plan to use a franchise model to get their brand to foodies across the
country, and in some cases, the world:

Sloan’s Ice Cream is looking for single and multi-unit franchisees nationwide. The confectionary store, known for its decadent ice cream flavors, opened its flagship in West Palm Beach in 1999,
began franchising in 2012, and has since spread to six locations across Broward
and Palm Beach counties, and one in San Diego. The brand has locations available
in Los Angeles and it’s asking potential investors to contact Franchise@SloansIceCream.com for more information.

Dave Olmo, a franchisee who owns Sloan’s at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, previously told the Business Journal that he is looking for more locations to build the brand. He has a shop opening
in 2016 at CityPlace Doral and seeking other prime sites in South Florida.

“We’re looking for spots possibly in the Wynwood District, Aventura,
Sawgrass Mills and Brickell,” Olmo said. In the next few years, Olmo plans to
bring the brand to Key West, Naples and then outside of the state.

Nationwide, Sloan’s Ice Cream expects to add 200 units across the globe in
the next seven years. Its first franchise store outside the U.S. opens in Dubai
this fall. Sloan’s Director of Franchising, David Wild, was not immediately
available to comment further about the company’s growth plans.

Sloan’s franchise owners must have a minimum liquid capital of $250,000 and a net worth
of $1 million. The brand’s royalty fee is 6 percent and franchisees can expect 1
percent of weekly gross sales to Sloan’s corporate marketing fund and a minimum
of $5,000 on grand-opening advertising for the first three months it’s open.

Pincho Factory has just begun its journey to sell its burgers and
kebobs across the country. Co-founders Otto Othman and Nedal Ahmad previously
told the Business Journal that their concept commands almost as many dollars per
square foot as Chipotle and expects its corporate revenues to surpass $3
million, which was the perfect reason to start opening more stores. The Miami
brand’s first franchise location opens in Orlando this fall, and Pincho Factory
will have a total of seven stores open by the end of the year.

The first Factory opened in 2010, and its meaty reputation could grow the brand to
50 locations in development by the end of 2017, its owners say. They expect to eventually grow to 600-700 units across the U.S.

“We definitely want to get this concept all over the country and eventually take it globally,” Ahmad said. First, they’re focused on expanding on the East Coast.

The cost of opening a Pincho Factory is between $347,000 and $457,000 on average. Other costs include
a $30,000 franchise fee, 5 percent royalty fee and 2 percent marketing charge.
It sells skewers, burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, salads and sides.

New York Grilled Cheese Co., based in Wilton Manors, is opening its second location by the end of the year and will launch its franchise plan soon after. The popular grilled cheese restaurant aims to methodically grow nationwide, owner Leor Barak told the South Florida Business Journal. The brand
which touts 30,000 followers on Facebook, but it’s not just popular on social media — at least 50 people have formally inquired about becoming a franchisee Barak said.

The company will be ready to franchise by the beginning of
2016.

“Ideally our strategy is to be in every major artery in Florida,” and
then expand across the country, he said.

New York Grilled Cheese Co. is known for its gourmet waffle-style sandwiches and creative melts.

Sliderz is a newly announced concept from Richard Booth and Buzzy Sklar, founder of Burger &
Beer Joint, who said he expects his newest brand to eventually grow to 1,000 units across the world. The company will open its flagship store in North Miami on Oct. 8 and has six other South Florida locations in the works. The company is still putting together its franchise agreement for the mini-sandwich model and is looking for multi-unit franchisees.

‘I have had some success in the restaurant business here in South Florida, so it was the perfect testing ground for a fresh concept, since I’m familiar with the lay of the land,” Sklar
said.

_______

Jason M.:

Very interesting article.

Just between you and me, I learned a long time ago…that it’s better to eat in a restaurant than to own one. I also learned a long time ago, that it’s better to be the franchisor than the franchisee!

Now for sure each of these “proposed” franchise project stands on its own…that said, you do the math. You the franchisee has to “buy in”- let’s say $30,000- $35,000 a location…then you have to pay the franchisor 5%-6% a week on gross sales…then you have to kick in probably 2%-3% of gross sales a week to the “national” advertising fund…

Look these “franchises” aren’t national brands. They are basically small operations. My thought here would be, that I could “knock-off” each and every-one of these concepts and not have to waste money paying for the ‘right” to use a name that most people have never-heard of in the first place!.

But that’s just me!

Thanks for reading…

* Robert Kelly.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, your country club/community/or wherever you live- ain’t gonna have this guy- on its up-coming entertainment schedule! Come-on!- you know they just feed you white-bread!

Robert Kelly is a brilliant “blue” comedian…

Go see him,

Kelly is set for the Fort Lauderdale IMPROV, 5700 Seminole Way Hollywood, Florida 33314, (954) 981-5653:

Thursday 10/15 8pm
Friday 10/16 8pm, 10:30pm
Saturday 10/17 7pm, 9:45pm

You can catch tickets at ftlimprov.com (by the way, goldstar.com has a bunch of tickets at discount prices).

This story first ran on August 24, 2015. Just wanted to mention, that I just noticed that- goldstar.com has a bunch of “complimentary” tickets- all you gotta do is pay an $8 service fee to get them (so I guess they really aren’t complimentary- just real cheap!). Anyway…if you want to go…

Posted August 24, 2015
* Blood Sweat & Tears, Chuck Negron, Mark Farner
Real simple tale to tell…

Great outdoor venue- 3 top-notch acts!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are gonna be there.

Right Now- goldstar.com and livingsocial.com are running “deals” on tickets!

No bs-here, trust Jeff Eats when I tell you that in my day- I’ve been to quite a few “concerts”…my eye bags are- well earned…that said, The Amp is an absolutely terrific outdoor venue to see a Rock N Roll concert at- great sightlines/sound & light systems and every seat, works!

Whether you’re a “youngster” or an “old rocker” (or maybe it’s an “old cocker”) like me- be smart and go see BS&T, Negron and Farner ’cause it’s gonna be some-show!

Blood Sweat & Tears, Chuck Negron, Mark Farner
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Concert: 7:00pm | Doors: 6:00pm
The Amp (Pompano Beach Amphitheater)
Tickets: $38-$78… ticketmaster.com
Info/Tickets: pompanobeacharts.org
Blood Sweat & Tears (fronted by Bo Bice, Jr.-American Idol runner-up to Carrie Underwood, Season 4), Chuck Negron (former lead singer of Three Dog Night), Mark Farner (former lead singer of Grand Funk Railroad)…

* Halloween Trunk Or Treat Car Show.

Sounds like it could be- a real nice-way to kill a few hours!

***** China Steak House 3, 8565 Coral Way, Miami, Florida 33155, (305) 262-1228.

Got a real-good Chinese joint for you guys…China Steak House in Miami.

Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple recently did dinner and I gotta tell you- some of the best Chinese food I’ve had down here in Sunny South Florida.

For you guys looking for “real” Chinese food- I don’t think so!…no broiled squid eyeballs, fried monkey noses or roasted elephant tits…just solid Brooklyn-Jewish-American-Chinese food circa 1957!

Real simple order:

Wonton Soup
Egg Drop Soup
Egg Rolls
Barbecued Spare Ribs
Roast Pork Fried Rice
Chicken Lo Mein
Sweet & Sour Pork
Pepper Steak
Shrimp With Lobster Sauce

Like I said a few seconds ago, right on the money/delicious… Brooklyn-Jewish-American-Chinese food circa 1957! The above order- give or take a Lobster Cantonese, or a Chicken Chop Suey here and there, is basically what every and I do mean every -(non-kosher) Brooklyn Jewish Family in the 50’s & 60’s ordered on Sunday Night at the local Chinese joint…same for the Jews of- Queens, Manhattan and “The” Bronx!-as for Staten Island- crappy sewers limited the number of Jews who lived there…for some reason, Jews needed good sewers while the Tony Sopranos of the world, the Irish and Italians didn’t! Go figure! That said, the Jews that did live there, stuck to the “script” as outlined above! One other 50’s and 60’s “thing”- we use to call it “Going For Chinks”- but from what Jeff Eats understands, the word “Chink” is now politically incorrect- and today, the proper term is Chinese or Asian…

Anyway,

You can check menu/prices at chinesesteakhouse3.com

One final thing, the joint makes a $19.95 “China Steak” (32oz- broiled prime sirloin steak with mixed Chinese vegetables) that- is totally-off the chart delicious- so if you eat here, make sure that you order it!

China Steak House 3 is an absolute home-run!

The joint is open Sunday 11am-10:30pm, Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday 9/27/15)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

Nana’s Fully Loaded Omelette
$9.39

Nana’s Diner
1230 Military Trail
West Palm Beach
(561) 640-2922
nanasdinerpb
Latest Review: 12/4/14

You regular Jeff Eats’ readers should know by now, that I’m a huge fan of the “mom & pop” diner concept. Breakfast is my favorite “diner meal.”

With the above in mind, I absolutely love Nana’s Diner’s- Fully Loaded Omelette (ham, bacon, sausage, onions, peppers, spinach & cheddar cheese) which comes with toast/home fries for $9.39. Just that simple, I absolutely love this omelette.

Real simple tale here, Nana’s is a real-good “mom & pop” diner that does breakfast, lunch and dinner! The joint has booth, table, counter and outdoor patio seating.

If you like good solid food, reasonable prices, big portions, super pleasant wait-staff- you’ll really enjoy this joint!

____________________
Posted on December 4th, 2014 · American Breakfast West Palm Beach

***** Nana’s Diner, 1230 Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409, (561) 640-2922.

Got a real good “diner” for you guys…Nana’s Diner in West Palm Beach.

Let Jeff Eats start by saying that I absolutely loved Nana’s.

As you regular-readers know or should know by now, I’m a huge diner “fan”-and I must tell you- Nana’s is the real deal. Although- Nana’s has only been around for something-like 2 years its got the “diner formula” down-pat…counter-booth-table-outside patio seating…full liquor license. On the menu front, DINER- loads of breakfast stuff, appetizers, salads, Mexican/Greek/Italian dishes, sandwiches, burgers, meat/fish/chicken entrees, desserts…trust Jeff Eats when I tell you-everyone in your party will find-what to eat.

The other day, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats did breakfast…strawberry banana Belgian waffle ($7.75), western omelette/home fries/toast ($8.95), multi-grain pancakes ($7.95) and I gotta tell you-everything was right on the money…throw in super friendly wait-service and delicious coffee (per Mrs. Jeff Eats A/K/A Juan Valdez Eats) makes- Nana’s a big time winner in Jeff Eats’ book.

Like I said 4.2 seconds ago, I loved the joint. I highly recommend that if you live or work in Nana’s neighborhood that you give it a shot!

Nana’s hours are Sunday-Thursday 6am-10pm, Saturday-Sunday 6am-11pm

* Here Come The Mummies.

The cool-campy-dynamite funk band’s current national tour has 3-Florida dates:

Thursday, October 8th (8pm)
Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Friday, October 9th (8pm)
The Plaza Live, Orlando

Saturday, October 10th (8pm)
Seminole Casino & Hotel, Immokalee

Jeff Eats kinda knows his crowd, so I’m thinking that you guys- have never heard of- Here Come The Mummies!… Am I right or am I right!

You wanna have an absolute blast, go see Here Come The Mummies- they kill!

You can catch audio/video/tickets/info at herecomethemummies.com.

from herecomethemummies.com

It’s been a long and dusty road since 1922 when, at a dig in the desert south of Tunis, Professor Nigel Quentin Fontenelle Dumblucke IV (1895-1973) unearthed the ruins of an ancient discotheque to find a dozen undead Egyptian mummies inexplicably throwing down what he dubbed, “Terrifying Funk From Beyond the Grave.”

From these hovering souls, who called themselves Here Come The Mummies, Professor Dumblucke learned of the powerful curse that doomed them to wander the earth, seeking the ultimate riff, the one that may allow their spirits to rest after eons of, as they put it, “banging out solid fly grooves, y’all.” But their story was murky at best…

What is clear is that these saucy specters resurfaced around the turn of the Millennium. Since their discovery (and without so much as a hot bath) Here Come The Mummies has opened for P-Funk, Al Green, and Cheap Trick; rocked Super Bowl Village 2012; become a regular on The Bob and Tom Show; been invited to play Summer Camp Music Festival 2015, Voodoo Fest 2015, Common Ground 2015, Musikfest, and Summerfest; and made themselves the darlings of sell-out crowds over wide swaths of North America. Maybe that’s why the ladies (and some dudes) can’t stop losing their minds over these mayhem-inducing mavens of mirth.

Some say they were cursed after deflowering a great Pharaoh’s daughter. Others claim they are reincarnated Grammy-Winning studio musicians. Regardless, HCTM’s mysterious personas, cunning song-craft, and unrelenting live show will bend your brain, and melt your face. Get ready, for Here Come The Mummies.

“Here Come The Mummies are one bad-ass band, a hybrid of Idris Muhammad, George Clinton, Ohio Players, and Earth, Wind & Fire.” -Blurt Magazine

“A band unlike any other.” -Examiner.com

“That’s the most fun I’ve had in 20 years.” -Bob Kevoian, The Bob & Tom Show

“Cock wobbling brilliant.” -Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

* Burger King A.1. Halloween Whopper.

Just thought that you guys might be interested to know – that starting on Monday 9/28/15 for a limited time -Burger King restaurants will feature a $4.99 Whopper with a black bun infused with A.1. sauce.

Now you guys and Jeff Eats both know, that a monkey dressed in a $5,000 Canali suit- is still a monkey…that said, there is nothing wrong with eating a monkey-and I’ll betcha a buck- that Burger King sells a “ton” of these black bun Whoppers.

The last time Jeff Eats saw a dyed-bun…Saint Patrick’s Day 1967- when the Wetson’s Hamburgers in Ithaca, New York served its 15 cent burgers in kelly green buns- long story short, a much younger Jeff Eats thought that he could eat 12 of those burgers in one sitting- but that’s a whole nother story…let’s just say, not a pretty sight!

***** Mundi’s Italian Restaurant, 330 East Dania Beach Boulevard, Dania Beach, Florida 33004, (954) 927-1127

A recent email to Jeff Eats.

Jeff Eats,
Not looking for the Sal’s or Rotelli’s of the world. Looking for a real mom & pop joint that has amazing Italian food at really reasonable prices.
We live in Sunrise.
Give us a dynamite one.
Thanks,
Carl F
___________

Carl F:

Jeff Eats is loaded with real good “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joints.

You gotta read!

That said, here’s one to get you through the weekend!

Thanks for almost- reading…

______________________

Mundi’s Italian Restaurant (Dania Beach )
Posted on March 27th, 2015 · Dania Beach Italian Pizza

***** Mundi’s Italian Restaurant.

Want a real good/reasonably priced/mom & pop/red sauce Italian joint? Then -go eat at Mundi’s Italian Restaurant in Dania Beach.

Jeff Eats first told you guys about Mundi’s on 4/22/14 (that tale is reprinted down below) and “my bad”- I hadn’t been back until last night…and- the fried calamari, eggplant parmigiana, veal marsala, sausage and peppers were right on the money delicious!

This joint is an absolute must try.
_______
Mundi’s Italian Restaurant (Dania Beach)
Posted on April 22nd, 2014 · Dania Beach Italian

**** Mundi’s Italian Restaurant, 330 East Dania Beach Boulevard, Dania Beach, Florida 33004, (954) 927-1127.

Got a real good “mom & pop” red sauce-Italian joint for you…Mundi’s Italian Restaurant in Dania Beach.

If pizza is your game–Mundi’s ain’t for you…no pizza.

I’m thinking maybe 12 tables.

A recent dinner had Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple doing…fried calamari, penne ala vodka, spaghetti with meatballs, veal parmigiana, zuppa di pesce, shrimp scampi and I gotta tell you–we all thought that Mundi’s food was delicious. Now no fooling here…Mundi’s stuff was right up there with some of the best Italian food that Jeff Eats has had in South Florida.

Let me add a drop more color…the husband and wife who own Mundi’s seemed to be all over the joint… greeting/meeting/serving/cooking/cleaning and God only knows what else! Talk about giving 1000 percent.

Real simple call–delicious food, large portions, real pleasant service, reasonable prices…makes Mundi’s a huge winner.

Just a quick thought…I got friends who tell me -that this restaurant or that restaurant was like eating in someone’s home. I don’t know about you, but I’ve eaten in people’s homes where the home cooked food was disgusting. As a kid, I had a friend named Jimmy Esposito-whose mother made nightmarishly bad meat lasagna-but it was home-cooked! I also had a friend named William Chen whose mother made fabulous black & white cookies-but her wonton soup tasted like dirty dish water-go figure!

Anyway…

You can check Mundi’s menu/prices at www.mundis-italian-restaurant.com.

To wrap this thing up…if Wil & Joyce Imondo (they are the mom & pop and husband & wife in this story) ask you over to their house for dinner-GO!

Mundi’s Italian Restaurant is open Tuesday-Sunday 5pm-10pm, closed on Monday.