***** Mikes Italian New York Style Pizzeria & Restaurant, 13712 Southwest 84th Street, Miami, Florida 33183, (305) 382-6200.

You guys do-know that there are more “mom & pop” Italian joints in South Florida- than there are Chins in a Chinese phonebook!

With the above in mind, I got a real good “one” for you- Mikes Italian New York Style Pizzeria & Restaurant- in Kendall…the joint has been around since 1980 and has seating inside/and outside.

When you check Mikes- website- mikespizzaofkendall.com you’re gonna-find the “expected” menu loaded with appetizers/pizzas/pastas/subs/meat-chicken-seafood entrees…

A recent dinner outing of Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple netted us- large cheese pizza, veal parmigiana sub, sausage & peppers sub, baked lasagna (ricotta cheese & meat sauce), chicken piccata, fried calamari and I gotta tell you-good stuff!

Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, I’ve been in a ton- and I do mean a ton of South Florida “mom & pop” Italian joints…some are dynamite, some are almost dynamite, some are good, some are just passable and some are just “meh” (people on YELP love to use that word)…

Long story short, if Mikes Italian New York Style Pizzeria Pizza & Restaurant was by my house, I’d be a-steady customer. Jeff Eats loved the thin/crisp/sweet sauce pizza and the subs and lasagna killed. Didn’t really care for the calamari or chicken piccata -but you guys do know, that this food “reviewing” gig is just a game-in the first place, anyway! By the way, my friend Artie who was with me, liked the calamari- but as far I’m concerned he knows-dick about calamari, now as for pizza, that’s whole ‘nother story!

Mikes is my kinda restaurant…good food, reasonable prices, super friendly wait-staff, plenty of Coca Cola, shorts/tee shirt friendly. If Jeff Eats was forced to rate Mike’s…somewhere between, good and almost dynamite- take the calamari and chicken piccata out of the equation- almost dynamite. Hey! I’ve been telling you guys for years, that “rating systems” are dumb!

If you live or work in Mikes’ neighborhood, you now know about a real-good “mom & pop” Italian joint to eat-in or take-out from!

Mikes Italian New York Style Pizzeria & Restaurant is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

* An intimate Evening With Music Series.

I got something so good for you guys that it’s actually scary…An Intimate Evening With Music Series- at The Plaza Ballroom & Event Centre.

Real simple, 400 seat venue- that is booking in some of the most-legendary Rock N Roll groups of all time. Seats are dirt cheap, the sound and light systems are incredible and every and I do mean every seat in the house is dynamite. Guys!- If you check Jeff Eats’- 11/15/14- Routing Of Acts “story”- you’ll have some-idea as to how The Plaza Ballroom can “afford” such-great acts and why the concerts are on Thursday nights.

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you, The Plaza Ballroom & Event Centre (111 US Highway One, North Palm Beach, Florida 33408, (561) 842-0111) literally just got into the “concert” business…as a matter of fact, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were there last week- for its inaugural “concert”- which featured- Firefall- and I am telling you, it was an absolutely amazing-show!

VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS NEW CONCERT VENUE. Rest assured, guaranteed, the “secret” is gonna get out- but in the meantime…

Little River Band and Jefferson Starship are the next two scheduled shows.

Like I said 2-seconds ago, every seat is good…there is table and row seating- and a bar area/with some finger-food (if you’re hungry).

Jeff Eats is no-shill for The Plaza Ballroom- all I can tell you, this venue-is producing great concerts!

You can catch tickets at theplazaballroom.com.

* The Soul Of Motown Detroit.

A real simple tale to tell…

Roll The Stones- one of America’s best Rolling Stones tribute bands- takes on the sounds of Motown- Detroit!

Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, I’ve seen the “rehearsal” and I am telling you that this SHOW is gonna blow people away!

Trust me on this one, a whole ‘nother-spin on Motown & Detroit- music.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are going.

If you want to see the first-production of The Soul Of Motown Detroit…

You can catch $15 tickets at theplazaballroom.com.

Thursday, August 13th at 8pm Sharp.

A special show performed by Roll The Stones with guest Kat Riggins of Blues Revival. With countless hits and a legacy that has endured over time, this is truly feel good music for all ages that will provide pure entertainment with it’s catalog of classic sounds.

Trace the influence of soul on rock and how this left it’s mark on the British Invasion as well as today’s chart toppers. Don’t forget Detroit is also home to some great rock and roll as well. With a gritty urban sound that also left it’s mark on the music world, you will surely find out that the soul carried over into the rock for a special blend that has an appeal unique to the Motor City alone! Often imitated but the music does the talking and stands the test of time forever.

This show will also feature state of the art sound and lights & a 60 panel video wall to make this an extra special evening.

Check them out here www.RollTheStones.com

The Plaza Ballroom & Event Centre
111 Us Highway 1,
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
(561) 842-0111
Tickets: theplazaballroom.com

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 7/26/15).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

DOUBLE HI CHEESEBURGER & FRENCH FRIES
$8.40

HiWay Burger
12 Southeast 5th Avenue
Delray Beach
(561) 243-6430
hiwayburger.com
Latest Review: 4/5/15

Real simple story to tell you…

Based on the terrific double cheeseburger and French fries that Jeff Eats had last night, HiWay Burger gets a second (first was on 4/5/15) shout-out as the Dish Of The Week!

For the uninformed…

Hole in the wall-fast food burger joint- that makes amazing-delicious grilled flat topped cheeseburgers and hand cut fresh French fries. The joint also does-real nice milkshakes and for you non-meat eaters (according to Mrs. Jeff Eats) serves up a delicious veggie burger!

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, HiWay Burger is absolutely a must try!

***** Johnny’s Subs, 4634 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33415, (561) 642-6663.

Got a real good one for you guys…Johnny Subs in West Palm Beach.

Now you guys and Jeff Eats know that there are more sub-joints in South Florida than there are Chins in a Chinese phonebook…that said, the trick is finding the really good ones.

With the above in mind, Jeff Eats recently “tried” Johnny’s Subs and the joint’s stuff was absolute dynamite. Just so you don’t think that Jeff Eats is a huge pig or something- Jeff Eats’ party of four (4) ordered- 12″ Cuban sub ($7.49), 12″ chicken parmigiana sub ($7.49), 12″ tuna sub ($7.99), 12″ roast beef sub ($7.99), 12″ turkey breast sub ($7.49) and I gotta tell you- that every sandwich was delicious. If I had to do a pecking order- that Cuban sub was as Jimmy Walker use to say- DYNOMITE!! No fooling here, one of the best Cuban subs I’ve had down her in sunny South Florida. Now, please don’t get me wrong, the other subs were all-delicious, but that Cuban sub- off the chart! By the way, two of my buddies agreed on the Cuban sub call- but our buddy Mike, thought that the chicken parmigiana sub was the best- but between you and me, Mike also thinks that Trump is gonna get the Republican nomination for President- so we know how smart Mike is!

You guys now know where you can get killer-subs for cheap money!

Johnny’s Subs is open Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 9am-5pm.

*’The Daily Meal- America’s 75 Best Hot Dogs For 2015.

Now you guys and Jeff Eats know- that lists like this really don’t mean squat…but we- do need things to read in the bathroom!

Jeff Eats recently caught the below article/list on thedailymeal.com and I’m thinking that some of you-might enjoy the read.

I will tell you, the Nathan’s Hot Dog “pictured” with KETCHUP- yes KETChUP on it… Kinda tells me that the article/list is probably-full of crap (pun intended).

Anyway, enjoy the read!

Posted on July 1, 2015
America’s 75 Best Hot Dogs | The Daily Meal

On our quest to find America’s best hot dogs, we started by putting a list together of hot dog places with a definitive style of hot dog, one which embodies not only the region’s quirks but also the particular tastes and culinary traditions of its people. We made sure to take into account online reviews from locals as well as the dog’s overall reputation among those in the know, and the quality of the ingredients — namely, sourcing the franks from well-known local producers — was also important. These hot dogs aren’t being eaten in a void, either, so we took into account the entire experience, from driving up to the restaurant or stand to placing your order to taking that first bite. We also made sure to build on our previous years’ rankings (find rankings from 2013 here and 2014 here).

Once we had our list of more than 200 hot dog places from across the country finalized, we built them into a survey, divided by region. We called on food writers, bloggers, and journalists from around the country to take the survey, and asked hot dog experts to submit their favorite spots for survey inclusion. The 36 survey respondents included writer Patrick Evans-Hylton, Forbes’ Larry Olmsted, Food Network Star contestant and blogger Jay Ducote, and blogger Holly Moore of HollyEats.com.

[Only one Major League Baseball stadium made the list; Dodger Stadium at #65. The winner was Katz’s Deli, Houston St., NYC.

by Arthur Bovino.

#75 Nathan’s Famous, Coney Island, N.Y.

#74 Max’s Famous Hot Dogs, Long Branch, NJ
#73 The Brick, Kansas City, Mo.
#72 Biker Jim’s, Denver
#71 Cupid’s, Van Nuys, Calif
#70 Tommy’s, Elizabeth, NJ
#69 Shorty’s, Seattle
#68 Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Va.
#67 Gus’s, Birmingham, Ala.
#66 DC-3, Washington, DC
#65 Simone’s Hot Dog Stand, Lewiston, Maine
#64 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
#63 Clare & Carl’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
#62 Deerhead Hot Dogs, Bear, DE
#61 Jimmy’s Red Hots, Chicago
#60 Gold Coast Dog, Chicago
#59 Jimmy Buff’s Italian Hot Dogs, West Orange, NJ
#58 Bob’s Drive Inn, Le Mars, Iowa
#57 Otto’s Sausage Kitchen, Portland, Ore.
#56 Dew Drop Inn, Mobile, Ala.
#55 Senate Restaurant, Cincinnati
#54 Skeenies, Charleston, WV
#53 Flo’s, Cape Neddick, Maine
#52 Frank, Austin, Texas
#51 Texas Hot Dogs, Altoona, Pa.
#50 J. S. Pulliam Barbecue, Winston-Salem, N.C.
#49 Memphis Taproom Beer Garden, Philadelphia
#48 Gray’s Papaya, New York City
#47 Vienna Beef Factory, Chicago
#46 Griddler’s, Boston
#45 Shake Shack, Multiple Locations
#44 Coney I-Lander, Tulsa, Okla.
#43 The Varsity, Atlanta, Ga.
#42 Puka Dog, Multiple Locations, Hawaii
#41 Dog Haus, Pasadena, Calif.
#40 I Dream of Weenie, Nashville, Tenn.
#39 Hot Dog Heaven, Orlando, Fla.
#38 Good Dog, Houston
#37 Wolfy’s Double Dog, Chicago
#36 Yesterdog, Grand Rapids, Mich.
#35 Famous Lunch, Troy, NY
#34 Mustard’s Last Stand, Evanston, Ill.
#33 Happy Dog, Cleveland
#32 James Coney Island, Houston
#31 Blue Ash Chili, Cincinnati
#30 Texas Weiners, Philadelphia
#29 Johnnie’s Dog House, Wilmington, DE
#28 El Guero Canelo, Tucson, Ariz.
#27 Devil Dawgs, Chicago
#26 Franks ‘n’ Dawgs, Chicago
#25 American Coney Island, Detroit
#24 Portillo’s, Chicago
#23 Schaller’s Drive-In, Rochester, N.Y.
#22 Coney Island Lunch, Scranton, Pa.
#21 Gene and Jude’s, Chicago
#20 Ben’s Chili Bowl, Washington, D.C.
#19 Rawley’s Drive-In, Fairfield, Conn.
#18 Byron’s Hot Dog Haus, Chicago, Ill
#17 Superdawg, Chicago
#16 Murphy’s Red Hot Joint, Chicago
#15 Dat Dog, New Orleans
#14 Super Duper Weenie, Fairfield, Conn.
#13 Walter’s, Mamaroneck, N.Y.
#12 Rutt’s Hut, Clifton, N.J.
#11 Olneyville N.Y. System, Providence, R.I.
#10 Jimmy John’s Pipin’ Hot Sandwiches, West Chester, Pa.
#9 Seti’s Polish Boys, Cleveland
#8 Ted’s, Buffalo, NY
#7 Bark Hot Dogs, Brooklyn, N.Y.
#6 Wiener’s Circle, Chicago
#5 Lafayette Coney Island, Detroit
#4 Crif Dogs, New York City
#3 Fat Johnnie’s Famous Red Hots, Chicago
#2 Pink’s, Los Angeles
#1 Katz’s Deli, New York City

* The Livesays Live.

Wanna see one of South Florida’s best Rock N Roll cover/originals bands?

From southfloridafoodandwine.com:

South Florida Free Concert Series at Oakland Park Music & Food Trucks on Main Street.

In collaboration with the Oakland Park Culinary Arts District, South Florida Food and Wine hosts a free monthly live music concert series the fourth Friday of each month, held at Oakland Park City Hall. This free community event will host The Livesays on Friday, July 24th. Led by Billy Livesay, the band is defined as, “Take two pints Springsteen, one pint John Mellancamp, add a heaping spoonful of Beatles, a pinch of Stones, a sprinkle of Rod Stewart, a dash of Bruno Mars, beat well, bring to a boil, simmer.” Based in South Florida The Livesays are sought after from the Palm Beaches to The Keys for their sexy-soulful rock, sultry piano and pounding drums. The Livesays will play from 7-10pm at Oakland Park City Hall 3650 N.E. 12th Avenue Oakland Park, FL 33334 on Friday, July 24th.

The Livesays at Oakland Park Music on Main Street July 24th
Food for purchase will be available from a variety of food trucks as well as beer, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase from the host bar, Big Dog Station.

* Foods To Eat For A Good Night’s Sleep.

You guys know that Jeff Eats is always looking for good stuff to pass-a-long…

Just read “the below” on sleep.org.

By the way, in the interest of full disclosure- Jeff Eats “tried” the 1/2 turkey sandwich “suggestion” and I gotta tell you it didn’t work- not sure, if the French fries, onion rings and 8oz of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice I had with the sandwich threw- the equation off or not…all I know is that I was up half the night “typing” on the computer because my stomach was killing me!

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Foods To Eat For A Great Night’s Sleep.

Set yourself up for sound slumber with these calming foods and beverages.

Chances are, you know that eating heavy meals and certain foods can keep you up at night, and you probably try to avoid them.But you may not realize that some foods and beverages can actually put you in the mood to snooze.

In particular, foods that contain tryptophan (an amino acid that turns into relaxing brain chemicals like serotonin and melatonin), whole-grain carbs (which boost serotonin production), certain minerals (like calming calcium and magnesium), and some herbs (that have a relaxing effect) can put you in a soporific state.

If you want a night of sound slumber, consider having a light sleep-inviting snack about an hour before bedtime. Good choices include:

•Half a Banana and a Handful of Almonds: The combination of tryptophan, carbs, and calming magnesium can help make you drowsy. Don’t like bananas? Have some cherries, a natural source of melatonin, instead.
•Whole-Grain Crackers with Peanut Butter: It’s another magical combo (tryptophan + complex carbs) that will promote sound slumber.
•A Mug of Warm Milk: Grandma was right—drinking warm milk before bedtime can help you sleep better, thanks to the dairy drink’s tryptophan, calcium, and magnesium. Just make sure it’s a small mug and not a huge glass, or else you’ll be running to the bathroom all night.
•A Small Bowl of Whole-Grain Cereal with Milk: The milk’s tryptophan, calcium, and magnesium, coupled with the cereal’s calming carbs and magnesium can make you feel sleepy. Opt for a low-sugar cereal, so you don’t get a spike in blood sugar that could rev you up. Or make hot oatmeal with milk, because oatmeal is a rich source of sleep-promoting melatonin.
•Half a Turkey Sandwich: Make it with whole-wheat bread (rich in complex carbs and magnesium) and a couple of slices of turkey (the most famous source of tryptophan) and you’ll be ready to hit the hay in no time. Low-sugar cranberry sauce optional, if you’re really craving that Thanksgiving feeling.
•A Mug of Herbal (Decaf) Tea: Chamomile, passionflower, and valerian teas each have a sedating effect. For an extra dose of calm, add a teaspoon of honey, which contains tryptophan. (Stay away from ginseng tea, though, because it can have a stimulating effect.)

Just be sure to keep your bedtime snack on the light side. The last thing you want to do is overload your stomach and set yourself up for a night of tossing and turning—or consume extra calories in an effort to lull yourself to sleep.

* PGA National 2015-Gourmet Pig Out Food Truck & Custom Car Show.

Real simple tale to tell you…

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats went-last year (2014) and I gotta tell you that-PGA Gourmet Pig Out was an absolute blast! Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, PGA National Resort & Spa really knows how to “run” outdoor events…dynamite facility, top notch staff/classy organization!

Trust Jeff Eats on this one,

You Don’t Wanna Miss…PGA National 2015-Gourmet Pig Out Food Truck & Custom Car Show!

General Admission Tickets $40, VIP Tickets $60.

PGA NATIONAL’S PIG OUT FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
PGA PIG OUT | 12-4 P.M. SEPTEMBER 6, 2015
At PGA National Resort & Spa, we’ve been giving food truck cuisine a gourmet spin for years. The iTRUCK, which often serves as the “92nd Hole” for the resort’s five championship courses, is making its appearance (again) at the annual PGA Pig Out event — PGA National Resort & Spa’s very own Florida food truck festival from 12-4 p.m. September 6. General admission is $40 in advance. A portion of the proceeds benefits Wounded Warriors of South Florida.

During the event, local foodies and resort guests can sample gourmet fare from a collection of the finest Florida food trucks, including PGA National’s iTRUCK. During the food truck festival, guests can check out a collection of custom cars on display, making this a must-stop on any South Florida car show list. Let’s just say this event offers the best of everything on four wheels.

A FOOD TRUCK FAVORITE — THE ITRUCK
The iTRUCK offers tasty highlights from its on-site restaurants, including sliders of the meatball, lobster and pork variety. A side of truffle fries, crab fritters, buffalo bites and shrimp grits are the perfect complement. The PGA Signature Champ Burger, Mojo Fish Tacos, 91 Chicken Quesadilla and Birdie Shrimp are other iTRUCK staples. A special menu is planned for the PGA Pig Out!

BOOK THE ULTIMATE ITRUCK EXPERIENCE
To truly appreciate the iTRUCK experience, visit our “92nd Hole” after a round of golf. Consider the “Summer Escape and Play Package,” which packs UNLIMITED GOLF and luxury accommodations into this $89.50 offer.* Enjoy one round of golf daily on The Palmer, The Fazio, The Squire or The Estates courses. A $75 surcharge is charged for course play on The Champion. Afterward, it’s time for those famous iTRUCK sliders.

* An Intimate Evening With Firefall.

Although, not exactly a “household” name, country rock band- Firefall in the late 70’s-early 80’s sold millions of records…garnering 2 gold and 1 platinum album.

The Plaza Ballroom & Event Centre seats maybe 400, so every seat works! Tickets are $25, $35, $45 at theplazaballroom.com.

Jeff Eats has seen the band’s current lineup- and it’s real solid…original founding members- Jock Bartley, David Muse and Mark Andes make it happen!

Just between you guys and Jeff Eats…”You Are The Woman” and “Just Remember I Love You” alone-are worth the price of admission!

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

An Intimate Evening with…FIREFALL on July 23rd at 7p The Plaza Ballroom.
Our NEW music series kicks off with Grammy Award-Winning, Platinum-Selling artist, FIREFALL.
All their hits…up close & personal…special VIP Meet & Greet. Nowhere else will you see your favorite bands in this setting –
Limited seating so order your tickets now at www.theplazaballroom.com!
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For you guys who “stuck around” and read Jeff Eats’ whole -story…take a look at the next 2-shows that The Plaza Ballroom & Event Centre is working on!

You can catch tickets for one or both at theplazaballroom.com.