* 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.

* The Sensations.

Got something real good for you Motown fans… The Sensations!

Down below is Jeff Eats’ 1/30/12 “writeup” on the Fort Lauderdale based motown/pop/doo wop/oldies cover group. By the way, just in case you’re wondering, I last saw the group about 3-months ago and they killed!

Go see them…they put on a great show!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are gonna stop by around 9pm.

I’m thinking- a Caesar salad and Meatball Room’s wood fire pizza should-nicely compliment the show!…and finally, Jeff Eats hasn’t got a freakin’ clue as to what Richie’s Dance Party Extravaganza Birthday Party is all about- but, for free cake/champagne…I’ll sing Happy Birthday whenever Richie or whoever is throwing the party- likes!

The Sensations’ complimentary- performance:

Meatball Room
561.409.4111
3011 Yamato Road, Suite A19-20
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Hours: 4 PM to Close – Every day
meatballroom.com

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Posted on January 30th, 2012 · Music/Events/Other

***** The Sensations-The Motown Philly Express *****

Last Saturday night, I saw an absolutely terrific “singing” group in action…The Sensations-The Motown Philly Express.

This local South Florida group, lead by Frank Wilson and Ron Jonas is a 4-man group which will have you believing that The Temptations. The Four Tops and other Motown legends are in the house. The performance that I saw, featured fantastic vocals and terrific dance routines. The group also ‘covers’ groups like The Drifters, The Coasters, The Miracles, The Platters–just to name a few. They did a version of Smokey Robinson’s “Ooo Baby Baby” that was so dead on, that many in the crowd thought that the original recording was being played.

As I mentioned a few seconds ago, The Sensations- The Motown Philly Express is a local group. Sometimes they use tracks, other times they perform with a back-up band…every so often, the individual members (Frank Wilson, Ron Jonas, Mel Williams, Rob Cox) play local restaurants, clubs and country clubs. For example, Frank Wilson can be found most Thursday nights 9pm-1am at City Pub in Deerfield Beach.

Trust me on this one, the group that I saw last Saturday night had the crowd going nuts.

So…if this kind of music is your style—keep a close eye on newspaper ads…that’s the best way to keep track of the numerous appearances that these guys make.

* Rock The Dock- Shooters Waterfront, 3033 Northeast 32nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308, (954) 566-2855.

If you’ve been down-here in sunny South Florida for any real- length of time, most likely you “know” about Shooters…if not, and really care- GOOGLE! Long story short…something like 18 months ago, with new owners/new decor the legendary Spring Weekend bar/restaurant which has been around for over 30 years- re-opened as a semi-upscale American-Style joint…

The last time Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff ff Eats were at Shooters, probably 1993 give or take a year on either side of the equation…decent enough food and service- but nothing that took it out of the just-okay sports bar category.

Anyway,

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are gonna try the “new” Shooters on August 1st…

Not exactly sure how this Rock The Dock “thing”” is gonna play out, but we’re game…and I’m thinking that some of you guys might also like to see what’s what!

You can checkout Shooters Waterfront at shooterswaterfront.com.

Shooters Rock the Dock: 12PM to 12 AM August 1st, 2015

Shooters Waterfront will feature live bands, drink and food specials all day, and outdoor grilling areas. The event is free and open to the public. All you need is to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the show! Guests are invited to arrive by boat and tie up to the restaurant’s 340 foot deep water concrete dock. Valet and metered parking is also available. For more information, please call 954.566.2855.

* Burger Beast’s FRITA SHOW DOWN.

Jeff Eats’ buddies over at burgerbeast.com got a real-nice “event” in the works…

I took the liberty- and copied Burger Beast’s 7/21/15 “column”- so you guys now have all of the info-right in front of you!

Based on Burger Beast’s strong event-track record, Jeff Eats is thinking that this- Frita Show Down thing is gonna sell out…so if you wanna go, buy your tickets ASAP.

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From burgerbeast.com

Frita Showdown Returns Wednesday August 12th

Posted on July 21, 2015

Frita Showdown

I love Fritas and I’m sure you know that by now. On Wednesday August 12th from 7-10PM, my 3rd annual Frita Showdown brought to you by Downstairs Markets & presented by and featuring beef provided by Schweid & Sons returns to Magic City Casino at their Cafe overlooking the iconic track.

El Rey de las Fritas, the 2013 and 2014 Frita Showdown winner return to defend their title against Bongo’s Cuban Cafe (Hollywood), Daddy’s Grill (Hialeah), El Mago de las Fritas (West Miami), Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe (Key West), Josh’s Deli (Surfside) and Pincho Factory (Coral Gables & Westchester).

2015 Frita Showdown

The all inclusive tickets ($25 for a limited time) will get you mini Fritas from all of the competitors plus drinks and snacks from Botran Rum​, 3:05 Cafecito​, Cawy Bottling Co.​ (Jupiña & Materva), Fireman Derek’s Key Pies’ Flan, Ironbeer​, Latin American Bakery & Cafe’s Croquetas​, Mama’s Guava Bars​, PG Bakery​, Pico Factory and Vicky Bakery’s Pastelitos.

The Best Frita en el Mundo will be chosen by a group of esteemed judges: NBC 6 South Florida​’s Kelly Blanco, Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia, Tongue & Cheek​’s Jamie DeRosa and The Miami Herald​’s Evan Benn.

Every attendee will get one vote for the Downstairs People’s Choice Award so you must remember to use your vote wisely.

Tickets are all inclusive and will sell out just like 2013 & 2014. You heard it here first: http://fritashowdown.com

Frita Showdown Returns Wednesday August 12th

Posted on July 21, 2015

Frita Showdown

I love Fritas and I’m sure you know that by now. On Wednesday August 12th from 7-10PM, my 3rd annual Frita Showdown brought to you by Downstairs Markets & presented by and featuring beef provided by Schweid & Sons returns to Magic City Casino at their Cafe overlooking the iconic track.

El Rey de las Fritas, the 2013 and 2014 Frita Showdown winner return to defend their title against Bongo’s Cuban Cafe (Hollywood), Daddy’s Grill (Hialeah), El Mago de las Fritas (West Miami), Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe (Key West), Josh’s Deli (Surfside) and Pincho Factory (Coral Gables & Westchester).

2015 Frita Showdown

The all inclusive tickets ($25 for a limited time) will get you mini Fritas from all of the competitors plus drinks and snacks from Botran Rum​, 3:05 Cafecito​, Cawy Bottling Co.​ (Jupiña & Materva), Fireman Derek’s Key Pies’ Flan, Ironbeer​, Latin American Bakery & Cafe’s Croquetas​, Mama’s Guava Bars​, PG Bakery​, Pico Factory and Vicky Bakery’s Pastelitos.

The Best Frita en el Mundo will be chosen by a group of esteemed judges: NBC 6 South Florida​’s Kelly Blanco, Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia, Tongue & Cheek​’s Jamie DeRosa and The Miami Herald​’s Evan Benn.

Every attendee will get one vote for the Downstairs People’s Choice Award so you must remember to use your vote wisely.

Tickets are all inclusive and will sell out just like 2013 & 2014. You heard it here first: http://fritashowdown.com

***** Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches.

Real simple tale, Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches is one of South Florida’s best sub-joints.

Jeff Eats first told you about Genco on 8/25/14-that “story” is reprinted down below…

Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, until yesterday afternoon, Genco was a Jeff Eats’ “out sight, out of mind” situation- I hadn’t been back in almost 11 months!

Long story short, yesterday I had a Fredo and a Don Fannuci and both subs were off the chart!

Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches is an absolute must try!

By the way, the joint is open Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm, closed on Sunday.
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Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea)
Posted on August 25th, 2014 · American Italian Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Subs/Salads

***** Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches, 257-B Commercial Boulevard, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida 33308, (954) 689-6630.

Like Chins in a Chinese phonebook-there are a ton of sub joints in South Florida…

The other day Jeff Eats had lunch at Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches and I gotta tell you-this joint makes awesome sandwiches. Real fast, Godfather posters/pictures decor–order at/pickup at the counter–handful of tables.

Genco’s “decor” got me to thinking, that if Sonny had-had a Sunpass- he’d still be with us, today. I was also thinking…How was Barzini able to perfectly time the ambush at the toll booth?

Anyway,

Back to Genco…that recent lunch had Jeff Eats “trying” Michael, Tom Hagen, Moe Greene and every sub was dynamite.

When you check gencosandwiches.com you’ll find menu/prices–and should be able to figure out as to exactly what was in-Michael-Tom Hagen-Moe Greene subs (for you smart guys, the menu/prices are printed above-but that’s for you smart guys!).

Let me wrap Genco up for you…but before I do -do you remember the Luca Braci wrapped fish scene!

Anyway,

Jeff Eats loved Genco.

No fooling around, the subs were terrific-and the joint is right up there with the best of breed–you do remember the horse scene, don’t’cha!

Genco Old World Italian Sandwiches is open Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm, closed on Sunday.

* Pantry Staples That Save You Money.

Jeff Eats is always looking for interesting reading material to share with you guys…

Found this “piece” on usnews.com
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Pantry Staples That Save You Money

Stocking up now can save you money when it’s time to cook and clean.

Organized Residential Pantry, USA AlamyHaving a well-stocked pantry can help you save money.By Jon Lal

There are a few easy ruts to get into at home when it comes to stocking your pantry. Maybe you’re committed to cooking more and eating at home, but you feel like you never have the ingredients you need. Or perhaps, you feel like you’re always buying expensive cleaning products – and yet you’re still missing one or two things when you finally get around to spring cleaning.

By stocking your pantry with a few key items, you’ll find it much easier to prepare inexpensive, delicious recipes. You’ll also be surprised at just how much cleaning power a few basic items can have.

This list of pantry items will vary person to person, depending on things such as dietary preferences and allergies. But it is a good place to get started, as these ingredients are incredibly versatile and can apply to many recipes: 1.Beans (dry or canned) are a filling and nutritional legume and they’re great in chili, as a side dish or added to salad.
2.Rice is inexpensive and another filling ingredient to have on hand.
3.Dry pasta will keep in a pantry for a long time and is easy to prepare. It also freezes well in lasagnas.
4.Oats are a powerful ingredient to have on hand. They can be added into recipes like cookies, granola bars or pancakes, or simply prepared for breakfast by adding in a bit of seasoning or fruit with hot water.
5.A varied collection of seasonings and spices can last a long time and add flavor to any meal.
6.Keep both vegetable and olive oil on hand for your baking and cooking needs. Olive oil can be pricey, but it is a splurge worth making even for casual cooks.
7.Vinegar is a great way to make your own salad dressings, marinades and more.
8.If you like to bake, a few bags of flour are an essential (and cheap!) item for your pantry.
9.Broth can be very useful for cooking soups and other savory dishes. It can also make rice dishes more appealing if you cook them with broth instead of water.
10.Store a can of cooking spray in your pantry and you can keep your pots and pans greased while cooking, helping them wear well over time.
11.Have jars of tomato sauce and paste on hand for pizzas, pasta dishes, chili and countless other dishes.
12.A canister of bread crumbs is a good ingredient to stock, too, since they work well as a topping on many dishes.
13.Baking powder and baking soda are two more essential items for bakers to keep on hand.
In addition to those pantry staples, you also want to stock certain cleaning products. (Some dual-use items even make both lists!) There are likely a few brand name items you’ll want on hand, and for those just make sure you find a coupon online before you buy. But in a pinch, a few of your everyday pantry items will work wonders around the house. Look online or on Pinterest for endless uses of the following: 1.Baking soda: Your parents or grandparents probably told you to keep an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator or freezer to remove odors, but there are plenty of other ways to use it. Freshen your cat’s litter box, sprinkle it on the carpet before vacuuming and combine it with vinegar to clean tile surfaces or drains.
2.White vinegar is often suggested as an ingredient to combine with baking soda, but it works well on its own, too. A bowl of water and vinegar heated up in a microwave will give you a steam to easily wipe down and clean the inside walls. Apple cider vinegar is getting a lot of recognition lately for its various health and cleaning benefits, so you might want to give that a try.
3.Keep a basic bottle of dish soap on hand; it works well at cleaning tile and removing stains from clothes.
4.Hydrogen peroxide is known as a first aid remedy for cleaning wounds, but it’s also an incredibly versatile item to disinfect and sanitize many things around the house.
5.You likely have a few lemons in your refrigerator already. Did you know you can use them to clean cutting boards, polish faucets or shine shoes, all while leaving a fresh scent?
6.Lastly, keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol on hand to clean windows, remove ink stains and degrease your stove top.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 7/19/15)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

MARYLAND STYLE CRABCAKES
2- $35.50

Cap’s Place Island Restaurant
2765 Northeast 28th Court
Lighthouse Point
(954) 941-0418
capsplace.com

Latest Review: 10/14/08

Absolutely amazing delicious Maryland Style Crabcakes.

Cap’s Place is one of South Florida’s best seafood joints…

The joint has been around for something like 87 years, so Jeff Eats is thinking that just maybe Cap’s knows what it’s doing…

Jeff Eats’ original “writeup” is down below.
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Posted October 14, 2008
***** Cap’s Place Island Restaurant, 2765 NE 28 CT, Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064, (954) 941-0418.

Got a real- good seafood joint for you, Cap’s Place Island Restaurant. It is absolutely imperative that you check Cap’s website at www.capsplace.com for menu/prices/photos/details…the site “tells” you the whole story about this joint which has been around for something like 80 years.

Delicious food. Great service. Moderate prices (you get what you pay for, but this joint ain’t exactly running bargain basement deals). Real low-key- ambiance, tee shirts/shorts are just fine. If you have already gone to Cap’s website, you know that you have to take a short boat ride to get to the joint…that’s part of the fun of eating at Cap’s.

Cap’s menu is loaded with seafood stuff…it is a bit light on chicken/meat dishes…but non-fish eaters should be able to handle the situation…

Cap’s is a famous “joint.”…Winston Churchill, FDR, JFK, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, Casey Stengel, The Temptations, were all customers…so be smart and make a reservation.

The joint opens at 5:30pm for dinner Tuesday-Sunday, closed on Monday.