* BASEBALL!

Real fast…

Who’s playing in this year’s World Series? Who’s leading in the series?

Boy o-boy, things sure have changed!

When most of you guys- were kids, the answers to those two questions would have been gimmes…and I’ll bet -that you could’ve told Jeff Eats-right off the top of your head, the starting lineups of both teams.

Now you know why THEY invented the internet- so you could look stuff up!

I don’t know about you, but Jeff Eats kinda liked it better when it was basically just ABC, CBS, NBC and it was Skowron, Richardson, Kubek, Boyer, Berra, Lopez, Mantle, Maris with Ford on the mound…but that’s just me.

Lucky for us, some things haven’t changed …french fries are still covered in ketchup, all beef hot dogs are still grilled, pizza still comes by the slice, White Castle still makes sliders and the Giants are still the Giants- but wait -they aren’t New Yorkers and they play in the Polo Grounds- no more!

By the way the other team is the Kansas City Royals, but you already knew that-thank God for Google!

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 10/26/14)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

RASPBERRY WINGS
$10.95 (order of 10)

Chez Porky’s
105 Southwest 6th Street
Pompano Beach
(954) 946-5590
chezporkys.com
Last Reviewed; 7/9/08

Chez Porky’s has been around for something like 30 years…the joint bills itself as “Ribs Wings & Cajun Things” and I gotta tell you- that its food is dynamite! Today, Jeff Eats is singling out Chez Porky’s raspberry wings (grilled)- absolutely off the chart…but trust me, everything this joint turns-out is delicious. If you haven’t been to Chez Porky’s, this joint is an absolute must try!

* Two Reviews Of Fish Shack.

Thought-you guys might like to read Two Reviews Of Fish Shack…one by Jeff Eats–one by the Sun Sentinel.

For sure, both reviews get you there, but if I do say so myself- Jeff Eats spared you the DRAMA…and in this particular case, had you eating there 22 months sooner!

The things that initially-concerned (if that’s the right word?) the Sun Sentinel about Fish Shack–were the very same things that -drew Jeff Eats to the joint- in the first place.

As always, Jeff Eats “…Finding the best joints in South Florida.”
—–
Review #1-Jeff Eats
Fish Shack (Pompano Beach)
Posted on December 28th, 2012 · American Pompano Beach Seafood · [edit]

***** Fish Shack, 2862 Northeast 17th Avenue, Pompano Beach, Florida 33064, (954) 586-4105.

Jeff Eats recently “discovered” an absolutely amazing “mom & pop” fish joint…Fish Shack in Pompano Beach.

Wanna talk hole-in-the-wall? The joint is located in a miniscule bombed-out strip center…maybe table seating for 20 and 5 at the bar. Fish Shack’s menu is loaded with fish-stuff…that said, it has hamburgers, chicken breast sandwiches, wraps, salads and chicken wings for the non-fish eaters that may-be in your party. Outrageously delicious reasonably priced…blackened red snapper–grilled yellow fin tuna–conch fritters–fried oysters–cheeseburger–shrimp burger.

Every so often Jeff Eats comes across an absolute HOMERUN…Fish Shack is a GRAND SLAM!

Like I said a few seconds ago…hole in the wall, fabulous food.

I highly recommend that you try Fish Shack. The bet here–you won’t be disappointed.

Fish Shack is open Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm, closed on Sunday.
—
Review #2-Sun Sentinel
Tiny Fish Shack is a big catch
By John Tanasychuk, SouthFlorida.com
10:29 a.m. EDT, October 17, 2014

★★★½
I’ve never been more hesitant to recommend a great restaurant. Not when the restaurant seats just 22 people and doesn’t take reservations. Not when waits in-season can go as long as 90 minutes. Not when Fish Shack is nothing more than a 600-square-foot bay in a scrappy plaza that’s also home to a coin laundry and a storefront church.
But wait, as I did, for 15 minutes, and the delights of Fish Shack reveal themselves.

We waited on plastic patio chairs with glasses ($3.95) of no-name red wine. (The restaurant also serves Bud and Bud Light on draft for $2.) We chatted with a nice woman who quickly dropped us when her date arrived in an ancient Chevy Astro.

Fish Shack is a democratic restaurant, however, with plenty of diners driving Lexuses and Mercedes. But unlike so many places in South Florida, here your socioeconomic status doesn’t mean blip. If you suffer from feelings of entitlement, I suggest you go elsewhere. But you will miss out on some of the best seafood in South Florida. It’s simply prepared, and simply presented.

Wait, like everybody else, and you’ll eventually find yourself sitting at one of the four tables or eight counter seats. You’ll meet Elisa, Amy or Jodi, who will treat you like a long-lost childhood friend while juggling the growing line at the door with grace and humor.

Elisa Focarazzo is in charge of the front of the house. Mike Focarazzo, her ex-husband and owner of Fish Shack, works the kitchen.

Mike tells me by phone that he doesn’t need the business that a review might bring, but he seems to welcome the accolades. He somewhat reluctantly opened the restaurant a little more than three years ago. He’d failed with a Boca Raton pizzeria, but his brother Joe convinced him to give it a go. Joe works at a wholesale fish supplier and promised he’d only sell him the best seafood. The brothers have spent most of their lives working around seafood, either at the wholesaler or while loading and unloading fishing boats.

What is it about Fish Shack that keeps the crowds coming?

“I’ve got to say that we use the best fish that money can get,” Mike says. “We use the best, and you’ve got me in the kitchen watching everything that’s coming out of that window. You’ll never hear anyone say their sandwich was cold and the fries were hot. It doesn’t go that way.”

The sandwiches are served on kaiser rolls with lettuce and tomato. Cod ($9.95) is beer-battered, but grouper ($11.95) and mahi mahi ($10.95) can be ordered grilled, Cajun spiced or blackened.

Oysters ($6.95, half dozen) or middle-neck clams ($6.95, half dozen) are good starters, but we were drawn to chicken wings ($8.50 for 10), which we ordered naked instead of battered. Oversize, they can be had with chopped garlic, garlic Parmesan, barbecue or Buffalo-style mild, medium or hot. Medium sauce on the side was perfect.

Dinners are served with a choice of two sides: fries, coleslaw, rice or side salad. The fries are crispy, golden and piping-hot. The side salad is serviceable, for diners watching their calories.

While the fried fish looked incredible, we ordered our dinners grilled. The grilled combo ($16.95) features mahi mahi, scallops and shrimp. The scallops, size 10/20, are dry-shucked instead of the more common wet-shucked, in which a preservative is added. Like the mahi and the shrimp, they are very lightly seasoned before hitting the grill. Nothing was overcooked. Meaty grilled grouper ($14.95) has never tasted so fresh, so unadulterated.

A sign on the wall wraps up the Fish Shack ethos: “Fast food is not good. Good food is not fast.”

Key lime pie ($2.95) is the only dessert on the menu.

“Do you make it here?” I asked.

“Sometimes,” was the very honest answer.

Go to Fish Shack. But go knowing that you’ll have to wait. Plan on it.

“I’ve been asked to move to the Keys,” Mike says. “I’ve been offered partnerships. I’ve been offered everything. But I’m not moving, and I’m not expanding. The Fish Shack is the local hole in the wall that’s going to stay that way.”

jtanasychuk@SouthFlorida.com or 954-356-4632. Read his blog at SouthFlorida.com/sup and follow him on Twitter at @FloridaEats.

Fish Shack
2862 NE 17th Ave., Pompano Beach
954-586-4105
Cuisine: Seafood
Cost: Moderate
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Reservations: Not accepted
Credit cards: All major
Bar: Beer and wine
Sound level: Moderate
Outside smoking: No
For kids: Highchairs, menu items on request
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Parking: Free lot

Jumbo Shrimp Inc

Last Sunday afternoon-Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats attended a 2-hour neighborhood block-party. A hundred or so people, handful of tables, handful of food trucks and the Jumbo Shrimp Inc band. No fooling, one of the nicest events that Jeff Eats has been to in quite some time. No DRAMA! Beautiful weather. Plenty of delicious food & drink and 86.5 neighbors that I actually still talk-to! AND a “YOUNG” 4 piece Palm Beach County- Rock N Roll band that everyone loved. By the way when I say YOUNG I mean YOUNG- try ages 13 to 16.

Now, nothing for nothing, but I think that most of you guys know by now- that Jeff Eats has been kicking around the music business for something like 44 years…for those of you who don’t- you may want to checkout “About Jeff” on Jeffeats.com for some bio-stuff. With that said, I kinda like to think- that I know my-music…

Let’s talk about Jumbo Shrimp Inc.

First things first, we aren’t talking young Johns, Pauls, Georges, Ringos or even Petes here…what we are talking is–4 terrific dedicated kids who LOVE music…trust me, for 2 solid hours-non stop they performed some pretty decent 60s-90s covers and a handful of self-penned original stuff. The bet here, is that we got doctors, lawyers, accountants, businessmen in the making…as I told them last week, no matter where fate takes them…THEY SHOULD NEVER EVER NO MATTER WHAT put those guitars, horns or sticks down.

It’s bands like Jumbo Shrimp Inc that makes-being in the music business so much fun. It’s groups like Jumbo Shrimp Inc that make people feel great and have a good time.

Two thoughts for the band… at this stage of your game, stick to the hits-the originals may be terrific, but a neighborhood block party crowd “wants” to hear stuff that it can sing along to…and your “Shout”- absolutely kills-NEVER EVER EVEN THINK of dropping that number from the act.

Printed below is some “bio” stuff I grabbed from Jumbo Shrimp Inc’s website jumboshrimprocks.com

By the way, the band plays clubs/events all over South Florida…its schedule and various audio/video stuff are also at jumboshrimprocks.com

*****
A high energy 4-member band started by friends who all attend the School of Rock in North Palm Beach and are from the ages of 13 – 16. Besides the obvious musical aspect, attending the School of Rock has provided them with the confidence and professionalism to put on a great and entertaining performance. Originally formed in 2012 by Ben Rothschild and Dylan Thomas. They played an open mike night with a sit in drummer, and it soon became apparent a full time bassist and drummer were necessary. They found their solutions, in John Cardillo (the third of his name and the jumbo in JUMBO SHRIMP), and Angel Leiser. With John’s unique left handed drumming style, Angel’s epic baselines, Dylan’s electric onstage energy, and Ben’s powerful songwriting, they have made a splash playing once a month at SwampGrass Willy’s Bar and Grill in Palm Beach Gardens and have released 2 singles on ITunes. These singles (Be With You and Fall Apart), capture the bands sound very well and will be also included on their debut EP (Release Date: 04/27/14). They are also trying to branch out to other cities in Florida! Stay tuned for this young bands bright future.
Group Members
Dylan Thomas (Guitar, Sax, Vocals), John Cardllo III (Drums, Percussion), Ben Rothschild (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Trumpet)

* B.C. Tacos.

Last week Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats went to a 2 hour block-party in Boca Raton. Terrific afternoon…handful of food trucks, unlimited bottled waters/sodas, handful of tables, local band, folks brought their own “hard” stuff. More “neighborhoods” should try the -concept out. Something like 100 people -an-all-you-could-eat deal priced at- $16.50 a head.

Real simple story…

One of the food trucks was B.C. Tacos. I’ve posted-its menu down-below…B.C. Tacos does food truck events/private parties in Dade/Broward/Palm Beach Counties.

As I mentioned 3 seconds ago, this was an all you could eat-situation…so Jeff Eats “tried”- steak taco, chicken taco, barbeque pulled pork taco, smores taco–and I gotta tell you every taco was delicious. If the food that I had- is any indication of what’s “made” in Mexico, then for the life of me, I can’t figure-out why so many Mexicans are trying to illegally cross into the United States. Like I said 3 seconds ago, the stuff was absolutely delicious!

To make a long story short, during the afternoon I got to talking with B.C.’s owner Brett Chiavari (thus-the B.C. name) and he told me, that- at most food truck events, the tacos go-out for 5 bucks a piece. Brett also mentioned that he owns a “brick & mortar” location named B.C. Café at 4801 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33328 (954) 801-4123.

Now- before we wrap this one up, Jeff Eats must- once again remind readers that in 1966 at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York–I barely passed Spanish- by the skin of my teeth…so my “Mexican/Latin” credentials-may-be suspect! One other item, while I’m playing cute with you, multiply the number of tacos I had-by their normal cost and I dare you to-tell me that Jeff Eats doesn’t know a bargain block party when he sees one!

For more info on B.C. Tacos and B.C. Café checkout bctacos.com and bc-cafe.com.
*****
Menu
Each taco comes with your choice of a hard corn tortilla or soft flour tortilla, and choice of salsa.

Gourmet Tacos

*The Hunter
steak taco, served with lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese
*The T-Rex
chicken taco, served with lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese
Barbarian Bacon Cheeseburger
served with lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese
Pulled Prehistoric Pork
barbeque pulled pork served with coleslaw and corn
Cave Dweller
chicken caesar taco, served with romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and caesar dressing
*Mammoth Mahi
served with lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese
The Missing Link
fried mahi, served with green cabbage and shredded mozzarella cheese
The Encino Man
buffalo mahi, served with lettuce, cheddar cheese, avocado topped with buffalo sauce
*Stone Age Shrimp
served with lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese
The Gatherer
fried avocado taco, served with lettuce, shredded mozzarella cheese and topped with a chipotle mayo
Our Speciality

The Caveman
over a quarter pound of burger patty, steak and braised beef short ribs with lettuce and cheddar cheese, sandwiched between two halves of a hard taco shell then wrapped in a flour tortilla…you have to see it to believe it!
Brontosaurus Bowls
your choice of taco served in a lettuce cup
Homemade Chips
salsas – pico de gallo, tomatillo, habanero and avocado
Dessert

Dino Delight
smores taco…how do you make a delicious dessert even better? Put it in taco form!
* indicates prepared with garlic, shallots, blackened seasoning and white wine

***If you can’t make it to the truck, don’t forget about our restaurant BC Cafe in Davie!

* The Hit Men.

If you’re a fan of 60s-80s Rock N Roll…then you gotta go see The Hit Men.

Real simple, but pretty cool story here… In a nutshell, about 4 years ago- The Hit Men “band” was formed by 5-guys who in the 60s-80s played “back up” to some of- Rock’s legendary performers. AND the “band” became huge, with sold out shows all over the United States.

Jeff Eats has seen The Hit Men, trust me, they will blow you away. For what it’s worth, over the years I’ve caught-this and that “super group” and this and that “all star” band- and I gotta tell you, The Hit Men-is the real deal. These guys are dynamite and superbly cover the legendary hits. Now I may be talking out of school here-Jeff Eats is very familiar with the “fees” that similar type acts command and I am telling you, that The Hit Men is getting top dollar for its dates…this tells me that The Hit Men have built a huge reputation and fan base.

Anyway,

Jeff Eats, just heard that The Hit Men will be appearing at the Port Saint Lucie Civic Center on Sunday, December 7, 2014. .

TICKETS ARE NOT YET ON SALE.

If this “one” interests you–you’re gonna have to stay on top of this story. Keep an eye on poprockdoowopp.com and thehitmenlive.com for ticket info.

Printed below is The Hitmen’s “version” of who/what/how it all happened:
*****
The 60s, 70s and 80s were a golden era for songwriting, and during this period, artists like Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Tommy James and the Shondells, and many other big name chart-busting groups created beloved hits that have been heard for generations and are woven into America’s consciousness.

After decades behind the scenes, some of the greatest artists instrumental in the success of these fabulous songs have united to form THE HIT MEN.

A group of amazing performers, superb musicians, superior vocalists, great arrangers and creative composers, THE HIT MEN are hit makers of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s… performing and/or recording members of mega-star acts including Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Critters, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Barry Manilow, Elton John & Kiki Dee. This brotherhood of musicians have a friendship that dates back over 50 years. They have reunited to go out on tour again, to relive the magic they created on stages around the world and in recording studios years ago. With THE HIT MEN, you can experience the hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s the way you first heard them, a musical Legacy that includes all of the great Four Seasons songs made popular again by Broadway’s Jersey Boys… and so many other memorable solid gold hits.

When THE HIT MEN take the stage today, it’s easy to see why their music has transcended generations. The notes are sharp, the vocals spot-on, the energy is high, and these guys are having the time of their lives sharing their Musical Legacy with audiences at theatres, performing arts centers, casinos, fairs and festivals across the country!

Be sure to ask about THE HIT MEN’s Holiday Shows and Symphony/Pops Concerts….and for information about their Public Television Program, perfect for public television pledge drives in local markets.

The brainchild of Lee Shapiro, THE HIT MEN are a collection of hit-makers whose friendships and individual record successes have been interweaving with each other for most of their lives. Get to know each of them individually right here…

LEE SHAPIRO
Frankie Valli &
The Four Seasons,
Barry Manilow,
Bob Gaudio, Paul Schaffer

GERRY POLCI
Frankie Valli &
The Four Seasons,
Barry Manilow

JIMMY RYAN
The Critters, Carly Simon, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Elton John and Kiki Dee

LARRY GATES
Desmond Child, Phoebe Snow, Carole King, Janis Ian, Rick Derringer

RUSS VELAZQUEZ
Sting, Carole King, The Ramones, LL Cool J, Luther Vandross, Korn, Paula Abdul, Chicago

* The Magical World of Bill Crane.

Wanna see a terrific magician?
Wanna see a terrific mentalist?
Wanna see a terrific hypnotist?
Wanna see a terrific psychic?
Wanna see a terrific illusionist?

If you don’t “wanna” then we are done here.

Now on the other-hand, if you’re into magic/mentalism/hypnotism/illusion/psychic stuff- you gotta catch… The Magical World of Bill Crane, Saturday Night, November 1, 2014 at 9pm -Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach. Great news, the 60+ minute show is “on the house” and trust Jeff Eats, South Florida based-Bill Crane will have you leaving the Casino-saying, “How the hell did he do that?” For what it’s worth, I’ve seen the guy a handful of times and all Jeff Eats’ “googling” hasn’t uncovered how Crane does-what-he-does!

If you wanna go, check mardigrascasinofl.com and billsmagic.com for the pertinent info…

Like I said 4 seconds ago, the show is FREE (you do know that Mardi Gras Casino’s ulterior motive is to get you to PLAY, don’tcha?)…

Just between you me and the bedpost, Jeff Eats’ modus operandi–see the show, play a bit, catch a bite to eat and all is-good!

***** Laurenzo’s Italian Center, 16385 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 945-6381.

Like Perry Como, Jeff Eats gets letters, well in this case, an e-mail.

Got this one-from new reader Harry Rose…
*****
Love the blog glad I found it
October 21, 2014 at 6:02 AM

Just stumbled on your blog and I need your help. Right now I am having trouble adjusting back to EST so I have an extra 2.5 hours each morning. Just got back from my first trip to Italy. Rome, Tuscany, Florence. While walking through Siena I came across the place below. I know it is too much to ask for a place like this in SF. But I basically had fresh meats and cheeses every day for over a week. I am already jonesing for a fix Jeff Eats where do I go?

BTW a plate of meats and cheeses with wine of course, for two, was 52 euros served on a cutting board with paper. They had no tables or place to eat you walked back out on the street and sat wherever. It was enough for four as I did not realize everyone else was getting a serving for one. I had it wrapped up and we ate it for the following two days as well.
——————–

Harry Rose:

Glad you found Jeff Eats.

Your e-mail doesn’t tell me exactly where in South Florida you live…so I’m shooting in the dark here!

That said, checkout Laurenzo’s Italian Center in North Miami Beach.

Jeff Eats’ review from 10/25/12 is reprinted below.

Nothing for nothing, but I’m thinking that- Laurenzo’s will get the job done for you. You can play Italian all-day-long in this joint…it’s sort of like Toys R Us, its got every base covered at reasonable prices!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have been shopping/eating at Laurenzo’s for years and it has never disappointed.

Finally, if Laurenzo’s doesn’t work geographically for you…I’d suggest “looking around” Jeff Eats- there are a number of other South Florida Italian joints listed- that-will also fit the bill.

Thanks for reading.

October 25, 2012
***** Laurenzo’s Italian Center, 16385 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 945-6381.

Let’s call Laurenzo’s Italian Center an “Italian Specialty Supermarket”…terrific selection of fresh fruits/vegetables, wines, cheeses, pastas, fresh meat/seafood/chicken, baked goods, prepared foods. You can check http://laurenzositalianmarket.com for full details.

I’m gonna let you in on a-little secret, Jeff Eats loves joints like Laurenzo’s…great selection, top quality stuff, reasonable prices, hustle-bustle atmosphere. The bet here is that Laurenzo’s “must” be doing something right…its been around for something like 60 years.

Laurenzo’s also has a really-cool “cafeteria” type setup going on right in the middle of the joint…a handful of checkered oil-cloth covered tables—recently tried the joint’s brick-oven pizza, sausage & peppers sub, chicken parm sub—delicious.

Laurenzo’s Italian Center is open Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm, Sunday 9am-5pm

* Russell Peters.

Jeff Eats has seen him live.

Very-very funny guy!

Peters’ recent “stint” as a judge on this years- Last Comic Standing tv show-introduced him literally to -millions of viewers.

The bet here, a complete sellout!

You can catch tickets right now…before they go on sale to the general public…

* Sweet Dewey’s BBQ, 9181 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434, (561) 488-9688.

Jeff Eats is practically flying blind here…

I’m hearing that sometime in mid-November, 2014 Sweet Dewey’s BBQ-a hole in the wall bbq- joint is set to open in Boca Raton. Sweet Dewey’s is owned/operated by Dwayne Hooper who in past-lives “cooked up” some real delicious food at Boca Raton’s… Polo Club, Saint Andrews Country Club and La Vieille Maison. Looks- to Jeff Eats, like Mr. Hooper is now going for the gold- with his own “shop.”

So what do we know?

1. Sweet Dewey’s BBQ is gonna be a bbq restaurant…thus the name Sweet Dewey’s BBQ.

2. Sweet Dewey’s is gonna be a hole in the wall. How do we know this? We know this-because Jeff Eats knows the exact location where the joint is being built…tiny, would be kind!

3. In 3-prior outings, Dewey’s owner, Dwayne Hooper showed that he can-cook! Jeff Eats has tasted the- Man’s food-and he can cook!

Now, what we don’t know, is whether or not Dwayne Hooper can cook/and run a restaurant all-on-his-own.

Stay tuned- these are the type of “ventures” Jeff Eats loves to follow.

Finally, just a gut call here, but Jeff Eats will bet you a quarter- that when all is said and done…Sweet Dewey’s BBQ ends up-a home run joint, turning out top notch bbq ribs, bbq chicken, wings and other stuff. Now mind you, this is just a gut call, but I’ll cover all the bets that you guys might like to lay down.

For those who may care, Jeff Eats is thinking that -decent location, decent rent, decent food, decent prices, weak to no competition within 3 miles N-E-S-W of Sweet Dewey’s location could spell “winner” for this hole in the wall joint.

Like I said, stay tuned…sweetdeweysbbq.com