***** 4 Alarm Pizza.

Recently came across a real- good food truck…4 Alarm Pizza.

Now, you know and Jeff Eats knows that pizza-joints are a dime a dozen down here in sunny South Florida…for that matter, so are food trucks. With that in mind, IF I was in the “food business”- I’d want to own a restaurant/food truck which had terrific- reasonably priced food AND a hook/look to draw people “in”…well, I guess the folks behind 4 Alarm Pizza took the same- University of Food Business classes that Jeff Eats did–because, 1. they purchased and retrofitted an old-big-red-fire truck with a Baker’s Pride Gas Pizza Oven and a huge flat screen tv, 2. they baked-up delicious thin crusted/sweet sauce New York Style Pizza, 3. they priced slices and whole pies at local pizza joint prices.

Now, Jeff Eats has “done” his fair share of food truck events and I gotta tell you, that-that RED FIRE TRUCK definitely catches your-eye. Just so we are straight, I’m not saying that your “purchase” is gonna be made from 4 Alarm Pizza-but I guarantee you, that in a row- full of food trucks, you will at least give 4 Alarm Pizza’s firetruck a real-hard look and- that’s half-the-battle right there!

Anyway,

Delicious pizza, cool looking truck, reasonable prices…

4 Alarm Pizza works food truck events/private parties all over South Florida. You can follow/book the truck at 4alarmpizza.com- (561) 487-5026.

By the way, 4 Alarm Pizza has a steady gig Monday-Friday 5pm-7pm- a “drop” WEST of the intersection of Palmetto Park Road/441 in Boca Raton…

One final thought, if I was the owner of 4 Alarm Pizza- I think that I would buy-me some red fireman-hats for the staff…and if I could swing it, hire a couple of good looking 25-30ish aged fire GIRLS and dress them in black shorts/white tee shirts/red suspenders/big red fireman hats to help dish the pizzas out-but that’s just me! For those of you now screaming Jeff Eats The Sexist – throw in a couple of good looking 25-30ish aged fire GUYS (same dress), if that-floats your boat!

***** The Good Humor Man.

This is a real-simple “story” to tell…

Yesterday afternoon Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were guests at a block-party in Boca Raton. Handful of food trucks, band, tables & chairs–and a 1969 Good Humor Ice Cream Truck stocked with all kinds of Good Humor Ice Cream with The Good Humor Man in a white Good Humor uniform/hat/metal change-maker handing the stuff out.

Nothing more to say, other than the Chocolate Eclair, Toasted Almond and Candy Center Crunch ice cream pops that I devoured- were absolutely delicious and for a few-seconds took me back to 811 Cortelyou Road Apt: 6M, Brooklyn, New York where I grew up as a kid in the 1950s-1960s. All I can tell you, Good Humor Ice Cream was great back then and it’s still-great today!

Let me wrap this up, The Good Humor Man works food truck/festivals/private events all over South Florida. You can follow/book “him” at thegoodhumorman.net–(561) 289-8169.

* Jay & The Americans, Drifters, Belmonts, Chiffons, Tufano.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, I know my “oldies shows”…with that in mind, I just heard about-one that is coming to FAU-Carole & Barry Kaye Auditorium on Saturday Night- March 28, 2015 that should absolutely kill-it!

For the record, I’ve seen all 5-acts on the bill-and I am telling you, if you’re an Oldies-fan…you will absolutely love this show.

Now, Jeff Eats knows that 3/28/15 is 5-months away…but I’ll bet you a buck, that when-tickets go on sale at fauevents.com and poprockdoowopp.com they sell-out in one day.

Just a drop of info-for you guys, the current Jay And The Americans features three original members (Sandy, Marty, Howie), The Drifters are lead by original Drifter-Charlie Thomas, The Belmonts are fronted by original Belmont-Angelo D’Aleo, The Chiffons got original lead singer-Judy Craig upfront and Dennis Tufano was the original lead singer of The Buckinghams (by the way Dennis is a relative “newcomer” to the Oldies’ circuit–and has a tremendous voice!)…

Like I said before -trust Jeff Eats when I tell you-that when these 5-acts take to the stage you’ll swear you’re at one of Murray The K’s Brooklyn Fox 1960’s shows.

No bs-ing here, all of the acts still “got it”…and you will be be blown away by their performances.

TICKETS ARE NOT YET ON SALE…so if you wanna go to this show, you’re gonna have to keep a close eye on the two websites I gave you above. By the way, the poprockdoowopp.com site has a sign-up “thing” that keeps you informed as to when tickets go on sale- and about future shows-coming, so you may want to sign-up on the site.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-10/19/14- Bamboo Wok- Boca Raton)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

Boneless Bar-B-Q Spareribs
$6.85

Bamboo Wok
9181 Glades Road
Boca Raton (also Boynton Beach and Coconut Creek)
(561) 218-6003
bamboowok.com
Last Reviewed: 5/7/10

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you that this joints’ boneless ribs are off the chart. A small order runs- $6.85 and it’s plenty big- I usually mix the boneless ribs with a quart of white rice and I’m good to go. Just so you know, Bamboo Wok is strictly a takeout joint-and definitely one of the best Chinese joints in South Florida.

* JEFF RICHMAN AKA JEFF EATS.

Thought you guys might like to read what Boca Life Magazine (bocalifemagazine.com) had to say about Jeff Eats in its July, 2014 issue…if not, my mistake!

By the way -you can read the whole article online -or the next time you are in your doctor or dentist’s waiting room…

*****

STARS OF THE SUMMER

Meet eight local bloggers at the top of the digital publishing game. These media gurus have carved out their own space on the web. They’ve branded themselves, and they’ve built audiences of loyal followers. Some of their sites make money and some don’t, but each has a unique voice that keeps bringing visitors back for more.

JEFF RICHMAN

“I love going to places no one else has heard of – someplace where you say, ‘I’m not walking in there.’”

Jeff Richman writes the way he speaks – straightforward, to the point, in-your-face talk that immediately brands him as a New Yorker, and more specifically as a Brooklynite. This 64-year-old Boca Raton Renaissance man has gained a national following for his writing – something that was somewhat of an afterthought after his successful legal career and business ventures involving Discovery Zone, Hardee’s restaurants and the entertainment industry. His blog, Jeff Eats, attracts about 15,000 visitors a month for his “real simple” style of reviewing local “mom and pop” shops that doesn’t involve a rating system (“How can a guy say three stars versus two stars,” he says.). Richman knows that what he likes might not be what his next-door neighbor likes, but that doesn’t worry him. “I call it as I see it,” he says. If the food is comped, he’ll say that. If the burger was great, but the fries – not so much, he’ll say that. He receives weekly invitations to review restaurants from Miami to North Palm Beach. How does he narrow that list? “My focus is on the little joints,” he says. Some of his favorites: Nino’s of Boca, Barone’s La Pizzeria in Margate, Matteo’s Ristorante in Boca, Zinger’s Deli in Boca and Granger’s Grille in Delray Beach. – H.C.

***** The Boys Farmers Market.

Jeff Eats first “reviewed” The Boys Farmers Market on 5/6/2009.

That review is reprinted below.

It is now some 5 1/2 years later- and I just wanted to tell -new as well as old- Jeff Eats’ readers that I LOVE this joint-and if you live or work anywhere-near The Boys Farmers Market make it your business to shop there…trust me, you will be thrilled that you did!
*****
May 6, 2009

***** The Boys Farmers Market, 14378 Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 496-8123.

If you can “handle” its parking-lot…with senior citizens “backing in and backing out” non-stop…The Boys Farmers Market is an absolutely great place to shop for fruits, fresh squeezed juices, vegetables, baked goods, cheeses, wines, candies, seafood, meats, coffees and prepared chicken/seafood/meat dishes.

Just guessing here, but The Boys’ probably has something like 30,000 square feet of indoor space jammed with top quality FOOD. All the free samples that you’d like…and everything sold, runs circles around joints like Publix, Winn Dixie and Albertsons, not to mention-probably cheaper.

My family has been shopping at The Boys Farmers Market for years…and I have been amazed by two things…namely, that we have never been involved in a fender-bender in its parking lot & the great stuff that it sells.

The Boys has its own bakery, squeezes its own juices and prepares its own “take out” food. This joint is an absolute-winner. If you live in the Delray Beach area, you probably already know about The Boys…for those of you who don’t, you got to go shopping there…just be careful in the parking lot.

The Boys Farmers Market is open 7 days a week.

* Meatball Room’s Homemade Meatball Contest.

Tomorrow-Saturday, 10/18/14 at 1pm Jeff Eats will be one of the guest judges at Meatball Room’s Homemade Meatball Contest.

Originally told you guys about this event on 9/30/14 (story printed below)…so this is just a reminder!

Jeff Eats “did” the last Meatball Room’s meatball contest and it was an absolute blast.

See- if you can make it out there tomorrow. If you do and aren’t a bill-collector, IRS Agent, disgruntled reader, disgruntled anything–be sure to say hello.
*****
September 30, 2014
* MEATBALL ROOM’S HOMEMADE MEATBALL CONTEST.

Got a fun event for you guys…Meatball Room’s Homemade Meatball Contest scheduled for October, 18, 2014.

Now, since you are literally the first people hearing about this CONTEST- you got a good shot of being one of the contestants-if that’s your game.

Last Spring (4/26/14) Italian restaurant-Meatball Room held its “first”- charity-best meatball contest on its outdoor patio. There were 25 contestants, a panel of judges (Jeff Eats was one of the judges), live music, kids’ entertainment, complimentry beverages–something like 300 spectators…it was an absolute blast, not to mention that Meatball Room made a nice-monetary donation to a local charity!

Anyway,

Two minutes ago, Jeff Eats received the below-email/press release. In a nutshell-“round” 2 is set for October 18, 2014 at 1pm. Just so you know, Jeff Eats is gonna be a judge again…but this time, I’m gonna be prepared and have a pack of TUMS in my pocket–just between you and me, some of those meatballs gave a whole new meaning to the expression “home made.” Not to beat a dead horse or nothing, but Jeff Eats is wondering if there might be a connection between American teenage runaways and meatballs?-anyway, later today- I’m gonna research Teenage Runaways In Italy!

Finally, back in April- way more than 25 people tried to enter-so if you want to be a contestant, move fast-registration info is in the press release.

Whether you’re a cook or just a watcher- you’ll have a real fun afternoon…catch you on the 18th!
*****
Hi Jeff,
We are at it again – 2nd Meatball Contest at MR! Can you be a judge again? Many thanks! Kim

For Immediate Release

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

MEATBALL ROOM’s HOMEMADE MEATBALL CONTEST

Benefitting the American Cancer Society Hope Gala

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 at 1:00 PM

Hosted by Sid Rosenberg of 640 AM Sports

Boca Raton, FL –Meatball Room (www.meatballroom.com), Boca’s hottest Tuscan Italian restaurant, is looking for the ultimate meatball recipe that is missing from their already impressive meatball menu.

The contest will take place at the restaurant on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 1PM. Contestants must pre-register and bring the recipe and finished dish ready to taste by the panel of judges.

The limit is 25 contestants with one meatball recipe and dish per contestant.

Celebrity judges will include Sid Rosenberg of 640 Sports and other surprise guests.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, LIMITED TO FIRST 25 CONTESTANTS

Contestants must call (561) 210- 4411 or email kim@simplythebestpr.com , Kim to register

Grand prize winner will receive:

His or her winning meatball will be put on restaurant menu
$500 gift card
And more

The party atmosphere will include live entertainment, a balloon maker for the kids, wine tasting and drink and food specials on the outdoor patio.

A portion of all sales from the day will benefit The American Cancer Society’s Hope Gala, to take place on March 14, 2015 at the Boca West County Club.

The Regency Court
3011 Yamato Road
Boca Raton, FL 33434
www.meatballroom.com

To Register for the Contest or for further information contact:

Kim Morgan
561-210-4411
kim@simplythebestpr.com

Kim Morgan Vagnuolo l President
301 Yamato Road Suite 1240, Boca Raton, Florida 33431
CELL: 954.261.2149

* Amaize.

Jeff Eats just received the following pr-piece on a new AREPA fast food concept that’s set to open on 11/11/14 in Doral.

Now nothing for nothing, you know and I know- that this “concept”-is what we call a variation on a theme. You’ve seen it before, topped burgers, topped hot dogs, topped pizzas, topped yogurts-so on and so forth! That said, one-never-knows what will and what won’t catch the public’s fancy.

I got plans to check the joint out in mid-December.

If you beat me there, let me know what you think!

By the way, Jeff Eats absolutely loves the joint’s- name AMAIZE…very very clever!
*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elizabeth Kelley Grace
Elizabeth@thebuzzagency.net
561-702-7471 or
Jill Pavlov, Jill@thebuzzagency.net
215-460-9975

Amaize, Amazing Arepas, to Open in Doral

Doral, FL, October 16, 2014 – Amaize, a one-of-a-kind flavorful fast-casual Arepa concept eatery, will open in Doral on November 11. The eatery will feature customized Arepas and Cachapas, in which customers can “CYO” (Create your Own) Arepas using a variety of tasty gourmet and Latin inspired fillings.

Amaize is the first fast-casual Arepa concept in the U.S. and the restaurant will feature unparalleled quality and an inviting ambiance. Arepas, which have been enjoyed by Latin American cultures for hundreds of years, are grilled cornmeal “pockets.” They are made of pre-cooked P.A.N. cornmeal, are healthy, versatile and are easily customized with savory additions.

Amaize, a 2,680 square foot restaurant, will offer seating for 75 guests. The restaurant will feature only fresh, high-quality ingredients and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and a kids’ menu. Amaize will feature an inviting bar area with flat screen TVs, serving snacks along with Latin American beer, wine and sangria, as well as complimentary toasted Canchas. Customers will receive their food, once it’s ordered, to their table via HME, a GPS system.

The eatery will also include a Mercadito (mini market) in which guests can carry out side dishes or purchase selected items to create their own experience with Arepas at home.

“Today’s customers are hungry for new dining experiences that not only encompass fresh new flavors and superb customer service, but a vibrant and comfortable atmosphere,” according to Luis Ginestra, president/CEO of Amaize. “From the moment our guests walk into Amaize, they will have a wonderful experience, not only with a fresh and Latin inspired menu, in which guests can create their own combination of flavors, but in an inviting and modern environment.”

The menu offers Arepas, cachapas, soups, salads, mechados, desserts and snacks and original dishes like “Saladmaize,” and a twist on sweets with the “Cachapa delight.” The menu offers the traditional fillings like shredded beef, chicken and pork, as well as specialty Arepas like “Asado Negro” with its unique taste, salmon salad, “Caprese Latina,” “Portobello Tofu,” and the famous “Beauty Queen” (Reina Pepiada), a specialty avocado chicken salad Arepa. In addition, Amaize will serve juices, known as aguas frescas, specialty coffee and desserts. The traditional Latin cheeses served at Amaize are sourced locally.

The restaurant is located at 3887 NW 107th Avenue, Unit 101, Doral, FL 33178. The restaurant hours are: Sunday 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon-Wed 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Thu-Sat 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour will be served from 4-6 p.m. at the bar. For more information, please visit www.amaizeyou.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Amaizeyou or like us at Facebook/Amaizeyou.

—

* What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Remember when you were a kid and Scholastic Magazines- would have a picture in it and ask-you what in the picture was wrong?-Sure you do!

Same game here (although the answer is already provided).

Democrats, Republicans, Independents–Jeff Eats could care-less…somebody better get a grip on this country and FAST!

Common sense tells me that if Ebola is “coming” into the United States via parts-of-Africa, then you ban flights from those countries into the United States.

Common sense tells me that when a man beheads a co-worker screaming Islamic sayings and has a website dedicated to Islamic terrorism, then the guy is a terrorist-and the beheading isn’t some run of the mill workplace violence incident.

Common sense tells me that when a US army officer opens fire killing fellow soldiers (with him screaming) Islamic sayings, then the guy is a terrorist and the attack isn’t some run of the mill workplace violence incident.

Look! I know Jeff Eats is a “renown” food critic, I’m definitely not a trained political scientist…but I do know- when the President of the United States is pandering to certain groups of people-and he is DEAD WRONG in his thinking!

I’m sure you guys have your own thoughts on this stuff…

***** Pastrami Dan’s Restaurant, 586 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida 34102, (239) 263-3431.

If you want to eat delicious pastrami and roast beef sandwiches–you gotta try Pastrami Dan’s in Naples.

Pastrami Dan’s is exactly what Jeff Eats is all about…a hole in the wall, order at the counter-deliver to table joint- which has dynamite food… No frills, no drama, reasonable prices, big portions, no credit cards (caught you on that one, didn’t I?)–no bs-ing here, some of the most delicious pastrami and roast beef that I’ve had down here in Florida.

Pastrami Dan’s menu is printed above…LIMITED would be kind! Handful of items, end of story! As the old Haitian saying goes- “Jack of all trades, master of none”…it doesn’t apply here! Just so we are straight- in addition to the roast beef and pastrami I “tried” the beef taco/hot dog/chili all were good, but the real Game here is the pastrami and roast beef-off the chart!

Pastrami Dan’s Restaurant is open Monday-Saturday 11am-4pm, closed on Sunday.