* Terry Fator.

The guy won Season #2 of America’s Got Talent.

Jeff Eats has seen him…terrific comedian, ventriloquist, impressionist.

Nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats was literally raised on Paul Winchell and his sidekicks Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff (I know, you thought it was Smith)-and I gotta tell you, Terry Factor is “better”-but let’s just keep that between you, me and the lamppost…besides, Paul Winchell invented the artificial heart-or something like that!

For a real fun night, go- catch Terry Fator, you won’t be disappointed!

* The BSTREET BAND.

Printed below is the November 1, 2014-February 1, 2015 performance calendar for New Jersey based-The BSTRRET BAND-one of America’s top Bruce Springsteen-tribute bands. If you check, Jeff Eats has “done” several stories on this band…it’s really strong!

Long story short, between January 22, 2015-February 1, 2015 The BSTREET BAND has 6-free Florida “concerts” scheduled.

If you are a Springsteen-fan…you should definitely check The BSTREET BAND out -when they are down here.
*****
/Sat Nov 1 Mitch’s Bruce Bash on Long Island w/Vini maddog Lopez (Private) Long Island, NY
Fri Nov 7 The Return of Harrah’s Casino/Hotel Eden Lounge
( 9:15 start) Atlantic City, NJ
Sat Nov 8 Friends of Saint George Elementary School Fundraiser (8 Pm Start)
@ Columbia Social Hall 3529 Almond st Philadelphia PA (Doors open 7:15 Showtime 8:Pm)
Michael at 215-806-3425 or email at ooch@comcast.net for ticket info
Fri Nov 14 The Schwartz Theater, Dover Del featuring Vini Mad Dog lopez (7 Pm Show) Group Tickets – Can be purchased by ordering 15 or more tickets to receive a 10% discount.Email thearts@schwartzcenter.com or call (302.678.5152)
Sat Nov 15 Hollywood Casino At Penn National Race Course (90 Min show: 8 Pm Start)
Hollywood Blvd. Grantville, PA
Sun Nov 16 Surprise Birthday Bruce Bash (Private) NYC
Fri Nov 21 The Return of The Headliner Neptune, NJ (Early 8 PM Start)
Rt 35 Neptune, NJ 732-775-6200
Sat Nov 22 Connor Wedding (Private) Bethesda Blues Club, Bethesda, Md
Sun Nov 23 NFL Phila Eagles Vs Tennessee Titans (10:AM till Kickoff) Inside Stadium grounds: Lincoln Financial Field, Phila, Pa Need ticket for game to see Band
Wed Nov 26 Ale Marys (Formerly Whistles) Scranton, Pa (9:15 Start)
126 Franklin Ave, Scranton Pa
Fri Nov 28 Danielle’s Wedding (Private) Manasquan River Club, NJ
Sat Nov 29 Bredt Family Bruce Bash (Private) Villanova, Pa
Fri Dec 5 Parx Casino Bensalem, Pa (8:45 Start) 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, Pa
Sat Dec 6 Dorothy’s Bruce Bash Celebration (Private) Knights of Columbus, Fair Haven, NJ
Sat Dec 13 Lindsay and Steves Wedding (Private) Raphael’s Vineyard, Peconic, NY
Thur Dec 18 B-Street Band Christmas Party Willie McBrides Hoboken, NJ (8:15 Start)
Grand Ave and Hoboken, NJ
Sat Dec 20 Blue Bell Inn Blue Bell, Pa (8:15 Start) Free adm: Customer Appreciation Nite
661 Skippack Pike Blue Bell, Pa (215) 646-2010
Fri Dec 26 Harrahs Casino Eden Lounge, Atlantic City, NJ (Free adm, 8:Pm Start) Harrahs Casino/Hotel Atlantic City, NJ
Sat Dec 27 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE in JIM THORPE PA (8:30 Show) Doors open 7:30
Located at 14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe, (570) 325-0249 A incredible venue to see the band. This historic site is located in the unique town of Jim Thorpe and is well worth the ride and price of admission… we hope to see our Hazleton, Allentown/Bethlehem, Wilkes-barre/Scranton Area Fans for a great Christmas show!!! Ticket Info:
www.mcohjt.com/?shows=new-west-guitar-group-2

Wed Dec 31 New Years Eve Lancaster Elks Club B.P.O.E # 134 (Doors open 7:30)
(Band at 9 Pm) $60.00 per person, $100.00 for two: This event held in the ballroom:Midnight champagne toast and donuts, food, games and prizes. The doors open at 7:00 PM – band starts at 9:00 PM. The dress code is casual or dressy. Dinner is available in the Lodge before the event but is not included in the ticket price: There are only 200 tickets available for this event, and they are going fast! Contact Dee Allison @ 717-519-7203 for tickets and info or dee.allison@kellogg.com
Local hotels providing special accomodations: The Hotel Lancaster – John Thomas, 717-394-0900
The Lancaster Arts Hotel – Darcy Show 717-299-3000
Thu Jan 1 The Return of Britinghams Pub (Early 8 Pm Start) 640 Germantown Rd, Lafayette Hill, Pa 610-828-7351
Fri Jan 9 School Fundraiser NE Phila (Private) Phila
Sat Jan 10 Valley Forge Casino, King of Prussia, Pa (More Info Soon) Waterford Ballroom
King of Prussia, Pa
Fri Jan 16 Roxbury High School Fundraiser (7 Pm Start) Ticket Info Soon: Bryant Drive
Succasunna, NJ
Sat Jan 17 Corey’s Wedding (Private) Grand Summit Hotel, Summit, NJ
Wed Jan 21 Pelican Preserve Country Club Fort Myers, Fla (Private) Ft Myers, Fla

Thu Fri Sat Jan 22, 23, 24 Seminole Hard Rock Casino/Hotel Hollywood Fla
(7 Pm Start: Free Adm: All Ages) Paradise Live Outside: Hollywood, Fla Outside and Beautiful!
Thu Jan 29 Seminole Hard Rock Casino/Hotel Tampa, Fla (8:30 Start: Free Adm: all Ages)
Orient Rd,Tampa, Fla
Fri Jan 30 Del Ray Beach Fla Free Concert at the Pavillion (6:PM; Free adm, All Ages)
The Pavillion at Old School Square, N.Swinton Ave, Del Ray Beach, Fla
Sat Jan 31 Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon Gasparilla Bruce Bash (Private) Tampa, Fla
Sun Feb 1 The Sandy Parrot, Fort Myers, Fla (7:30 Start) Tamiami Trail Fort Myers Fla

***** Pastrami, Corned Beef, Brisket- My Man!

A recent e-mail,

Jeff,
Maybe you can help me out here.
I’m new to the area (Delray Beach).
I’m looking for a place to get great corned beef, pastrami, brisket sandwiches like they serve at Katz’s in NYC. Not interest in the Natioanl Deli garbage that Too Jays and bagel joints serve up.
Would really appreciate some recommendations.
Thanks,
MY MAN
*****
MY MAN:

First, welcome to South Florida.

If you check JEFF EATS-up at the top there is a SEARCH BOX…type in PASTRAMI, or CORNED BEEF, or BRISKET- (you may also want to throw in DELI-for good measure) and it will pull-up for you all of the “columns” that relate to pastrami, corned beef, brisket. If memory and my waistline serve me correctly, you’ll find a load of joints that make some pretty decent stuff.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats’ style isn’t to be in the pecking order business. What I might like, you might not like, so forth and so on! With that in mind, IF I had to pick ONE JOINT-near you- to feed my face with Pastrami, Corned Beef and Brisket it would be ZINGER’S DELICATESSEN in Boca Raton…now, if Zinger’s doesn’t work for you- don’t worry, there are a load of other joints that will fix-you up just fine!

By the way, based on your e-mail, I’m thinking that you’ll soon be “writing” Jeff Eats about good-Chinese joints. So, save the ink…use the same SEARCH BOX for my “picks”-you know, sweet & sour pork, egg rolls, pan fried dumplings, so on and so forth…

Hope this helps you out.

* Elvis & The Minimum Wage.

Jeff could care-less that this Elvis painting is by Andy Warhol!

All I know is that something is very wrong-when Elvis-sells for $81,900,000.00 while Florida minimum wage earners make $7.53 an hour with an expected increase to $8.05 an hour come January 1, 2015.

AND that’s the name of that tune!

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 11/16/14).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

GLAZED DONUT
($1.25, 1-dozen $14.99)

Mojo Donuts
7906 Pines Boulevard
Pembroke Pines
(954) 983-6631
mojodonuts.com
Latest Review: 4/1/13

Trust Jeff Eats on this one…Mojo Donuts makes some of the most delicious donuts that I have ever eaten. On any given day, the joint has something like 60-different kinds to choose from. Just so you know, I “headlined” GLAZED DONUT for this-story-but I’m telling you- EVERY DONUNT that I’ve had there- has been off the chart! If you like donuts, this joint is an absolute must try.

* Sonic.

Sonic is one of Jeff Eats favorite fast-food burger/fries/ice cream joints. A “story” that I did way back on August 15, 2013 is reprinted below…

Anyway, last night I “participated” in a taste-test (at the Boynton Beach joint) of Sonic’s new boneless chicken wing “product.” Just so we are straight, Sonic Corp. via a gift card- comped Jeff Eats for the purchase of 24 boneless wings ($14.99), Barbecue, Buffalo, Asian Sweet Chili and I gotta tell you, all 3-flavors were delicious. Each boneless wing was a nice sized all-white meat chunk-fried to a nice crunch. If I were to do a pecking order-barbecue, buffalo, Asian sweet chili-but that’s just me! Remember, what Jeff Eats likes you might hate and vice versa. Just for reference, barbecue was mild, buffalo had a kick, Asian had a double-kick.

Let me wrap this up for you…if Jeff Eats had- found the wings to be crap, comp or no comp, I’d tell you that they were crap…but they weren’t-so you now know about a really delicious fast food chicken-option.

One final thought and its- got nothing to do with chicken…Sonic’s “skaters” sure are a hard working bunch of folks… pleasant and as helpful as can be!
*****
August 13, 2013
***** Sonic (Greenacres, Boynton Beach, Homestead)

Something like 60 days ago, Jeff Eats tried Sonic for the first time. Since that first outing, I’ve been back 3 additional times….I absolutely love the burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes, soft ice cream, fried chicken and grilled chicken that this fast-food joint serves-up.

Printed below is a “corporate” profile that I swiped from Yahoo Finance–this summary should give you the basics on this 3,500 unit chain that features drive-up service with food-being delivered to your car by a wait-staff on roller skates…think Happy Days, Richie Cunningham, Fonize, Potsie and Ralph The Mouth and you’ll catch the vibe.

“Sonic Corp. operates and franchises a chain of quick-service drive-in restaurants in the United States. As of August 6, 2013, the company operated approximately 3,500 drive-in restaurants in 43 states. It also leases signs and real estate. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.”

Just so you know, there are a load of Sonic outlets in Florida…for our purposes–there is 1 in Greenacres, 1 in Boynton Beach, 1 in Homestead (Miami Gardens and Lauderhill are currently under construction)…but like I just said, there are a ton of others in the great state of Florida (Mr. Chairman, I have the high honor and great privilege to cast…).

Anyway…

Jeff Eats has been to the Greenacres joint 4 times and I got to tell you, that Sonic really got the job done for me. The food was really good– as was the service and the prices were super reasonable (think Burger King, Wendy’s, McDonald’s). The menu is gigantic…burgers, fries, onion rings, soft ice cream, shakes, chicken, salads, hot dogs, desserts—best way for Jeff Eats to describe Sonic—imagine if Burger King, Dairy Queen and Chik fil A—merged…that’s Sonic!…and the joint is open on Sunday!!!

If you haven’t been to a Sonic, GO! You will love it.

Check www.sonicdrivein.com for menu/locations/photos.

* Inside Fort Lauderdale (insidefortlauderdale.com).

Inside Fort Lauderdale is a food-blog that reviews restaurants all over South Florida.

Jeff Eats has been reading this site for years. To say that its “reviewer” gets around would be an understatement. Just guessing here, but it looks to me, like the guy eats in a new joint every day.

You guys know, that this food-reviewing game is a very subjective thing. What I might like, you might hate and vice versa. In actuality, food reviewing is nothing more than some guy/gal (do people still use this term?) voicing an opinion…and like “assholes” (pardon the vulgarity) everyone has one.

Anyway,

Like I said 2-seconds ago, Jeff Eats has been reading Inside Fort Lauderdale for years. I enjoy the reviews and I also find it to be an excellent source for “new” restaurants in the works.

Jeff Eats has never met the-guy running the show, but based on his writing style, reviews and the tone of the site…I’d swear that -Dennis The Menace’s next door neighbor- Mr. Wilson is now a food blogger.

Checkout- Inside Fort Lauderdale (insidefortlauderdale.com) it is definitely an interesting read.

* 3rd Annual Top Turkey Thanksgiving Dinner Challenge.

Jeff Eats is a traditional kind of- guy!

What Thanksgiving Day Means To Me…
1. try and freeload at somebody’s house every year on the 4th Thursday in November,
2. watch football,
3. fight with my family,
4. watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…

Anyway,

Jeff Eats’ buddies over at Burger Beast (burgerbeast.com) apparently have a different take on the holiday…
1. they start celebrating-something like 2 weeks before the holiday’s actual date,
2. somehow they get food trucks involved,
3. stage a contest with a panel of judges,
4. throw a charity food drive into the mix.

The whole EVENT sounds cool to me, so here’s the details for you…

Can’t believe it’s time for our 3rd Annual Top Turkey Thanksgiving Dinner Challenge!

The last couple of years Top Turkey has been held in Broward County BUT this year it makes its first Miami-Dade County appearance on Saturday Night November 15th from 5-10PM at Magic City Casino (right near the Miami International Airport).

How does Top Turkey work? The participating Food Trucks have created Thanksgiving-inspired Savory and Sweet dishes which will be available to the public for sale. Don’t worry, they will also have their entire regular menu for sale too if you’re not in the Holiday spirit.

A judges’ panel comprised of Nedal Ahmad (CEO of Pincho Factory), Paula Echevarria (Editor of Tasting Table Miami), Gio Gutierrez (ChatChow TV) and Steven Scharf (The Chowfather) will be choosing a best Savory and Sweet dish. Those winning Food Truck(s) will be named Top Turkey for the 2014 Thanksgiving Dinner Challenge.

Feeding South Florida

We will also be hosting a Thanksgiving Can Food Drive with the help of our friends at Feeding South Florida and ask that you PLEASE bring Cans of Food and Non-Perishable Food Items which will be distributed to South Florida families and those in need during the Thanksgiving season.

If you donate 10 or more cans of food these select Food Trucks will give you 10% off of your entire order as a Thank you: 2 Jive Turkeys, Boba Station, Chacos, Crazy About Chew, Don Mofongo, El Rey de las Fritas, FOAR, King of Racks BBQ, Liquid N2 Ice Cream, The Lobsta Guy, *Main Stop Grill, Sugar Yummy Mama, Taco Fresh, Tum Tum’s & Woody’s Burgers.

Here are the participating Food Trucks and what they will be serving:

2 Jive Turkeys –
Savory Dish: Turkey Pot-Pie Empanada served with a Sweet Potato Mash.
Dessert Dish: Pumpkin Pie Ice Pop.

Arepas Las Gorditas –
Savory Dish: Pocahontas Arepa (Turkey + Stuffing marinated on Gravy/Cranberry with a Venezuelan twist…Homemade White Cheese (Guayanes).

Chacos –
Savory Dish: TurPHucken (Caja China Roasted Turkey stuffed with Pork Belly, Ham, Duck & Chicken, Served with Chorizo-Cornbread Dressing & Curried Sweet Potatoes).

Cold Stone Creamery –
Dessert Dish: Classic Pumpkin Pie Shake.

Crazy About Chew –
Savory Dish: Thanksgiving Flatbread (House-made Sourdough Flat Bread with Smoked Turkey, Sweet Potato, Brie Cheese & topped with Craisins and Whipped Cream Cheese with Chives).
Dessert Dish: Pumpkin Waffle (Pumpkin Belgian Waffle topped with Cinnamon Butter & Apple Cider Syrup).

Don Mofongo –
Savory Dish: Picadillo de Pavo Caribeño (Picadillo de Pavo con Sun Dried Tomatoes, Especias Caribeñas y Tostones).

FOAR –
Savory Dish: The Paco-hantas (Stuffing is mixed in with our Pancake Batter and formed as a Taco. The filling is Sweet Potato Puree, Turkey kept warm in Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, a sliver of melted Brie, a little more Cranberry and then either a drizzle or a few dots of Marshmallow on top).
Dessert Dish: The Fall Guy (Our regular Paco “Pancake Taco” with added Caramel to sweeten it up. The filling is Apple Butter Cream, fresh Apples sauteed in Butter & Cinnamon, our own wet Walnuts, Whipped Cream dusted with Cinnamon).

King of Racks BBQ –
Savory Dish: Gobble Gobble Turkey Parfait (A Parfait layered with low and slow cooked Turkey, homemade Stuffing, our homemade Mash then drizzled in our Gravy). Served with our famous Cream of Corn.

Liquid N2 Ice Cream –
Dessert Dish: Sweet Potatoe Pie Ice Cream in a Flakey Crust topped with Marshmallow Meringue & a Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream in a Flakey Crust topped with Whipped Cream and Cinnamon Dust.

Main Stop Grill –
Savory Dish: Yuca Bowl topped w/Turkey Confit & a side of Green Bean Casserole, Fried Turkey, Chorizo Stuffing Balls & Cranberry Sauce.
Dessert Dish: Pumpkin Cheese Flan

Marlie’s Delights –
Dessert Dish: Chocolate Pecan Tart

MV My Food Truck –
Savory Dish: Thanksgiving Pie (Pizza w/Wood Fired Oven Roasted Turkey, Sweet Potato Puree, Pickled Green Beans, Cranberry, garnished with Fried Onions).
Dessert Dish: Sweet Potato Creme Brulee with Brûlée Marshmallows.

Poblanos Mexican Fusion –
Savory Dish: A Turkey Cupcake topped with a Sweet Potato Puree.

Purple People Eatery –
Savory Dish: Thanksgiving Burrito (Herb Roasted Turkey, homemade Stuffing, Ham, Swiss Cheese, Kale & Carrots with Sweet Potato Gravy) with a side of Cornflake Potato Casserole.

Sugar Yummy Mama –
Savory Dish: Puff Pastry with a Turkey Bacon Glaze.
Dessert Dish: Turkey Bacon Pie Crust with a Cherry Filling.

Taco Fresh –
Savory Dish: Thanksgiving Turkey Tamales with Tangy Cranberry Pico de Gallo & our Fan-Favorite Green Tomatillo Salsa.

Tum Tum’s –
Savory Dish: Thanksgiving Ramen

Woody’s Burgers –
Savory Dish: Turkey Burger (Smoked Tomato Jam, Wood Grilled Parsnips, Pancetta Bacon, Smoked Cheddar, Fresh Thyme & Maple Mayo accompanied by 50/50 Fresh Cut Idaho and Sweet Potato French Fries and Chorizo/ Fresh Sage Gravy).
Dessert Dish: Woody’s Ice Cream Burger (Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Banana Pineapple Salsa, Maple Butter Caramel and Raspberry Ketchup garnished with Dark Chocolate Shavings & served in a Donut/ Beignet).

More details at the Top Turkey Challenge website.

The Details:

Thanksgiving Dinner Food Truck Challenge @
Magic City Casino
Date: Saturday November 15th
Time: 5PM – 10PM
Location: 450 NW 37th Avenue Miami, FL 33125
Admission: FREE
Age: All Ages Welcome
Parking: Plenty of FREE Parking

*Main Stop Grill’s discount will be on certain dishes

***** Nelson’s Diner, 438 South Cypress Road, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060, (954) 785-3646.

Thank you very much!

Nelson’s Diner…”mom & pop”- 1950’s-1960’s décor- booth/table/counter seating diner. The joint is open Monday-Friday 6am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 7am-2:30pm.

Jeff Eats recently did breakfast and really enjoyed the joint. Before I get into the breakfast, I’m thinking that Nelson (or whatever the owner’s name is) must really “love” Elvis Presley…pictures- posters all over the joint. Like I said 1-second ago…. Thank you very much! So if you aren’t into the King, anyway…

You can check Nelson’s menu/prices-at nelsonsdinerpompano.com. For you guys who like things handed to you, loads of breakfast stuff, appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, salads, lunch entrees.

Now, about that breakfast,

Jeff Eats was there on a Tuesday morning around 7:30am and the joint was jammed. Just an eyeball call, but I’m thinking that Nelson’s seats maybe 40…

Jeff Eats’ party of four…ordered- Belgian waffle with bacon ($5.99), country fried steak/2eggs/hash browns/toast ($7.99), biscuits and gravy ($3.99), French toast ($3.99), pancakes (3-$4.69), western omelette/hash browns/toast ($6.79)…and I gotta tell you, Nelson’s makes real good breakfast food. Nothing for nothing, I’ve eaten in my fair share of mom & pop diners and Nelson’s definitely holds its own against the best of them.

Let me wrap this up for you,

You guys know by now, that Jeff Eats is a huge fan of the mom & pop-neighborhood diner “concept”…I really enjoyed Nelson’s Diner. The food was right on the money, the prices were reasonable, the service was pleasant, the décor was “whatever”-and Jeff Eats left Nelson’s Diner knowing that America was built brick by brick by guys like Nelson -or whatever the owner’s name is. By the way, I know, a bit over-dramatic, but hey!- last Tuesday was Veterans Day.

Nelson’s Diner is a winner. If you live or work in Nelson’s neighborhood give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed!

* GREAT OLDIES SHOW.

Tickets go on sale at 10am.
You can buy tickets at poprockdoowopp.com or by calling (561) 859-0846.

Trust Jeff Eats on this, this is a- tremendous lineup and will be a SRO show. If you want to go-don’t, dick-around!