***** Kernel Encore Gourmet Popcorn , 601 North Primrose Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803, (407) 897-7022.

I’m not exactly sure – when I first got hooked -but I’m thinking October, 1954! That’s when Jeff Eats fell in love with caramel corn and buttered popcorn. If recollection serves me correctly, it was those $.05 boxes of Cracker Jack and those $.10 cups of Loew’s Kings popcorn-that started the ball rolling.

Flash forward to-Father’s Day 2014…with Daughter Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats “delivering” to my home -a 2 gallon popcorn tin filled with caramel corn, a 2 gallon popcorn tin filled with caramel cashew/chocolate cherries/french toast/garlic cheddar/loaded baked potato/sea salt caramel and a 2 gallon popcorn tin filled with toffee/triple dipped chocolate carmel/two cheese/white chocolate drizzle macadamia nuts from gourmet popcorn store, Kernel Encore in Orlando-and I gotta tell you, definitely one of best Father’s Day gifts Ive gotten in the past 31 years.

Nothing for nothing, I know some of you guys are into the whole “neck tie” thing- but 6 gallons of popcorn is the way the Eats kids rolled this year.

From what I understand, Kernel Encore -has a retail outlet in Orlando, makes 237 flavored popcorns and ships all over the country. You can check www.kernelencorepopcorn.com for products/prices/other stuff. The retail location is open Monday-Thursday 11am-6:30pm, Saturday 11am-5pm, closed Sunday.

Let me wrap this up by telling you, Jeff Eats knows his caramel corn and Kernel Encore’s stuff is amazing-good. I’m also gonna let you in on a little secret, Kernel Encore’s “flavored” popcorn are also amazing-good…for sure some flavors top others, but Jeff Eats never looks a gift horse in the mouth.

Happy Pop’s Day!

* The Life.

Way back on May 13th- Jeff Eats told you guys about The Life which was set for a June 11th-July 27th run at the Delray Square Performing Arts in Delray Beach. I just wanted you guys to know that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats caught Opening Night- and this play is an absolute must see. Look! I’m no Clive Barnes, but I do know when I have been thoroughly entertained for 120 minutes by an intriguing storyline performed by strong actors/vocalists/dancers.

Trust me on this one, you will love this show…

Jeff Eats highly recommends that you spend some time with The Life.
*****
May 13, 2014.
* The Life–(Delray Square Performing Arts).

The Life…trust Jeff Eats on this one, you don’t want to miss– The Life.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats saw the 2004 Florida production and it was a fabulous show…we are planning on catching this new-production!

Printed below is a recent Sun Sentinel article about the show.
*****
“Cy Coleman’s pulsating musical The Life is bringing some sizzle back to the South Florida theatre scene this spring and summer. The Tony Award winning musical will begin reduced-price previews at the brand new Delray Square Performing Arts on June 4th and will open for a limited run on June 11th.

The Delray Square production is directed by Gary Waldman, who along with his partner, Jamison Troutman also serves as a producer of the show. They were the team behind The Life’s last visit to Florida (the first post-Broadway production World-Wide) – an extremely successful, eight month sold out run at the Atlantis Playhouse in 2004. The Waldman-Troutman Production received unanimous rapturous reviews and more regional award nods than any other (19-total, including Best Musical nominations in each ceremony). This will be the landmark, 10th Anniversary Revival of that historic production!

Coleman, along with lyricist Ira Gasman created a score full of intense and emotional songs depicting The Life on the Times Square streets of the 1980s – where everything had a price – especially sex. With a book by David Newman, Coleman and Gasman, the play follows the harrowing experiences of a good-hearted hooker named Queen, her cocaine-addicted boyfriend Fleetwood, her friend and fellow street-walker Sonja, hustler JoJo, crime boss Memphis and a host of other characters who have seen better days. Coarse language and sexual inferences add to the reality and grittiness of the play – but the characters and their situations intrigue and captivate. The Life opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in the spring of 1997 under the direction of Michael Blakemore. It ran for 450 performances and won several awards for “Best Musical” of 1997, including the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Award, and the Drama League.”

* La Nouvelle Maison.

You guys do know, that on Jeff Eats’ ste–I’m not the only one who gets to play food “critic”…

With that in mind, printed below is long-time Jeff Eats’ reader Mike K’s “review” on a recent “pre-opening” that he attended.

When you got a good new one, or think you got a good new one, or think you got a new lousy one…do like Klein did, “review it up” and Jeff Eats will get your name up in lights (I mean print!). By the way the operative word here is NEW…if I haven’t written about “your” joint-you get your own writeup…if I beat you there, your writeup goes into the joint’s Comment-section…and that’s the name of that tune (courtesy Tony Baretta)!
*****
La Nouvelle Maison at 455 East Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton.

We attended the pre-opening of this upscale French restaurant. If you are a connoisseur of fine dining then I think this is the restaurant for you but be prepared to open your wallet because it doesn’t come inexpensively. I estimate that if you order a glass of wine, an appetizer, salad, entrée, dessert and coffee with tax and tip it will run between $ 100 to $ 150 per patron.

After check in you enter a large bar area that will be comfortable if you have wait for other guests in your party or for your table. There are at least 3 separate dining areas that have 10 or less tables so it is somewhat intimate. The area we sat has an open partition adjoining the bar and with the number of people attending the event was somewhat loud. I suspect that it will not be an issue during normal operation. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They served professionally as you would expect from a high end restaurant.

Now for the food. I do not eat seafood and most of the passings while we were there contained something from the sea. That said it means we have to rely on my wife’s opinion for most items. She sampled the creamy Langoustine bisque containing pieces of baby lobster which she said was excellent. I can attest to the quality of the steak tartare and the Brie puff pastry. The menu overall has something for everyone – steak, duck, chicken and various seafood items.

The restaurant is opening for business today, Friday 6/13. Reservations available through Open Table.

* ODYSSEY ROAD.

Way back on November 6, 2009 -Jeff Eats told you about Odyssey Road-one of America’s top Journey tribute bands. That article is reprinted below.

The band just announced a Free concert at Boca Raton’s- Mizner Park Amphitheater, Friday Night-July 11th at 7:30pm. Bring your own chairs and blankets.

I am telling you, if you are a Journey fan- this group is an absolute must see!

November 6, 2009
***** ODYSSEY ROAD *****

Last night I saw a Journey-tribute band…Odyssey Road.

Let me make this short and simple—Odyssey Road, which is based in West Palm Beach, sounds EXACTLY like Journey. Odyssey Road has to be one of the best tribute bands that I have ever-ever seen. This 5-man group put on an an abolutely amazing–2-hour concert, which left the crowd of 300 screaming for more.

Odyssey Road works all over South Florida. You can check its sound-videos-schedule at www.odysseyroadband.com.

If you love Journey’s music–you will love this band.

You will swear that Journey is on the stage.

* Happy Father’s Day-2014!

What’s Father’s Day?

Father’s Day is Mother’s Day without presents and a dinner out.

Who’s your favorite tv-father?

Two guesses as to Jeff Eats favorite-and the first guess doesn’t count!

One final thought, what ever happened to Chuck- who was the Cunningham’s oldest son in Season #1?

* Aluminum Foil.

Read this “one” on Daily Finance (dailyfinance.com) this morning.

No question in Jeff Eats’ mind–this is important stuff. Can’t believe that aluminum foil isn’t just for chewing on!
*****
“When it comes to laundry, you can skip the overpriced dryer sheets. Instead, take a piece of aluminum foil and crumple it into a ball that’s about 2-3 inches in diameter. Then place it in the dryer for a frugal way to eliminate static. The best part is that it can be reused over and over for up to six months.”

* MilkSplash.

Got something that I seriously doubt that most folks have heard about…MilkSplash.

In a nutshell, MilkSplash is a zero calorie milk flavoring marketed by S&D Beverage Innovations LLC, a division of Concord, North Carolina based- S&D Coffee, Inc. the nation’s largest custom coffee roaster and blender of iced tea for the food service industry. MilkSplash comes in 5 flavors, Cocoa-Strawberry-Banana-Orange Cream-Cookies ‘N Cream. The product is sold in plastic “themed” containers that contain 1.62 oz. The suggested retail price is $3.99 per container. Each container has 24 servings based on an 8oz glass of milk. The product, is currently -ONLY available in Target and Walmart stores nationwide. MilkSplash has been on the retail market since March, 2014.

Jeff Eats “tried” the Strawberry and Cocoa flavors and I gotta tell you, I’m really thinking of becoming a “steady” milk drinker again. Absolutely delicious.

Like I said a few seconds ago, I seriously doubt that too many folks have heard about MilkSplash. I’m thinking, that with Target and Walmart onboard, that real soon tons of moms, dads, grandparents, (“yous & mes”) are gonna know about this product.

Anyway,

If you want to read more about MilkSplash…www.milksplash.com.

* Dixie Tracks Café.

Last night Jeff Eats got the following e-mail about Dixie Track Diner- from reader David Schulman.

David beat me there. Jeff Eats has it on my “to try” list.

Jeff Eats has heard nothing but good things about this joint, so just maybe you guys “want” to get there before I do.

The joint’s website is www.dixietrackscafe.com.
*****
From: David Schulman
Subject: New Joint

Message Body:
Saw a Sun Sentinel great write-up on new place in Oakland Park: Dixie Tracks
Cafe, 4820 N. Dixie Hwy. Had to try it. Especially the Philly cheesesteak deep fried
in a taco. Fantastic. Cordial staff, chef/owners make sure you are happy. Reasonable
prices. Jeff, try it if you are in that area. I wanted to post on it at your site
but did not see how to do that.

* Who Remembers This Night?

Be the 11th person to:

Give Jeff Eats the date.
Give Jeff Eats the venue.
Give Jeff Eats the name of the group on stage.
AND
Jeff Eats will give you 2 tickets to see The Doo Wop Mob at Kings Point in Delray Beach on Friday Night, August 8, 2014. See June 5, 2014 story on The Doo Wop Mob.
Only 2 entries per IP address.
Send your “answers” to Jeff Eats’ “CONTACT.”

June 10, 2014 UPDATE:
Boy that was fast.
Got #11 3 minutes ago.
The answer:
February 9, 1964 at New York City’s- Peppermint Lounge, The Beatles watching Joey Dee & The Starliters.

***** Wok & Go, 7016 Charleston Shores Boulevard, Lake Worth, Florida 33467, (561) 968-9529.

Got a decent “mom & pop” Chinese joint for you…Wok & Go in Lake Worth.

Nothing fancy going on here, maybe 10 tables-and of course it’s located in a small obscure strip center.

Wok & Go’s menu has all of the “expected” Brooklyn-Jewish Chinese stuff circa 1953 and loads of lunch and dinner “combinations.”

To make a long story short,

Late yesterday afternoon-Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were just driving around-looking at new “residential developments” in Delray Beach-Boynton Beach-Lake Worth and stumbled-upon Wok & Go. Like I said 3 seconds ago, the joint is located in an obscure strip center. We decided to takeout food and eat during the Heat game. Our order, egg rolls, bbq ribs, fried dumplings, roast pork fried rice, sweet & sour chicken, pepper steak. Real simple review, decent enough stuff- but that’s about it.

Real quick- thought, the “amount” of new home construction going on in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth is huge–the prices ain’t cheap– I was just wondering, where- are all the people gonna come from and why are they- willing to pay such high prices for what I think is “second rate” stuff! Now I’m no real estate expert, but the homes that I saw, were quoted at $600,000-$850,000…personally, I wouldn’t give you 2-cents for them. Take these homes “out” of the South Florida Market-like maybe to Reno and they would probably fetch tops $225,000-$300,000. Well each to their own! I guess a lot of New York City school teachers are getting ready to retire!

Anyway-back to Wok & Go,

Wok & Go is open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-9:30pm, Sunday 4pm-9:30pm.