* Mardi Gras Comedy Challenge-2014

Literally just this second, Jeff Eats got the “below” press-release about Mardi Gras Casino’s 2014 Comedy Challenge.

The release has-event details.

All Jeff Eats can tell you-is that Mardi Gras Casino’s 2011, 2012, 2013 Comedy Challenges drew huge crowds–and this year’s Challenge will be no different!

Just so you know, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are planning on catching Judy Tenuta and John Heffron in action. Hope to see you there!
*****

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Mizrachi

Mardi Gras Casino Announces the 2014 Comedy Challenge,
Featuring Headliner and Last Comic Standing Winner John Heffron!

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Comedy Challenge has kicked off! Hundreds of stand-up comedians from around the country came out to strut their stuff and compete for the chance to open for John Heffron and win $5K during the Grandstand Finale in November. The eighteen funniest contestants from the auditions will move on to the semi-final rounds. From there, just six contestants will advance to the final round. But…only one contestant can be crowned the ‘Mardi Gras Comedy Challenge Champion’! Hilarious featured comics performing during the semi-final rounds include Eddie Brill, Marion Grodin, Artie Fletcher, Vanessa Hollingshead, Tommy Savitt, and Adam Hunter. Judy Tenuta will perform during the final round.
**Tickets are $15 for Semi-Final rounds, $20 for Final round, and $25 for Grandstand Finale. All tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at www.mardigrascasinofl.com.

ABOUT JOHN HEFFRON
John Heffron burst onto the comedic scene during the prime of his college heyday. Since then, his comedy has evolved in a unique and creative fashion as he has grown from a fun-loving college student to a bewildered newlywed.

The endless list of credits comprises his impressive resume and highlights many significant accomplishments. He not only won the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, but was also a finalist in the subsequent season. Heffron’s amusing and extensive material has earned him two separate half hour specials on the hit stand up show, Comedy Central Presents and he has become a regular on numerous VH1 satire series including I love the 80s: 3D, I Love the 70s: Volume 2, and My Coolest Years: My First Time. In addition to being featured on Thom Filicia’s Dress My Nest, Heffron has performed on CMT’s Coming to the Stage, NBC’s Late Friday, and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend. He has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilbourne, and E!’s Chelsea Lately and 101 Craziest TV Moments.

John is no stranger to live audiences and has taken the stage at several prestigious comedy festivals including the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal and the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen. John even had the recent honor of being a celebrity roaster for KISS’ Gene Simmons on an episode of A&E’s Gene Simmons: Family Jewels. From his early days as Danny Bonaduce’s wingman on Detroit’s number one morning show, Danny Bonaduce and the Q Crew, to one of his current roles sharing the screen with Courtney Cox-Arquette on FX’s Dirt, Heffron has hailed experience from many talented comedians. However, John’s endless innovation can easily be seen in his own comedy. His first live stand up CD, Kid with a Cape, debuted over ten years ago. As a result of his constant touring, his routine has developed and grown and two more successful recordings, Good Kid, Bad Adult and The Better Half, have been released.

The schedule is as follows:
Semi-final rounds
Venue: Jokers Wild Comedy Club & Bar
September 4-5 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Eddie Brill
September 12-13 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Marion Grodin
September 20-21 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Artie Fletcher
September 26-27 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Vanessa Hollingshead
October 10-11 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Tommy Savitt
October 16-17 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Adam Greenberg
Finals round
Venue: Jokers Wild Comedy Club & Bar
October 24-25 Time: 8 pm Headliner – Judy Tenuta
Main Event
Venue: Grandstand
November 8 Time: 8 pm Headliner- John Heffron
Opening act for main event – TBD (Contest winner)

Mardi Gras Casino is located at 831 North Federal Highway on the corner of US-1 and Pembroke Road. The casino offers over 70,000 square feet of casino excitement featuring over 1,000 of the hottest Las Vegas-style slot machines, including Progressive slots, virtual roulette and blackjack, as well as The Dog Pound, Mardi Gras’ smoker-friendly slot area; 30 action-packed poker tables; simulcast and greyhound racing; entertainment; and various dining options. For more information, call 954-924-3200 or visit www.mardigrascasinofl.com. Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mardigrascasino or follow us on twitter at http://www/twitter.com/MardiGrasFl.
###

Lisa Mizrachi
ADVERTISING SUPERVISOR

831 North Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach, FL. 33009
lmizrachi@mardigrascasinofl.com | 954-924-3200 ext. 3160
www.mardigrascasinofl.com

China Fortune, 5761 Northwest 7th Street, Miami, Florida 33126, (305) 261-9988.

China Fortune…”mom & pop” Chinese joint.

You can check menu/prices at miamichinafortune.com.

China Fortune has the expected “American” Chinese food stalwarts. A recent lunch had Jeff Eats doing, wonton soup, egg roll, bbq spare ribs, sweet & sour chicken, shrimp with lobster sauce.

Now you know and I know that this food reviewing gig-is totally subjective…so what you like, I might hate and vice versa. That said, I’m kinda thinking that you and I would agree-no matter what, that the soup was as bland as could be, that the egg roll was soggy, that the ribs were tough, that the sweet & sour chicken looked and tasted as if it had been refried and the shrimp dish-like the soup- was just bland.

Now nothing for nothing, maybe China Fortune’s “stuff” tastes better the next-day right out of the refrigerator…but Jeff Eats didn’t take a doggy bag home, so I’ll never know the answer to the morning-after question.

Real fast…Who had the hit August 1973- record- The Morning After?…Sheesh, Maureen McGovern!

China Fortune is open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm, Sunday 12:30pm-10pm.

***** Glicks Kosher Market, 7351 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33446, (561) 637-5771.

Jeff Eats recently received the following email…

Hi Jeff
My husband and I recently moved from Woodmere, New York to Delray Beach. We settled in about 3 weeks ago. We lived in Woodmere for over 43 years and the Woodro Kosher Deli was our go to place for deli dinners and holiday catering. We “keep’ kosher, but not to the ultimate extreme, if that makes any sense to you? We recently came across your site and of course most of your restaurant recommendations don’t work for us. We did see Ben’s Kosher on your site and a few others. Being from the Island we know Ben’s but Woodro was always our favorite. Big question, for the holidays and home meals can you recommend a really good KOSHER place where we can get the type of soups, chopped liver, brisket, meats, fish, baked goodies that we know from the Island? Your help would be really appreciated.
Thank you,
The Posners

*****

The Posners,

Got the perfect Kosher-joint for you…

Glicks Kosher Market in Delray Beach.

When you taste Glicks’ stuff, you’ll swear you were back in Woodmere.

You can check Glicks out at glickskoshermarket.com.

Welcome to Florida,
Jeff Eats

* La Ferme.

Literally just this second, Jeff Eats received the “below” pr-piece.

You guys can read it for yourselves…

In a nutshell, William Walden the former Executive Chef of short- lived-Bistro Gastronomie has now teamed up with new partners-with plans to open a new French restaurant-La Ferme in the “old” Bistro Gastronomie digs

For what it’s worth, Bistro Gastronomie (see Jeff Eats’ story: 12/13/13) “struckout”- Chef Walden and his new teammates are -now up at bat…same location, miniscule decor remodel, revamped menu/price.

The big question, has Walden learned to hit the curveball?

We’ll soon find out.

Jeff Eats will keep you guys posted…

*****
La Ferme in Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, FL, September 2, 2014 – Well-known Manhattan restaurateurs

Bobby, Laura and Alexandra Shapiro have teamed with Chef William Walden on La Ferme, a French bistro in West Boca Raton. La Ferme (laferme.kitchen) will open mid-September and will feature Modern French Bistro Cuisine served in a fun, upbeat and exciting setting. The menu will have a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients and the restaurant will swource its own oysters and mussels. The restaurant will be approachable and reasonably priced.

The Shapiros currently own and operate two Manhattan locations of Flex Mussels, and in the past have owned Vanessa, Texarkana, La Louisiana, Hoexters, Uzie’s, and Gianni’s in both Southstreet Seaport, New York and Baltimore, Maryland. In Prince Edward Island, Canada they owned and operated Dayboat and the original Flex Mussels. Additionally, Bobby was David Liederman’s partner in David’s Cookies.

Chef William Walden has been a renowned chef and restaurateur for 30 years in the Washington, DC area and was featured on the Great Chefs TV series. Chef Walden served with the late Francois E. Haeringer at L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, Virginia, consistently ranked the #1 restaurant in the region and frequented by U.S. Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries and other notables. A native of a Loudoun County, Virginia farm, he first learned to cook at age 8 in his grandmother’s grocery store, McClain’s Grocery. Chef Walden was appointed executive chef for Giant Gourmet by the late Israel Cohen at age 18 and served as an owner of two esteemed Washington-area restaurants and was, most recently, with Bistro Gastronomie in Boca Raton.

“Chef Walden is one of the nation’s leading chefs and we are thrilled that he will lead our culinary team at La Ferme,” said Bobby Shapiro. “La Ferme will feature his delicious French dishes and our menu will also have small plates and bar bites to make this an everyday restaurant. It will be more creative, fun and interactive, with a particular focus on health conscious execution.”

“Working with Bobby and the Shapiro family is an absolute inspiration,” said Chef Walden. “Some of the nation’s most influential chefs have graced the kitchens of the Shapiro family’s restaurants, and Bobby is one of the few people I have encountered whose passion for great food parallels mine.”

The menu will adjust with seasons but items will include: Burgundy Escargots sizzling in their shells a la Persillade; Classic French Onion Soup with King Cut Gruyere; Grilled Octopus, Salad Nicoise with seared tuna; Seafood Plateaus featuring Maine Lobster, East Coast Oysters, Gulf Shrimp, Crab Louis, and Florida Stone Crab Claws (in season); King Crab Legs; Prince Edward Island Mussels done three ways: Dijonaise, Billi Bi, or Thai Curry; Natural Foie Gras Torchon; authentic Moroccan Tagines (Chicken, Lamb, and Vegetable); all natural beef; Hanger Steak Frites; Chateaubriand Bouquetier; Slow Braised Short Ribs; Beef Bourgignon a la Julia Child; Steak Tartare; Roast Chicken for two with Potato Pie and Accoutrements; and Fresh Skatefish Au Beurre Noir.

Shutter Design Associates, based in Wilton Manors, handled La Ferme’s design. La Ferme, a 120 seat 3,000 square foot restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating as well as a large bar area, is located at 9101 Lakeridge Blvd., off of Yamato Road and just West of Lyons Road in West Boca Raton. The restaurant is the site of the former Bistro Gastronomie, where Chef Walden served as executive chef. The restaurant will feature an excellent wine collection with a variety of estate grown selections.

La Ferme is open daily for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and will feature happy hour specials, Monday – Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. (bar only). The restaurant accepts all major credit cards and reservations by phone or through OpenTable. For more info call 561.430.3731, visit the website laferme.kitchen or email info@laferme.kitchen.

***** Starlight Diner, 1141 Southwest Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, Florida

Faux 1950s-1960s diner- no brainer for Jeff Eats to figure out the “faux” part of the story- as the joint has only been open about a year!

A recent lunch had me “testing” bacon cheeseburger, french fries, grilled chicken club, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, Reuben, chocolate shake–and I gotta tell you -everything was right on the money…throw in the retro decor, oldies music on the juke box, service as pleasant as can be, real reasonable prices, all day breakfast, doo wop groups/oldies bands performance schedule and it would be fair to say, that the joint hooked Jeff Eats.

Look! In my “travels” Jeff Eats has seen a ton of retro-diners. Some guys do it well and some guys do it not-so-well…Starlight Diner does it real-good. If this joint was by my house- which unfortunately it’s not, it would definitely have me as a regular-steady customer.

You can check menu/prices at starlightdinercc.com.

Starlight Diner is open Monday-Thursday 7am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 7am-9pm, Sunday pm.

* John Caparulo.

Jeff Eats knows its Labor Day- but there is an old saying “the early bird catches the first worm” or something like that!

On December 4-6, 2014 John Caparulo-one of America’s funniest young comedians is playing the Fort Lauderdale IMPROV.

Trust me I know -the shows are something like 90 days away, but guaranteed all of them will be SRO (Standing Room Only).

If you want to literally laugh your ass off, plan on seeing this guy.

For further info/tickets improvftl.com, johncaparulo.com

* Classic Albums Live.

Jeff Eats recently caught a concert performed by CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE.

In a nutshell-an absolutely amazing group of musicians “play” a well known Rock N Roll album-note for note, cut for cut, live!

Trust me on this one, this Classic Albums Live isn’t-Joe the Barber or Fred the AC guy-picking up a few bucks playing in a band on the weekend…just so you understand what’s going on “here”- Classic Albums Live has a huge number of members- which musicians perform -depends on location and the covered album selected.

DON’T BELIEVE OLD JEFF EATS AS TO HOW GOOD THIS “GROUP” IS- then go to classicalbumslive.com and checkout Classic Albums Live for yourself!

Classic Albums Live is one of the best tribute/cover acts that I have ever seen!

Classic Albums Live performs all over the United States and Canada.

Printed below is the band’s upcoming schedule.

For our purposes, the band has shows scheduled in Florida- September 11-14, 2014 and October 9-12, 2014.

One final thing, checkout Gold Star Events (reviewed 8/26/14) goldstar.com–it has discounted tickets for Classic Albums Live concerts.
*****
09/06/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road The Colonial Theatre Pittsfield, MA
09/11/14 Prince – Purple Rain Parker Playhouse Fort Lauderdale, FL
09/12/14 Prince – Purple Rain The Lakeland Center Lakeland, FL
09/13/14 Prince – Purple Rain King Center Melbourne, FL
09/13/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL
09/14/14 Prince – Purple Rain Capitol Theatre Clearwater, FL
10/09/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Shenkman Arts Centre Ottawa, ON
10/09/14 The Beatles – The White Album Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts Orange Park, FL
10/10/14 The Beatles – The White Album The Lakeland Center Lakeland, FL
10/10/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Rose Theatre Brampton, ON
10/11/14 The Beatles – The White Album King Center Melbourne, FL
10/12/14 The Beatles – The White Album Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
10/16/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell The Playhouse Fredericton, NB
10/17/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Confederation Centre of the Arts Charlottetown, PE
10/17/14 Led Zeppelin – I Georgian Theatre Barrie, ON
10/18/14 Led Zeppelin – II Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre Elliot Lake , ON
10/18/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Imperial Theatre Saint John, NB
10/22/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road Sean O’Sullivan Theatre / Brock University St. Catharines, ON
10/23/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Camenco Capitol Arts Centre Port Hope, ON
10/24/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Sanderson Centre PAC Brantford, ON
10/24/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road Hettenhausen Center for the Arts Lebanon, IL
10/25/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Centennial Hall London, ON
10/25/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road Governors State University PAC University Park, IL
10/29/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Richmond Hill PAC Richmond Hill, ON
10/30/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Oakville Centre PAC Oakville, ON
10/30/14 Prince – Purple Rain ArtsQuest Centre at Steel Stacks- Musikfest Cafe Bethlehem, PA
10/31/14 Prince – Purple Rain Mohegan Sun Casino Uncasville, CT
11/14/14 Led Zeppelin – II Centre in the Square Kitchener, ON
11/14/14 Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon Sangamon Auditorium Springfield, IL
11/15/14 Fleetwood Mac – Rumours Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL
11/21/14 Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon Burlington Performing Arts Centre Burlington, ON
11/21/14 The Who – Who’s Next Massey Hall Toronto, ON
11/22/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road Gallo Center for the Performing Arts Modesto, CA
11/29/14 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell Showplace Performance Centre Peterborough,
12/05/14 The Beatles – Abbey Road Grand Theatre Kingston,
12/13/14 The Beatles – The White Album Oakville Centre PAC Oakville,
12/18/14 Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here Imperial Theatre Sarnia,
12/20/14 Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon Milton Centre for the Arts Milton,
01/16/15 Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon Paramount Theatre Rutland,
01/30/15 The Beatles – Let It Be Roy Thomson Hall Toronto,
03/06/15 Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti Massey Hall Toronto,
04/25/15 Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here Massey Hall Toronto,

* MDA Show Of Strength Telethon.

Right now watching the TELETHON!

Trust me your problems are just small potatoes…

Don’t sweat the small stuff…

Forget about ordering that late night pizza or that yogurt run- 1 800-344-4863 and do the right thing.

***** Da Burger Shack.

Real fast…

This afternoon, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “did” PGA Pig Out Gourmet Food Truck Expo & Car Show (Palm Beach Gardens) and we had an absolute blast. Terrific food, outstanding drink, great band, cool cars, beautiful weather, fun/creative vendors, easy going/fun crowd, great staff.

Suffice it to say, that Jeff Eats ate like a freaking- pig…to be honest with you, every food truck killed it!

Not my style to do “pecking orders”-but I must tell you that food truck -Da Burger Shack “turned out” one of the most delicious charbroiled bacon cheeseburger sliders that Jeff Eats has had in a very-very long time. LOVED IT!!!!

I understand that Da Burger Shack services Dade/Broward/Palm Beach-Counties…

You can check Da Burger Shack out at dabgrshack.com–(305) 380-9999.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-8/31/14).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items.

12″ Chicken Salad Sub (Laspada’s calls “them” hoagies)
$9.85.

Laspada’s Original Hoagies
2240 Northwest 19th Street
Boca Raton (there are 4 other South Florida locations)
(561) 393-1434
laspadashoagies.com
Latest Review: 7/18/08

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you- that 12″ sub can easily feed 3 people. Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, Laspada’s chicken salad is absolute dynamite, but that’s just between us.

Posted July 18, 2008
***** Laspada’s Original Hoagies, 4346 South Grape Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida 33348 (954) 776-7893.

Laspada’s is a “sub-grinder-hoagie-heroes”!(or whatever you call them) joint. There are currently 3 South Florida locations…Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Davie and Coral Springs. The Lauderdale joint is the original location…I must have gotten stuff there at least 20 times…I have also been to the Coral Springs location twice…Never been to the Davie store.

The guys who own Laspada’s are “masters” at making phenomenal-fantastic hoagies. Take a look at Laspada’s website at www.laspadashoagies.com for menu/pricing…also take a look at the photos of the stores and sandwiches being made.

If you want to eat absolutely incredible stuff, then you absolutely want to get to a Laspada’s. The joints are open 7-days a week for lunch and dinner. Keep in mind, that there is very limited seating and the game is primarily takeout.