* PGA Pig Out Gourmet Food Truck Expo & Custom Car Show.

Jeff Eats just received the following press release from PGA National Resort And Spa.

Just wanted you guys to know that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats-as my Great Aunt Alva use to say – “God be willing”…plan to be at the Pig Out.

Not to sound like a shill or nothing, but PGA really knows how to run events like this.

The bet here… Gonna be a great Sunday Afternoon!
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PGA National to Host Labor Day Weekend ‘Gourmet Food Truck Expo’
Event Benefits Wounded Warriors of South Florida, Features Top Area Gourmet Food Trucks, Custom Car Show, Live Music
(PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.) — PGA National Resort & Spa announces its “Gourmet Pig Out” featuring the finest culinary fare from select area food trucks on Sunday, August 31, 2014 (noon – 4 p.m.).

The family-friendly afternoon additionally features an exotic car display, vendor village, gourmet offerings from Whole Foods Market, and live music from The Replay. General admission tickets ($40 in advance, $50 at the door) include a hearty menu item from each of a collection of the most popular local gourmet food trucks in the area. V.I.P. tickets ($60 in advance or $70 at the door) include all tastings as well as access to unlimited tastings at the Adult Beverage tent and 30 minute early access. The Heineken Tasting Pavilion for VIP ticketholders will offer unlimited tastings of bourbons, whiskeys and beers. Kids’ tickets allowing them a children’s option at each truck are $20 for children 10 and over plus a fun kids zone will be a new addition to the event.

For more information and tickets visit: www.pgapigout.eventbrite.com.

A portion of the proceeds benefits Wounded Warriors of South Florida and its noble cause of empowering injured service veterans. August 31st in appreciation of our Military, Active and Retired Military personnel can enjoy a room rate starting at $89 per night including one ticket (resort fees, and taxes additional). Two free tickets to the “Gourmet Pig Out” are included with a two-night stay. Call 888.974.3885 for reservations.

Guests will have the chance to experience PGA National’s own gourmet iTRUCK offering tasty finger foods including Short Rib Mac and Cheese, Blazing Buffalo Bites, and its signature Parmesan White Truffle Fries.

iTRUCK periodically serves as the “92nd Hole” for the resort’s five outstanding golf courses, caters local affairs and occasionally joins major festivals throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.

For those seeking accommodations, PGA National is offering a special “Stay the Night” rate of $169 including two tickets. Call 855.661.1050 for reservations.

“The Gourmet Pig Out is the perfect way to enjoy the awesome food trucks of our area and as well the exciting debut of iTRUCK,” says Donald Young, PGA National’s Executive Chef. “Come have a great Sunday afternoon and help support the Wounded Warriors and its wonderful work with our South Florida veterans.”

The “Gourmet Pig Out” sponsors include Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, Gourmet Truck Expo, Whole Foods Market, Heineken, Yelp, and Localdines.com

For more PGA National Resort & Spa information: www.pgaresort.com or call 561.627.2000.

* Marty’s Hamburger Stand.

Got this email this morning from AlFromLa…

“Recent transplant from LA, now living in Miami. Would match Marty’s burgers, dogs and fries against anyone’s. Marty’s has been feeding me for over 48 years. Once you eat Marty’s you’ll have a different perspective on what great fast food is all about. Started reading Jeffeats.com about 2 weeks ago and you have a nice site going there. Can definitely see the NYC sensibilities and leanings at work. How about letting readers list their favorite old time fast food burger/hot dog/fries restaurants outside of south Florida after it’s a big country?”

*****

AlFromLa:

Great idea.

Guys if you are so inclined, list your favorite old time fast burger/hot dog/fries joints “not” located in Florida.

Jeff Eats will post photos of some of your picks.

Motz’s Hamburgers

* Chicago.

In this boy’s humble opinion…Rock N Roll’s greatest horn-band.

If you haven’t seen Chicago…Go!

Just so you know, 4 of the current 9 are original founding members -and they weren’t just “Ringos”…check the band’s site chicagotheband.com for members’ background info/other stuff.

* Restaurant.com.

The life of a top South Florida Food Blogger…

No fooling around here…Jeff Eats must get at least 25 unsolicited public relations-releases a day-from various pr firms (nothing like stating the obvious), restaurants, bars, bands, food manufacturers/distributors, franchises–literally promoting everything under the South Florida Sun and for that matter- everywhere else in the United States. When warranted, Jeff Eats passes the info on to you guys. Trust me, if I didn’t censor this “stuff” you would be reading about- a New York Kosher Deli that’s planning on opening in the Gaza Strip (don’t these guys know-location, location, location)…and the Hooters’ like sports bar with plans to open in Tehran (I’m hearing Jimmy Carter is an investor in this one).

Long story short,

This morning I got an email from Restaurant.com. If you check, Jeff Eats did a story on Restaurant.com wayback on September 10, 2009. For those unfamiliar with this site…you buy discount coupons from it…just an example, you pay $10 and you get $25 worth of food at a particular restaurant.

Anyway,

In looking at the latest “deals” I see a number of really good Jeff Eats’ restaurant picks. More important- some of the deals “look” absolutely amazing…like $15 worth of food for $1.80…or another one that gets you $25 in food for 3 bucks.

As they-teach in junior high school…make sure you read the fine print carefully.

* Ebinger’s.

Just received the following email from long time Jeff Eats’ reader CHARLES.

Have at it, with your “memories” about this iconic Brooklyn bakery chain from 1898-1972.

By the way, the Ebinger’s photo above-is the exact store that Jeff Eats’ mother shopped in.
*****
Suggestion –
Everyone who grew up in Brooklyn has fond memories of Ebingers – I still miss their blackout cake – CHARLES

* Sandra Bernhard.

Jeff Eats has been a huge-fan of comic Sandra Bernhard seemingly forever…I got hooked on Bernhard after seeing her in Martin Scorcese’s 1985 film “The King of Comedy” which starred Robert DeNiro and Jerry Lewis. Over the ensuing years, she developed into a comic diva with a huge fan base.

If you want to see an edgy/controversial/funny/offensive/brilliant/campy performer–then make it your business to catch her at Jazziz Nightlife (in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park)-where she is slated to perform on Tuesday, August 12th and Wednesday, August 13th at 7:30pm.

Bernhard’s show-called Sandyland-a combination of comic wit/vocal prowess backed by her band The Flawless Zircons-has received rave reviews all over the country.

For more information/tickets…

jazziz.com
sandrabernhard.com

***** Little Louie’s Italian Kitchen, 4254 Southwest 152nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33185, (305) 225-1500.

Got a really good “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint for you…Little Louie’s Italian Kitchen in Miami.

Handful of tables-and absolutely positively nothing fancy going on here. As the Dave Clark sang, “The name of the game, is I like it like that.”-and Little Louie’s is exactly “how” Jeff Eats likes his “mom & poppers.”

Now you know and I know- that “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joints are a dime a dozen down here in South Florida- with that in mind, “we” can afford to be kinda picky when it comes to laying down our hard earned cash..

Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and a couple of friends recently gave Little Louie’s a shot for dinner-and I gotta tell you, the calamari fritti, Caesar salad, lasagna bolognese, veal parmigiana, frutti de mare, cheese pizza that were delivered to our table were all-right on the money. Us guys know-that pecking orders are silly, but I gotta tell you that the frutti de mare was outrageously good and the thin/crisp/sweet sauce pizza was absolute dynamite. Now don’t get me wrong, everything else was delicious, but these two “dishes” were homeruns!

As expected, Little Louie’s menu has the full boat of expected appetizers, pastas, pizzas, subs, entrees (that come with soup or salad/garlic rolls/pasta side ). Check menu/prices/info at littlelouiesitaliannkitchen.com.

Like I said a few seconds ago, “a dime a dozen”…

Let me wrap this up for you. If Little Louie’s was by my house-Jeff Eats would be a very steady eat-in/takeout customer. The stuff I “had” ran circles around the-food served up by most of the “mom & pop” red sauce joints down here in South Florida.

Little Louie’s Italian Kitchen is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 111am-11pm.

* Tastemakers at Mizner Park presents “Rock, Roll & Stroll.”

Just this very minute, received the following press release (below) about an event -Tastemakers at Mizner Park presents “Rock, Roll & Stroll” set for September 17, 2014.

Give a read…

Just a gut call, but based on the venue, restaurants, bands and companies involved- “Rock, Roll & Stroll” is gonna be an absolute blast. That $30 ticket price looks like a real good deal to me!
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BOCA RATON, FLORIDA (July 6, 2014) – Tastemakers at Mizner Park presents “Rock, Roll & Stroll,” a fabulous progressive food and cocktail tasting featuring many of center’s restaurants and live rock music, on Wednesday, September 17 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

“We are very excited about this year’s new ‘rock & roll’ theme with two live bands playing throughout the evening and are pleased to partner with the City of Boca Raton,” said Barbara Finn, marketing manager for Mizner Park. “This event has been so successful in years past we extended it into the Mizner Park Amphitheater to include a separate craft beer tasting and additional entertainment.”

The Mizner Park Amphitheater will be host to craft beer tastings from the Florida Beer Company, Gold Coast Distributors, Harpoon Brewery, and the New Belgium Brewery, and music by rock band, Amp’d.

Tickets, available at www.miznerpark.com starting August 1, are $30 per person and include one tasting and select beverage at each participating restaurant with presentation of the VIP Ticket Book. Tickets may also be purchased at each participating restaurant. In addition, the ticket booklets will include re-usable exclusive offerings from various Mizner Park eateries valid August 1 through October 31, 2014.

Featured Mizner Park “Tastemakers” are:

Dubliner – Shepherd’s Pie with Guinness Mac & Cheese and Irish soda bread, paired with a special “Black Velvet,” combination of Guinness and Cider.

JAZZIZ Nightlife – Beef Carpaccio with horseradish aioli, black truffle and homemade potato chips served with a Blood Orange Cilantro Margarita.

Kapow! – Banh Mi Vietnamese Baguette (slow-cooked pulled pork, buttery spicy aioli, cilantro, pickled carrots, daikon and jalapeno) with a Spicy Lover cocktail (Partida Reposado Tequila, cucumber, lime juice, tabasco green sauce, cilantro, and organic agave nectar)

Max’s Grille – Crispy Duck Spring Rolls with spicy vegetables, soba noodles, pickled cucumbers, and Asian dipping sauce served with a Strawberry Saketini made with Stoli Vanilla Vodka, Tyku Sake and fresh strawberries.

Racks – The A+A Roll made with hamachi, jalapeno, spicy tuna, crispy shallot, cilantro and avocado with Boca Lemonade, a refreshing mix of Stoli Vodka and Tyku Lemonade.

Ruth’s Chris – Mini Seared Ahi-Tuna complimented with Aspirated sauce with hints of mustard and beer, served with a Raspberry Rosemary Cosmo made with Absolut Raspberri, Cointreau, lime & cranberry juices, muddled raspberries and rosemary.

Tanzy – Housemade Ceder Plank Salmon with red pepper, lima bean, Israeli couscous and cucumber fennel salad paired with Prickly Pear Sour Sop Margarita mixed with cactus fruit, Florida Guanabana, hand-squeezed lime, El Jimador Tequila Reposado.

Truluck’s – Fresh Seasonal Crab Claws served with Lagaria pinot grigio.

Uncle Julio’s – Pineapple Bacon Guacamole & crumbled queso fresco paired with the popular Julio’s Gold, Uncle Julio’s special hand-shaken margarita.

Villagio – Eggplant Rollatini – braised eggplant stuffed with seasoned ricotta cheese with marinara, parmesan, and melted mozzarella; and the Acai Thini, a blend of Acai Vodka with Cointreau, sour mix and a touch of Blue Curacao.

Yard House – Ahi Poke Bowl – marinated raw Ahi and avocado with carrots, Daikon radish, macadamia nuts and wontons served with Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Beer.

* The Lettermen.

Real simple story..,

In 1966 I saw The Lettermen in concert at Ithaca College. I was a 17 year old freshman and a ticket cost $2.25.

To this very day, I remember The Lettermen’s hauntingly beautiful harmonies and despite numerous personnel changes -still consider this trio- one of the most “beautiful” vocal acts of all time. Lead by original member Tony Butala the group still performs all over the world.

I’m not ashamed to tell you, that I love this groups’ sound. The Lettermen’s vocals rival anything that Johnny Mathis, The Four Seasons, Steve Lawrence and Andy Williams ever recorded.

It hasn’t been publicly announced, but The Lettermen will be appearing at the Magic City Casino in Miami on January 24, 2015, Kings Point in Delray Beach on January 30, 2015 and The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach- February 3-7 2015. I have no idea as to what tickets will-run (but I’d bet they’ll be more than $2.25)… All I can tell you, if you want to see-hear what great-vocal harmony is all about, then you gotta go see The Lettermen.

You can check thelettermen.com for further information.

* Medicare & Food!

Last month Jeff Eats got a letter from Medicare.

In a nutshell the letter told me that effective October 1, 2014 I was eligible for medicare benefits.

After reading the letter, I turned to Mrs. Jeff Eats and said “I can’t believe how old I’m getting.”-now you know and I know that a couple of expletives were used-but this after all is a family read.

Now maybe it’s just me, but after literally spending days on the computer/phone learning about Supplements G, F, C and all kinds of Advantage plans-I also decided to learn the intricacies of “Sitting Shiva.”-just so you know, I appreciate that some of you folks are gonna have to Google the term-shiva…

By the way, if this “story” is too touchy of a subject for some of you guys-the suggestion is to stop reading…

Anyway,

Jeff Eats found this really cool site Shiva Connect (shiva connect.com) which has a load of info-on how to do a shiva “right.”

So…

If this Supplement F thing doesn’t quite workout for Jeff Eats…

Deli Platter and fish platters from Zinger’s Deli in Boca Raton.
Bagels and Bialys from Bagel City South in Boca Raton.
Fruit baskets and pastries from The Boys Farmers Market in Delray Beach.

For Daughter Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats for “sitting around reminiscing about Jeff Eats’ days”…
1. Pizza pies from Spadini’s Mizner Pizzera in Boca Raton.
2. Chinese food from Bamboo Wok in Boca Raton.
3. Greek food from Chris’ Taverna in Lake Worth.
4. Burgers and fries from Five Guys Burgers & Fries in Boca Raton.
5. Sushi from Japango’s in Boca Raton.

You guys do know -that you can never be too prepared!

One final thing, if “this” actually happens, make sure Daughter Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats tell you the story as to how a rented Auto’s GPS tried to make me drive into a lake in Connecticut. Great story!