* LeAnn Rimes.

Just heard that tomorrow-April 18, 2014 tickets go on sale for LeAnn Rimes who will be appearing at the Mardi Gras Casino on Saturday- July 19, 2014 at pm.

Check www.mardigrascasinofl.com for info/tickets.

Jeff Eats knows the “concert venue”-trust me, every seat is good. Not sure what the tickets are gonna run, but if history is any guide–Mardi Gras Casino won’t force you to take a second job to pay for them-and there won’t be absurd- Ticketmaster type handling fees attached.

Now not looking to start any debates or nothing, but you country-western fans gotta admit that it doesn’t come any bigger or better than LeAnn Rimes. Jeesh! Even- Brooklyn Boy Jeff Eats and Brooklyn Girl Mrs. Jeff Eats are huge fans–and we haven’t been on a horse (or shall I say pony) since we were 5-year olds.

Here’s some background on country western superstar LeAnn Rimes.
*****
LeAnn Rimes has sold more than 40 million albums, won two Grammy® Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Rimes is the youngest recipient of a Grammy® Award, and was also the first country recording artist to win in the “Best New Artist” category. Rimes has placed 42 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 13 of which are top-10 hits, and has scored numerous hit singles in her career, including “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” which went #1 in 11 countries, and “How Do I Live,” which is the second longest charting song ever on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Having released more than ten studio albums, three compilation albums and two greatest hits albums in her illustrious career, Rimes set her sights and released her most personal album yet, Spitfire, in spring 2013. Her first single from the new album, “What Have I Done,” was released December 10, 2012.

Rimes is as an accomplished actress and author, including writing two children’s books Jag and Jag’s New Friend, as well as the novel, Holiday in Your Heart and the inspirational book What I Cannot Change. She also has a new book in its beginning stages focusing on life’s crossroads.

LeAnn has long-supported a variety of charity organizations including advocating for the National Psoriasis Foundation, The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes and StandUp For Kids. She most recently began work with The Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

LeAnnRimesWorld.com



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***** Dreamette, 3646 Post Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32205, (904) 388-2558.

Every city/town-has a legendary “this or that”…from what Jeff Eats understands- Dreamette is Jacksonville’s legendary soft-serve ice cream joint.

Dreamette has been around since 1948.

It is housed in a stand-alone “shack.”

You order at/pickup at the window.

There is very limited outdoor seating.

Dreamette features vanilla and chocolate soft serve and a plethora (like that word?) of toppings and flavored “dips” that coat the soft serve. It also has milk shakes and stuff like banana splits.

A recent outing had Jeff Eats doing a chocolate soft serve covered in a peanut dip, Mrs. Jeff Eats doing a vanilla soft serve covered in caramel dip and a “joint-effort” of a chocolate soft serve with a strawberry dip. No fooling here, all 3-cones were amazingly delicious.

Like I said a few seconds ago, Dreamette has been around since 1948. Based on Jeff Eats’ birthdate this joint was in business before I was even a twinkle in my parents’ eyes. Based on the what I saw, I seriously doubt that Dreamette’s exterior has been remodeled or fixed-up since 1948–which makes the joint even cooler to Jeff Eats way of thinking.

The best way to sum Dreamette up…delicious soft serve/in a real McCoy old location.

Jeff Eats loved Dreamette which is open 7 days a week noon-8:30pm.

***** Tommy’s Brick Oven Pizza, 4160 Southside Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32216, (904) 565-1999.

Got a terrific pizza joint for you…Tommy’s Brick Oven Pizza in Jacksonville. Real simple concept-order at counter/pickup at counter/handful of tables.

You can check Tommy’s menu/prices at www.tbopizza.com.

You know and Jeff Eats knows that this food reviewing game is purely subjective…what you like-I might hate and vice versa.

With that in mind, Tommy’s makes a thin crust/sweet sauce New York slice that’s delicious. No fooling around, this pizza could hold its own- against the best stuff served-up by NYC’s pizza joints.

You now know about Tommy’s–where, if your taste-buds are like mine…you can get a terrific slice of pizza.

Tommy’s Brick Oven Pizza is open Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, closed on Sunday.

***** The Donut Shoppe, 1535 University Drive North, Jacksonville, Florida 32211, (904) 743-1844.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one…I know my donuts–I seriously doubt that there is anyone in America who knows donuts better than I do–except maybe for some current/and retired members of the New York City Police Department.

With the above in mind, Jeff Eats would match Jacksonville’s–The Donut Shoppe’s donuts against any player in America. Now nothing for nothing-as I just recently found this joint, but I understand, that for the past 52 years it has been cranking out donuts Tuesday-Sunday 5am-1pm (closed on Monday) to a constant line of customers (I know that sounds a bit over dramatic)–by the way, don’t tell the IRS (look at today’s date) but The Donut Shoppe is a cash-only joint.

Not going to bore you -telling you about the mixed dozen I “had”…suffice it to say, after eating these donuts you’ll know that Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme (to a lesser extent) got you hooked on-shall we say -g a r b a g e…there I said it!

One final thought, just so we are straight with each other, garbage is ok-unless real-good stuff is available nearby. You know, “any port in a storm.”

While I’m on Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’s donuts are made in a central commissary and then delivered to its stores- Krispy Kreme is now building a “small foot print” store which follows the Dunkin’ commissary model. Obviously- the economics of baking in house, doesn’t work for these huge chains. Finally, I don’t know about you, but I find Dunkin’s donuts to have an oily after-taste and Krispy’s glazed donuts don’t taste so-hot (pun intended) when they aren’t straight out of the oven.

The Donut Shoppe is a great joint to know about. The only problem that Jeff Eats got with the joint–it’s only open until 1pm and a drive from Boca Raton every morning would be a bit nerve racking.

End Of Story!

* Rodeo Clowns.

Jeff Eats recently received the following e-mail:

Jeff,
Love your site. You really do have some great picks.
I know that you closely follow the music here in South Florida.
My husband and I are planning a bbq at our home in Coral Springs for sometime in late August.
We are thinking that we will have close to 110 people coming.
I know that you have mentioned a number of local rock bands.
Could you give us a name of a really good local reasonably priced country western band.
We love country western and think that it would be fun at our bbq.
Thanks,
JW
*****
JW:

Got a really good 5-member country western group for you–Rodeo Clowns.

You can check the group’s website www.therodeoclownsband.com for videos/playlists/schedule. You can call (954) 326-0453 for booking information.

During the past 18 months, Jeff Eats has seen this group something like 5-6 times and I gotta tell you–each and every time they killed it. Trust me, they are an outstanding country western cover band.

If you want to check them out “live”–the group works pretty- steady at the Mardi Gras Casino and Seminole Coconut Creek Casino.

Hope this helps.

* Chicken Salad Chick.

Here’s one for you-that Jeff Eats will bet that you’ve never-ever heard of…Chicken Salad Chick!

Real simple concept–a fast food chain that specializes in CHICKEN SALAD.

That’s right, I said an Auburn, Alabama headquartered- fast food chain that specializes in CHICKEN SALAD.

For right now, Chicken Salad Chick has 15 locations. There are 12 locations in Alabama-Georgia-South Carolina. There are 3- Florida stores-Destin, Panama Beach, Tallahassee.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats has yet to try Chicken Salad Chick. The chain was recently brought to my attention by my good friend Mike- who raved about the concept/food after eating in the Destin outpost.

At this stage of the game you guys can check www.chickensaladchick.com for menu/other info.

In reviewing Chicken Salad Chick’s website…something like 15 different types of chicken salad, handful of soups, handful of deli sandwiches for the non-chicken salad crowd. Order at the counter-food is delivered to your table. In checking with the Company-all of the chicken salads are prepared in-house on- a daily basis. Chicken Salad Chick has been around since 2008 and has been franchising since 2012.

Let me wrap this up for you…

One of Jeff Eats favorite food “items” is chicken salad. I love good chicken salad. As a matter of fact, I enjoy chicken salad so much-that every now and then- I’ll actually buy the pre-packaged chicken salad that Publix sells in its deli-department…which by no stretch of the imagination- could ever be considered anything but-fair at best.

Just in case we find ourselves one day on that tv-show The Newlywed Game…I love chicken salad topped with chopped onions and bacon- on a toasted everything bagel.

You now know about Chicken Salad Chick a player in the chicken salad business.

***** Penguin Pretzel Factory, 852 Old Country Road 54, New Port Richey, Florida 34653, (727)807-6963.

Real simple concept…fresh-hot-hand rolled- soft pretzels with all kinds of toppings, fresh-hot-hand rolled-soft pretzels stuffed with all kinds of fillings.

Order at the counter…2 tables inside, 2 tables outside.

Jeff Eats loved the stuffed bacon/cheddar and the stuffed bbq pulled pork pretzels. By the way these stuffed pretzels ain’t your Auntie Anne’s pretzels–the dough alone weighs in around 1/2 lb.

Look! This stuffed/topping-pretzel “thing” is a variation on a theme–Jeff Eats has seen it done with knishes, burgers, calzones, pies, yogurt, turkeys. That said, Penguin’s stuffings worked for me. Not really sure that a retail-store concept based on toppings and fillings is sustainable–but as I said a few seconds ago, Jeff Eats loved the product.

You can check www.penguinpretzelfactory.com for menu/prices/other info.

Penguin Pretzel Factory is open Monday-Friday 11:30m-7pm, Saturday 11:30am-6pm, closed Sunday.

One final thought…

Over the years, Jeff Eats has bought SUPERPRETZEL (www.superpretzel.com)-a frozen baked soft pretzel (6 to a package) at Publix. I have baked, microwaved or toasted SUPERPRETZEL and topped with mustard, marinara sauce, melted cheddar, pastrami, corned beef–and have always enjoyed my handy-work. So, if you don’t live near Penguin Pretzel Factory- you can make amateur versions of its menu-pretzels until you can try the real McCoy-s.

* The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.

Way back on August 11, 2009–Jeff Eats told you guys about a new fast food bagel joint, The Original Brooklyn Water Co. that had just opened for business in Delray Beach.

Since that date- The Original Brooklyn Water Co. has grown to 13 Florida locations and 5 other outposts in other states.

Over the years, Jeff Eats has eaten-in and taken-out a number of times from the original (pun intended) Delray Beach joint.

Good bagels, good spreads and good coffee is the best way to describe The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.

To be perfectly honest with you, in the past 5 years or so, Jeff Eats hasn’t really been following The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. story closely. I will tell you that I had read about a series of lawsuits filed against the Company involving its claims about having a process that “makes water into Brooklyn water.” If you check, my initial write-up briefly touched on the water-claim.

Anyway…

Yesterday afternoon, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats ate at the Delray Beach store. I had an everything/with chicken salad and Mrs. Jeff Eats had a toasted Russian pumpernickel with tuna salad–the bagels and spreads were right on the money.

This latest eating-outing got me thinking about The Original Brooklyn Water Co. and what happened to those “lawsuits.”

To answer my own lawsuits’ question: I’m not sure.

What I did learn- was that other then 2-stores (which are franchised), the other 16 are Company owned. Now just guessing here, The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (which was set-up as a franchise business)–based on its website (www.brooklynwaterbagels.com), there is no longer any mention of franchising/opportunities. That tells me, that the Company is out of the franchise business. To take it one step further, I got a sneaking suspicion that the “water system” really wasn’t/isn’t all that it was cracked-up to be and The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. “decided” not to use that “gimmick” to sell franchises–thus a Company owned store policy and no new franchises.

To wrap it up,

The bagels are good. The spreads are good. The coffee is good. The décor is cool. The service is good. The water “ain’t” so good-assuming you are looking for “Brooklyn Water.”

* Best Meatball In Town Contest.

What Jeff Eats won’t do to for a free meal!

Actually- I’m playing judge -1. To meet Sid Rosenberg, 2. To meet a Boca Raton cop who will give me a “get out of jail free card,” 3. To help the Police Athletic League get a real nice “donation” from Meatball Room, 4. To find out why Steve O and Renee have a radio show and Jeff Eats doesn’t.

Between you and me, I really want that “Get Out Of Jail Free Card.”–but that’s just between us!

* Stephen Colbert To Replace David Letterman.

Let’s put the pizza joints and ice cream joints and Chinese joints on hold for about 15 seconds…

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard that CBS- has signed Stephen Colbert to replace David Lettermen in 2015.

Now-Jeff Eats could be dead wrong here-but I think that ratings hungry CBS has made a huge
error…

Here’s why-

The way I see it, having watched Stephen Colbert in one-form-or-another…he’s basically a Liberal Democrat. Now, based on recent Presidential-Congressional elections I’m thinking that America is basically 50% Democrat and 50% Republican—Even Steven -liberal-conservative.

Now…I seriously doubt that Stephen Colbert is going to draw much of an audience from that 50% Republican-conservative segment. Folks who watch “late night” shows like Letterman and Leno (now Fallon) are looking for light-whimsical stuff-not sarcastic political humor.

Sorry CBS…you bought a guy who should be a switch hitter–but he only bats from the left side of the plate.

Catch you guys in 2015 and we’ll see how Colbert is doing.

Now, back to pizza-ice cream-Chinese joints.