***** Foster’s Grille, 11071 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, (561) 333-6720.

Foster’s Grille…small franchised fast food “burger” chain with locations in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland–currently 3 in Florida

Real simple menu– char-grilled burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, salads, shakes, beer. Order at the counter/food delivered to you. Booth, table, counter seating.

A recent lunch had Jeff Eats “doing”- cheeseburger, Philly cheesesteak, French fries, onion rings, chocolate shake. The “verdict” good-stuff.

Now, you know and I know that the “upscale” fast burger segment is starting to get really crowded down here in South Florida…Foster’s cool-southern diner decor made my meal that more enjoyable!

You can check www.fostersgrille.com for menu/prices/locations.

Give Foster’s a try…

Foster’s Grille is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

* House of Dog.

A “glatt kosher”- hot dog, burger, salad, wrap, craft beer joint is coming to Boca Raton.

According to Boca Magazine- The House of Dog which already has a joint in Miami is set to open in Boca Raton in late 2014.

Nothing for nothing, House of Dog’s new Boca Raton location is about 6 minutes from Jeff Eats’ home. In any given week, I must drive-by the-spot something like 20 times. From what I can tell, the construction is “doing” but its got a drop more “doing” to do. Now I’m no building or permit-expert, but I’m thinking maybe another week or so–and this joint will be ready to go.

To date, Jeff Eats has not eaten in the Miami Beach-joint, but I will tell you, that I’ve heard nothing but terrific things about it.

By the way, in addition to the Boca Raton joint- House of Dog is set to open a Jacksonville location sometime in the next few weeks…

Never would have figured-Jacksonville for a glatt kosher town!

When the Boca Raton location opens, Jeff Eats will “taste test” it for you guys…and you’ll know what’s what from my perspective.

You can check House of Dog’s websiste www.houseofdogmiami.com for stuff.

One final note, printed below is a recent article that Jeff Eats read in Boca Magazine…check it out-as it adds a drop more color to the- House of Dog story. The one thing I can’t figure–Boca Magazine in one breath says that the joint is going to be kosher, yet in another says that House of Dog serves and I quote “applewood-smoked bacon”– Mister does this make any sense to you? (courtesy, Jackie Mason 1985).

Just call me Old Eagle Eye Jeff Eats…(just between you, me and the lamppost, Jeff Eats knows its “fake” bacon)…
*****
House of Dog to Make Home in Boca
Apr 21st 2014
A former burger joint in West Boca is going to the dogs. Hot dogsThat bit of whimsy comes courtesy of House of Dog, a kosher hot dog joint set to debut by year’s end in the old Boardwalk Fresh burger palace on Powerline Road. The Boca Dog is the first pup in the litter of the Miami mama, where the dogs aren’t just boiled in beer (before being griddled), they’re injected with beer.
Though you won’t get any cheese or dairy (it is kosher, after all) you will get plenty of beer, with as many as 50 artisan brewskis said to be on the menu.
That menu, btw, doesn’t dog it when it comes to dogs, with weiners tricked out every which way, from Reuben and Chicago style to Trashy Lassie (chili, applewood-smoked bacon, cole slaw, onion rings and Buffalo sauce) and Ninja (portobello mushroom, pineapple, teriyaki sauce and wasabi aioli). Also on the menu will be burgers and wings, Belgian fries and soups ‘n’ salads.
When I get more info you’ll be the first to know.

* Cowboy By Choice, 4301 Darrow Road, Stow, Ohio 44224, (330) 945-5393.

Long story short!

About a month ago, I was talking to a lawyer-friend of mind who lives in Cleveland. Haven’t seen the guy in some 13 years–but every 6 months or so- we do some catching up on the phone.

Anyway, we got to talking about JeffEats.com and he asked me if I had ever heard about an Ohio company named- Cowboy By Choice…that makes -bbq sauce, mustard, coffee, other food items, clothing/home goods. I told him no–and he told me that he had tried Cowboy’s bbq sauce/mustards and that the stuff was delicious… I told him, “that- he should stick to the law business” and that was that–until last Monday, when Jeff Eats received a package from him- which had 1 plastic bottle of bbq sauce, 2 plastic bottles of mustard and a man’s canvas jacket with a Cowboy By Choice logo printed on its back.

Now,

After receiving the package, I called him-and asked him “So how come the package?”…He told me that he and some friends were thinking of investing in Cowboy By Choice–and he wanted my thoughts on the whole megillah (some of you folks may need to use Google).

With that in mind, take a look at Cowboy By Choice’s website www.cowboychoice.com.

In a nutshell, Cowboy By Choice is trying to create a national life-style brand. Do you know what a long shot is?

Anyway,

Following the old -don’t look a gift horse in the mouth-rule… last night, Jeff Eats had a bbq- trying the mustards on some grilled Hebrew National hot dogs and the bbq sauce on babyback ribs/chicken wings–and I gotta tell you, Cowboy’s stuff was real-good. Now, you know and I know, that it would be nuts to try and describe what- the mustards and sauce tasted like (although there are tons of food critics and bloggers who do exactly that)–so I won’t, but trust me–if the mustards/sauce were sold for example in “our” in Publix–I’d be a buyer. In checking with my friend, Cowboy By Choice’s only Florida penetration to date- has been Lucille’s Bad To The Bone BBQ in Boca Raton (see Review 4/29/08) which recently ordered its Buckin’ Hot Sauce.

Look! Jeff Eats has absolutely no idea if Cowboy By Choice can “really” develop into a PLAYER…What I do know, is that its mustards and bbq sauce were delicious By the way, the canvas jacket–is the cat’s meow.

Just thought you guys would enjoy an “interesting” story–and if one day by chance- you see Cowboy By Choice products on Publix shelves–you’ll smile and say boy!- I sure wonder what Jeff Eats’ friend ended up doing!

***** King Palace Chinese Bar-B-Q Restaurant, 330 Northeast 167th Street, North Miami Beach, Florida 33162, (305) 949-2339.

Hallelujah!

Found a Chinese joint that both the Brooklyn Jewish American Chinese Circa 1952 and Real Chinese Food crowds will love…King Palace Chinese Bar-B-Q Restaurant in North Miami.

A recent outing of Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and two other couples “netted” us -egg rolls, pan fried dumplings, bbq roast pork, egg drop soup, wonton soup, sweet & sour pork, roast pork fried rice, Peking pork chops, bbq roast duck, seafood pan fried noodles, frog conjee, were all right on the money. Just so you know, that frog conjee “right on the money-call” wasn’t made by Jeff Eats who declined trying the dish-others at the table assured me that it was delicious and tasted just like chicken.

Let me wrap this up…everybody -is gonna find what to eat at King Palace.

King Palace Chinese Bar-B-Q Restaurant is real good.

The joint is open 7 days a week 11am-10pm.

* Beyonce & Jay Z.

Don’t say that Jeff Eats never gave you a heads-up:

Presale Starts: Thursday 5/1/14 at 10am
Presale Ends: Thursday 5/1/14 at 10pm.
Use Password: PREMIER
Purchase Tickets: www.sunlifestadium.com.

* FloridaMarijuanaInfo.Org.

I don’t know about you, but in recent months Jeff Eats’ e-mail has been bombarded with different articles pro-con concerning the legalization of marijuana in Florida. The latest e-mail received- is from a pro-legalization organization known as FloridaMarijuanaInfo.Org. Jeff Eats found the site to contain some very interesting and thought provoking articles!

Now follow me,

We all know that- Jeff Eats is primarily a “food blog”…that many believe that marijuana causes the “munchies”…that “munchies” are food…(you can run the string out for yourself).

On a serious not, the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is a very serious question. There are strong arguments on both side of the fence.

I thought that you some of you guys might like to follow the “issue”…and that www.FloridaMarijuanaInfo.Org would be a good site to get the ball rolling.

* The Beatlemaniax.

Jeff Eats is gonna give you two guesses as to what “type” of tribute band–The Beatlemaniax are-the first guess doesn’t count.

You know and I know that Beatles’ tribute bands are like Chins in a Chinese phonebook…a ton of them. Just a hunch, but I’d be willing to bet -that there has to be something like 500,000,000 of them worldwide.

To the point,

Jeff Eats recently caught South Florida based- The Beatlemaniax and I gotta tell you that the “lads” were really good…The band covers The Beatles 1962-1966– dresses the part, got the haircuts, got the right brand equipment and has a left handed bassist.

The Beatlemaniax play clubs/bars/restaurants/festivals all over South Florida…the group also works for cruise lines and Florida casinos.

I don’t know about you, but Jeff Eats “loves” The Beatles. No question in my mind, they “are” the greatest Rock N’ Roll band of all time. For what it’s worth- I find the bands’ music absolutely infectious.

To wrap this one up…

Over the years, Jeff Eats has seen a number of Beatles’ tribute bands (as a matter of fact, I first saw The Beatlemaniax in 5/2011) and every time-the crowd had an absolute blast listening/ dancing to the music.

If you’re a “fan”–check www.beatlemaniax.net and see if The Beatlemaniax have an upcoming date that works for you.

Just a quick note, if you enter The Beatles in Jeff Eats’- SEARCH BOX…it will bring up- other Beatles’ bands/shows that have been “reviewed” by Jeff Eats.

The Beatles-stuff is all good!

So Enjoy!

* Blues Brothers Soul Band At Meatball Room on May 10th 2014.

Jeff Eats gotta hand it to the owners of relative newcomer- Meatball Room…they are really trying to differentiate their “semi-upscale” Boca Raton-Italian restaurant from the rest of the competition…

Here’s what I’m talking about-seemingly every night–the restaurant has some type of live music entertainment…from djs, to duos, to solo acts, to tribute bands, to revue shows–Meatball Room has a constant lineup of local South Florida acts-performing inside/outside during the evening. Most of the “performances” are complimentary–while others are tied -in with Dinner-Deals.

Take a look at Meatball’s website www.meatballroom for menu/prices/entertainment schedule.

To the point…

On Saturday Night-May 10th…

Meatball Room on its outdoor patio has the “Blues Brothers Soul Band”–one of the premier Blues Brothers’ tribute bands in the country. Trust Jeff Eats on this one-I’ve seen this “act” (see Review 11/26/10) and it will have the crowd eating (pun intended) from the palms of its hands. From what I’m hearing–this 3 hour show will be tied to an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet priced at $34.95 per person. You can check www.bluesbrothersoulband.com for the band’s complete schedule/videos.

For what it’s worth-Jeff Eats knows that in the end -THE FOOD makes or breaks a restaurant…so it’s up to Meatball Room to cover all the bases…with that in mind, based on the plain pizza/penne ala vodka/chicken parm that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats had last night– the bet here is that Meatball Room has the winning formula.

* The Headliners Band.

Every so often Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats get invited to a wedding or other social event-where my tee shirt/shorts ensemble doesn’t quite work. It’s -dressing for those events that Jeff Eats is reminded that he no longer wears a 15/32 shirt or a 40 regular suit/tuxedo.

Anyway,

A couple of weeks ago, we caught -The Headliners an 11-piece Florida based wedding/corporate event band in action and the group blew both Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats away. Now I’m no Randy Jackson or nothing, but Jeff Eats knows who can sing and who can’t sing-and these “guys” covered everything from the 40’s-2014 right on the money.

The Headliners Band- definitely one of the best wedding/corporate event bands down here in Sunny South Florida.

You can check the band’s schedule/other info at www.theheadlinersband.com.

So, if “elopement” isn’t in the cards…you now know a band that should definitely be looked at.

***** Stoupsy’s of Athens, 320 Southeast 1st Street, Miami, Florida 33131, (305) 372-3663.

Stoupsy’s of Athens…fast food Greek joint in Miami. Order at/pickup at counter. Handful of tables inside/handful of tables outside.

Stoupsy’s menu not exactly on the huge side-but trust Jeff Eats, you’ll definitely find what to eat from its salads/sandwiches/platters.

A recent outing had me “doing” gyro sandwich ($6.50) and mousaka ($5.50) and I gotta tell you–Stoupsy’s makes some real good stuff.

Just so you know, Stoupsy’s isn’t exactly a Jeff Eats’ “undiscovered gem”–I was there on a Tuesday afternoon around 12:30pm and the line to order–was out the door with literally every office worker in Miami waiting to chow down.

Let’s wrap (pun intended) Stoupsy’s up for you…real good stuff, big portions, fast service, reasonable prices.

Stoupsy’s of Athens is open Monday-Friday 7am-4pm, Saturday 8:30am-3pm, closed on Sunday.