* Balloon Masterz Entertainment, 10332 Willow Oaks Trail, Boynton Beach, Florida 33473, (954) 296-2624.

For something like 20 years, Jeff Eats has been hearing about- Bobby The Balloon Guy…last night, I finally I got to meet and watch the “MAN”- considered by many to be the best “balloon twister” in America.

Nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats is far from being an expert on the “balloon twisting” industry… What I do know, is that every time I’ve been to a restaurant, festival, party- when there is a “balloon twister”- kids and adults lineup to get one made…

Now trust me on this, there are balloon twisters and then there are BALLOON TWISTERS. The stuff that Bobby was cranking out last night was incredible–I’m talking intricate-detailed sculptures. Just so you know, this guy doesn’t make those lame- Black Magic Marker Dotted Eyed Dogs that you see all over…so if Black Magic Marker Dotted Eyed Dogs that you see all over– are what you are looking for, forget Bobby The Balloon Man he’s not for you!

In talking with Bobby The Balloon Man-I learned that he started Balloon Masterz in 1992 and has been working South Florida ever since. In addition to balloons, Balloon Masterz also provides all types of novelty services such as photo booths/magicians/face painting.

You can check Bobby The Balloon Guy out at www.balloonmasterz.com.

***** Falafel Gourmet, 4344 State Road 7, Coral Springs, Florida 33073, (954) 752-8340.

Falafel Gourmet is a Mediterranean Market…the joint has a handful of outdoor tables where “prepared food” can be eaten.

Jeff Eats has been a steady-customer since 2009 in that Falafel Gourmet is my go to place for hookah flavors/supplies…and if you believe that, I got this bridge in Brooklyn that I want to sell you!

Anyway,

To make this story easy, Jeff Eats has “attached” Falafel Gourmet’s Take-Out Menu which includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, plates.

A recent outing had me “trying” spinach pie, falafel, beef kabob pita sandwich–and I gotta tell you, Falafel Gourmet makes delicious stuff.

To wrap things up…

Falafel Gourmet is basically a Mediterranean grocery store–it also makes dynamite food that can be taken-out/or eaten outside on the sidewalk.

Falafel Gourmet is open Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm and Sunday 10am-8pm.

* Gallagher.

Jeff Eats has seen this legendary-comedian twice. Both times, I laughed my ass-off while wearing a raincoat.

Gallagher is retiring and is currently on a “farewell tour.”

Gallagher has 4-Florida appearances scheduled…at Visani Restaurant & The Comedy Zone, 2400 Kings Hiway, Port Charlotte, Florida 33980, (941) 629-9191–July 2nd (2 shows) and July 5th (2 shows).

You aren’t getting any younger- nor is Gallagher.

If you haven’t seen him-live…you owe it to yourself to do so (Is this proper English?).

You can check www.visani.net for tickets/other stuff.

* Nothing Lasts Forever!

Betcha a buck that you know these names…

Clay Aiken
Kellie Pickler
Sanjaya Malakar
Chris Daughtry
Katharine McPhee
Adam Lambert
Jennifer Hudson

Now-real fast, tell Jeff Eats the names of the 4 current finalists on American Idol’s Season 13 airing on FOX. I’ll make it even easier for you, name just one!

Only goes to show you that nothing lasts forever.

***** Glazed Donuts, 420 Eaton Street, Key West, Florida 33040, (305) 294-9142.

Look! Jeff Eats isn’t trying to be some kind of Town Crier-or something like that!

With that in mind…

I just want you guys to appreciate that chains like Dunkin’ Donuts are sort of like Fredo Corleone, you know-on face, the real deal–but in actuality, n o t h I n g! Now, Michael-he was the real goods.

Anyway…

The other day I found a donut-joint named Glazed Donuts in Key West…trust Jeff Eats on this one, the real deal. Handful of tables–and some of the most delicious donuts that I have ever eaten.

Unlike the “donut chains”–everything at Glazed Donuts is made in house.

Jeff Eats did a “mixed dozen” and I gotta tell you that Glazed Donuts’ signature- glazed donut was delicious. In all seriousness, after eating one of these suckers–Krispy Kreme’s glazed donuts should be ashamed of themselves. The joint also does an apple fritter, key lime pie, chocolate glazed and a maple bourbon bacon glazed that are amazing. Being a mom & pop joint, Glazed Donuts is constantly changing its daily lineup–but the 6-donuts that I just mentioned are “always” available.

For you coffee drinkers, Glazed Donuts brews its own coffee. Mrs. Jeff Eats thought the coffee was as good as her Starbucks’ favorites–just so you know, Jeff Eats has “coffee sticker shock” so- is the wrong person to ask -about coffee…I still remember 5 cent-cups and to this very day- all black coffee tastes the same to me.

Glazed Donuts is a grand slam.

You can check menu/prices at www.glazeddonutskw.com.

Glazed Donuts is open 7 days a week 7am-3pm.

* M.E.A.T. Eatery & Tap Room.

In recent months, a number of people “raved” to Jeff Eats about M.E.A.T. Eatery & Tap Room in Islamorada, Florida. The raves–great burgers, fries, beer, bbq.

Just so we are straight, Jeff Eats has never been to– nor eaten in M.E.A.T.–but I will tell you, it’s an absolute pain in the ass to type M.E.A.T.

Anyway,

This afternoon, Jeff Eats learned from his buddies at BurgerBeast www.burgerbeast.com that- in a couple of weeks, M.E.A.T. is opening a second location in Boca Raton at 980 North Federal Highway. After getting the “scoop” Jeff Eats visited the Boca site-which is on the ground floor of an office building/booths & tables are actually in the lobby…real cool configuration-but I’m not so sure this “setup” is gonna work in Boca Raton-time will tell! One other thing- nothing for nothing, based on what Jeff Eats saw- there is no way that this “construction site” will be ready in two weeks… But then again, Jeff Eats thought that McGovern was going to trounce Nixon. We’ll see!

You now know as much as I do about M.E.A.T.

You can check www.meateatery.com for menu/prices/other stuff.

***** Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar, 1800 Sawgrass Mills Circle, Sunrise, Florida 33323

Just so we are straight with each other, Jeff Eats isn’t a shill for Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar…just a HUGE fan of this upscale-burger chain.

If you do some checking, Jeff Eats has already run 2- Zinburger stories (1/22/13 & 3/18/14)–the gist of both, Jeff Eats knew Zinburger from its Tucson location and discussed its plans to open in Boca Raton. End of stories!

To make a long story short,

This morning, Jeff Eats received a PR-piece from Zinburger announcing the opening of a Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar in The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills on Tuesday, May 20, 2014.

Crazy! Jeff Eats was so “busy” watching Boca Raton (which by the way is still under construction) that I didn’t see Zinburger-Sunrise coming. Well you live and you learn.

Anyway,

Assuming- that the Sunrise joint is like the Tucson joint, you gotta try Zinburger.

The chain which currently has a handful of -locations in Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia describes itself as- “… offers a mouthwatering gourmet burgers, salads and sides, decadent shakes and desserts and a carefully crafted selection of wine.”

You can check www.zinburgereast.com for men/prices/locations/other stuff.

No fooling here…Zinburger is exactly-what an upscale-wait service burger joint is suppose to be.

***** Hilltop BBQ of Ocala, 5848 South Pine Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34480, (352) 620-0684.

Got a real good “takeout” bbq joint for you…Hilltop BBQ of Ocala in Ocala. No inside seating- The joint does have a handful of outside picnic tables so you can eat there like Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats did.

Real simple…delicious smoked pulled pork- brisket- baby back ribs. Just so you know, Jeff Eats isn’t a huge fan of “smoked” stuff- that said, Hilltop’s SMOKED is sort of like The 3 Bears- you know the deal- just right! Hilltop also makes 3-bbq sauces mild/medium/hot- and I gotta tell you the “mild” was right on the money-with just the exact amount of sweetness for this Brooklyn boy’s trained palate.

You can check menu/prices at www,hilltopbbq.com.

Hilltop BBQ is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-7pm, closed Sunday-Monday.

* The Diamonds.

Jeff Eats recently received the following email…

Jeff:
I know that you know your Rock N Roll business.
Our community just announced that The Diamonds www.thediamonds.com will be appearing in mid-2015 in our theater.
Please take a look at the provided website. The group members sure don’t look or for that matter sound like the group I danced the stroll to as a kid.
Your thoughts.
Thanks,
MS
———-

MS:

The Diamonds are a legendary 1950’s-60’s group with mega hits such as The Stroll and Little Darlin’.

Let’s leave it at this…

The current members didn’t sing on any of the hit recordings. The current members never appeared on American Bandstand. The current members aren’t members of the Doo Wop Hall of Fame. The current members aren’t members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The current members aren’t on the American Graffiti soundtrack. That said, based on videos that I’ve seen, the current members put on an extremely entertaining show-but so does Jeff Eats’ dog-Jiggy Eats, but Jiggy doesn’t claim to be Lassie and I don’t claim to be Jeff Miller or for that matter Timmy Martin.

One final point, you should know that copyrights, trademarks and other legal mumbo jumbo- make today’s -The Diamonds -perfectly legitimate.

Hope the above helps you out…

***** Greek Islands Taverna, 3300 North Ocean Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308. (561) 565-5505.

Not exactly sure as to exactly how long Greek Islands Taverna has been around, but Jeff Eats first ate there…some 22 years ago. By the way, back then I wasn’t -Jeff Eats (Mister, does this make sense?- courtesy Jackie Mason 1985). If I recall correctly, I thought that the food was just-ok but definitely nothing special going on at the joint.

In the ensuing 22 years, I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about this Greek joint.

Nothing for nothing, until last night–that first dinner was the only meal that Jeff Eats had done at Greek Islands Taverna.

Anyway,

Last Sunday night I bumped into an old friend Steve S.–who raved and raved and raved- about Greek Islands Taverna. It was Steve’s raving-that got Jeff Eats to Greek Islands Taverna last night for dinner #2.

Décor-wise…think- a large Brooklyn Greek Diner and you’ll be good.

You can check www.greekislandstaverna.com for menu/prices.

Now- for the “second dinner”…

Greek salad, char-broiled lamb chops, gyros, moussaka- now-nothing for nothing Jeff Eats just doesn’t get it–that’s the rave reviews. The Greek salad/gyros/moussaka were good, but nothing that I can’t get elsewhere–as for the lamb chops, they were so lemony, I had to send them back to the kitchen and get an order sans the lemon.

The call here…Greek Islands Taverna was ok-but for people to be “carrying-on” about how great it is…NO WAY JOSE!- or should I say -NO WAY NICKALAUS!

Greek Islands Taverna is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm, Sunday noon-10pm.