***** Joe’s Diner, 9331 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida 34108, (239) 254-7929.

Let me ask you guys something…

Do you really think that there would be anyway that Jeff Eats would pass-up eating in a joint named Joe’s Diner? Real easy…Nope!

Joe’s Diner has more- faux 1950’s retro checkerboard tablecloths and linoleum tile flooring–than there are Chins in a Chinese phonebook (courtesy Soupy Sales- 1957)–and Jeff Eats loved every red/black and black/white square!

Real simple concept…loads of tables/counter/outdoor patio seating—huge “all day” breakfast menu, salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees, desserts.

You can check menu/prices and “millions” of décor photos at www.joesdiner.com.

Now- nothing for nothing, Joe’s Diner isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here! What we got- is a tee shirt/shorts/sneakers-flip flops’ joint that serves real good-food at real reasonable prices–with a bunch of real friendly servers- making for a real pleasant outing.

Based on the fact that Joe’s advertises “Breakfast All Day Every Day!”–Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats did burgers, meatloaf and fried chicken–just fooling, we did breakfast…ordering the Bull Durham omelet, The Rocket omelet, Famous Crunch French Toast and I gotta tell you, that all three dishes were terrific. No fooling here–definitely one of the best breakfasts- Mrs. Jeff Eats and I have had in a very long time. You may- then again you may not- be wondering what was “in-or on” the mentioned omelets and/or French toast–so, let’s make this an inter-active review–and you can check (if you like) www.joediners.com for “ingredients.

Joe’s Diner is a huge winner.

Joe’s Diner is open Monday-Friday 6am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 7am-3pm.

***** Bo’s Ice Cream, 7101 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33604, (813) 234-3870.

Bo’s Ice Cream…free standing/soft serve ice cream joint—walkup window/drive thru/seating-2 outdoor picnic tables.

Think Dairy Queen or Carvel and you’ll be on the right page.

What makes Bo’s “special”? –well for starters-the joint has been around since 1954…the vanilla soft serve covered in butterscotch–the upside banana split in a cup–the chocolate soft serve with Heath Bar (like DQ’s Blizzard–but it’s called Thick N Chunky)–that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats gobbled down.

Call me sentimental, but while sitting at one of the picnic benches–Jeff Eats just imagined what terrific times/memories–this 60 year old joint had generated.

I don’t know about you guys…but I remember “my” Sam’s Candy Store—Brooklyn circa 1950s-1960s as if it was just yesterday.

The way I see it, it’s the Bo’s of the world that help put things in proper perspective–but that’s just me!

Bo’s Ice Cream is open 7 days a week 11am-11pm.

***** Coney Island Sandwich Shop, 250 Dr. Martin King Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33705, (727) 822-4493.

Coney Island Sandwich Shop has been in business since 1926…counter seating/handful of booths. Give or take–the joint probably looks just like it did when it first opened for business some 88 years ago (I did the math for you).

Real simple menu–hot dogs, hamburgers, handful of sandwiches, shakes…no french fries.

Coney Island Sandwich Shop is “famous” for its Smithfield pork/beef flat-top grilled hot dog topped with yellow mustard/chopped onions/chili–washed down by one of its milkshakes -so, when in Rome, Jeff Eats does as the Romans do–I had a chili dog and washed it down with a chocolate shake. On the hot dog side of the ledger–okay, but nothing great…as for the shake-real good. The tab with-tip $7. By the way, this is a cash-only joint.

Let me wrap Coney Island Sandwich Shop up for you…when you walk into the joint it’s as if you went back in time…really-really cool. Nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats loves really-really cool, but -if Coney Island Sandwich Shop didn’t have the Memory Lane Card in its deck…it would be hard for me to recommend a visit.

Coney Island Sandwich Shop is open Monday-Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 11am-4pm, closed Sunday.

* The Steven Seagal Band.

For those of you who might-care, The Steven Seagal Band will be at Hard Rock Live on Monday-June 16, 2014 at 8pm. As if you’ll need it-there is an Internet-Pre Sale on 3/27 11am-11pm and the Passcode is GUITAR.

In all seriousness, Jeff Eats is expecting a sell-out tomorrow-as I understand that Seagal has promised to personally visit the home of every person who received the Internet-Pre Sale email and didn’t buy a ticket.

Please Act Accordingly!

***** Square 1 Burgers & Bar, 5031 South Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 931-8111.

Got an absolutely terrific- full service BURGER joint for you…Square 1 Burgers & Bar. For right now, this small Florida-chain has 6 locations with a seventh location scheduled to open in The Villages, Florida early next month.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats “tried” the Square 1 Fort Myers’ location–so this “critique” is only for that particular joint.

Real fast…

Square 1’s décor is done in “cow”–check website www.square1burgersbar.com and you’ll know what I’m talking about. It has indoor/covered outdoor patio seating–and a full bar that serves both inside/outside window seating. The joint’s menu is basically salads, burgers, shakes.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one…If you like flat top grilled burgers (beef, chicken, duck, turkey, lamb, kobe, veggie) French fries, onion rings, shakes–you’re gonna love this joint.

A recent outing had Jeff Eats doing a cheeseburger (burgers are 6 oz.) with French fries…Mrs. Jeff Eats did a lamb burger with sweet potato fries. We split a chopped salad and an order of onion rings. Our meals were washed down with chocolate and vanilla shakes–by the way, Square 1 uses Blue Bell Ice Cream in its shakes.

Let me wrap this up for you…

Square 1 Burgers & Bar is a homerun. The only problem- I have with this chain–is that for right now it’s not “chaining” in the Dade-Broward-Palm Beach area. I am telling you, Square 1 Burgers would absolutely kill-it in “our” neighborhood.

You can check menu/prices/photos/locations/other info at www.square1burgersbar.com.

Square 1 Burgers & Bar is open Sunday-Wednesday 11am-10pm, Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight.

* Another Cookie Story For You!

This morning Jeff Eats “did” two cookie-stories…”College Cookies” and “Insane Cookies.”

Thought you guys you would enjoy reading this-story “Girl Scout Break Cookie Selling Record” that I just read on AP-

One quick thought, this kid would be real “dangerous” at a Tupperware Party…Can’t even fathom what it would be like to “encounter” this kid while walking into Publix!
*****

“Girl Scout Breaks Cookie Selling Record…18,107 boxes of cookies. That’s what it took for an Oklahoma City sixth grader to narrowly break the national record for Girl Scout cookie sales.

According to ABC, 12-year-old Katie Francis has broken a 30-year-old record of 18,000 boxes. She was also the top cookie seller nationwide in 2013.

The Oklahoman points out Katie broke the state record in Oklahoma the last two years. She told the paper she has sold thousands of boxes in the past.

“Well, the first year that I sold, I sold 2,004. The year after that, I sold 7,482. And then just this last year, I sold 12,428.”

So what’s Katie’s secret? According to USA Today, it’s a whole lot of dedication.

Katie says she asks everyone she sees if they would like to get a box. On school days, she would be out selling cookies all over the area until after 9 p.m. And, on weekends, she’d spend at least 12 hours out on the streets selling cookies, with her mom driving her around the city.

Katie’s mom told the paper her daughter hopes to sell 100,000 boxes of girl scout cookies by the end of her girl scout career. As for this year, Katie still has a few more days to sell cookies. Girl Scout cookie sales end March 30.”

* College Cookies!

Jeff Eats recently got an email from Tad G. Take a look at it:

Hey Jeff,

Like you, my parents were born in Brooklyn.
My dad attended Madison HS and my mom went to Lincoln HS.
Based on your site’s bio, your about 8 years older than they are.
We moved to Delray Beach in 2004.
I’m currently a junior at the University of Miami.
I have friends at colleges all over the United States and a number of them told me that there are local companies that deliver in the evening fresh baked cookies/milk/other items to dorms and apartments on/near campus.
There is a company in Miami named Night Owl Cookie doing the same thing.
I was wondering as to what you think of this type of business?
The reason I ask, I was thinking that maybe this cookie delivery business could develop into a huge national business with a handful of dominant players.
My dad and a few of his friends maybe willing to bankroll a startup for this.
Would appreciate your thoughts.
*****
Jeff Eats “reply”–

Tad G.:

The cookie “delivery” business that you mentioned is an interesting concept.
Jeff Eats first heard about it about 6 years ago from a student at Indiana University.
Since then, I have kept an eye on the “industry” and note that many “college towns” have some type of variation on the concept.
If you check Insomnia Cookies (www.insomniacookies.com) which was started in 2003 by a University Of Pennsylvania student currently has 40 locations.
Not to burst any bubbles, but personally I think that it’s a limited business.
Unlike pizza, wings–I just don’t see “cookie delivery” as being really huge no matter what time it is.
Not saying it doesn’t work, but I don’t think that it works everywhere like Burger King, Subway.
I think that cookies are a really limited product.

Hope my thoughts help.

* Insane Cookies, 9924 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024, (954) 800-0350.

Real fast…

Mrs. Jeff Eats has a real-good friend (let’s call her Mrs. Baker) who is an absolutely phenomenal “home” baker…over the years, Mrs. Baker has baked pies, breads, cakes, cookies–that rival some of the best stuff that I’ve eaten/gotten in South Florida’s best bakeries/restaurants.

To make a long story short…

The other day Mrs. Baker told me that I had to check out–Insane Cookies in Pembroke Pines. Insane’s story…it’s a “fresh baked” cookie business (owned by Brandy Cohen) that shares space with a kosher/retail bakery- Master Cake Bakery in Pembroke Pines. You can order cookies 1 of 3 ways, place the order at the store, order online (www.insanecookies.com), or call the store ((954) 800-0350). All of the cookies are baked to order-and Insane Cookies usually needs 48 hours lead-time. Mrs. Baker told me that Insane Cookies were absolutely incredible. Mrs. Baker also told me, that Insane Cookies will “bake” any combination–that your mind can conjure up. On the delivery front, Insane Cookies–pickup at the store, or Insane for a fee will have the cookies delivered to you.

Based on the “source” and some “internets” checking, Jeff Eats-placed a phone order with Brandy Cohen. I’ll have the cookies in a day or so–so I’ll let you guys know if Mrs. Baker came-up with a winner for us.

One final thought, just so you know- Jeff Eats “knows” his cookies…not to be a name dropper-or nothing, but in my day I’ve gotten from the best-like, Sutter’s Bakery, Glaser Bake Shop and William Greenberg Desserts–so I’m qualified to make the call-here!

In the meantime, take a look at the “list” of cookies- Insane Cookies has:

Cookie Flavors:
A – Cannibal – Classic Cookie with Mini Oreos
B – Chocoholic/PMS* – Chocolate Brownie Dough with Dark Chocolate Chips
C – Daddy Issues* – Chocolate Chips with Pecans
D – Day Dreamer (Piña Colada)*- Rum, Coconut Flakes & Pineapple Chunks
E – Delusions of Grandeur*- White Chocolate Chips, Macadamia Nuts & Caramel Bits
F – Exhibitionist* – White Chocolate Chips, Cranberries & Pistachio Nuts
✩ – Family Dysfunction*- Pumpkin Spice Dough with Creamy White Chocolate Chips (Seasonal Cookie)
G – Feeling Blue* – Lemon Dough with White Chocolate Chips & Blueberries
H – Homesick*- French Toast Dough topped with Cinnamon Sugar
I – Identity Crisis*- Peanut Butter Dough with Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter Chips & Mini Reese’s Cups
J – Imposter* – Chocolate Brownie Dough with Raspberry Filling
K – Insomniac* – Coffee Flavored Dough with Extra Espresso Powder & Jumbo Dark Chocolate Chips (Mocha Espresso)
L – Martian Abduction* – Red Velvet Dough with White Chocolate Chips
M – Masochist * – Spicy Chocolate Brownie Dough with Chocolate Chips (Crushed Red Pepper added for “inferno hot”)
N – Mommy Issues* – Classic Chocolate Chip
✩ – Narcissist *- COMPLETELY CUSTOM- Choose Your Dough and Up To Any 3 Add-Ins
O – Peter Pan Complex* – Mini M&Ms & Sprinkles
P – Procrastinator* – Coffee Flavored Dough with White Chocolate Chips (Caffé Latte)
R – Shopaholic* – Classic Dough with four kinds of chips: Chocolate, Butterscotch, White Chocolate & Peanut Butter
S – Simply Nuts* – Peanut Butter Dough with Macadamia Nuts, Unsalted Peanuts & Walnuts
T – Sunshine Addiction – Butterscotch Chips & Pretzel Sticks
U – Thrill Seeker – Chocolate Brownie Dough with Green Mint M&Ms & Chocolate Covered Mint Pretzels
V – Wallflower – Cinnamon Oatmeal Dough with Raisins & Walnuts

Assortments:
Custom Assortment* – Choose any three cookie flavors per dozen
Sol’s Crazy Assortment – 2 dozen cookies, which includes 4 of each of these flavors: Cannibal, Chocoholic/PMS, Delusions of Grandeur, Identity Crisis, Mommy Issues and Procrastinator
Sol’s Kooky Assortment – 2 dozen cookies, which includes 4 of each of these flavors: Day Dreamer, Family Dysfunction, Feeling Blue, Homesick, Thrill Seeker and Wallflower
Sol’s Wacky Assortment *- 2 dozen cookies, which includes 4 of each of these flavors: Daddy Issues, Exhibitionist, Insomniac, Martian Abduction, Peter Pan Complex and Simply Nuts
Marta’s Loco Assortment *- 3 dozen cookies, which includes 36 of the most popular flavors

* Rosa Mexican Does Passover!

Just got the “below” email from the “upscale” – Rosa Mexicano (www.rosamexicano.com) which currently has 3 New York City, 2 Los Angeles, 2 Washington D.C. and 2 Miami locations.

For those of you who celebrate Passover! What’cha think?

Just so you know, years ago (1981-1991) long before Jeff Eats moved to South Florida–Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats use to eat pretty regularly at Rosa Mexicano’s original outpost on 1st Avenue and 58th Street in NYC. The food and service were dynamite and “my” Brother-In-Law and Sister-In-Law who lived 1 block away from the restaurant always treated–a win win, all the way around!

Just a gut-call- as I haven’t been- but I’ll bet that the current Miami-outposts are real-strong…way back when in NYC the food was top-shelf.

Anyway…

“Hi Jeff,
I wanted to gauge your interest in Rosa Mexicano’s (www.rosamexicano.com) 12th annual Mexican Passover, April 14-22, celebrating this favorite-food holiday with a Latin twist on classic Passover dishes, from haroset to brisket. Blending Jewish tradition with current culinary trends in Mexico City, highlights from this year’s menu include:
· Sangria Haroset: Herradura blanco tequila, honey, cinnamon, lemon, cold-pressed apple and Manischewitz reduction
· Matzoh Ball Pozole Soup: Jalisco-style with chipotle-marrow matzo balls
· Matzoh-Breaded Chicken Breast: with an arugula, tomato and jicama salad, tamarind vinaigrette and salsa verde
· Banana Leaf-Wrapped BBQ Beef Brisket: with dried fruit tsimmes and glazed baby carrots
· Copa de Mango: Fresh whole mango scooped and filled with dice mangoes and coconut ice cream. Topped with raspberry sauce and buñuelos.
Happy to provide additional info or images should this spark an interest. Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
Alex”

***** Kings County Pizza, 18228 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 792-9455.

Kings County Pizza–real simple concept…basically a takeout/delivery joint doing pizza/subs/wings/salads/handful of entrees.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats recently got to “try” Kings County’s stuff while watching some “March Madness Basketball” at our friends’ home in North Miami. Coming and going–I’m thinking about 25-30 people were enjoying the event. For the record, the Jeff Eats Family’s- dogs in the fight- are the University of Connecticut and the University of Arizona…and as of this morning, we are looking-good! Just in case you are wondering how we got those two “teams”–one of these days I’ll show you the student loans I’m still paying-off for Daughter Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats.

Anyway…

Our friends picked up a ton and I do mean a ton of food from Kings County Pizza–pizzas, calzones, stromboli, garlic knots, salads, subs, pastas.

Just so we are straight with each other…you guys do know- that “ITALIAN STUFF” always tastes good–at “events” like this…good friends, good sports, beer/liquor/soda–it’s all good!

Putting the excitement on the side burner…

“Tasted” items included–Caesar and caprese salads, margherita pizza, grandma pizza, chicken parm/meatball parm/sausage peppers subs, meat lasagna, baked ziti, garlic knots…and I gotta tell you, Kings County Pizza’s food was delicious. If this joint was by- my house, it would definitely be on my takeout/delivery list. For those of you who insist on “particulars”–the garlic knots were off the chart as were the margherita and grandma pizzas…I liked the Caesar better than the caprese, but Mrs. Jeff Eats saw it just the opposite way (see how stupid this micro-reviewing is?)…

Let me wrap this up for you…you guys in North Miami Beach got a winner! You can check menu/prices at www.kingscountypizza.com

One final thought, Jeff Eats was born in Kings County, lived in Kings County from 1949-1979, went to elementary school/junior high school/high school/law school in Kings County and my first legal job was with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office–(you guys can now show your creativity and fill-in a cute tie-in with Kings County Pizza).

Kings County Pizza is open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm, Sunday noon-9pm, closed on Monday.