***** Grandpa’s Pizza & Pasta, 27030 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135, (239) 992-7119.

Got something real-good for you Bonita Springs-folks…

Grandpa’s Pizza & Pasta…a hole in the wall that makes delicious pizzas, pastas, salads, strombolis/calzones, subs. This is a cash-only affair (there’s an ATM in the store) and don’t plan on eating there, because it’s takeout only.

The other day, Jeff Eats and a couple of buddies were in Bonita Springs to checkout some “musical acts” at The Stage (see review 8/28/11) and heard about Grandpa’s from some locals…

No fooling around here…one of the best New York Style pizzas I’ve had in a very long time…same for the ricotta/mozzarella/ham calzone, meat lasagna and chicken parm sub.

You can check Grandpa’s menu/prices at www.grandpaspizza.net.

From what I understand, Grandpa’s has been around for something like 34 years…so I’m thinking that I’m not so crazy on how good I think the food was.

Grandpa’s Pizza & Pasta is open Monday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm, closed on Sunday.

***** Florida Snow Factory, 1909 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, (954) 284-6782.

Let me start off by saying…Jeff Eats loved Florida Snow Factory.

This joint is what I call-a no brainer…shaved ice, hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, low calorie soft serve ice cream–what’s not to like!

Florida Snow Factory “looks” just- like your typical-generic ice cream/yogurt store. Order at the counter/handful of tables. BUT trust me here…the stuff it’s cranking out, puts most of the competition to shame.

Rather than my dancing around with this one…go check www.floridaysnowfactory.com for menu/prices/info.

All I can say is that if you-don’t like Florida Snow Factory…then- there is definitely something seriously wrong with you.

Florida Snow Factory is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

* Now We Gotta Worry About Niacin!

Just read this one in USA Today.
*****
“A possible overdose of an important vitamin might be behind the mysterious symptoms linked to Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice served at schools in Texas on Friday. The product has been recalled and the Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use it.

Students at three public schools in Katy, Texas, experienced burning, itching rashes, headaches and nausea after eating Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor on Friday. The symptoms disappeared after 30 to 90 minutes.

A previous incident on Dec. 4 sickened 25 students in Illinois with similar complaints after the school lunch included the grain. North Dakota reported a similar incident at a day care on Oct. 30.

FDA tested rice that was left over from the Illinois school lunch and the results showed an increased amount of niacin, or Vitamin B3, in the rice.

“Overexposure to niacin can lead to skin reactions such as redness and flushing, itching and dry skin. Very large doses can cause indigestion and nausea,” said FDA’s Theresa Eisenman.

“There is no confirmation at this time that the Texas incident was caused by excess niacin, and the rice eaten was not part of the previous recall. Investigation into this outbreak continues,” Eisenman said.

Niacin is one of several essential human nutrients routinely added to foods. Lack of niacin can cause a disease called pellagra that causes nausea, skin and mouth lesions, headache and exhaustion.

U.S. bakers began to use flour fortified with niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and iron in 1930. Before flour was enriched, pellagra was associated with poverty and poor diet in the United States.

Mars Foodservices, the maker of Uncle Ben’s rice products, is recalling all bags and lot numbers of its Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice products produced in 2013.

The recall does not affect Uncle Ben’s Brand Ready to Heat, Boxed, Bag or Cup products sold directly to consumers at grocery stores and other retail outlets.

The rice was sold in 5-pound and 25-pound bags. It is typically distributed to restaurants, schools, hospitals and other commercial establishments. It is possible that consumers might have purchased the products over the Internet and at warehouse-type retailers, the FDA said in a release.

The FDA said food service companies and consumers who have purchased the products should not use the rice, and should return it to their point of purchase or dispose of it.

* DISCO MANIA.

Back on August 19, 2013–I told you guys about Disco Mania-(March 16, 2014)) that was coming to the Coral Springs Center For The Arts.

The original “article” is printed below.

I just checked the box-office and a handful of really good seats are still available.

Trust Jeff Eats on this…

I have seen all of the groups on the “bill” and each and everyone of them–puts on a great show.

No question in my mind, Disco Mania is going to be a fabulous concert.

Anyway…

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have this one on our calendar…
*****
Posted on August 19th, 2013 · Coral Springs Other
* Joey Dale’s Disco Show (Coral Springs)

Here’s a heads-up for you guys…

On Sunday Night–March 16, 2014 Joey Dale (yes! the same Joey Dale who is the lead singer of doo wop group- Joey Dale & The Gigolos) is producing a Disco Show at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33065, (954) 344-5990…starring—Tavares (“She’s Gone”-”It Only Takes A Minute”-”Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel”), The Trammps (“Disco Inferno”), Mystique, France Jolie (“Come To Me) and Joey Dale & The Gigolos’ tribute to Donna Summer and The Village People.

Jeff Eats knows that it’s August 19, 2013…but you do know that early birds catch the first worms, dont’cha?

Keep an eye on Joey Dale & the Gigolos’ site www.joeydale.com and www.coralspringscenterforthearts.com for show/ticket info.

No question in my mind that this “thing” is gonna sell-out…

So! there is no reason why you guys (who wanna go)- shouldn’t get the best seats in the house- as soon as Joey and the theatre put- tickets on sale

***** Big Apple Pizza & Pasta, 240 West Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida 33458, (561) 746-2212.

Got a terrific “red sauce” Italian joint for you…Big Apple Pizza & Pasta.

Just so you know, Big Apple has 10-Florida locations–this write-up is about the one in Jupiter.

Before we get going here, you can check www.bigapplepizza.com for menu/prices/locations/coupons.

Without naming names, you know and I know that Florida is loaded with “red sauce” Italian joints…we know there are “mom & pop” joints–also thrown into the mix, are a number of small “red sauce” chains…and to be perfectly honest with you, Jeff Eats (present company excluded) can’t name even-one small-chain that is anything more-than mediocre.

Now…assuming that the other 9 Big Apple Pizza & Pasta joints are playing on the same level as the Jupiter outpost—I gotta tell you, that I would match Big Apple’s stuff up against Florida’s best red sauce joints.

Jeff Eats absolutely loved Big Apple Pizza & Pasta.

A week or so ago I did “dinner” at Big Apple and it served-up a thin crust pan pizza that was absolutely-positively off the chart…one of the most delicious pizzas I’ve had down here in Florida. I also “tried” the joint’s antipasto salad, garlic knots meat lasagna, veal parmigiana, sausage & peppers sub–and I’m telling you everything was right on the money.

Like I said 24 seconds ago, this story is only about-the Jupiter location. IF–the other 9-locations are as strong, Big Apple Pizza & Pasta should be the master “blue-print”–on how to own/operate a small “red sauce” Italian chain.

Big Apple Pizza & Pasta is open Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm.

***** Jam & Jelly House, Festival Flea Market -2900 West Sample Road, Pompano Beach, Florida 33073, (617) 319-2877.

Any of you guys watching the tv series “Banshee” on Cinemax? Jeff Eats absolutely loves this show which takes place in a small fictional town-Banshee, Pennsylvania. Talk about gratuitous sex, fights, shootings, stabbings, gratuitous sex (I think I already mentioned this one!) and a huge Amish population–and you got the makings of a great hour of R-rated tv.

Which brings us to Jam & Jelly House–Booth #1235 in the Festival Flea Market, which sells 200 Amish (100% natural ingredients)-jams and jellies, loads of Amish made salad dressings, butters, honeys, pickle products and peanut butters.

Jam & Jelly House is a relative newcomer to the Festival Flea Market–it opened September 1, 2013. You know and I know that flea-markets are like the movie “Ground Hog Day”– 92 watch guys, 54 perfume guys, 29 saw it on tv products guys—let’s just say that Jam & Jelly House is a rare-bird, a one of a kind!

Jeff Eats recently tried…Jam & Jelly Houses’ strawberry jam-apple butter and orange marmalade and I gotta tell you—each one was absolutely delicious. I don’t know about you, but I love my morning toasted Thomas’ English Muffin with loads of butter and jam or jelly–and now I’m good to go with the 3 -19oz. jars I picked-up the other day. Just so you know, I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter, but Mrs. Jeff Eats is…so when she opens up that jar of peanut butter she bought I’ll give you guys a holler and update.

Jam & Jelly House is working on a website…so for right now-there is nothing online for you to checkout. Figure $3.99-$6.99 for the jellies, jams, butters–and I will tell you, I thought that the strawberry jam was tastier than my old Smucker’s standby. For what it’s worth…the Amish products come from North Carolina and Virginia-then again they couldn’t come from Banshee because it’s a fictional town-but you knew hat already.

Jam & Jelly House is open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 9:30pm-6pm.

* The Unexpected Boys.

Got something really good for you- Four Seasons, Beach Boys, Rock N’ Roll fans out there…The Unexpected Boys!

A few years ago, Jeff Eats caught- The Unexpected Boys in action…to say that the group is one of the best Four Seasons’ tribute acts in the world-would be an understatement. Absolutely amazing vocals and showmanship. The group’s non-stop 90 minute performance also features Beach Boys-other legendary Rock N’ Roll numbers and Broadway tunes thrown-in for good measure.

Yesterday, in reviewing various South Florida venues’ entertainment schedules- I noticed that The Unexpected Boys has a load of upcoming dates in the area.

February 28, 2014—————–Palm Isles, Boynton Beach.
March 1, 2014———————-Palm Chase Lakes, Boynton Beach.
March 2, 2014———————-Poinciana Mens Club, Lake Worth (7pm).
March 2, 2014———————-Valencia Lakes, Boynton Beach (9pm).
March 5, 2014———————-Kings Point, Delray Beach.
March 8, 2014———————-Century Village, West Palm Beach (7pm).
March 8, 2014———————-Cascades, Boynton Beach (8pm).
March 9, 2014———————-Cascades West, Port Saint Lucie.
March 11, 2014———————Century Village, Boca Raton.
March 13, 2014———————Glen Eagles Country Club, Delray Beach.
March 14, 2014———————Boca Woods Country Club, Boca Raton.
March 15, 2014———————Century Village, Hollywood.
March 16, 2014———————Tuscany Bay, Boynton Beach (7pm).
March 16, 2014———————Century Village, Deerfield Beach (8pm).
March 21, 2014———————Lakeridge Falls, Boynton Beach.
March 22, 2014———————Lakes of Delray, Delray Beach.
March 23, 2014———————Cascades Lakes, Boynton Beach.
March 28, 2014———————Emerald Point, Delray Beach.
March 29, 2014———————Riverbridge, Lake Worth.

The suggestion here is…if you are a resident/member of one of the above communities, that you make it your business to go and see- The Unexpected Boys (of course, that’s assuming that you like this type of music!). While on the subject of tickets, “some” of the listed venues (such as Kings Point) allow non-residents to buy tickets–so you non- residents/members may have a way to see certain performances.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one. The Unexpected Boys put on a fabulous show. No fooling around here, their harmonies are amazing.

Checkout www.unexpectedboys.com for venues/tickets/videos/other info.

***** Straight From New York Bagels, 4550 Executive Drive, Naples, Florida 34119, (239) 596-9933.

Got a real good- order at/pickup at the counter bagel joint for you…Straight From New York Bagels in Naples.

Real simple menu…bagels, pastries, breakfast stuff, salads, sandwiches.

Since the joint is “called” Straight From New York Bagels–let’s chat first about the mixed dozen I got…everything/asiago/pumpernickle/onion/garlic—Straight From New York Bagels’ dozen =15 bagels for 15 bucks. The bagels were kettle boiled and then baked. Straight From New York Bagels were good, actually real good—so as for the bagel-front, the joint was strong. Now, as for Straight From New York Bagels’ pastrami-corned beef-chicken salad and tuna salad–I am pleased to report, that everything was delicious–actually, I’d rate each listed item right-up there with the best that I’ve had in Florida’s bagel bakeries/restaurants.

You can check menu/prices at straightfromny.com.

Straight From New York Bagels is open 7 days a week 7am-2pm.

***** Yakko-San Restaurant, 3881 Northeast 163rd Street, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 947-0064.

Jeff Eats knows, that a ton of you guys love top-shelf Japanese food…so I went out and found Yakko-San in North Miami Beach for you. I also know that a load of you guys aren’t (just yet!) in the geriatric category—so you’ll- really enjoy that Yakko-San has separate bar-sushi bar-restaurant areas and is open Monday-Sunday- noon-3am. At this stage of the story, you can check www.yakko-san.com for menu/prices/loads of photos. By the way, for you younger folks out there–just so you know, Jeff Eats’ older “crowd” is also usually up at 1am, 2am, 3am…just not out at joints like Yakko-San. If you aren’t following me here–ask your older friends where I was/am going with this.

The joint is great looking with a semi-upscale vibe. Its got a menu packed with all kinds of soups, appetizers, sushi, sashimi, nigiri, tempura, grilled meats/fish, noodles—that your little hearts desire.

Personally, I know that Jeff Eats is well qualified to “judge” Yakko-San’s food in that I have seen-“What’s Up Tiger Lily?” (1966- saw it twice) and “The Bridge on the River Kiwi” (1957- saw this sucker at least 7 times)—so, I gotta tell you, Yakko-San served up some pretty impressive stuff. A recent dinner (6 people) had us doing…shrimp tempura roll, king crab roll, sashimi (2-tuna, 2-salmon, 2-hamachi), cucumber wrap, grilled Chilean sea bass, ginger chicken, shrimp tempura, beef fried rice, fried cheesecake roll—and not one thing came even close to missing. While we’re on the topic of food critic credentials, Jeff Eats was/is a huge fan of “Hogan’s Heroes” so-figure on seeing a German joint write-up and a discussion of Bob Crane’s death sometime in the near future.

Takko-San is a really good Japanese restaurant.

Definitely one of the best that Jeff Eats has been to- down here in South Florida.

* Speeding To Your Favorite Restaurant.

Just read this on AOL Autos…thought you guys might like to know that–

“A federal judge in St. Louis ruled Monday that a driver flashing their lights to warn other drivers of an impending speed trap is protected free speech.

On November 22, 2012 Michael Elli received a ticket for flashing his lights to warn fellow drivers of a speed trap, according to Fox 2. The American Civil Liberties Union helped Elli fight the $1,000 ticket all the way to federal court.

Judge Henry Autrey of St. Louis ruled a driver has the right to flash their lights under the First Amendment. Autrey issued an injunction to stop Ellisville Police from enforcing the policy.

“If you’re at the gas station on the corner and someone says ‘Hey be careful over there, there’s a speed trap,’ that’s protected speech. You can’t be ticketed for that. This is no different,” Tony Rothert, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, told Fox 2.

A lawyer for the police in Ellisville said the department isn’t affected by the ruling, as this kind of ticket has only been issued five or so times in the last decade. Across the country, however, the ruling will be considered the benchmark for such cases.”

Filed under: Driving Laws