***** Chef Chen Chinese Restaurant, 11557 North Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida 33176, (305) 274-6799.

Who in a million years would’a figured…Kendall has one of the best Chinese restaurants in all of South Florida!

Now nothing for nothing…Jeff Eats is talking “1950’s Brooklyn-Jewish stuff” and not the “authentic” Chinese (whatever the hell that is?) that many of you food experts fancy…no seasoned squid or spiced jelly fish for this 1966 Erasmus Hall High School alumnus.

Jeff Eats is talking…wonton soup, egg rolls, pan fried dumplings, spare ribs, roast pork fried rice, pepper steak, sweet & sour pork, shrimp with black bean sauce, chicken chow mein, honey garlic chicken, vanilla/chocolate/strawberry ice cream, pineapple chunks dessert.

The other night, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple gave Chef Chen a shot for dinner…Like I said 19 seconds ago, some of the best Chinese food that Jeff Eats has eaten in South Florida.

Just so you know, everything we had was delicious…That said, knowing my crowd- I know that some of you need a pecking-order…let’s just say, that if-when– you eat at at Chef Chen’s. make sure you get the ribs and shrimp with black been sauce…hope that helps you out!

Neighborhood Chinese restaurant prices and service…Your shorts/tee shirt/sneaker ensemble will work well there.

Just a quick comment, many YELPERS out there have to learn, that limited knowledge of a foreign language (in this case English) doesn’t necessarily mean that the Chinese “help” is indifferent, rude, nasty—it just means, that the “person” can’t be as engaging or witty or endearing as your 25 year old minds think they should be!

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

Chef Chen Chinese Restaurant is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-10:30pm.

* Valentine’s Day Doo Wop/ Oldies Concert—2014

Got a terrific Doo Wop/Oldies idea for “some” of you guys…a Valentine’s Day Doo Wop/Oldies Concert at the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium—Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.

Take a look (printed below) at a PR piece which Jeff Eats just received…real-good lineup of acts-including one of Jeff Eats all-time favorites, The Duprees.

You can order tickets on-line at FAU’s website…www.fauevents.com

Nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats has recently seen all of the scheduled doo wop/oldies “acts” live (now! it would have been quite a trick to have seen them perform- dead!) and I gotta tell you-everyone of them sounded great.

Just so we are straight…Jeff Eats knows that a load of readers couldn’t give a rat’s ass about this type of music…Jeff Eats also knows, that a ton of you guys are huge doo wop/oldies’ fans—so as “they” say, act accordingly…
*****
Date: February 14, 2014
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium

Enjoy an evening of the greatest love songs of all time with the stars who made your favorite hits. The Duprees (“You Belong to Me”), The Dixie Cups (“Chapel of Love”), Emil Stucchio & The Classics (“Till Then”), The Knockouts (“Darling Lorraine”) and, back by popular demand, The Platters’ former lead singer Sonny Turner (“Only You”). As always, expect surprise guests singing their hit records. VIP tickets include a private reception with the stars.

This concert is part of a 3-show “Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp Live!” series featuring the top artists of the 50’s and 60’s. For discounted 3-show subscription packages, please call 1-800-564-9539.

* HELP DAVE OUT!

Got this e-mail from reader Dave…maybe you guys can help him out.

From: Dave
Subject: Happy Hour
Message Body:
How about asking the question “Who has the best happy hour prices and food
deals?”
I don’t consider Duffy’s a deal by any stretch with their drinks always being
“two for one” because of how much they charge for the first one

***** Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria, 1 North Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401, (561) 833-8787.

Back on September 19, 2011–Jeff Eats did a writeup on Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria located in Palm Beach Gardens. For your convenience, that original review is printed below.

Let me make this “one” real short and simple…

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzera makes absolutely awesome salads, pizzas, calzones and desserts. Since that 2011 review, Jeff Eats has been to the Palm Beach Gardens’ location something like 5 times and each and every outing was terrific.

Now, if you’re still with me…since that 2011 review appeared, Grimaldi’s opened a second location in West Palm Beach—Jeff Eats hasn’t been to that location, but I’m kinda thinking that it’s probably playing at the same level as the Palm Beach Gardens’ location is—anyway, last week out of the blue- Jeff Eats was contacted by West Palm Beach’s marketing coordinator who invited Jeff Eats to give the restaurant a shot and also “sent” Jeff Eats a $25 GIFT CARD so that one of you guys could try Grimaldi’s out, as well. Jeff Eats will eventually “get” to Grimaldi’s for the taste test—

Now, if you want the $25 gift card…send Jeff Eats an e-mail/comment—I’m not going to publish your e-mails/comments, but the 14th one that comes in, is the winner—I’ll contact the winner by e-mail and snail-mail the gift card. One other thing, one e-mail per reader—don’t forget Jeff Eats “sees” all the IP addresses, so you Bill Gates out there–play this game straight.

Just in case, I don’t get 14 e-mails/comments by October 8th at 9am, number 13-12-11-10 etc, will be the winner. If I don’t get even one e-mail/comment, Jeff Eats is the winner!

If you don’t understand the rules of the game, tough noogies!

Here’s the “original” review Jeff Eats wrote back in 2011…

***** Grimaldi’s Coal-Brick Oven Pizzeria, 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410, (561) 625-4669.

Grimaldi’s Coal-Brick Oven Pizzeria is a “coal oven” pizza chain…there are currently locations in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas. For our purposes, there is currently 1-location in South Florida (Palm Beach Gardens) with announced plans to open a second spot at 1 North Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.

You can check menu/prices/locations at www.grimaldispizzeria.com.

Over the years, I’m gonna guess- that I have eaten in the Brooklyn location 10 times and the Tucson joint 8…Last night, I had dinner at Palm Beach Garden’s restaurant…same menu, same delicious pizza. The only problem I have with Grimaldi’s is that its menu is extremely limited…like try- pizza, a handful of salads, handful of calzones, handful of desserts…end of story. So–if pizza and salad ain’t your bag, you’re in for a serious problem while the rest of your party stuff their faces.

The Palm Beach Gardens’ joint is located in DOWNTOWN AT THE GARDENS…a gorgeous white elephant outdoor mall, which has more empty stores than there are Chins in a Chinese phonebook.

Grimaldi’s pizza is outstanding…it’s right up there with the best of breed. The joint’s caesar and caprese salad are also delicious. The Palm Beach Garden’s joint has a full bar, indoor and outdoor patio seating.

So what we got here…one of the best coal fired pizza/salad joints in South Florida albeit with a very limited menu…great looking indoor wood decor/outdoor patio seating…full bar—in a huge ghost town complex.

Grimaldi’s is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight.

* Taste of CityPlace (West Palm Beach)

Got what should be an absolutely terrific “charity-event” for you guys…

Taste of CityPlace–benefits the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
The event is on Thursday Night– October 10, 2013 at CityPlace in West Palm Beach
You can buy tickets online for 20 bucks (www.cityplace.com)…$25 at the gate.

Just between you and me- this is what Jeff Eats calls a win-win deal…for something like 20 bucks–you get to try the food/drink of 24 CityPlace joints, the charities get a nice donation and CityPlace’s-shops get exposure to a huge audience—so everybody wins!

Printed below is a PR piece with all of the pertinent info-
*****
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 26, 2013) — Food lovers are invited to sample some of the tastiest menus in South Florida during the “Taste of CityPlace,” the most flavorful event of the season. The self-guided culinary tour on Thursday, October 10, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., will serve guests a selection of cocktails and a sampling of specialties from 24 of CityPlace’s top restaurants, entertainment destinations and food-focused shops.
Specialties being served up that evening include the finest Clams Casino from Deck’s Fish Market; mini chicken burritos from Moe’s Southwest Grill; sweetened custards from BurgerFi; and Bavarian pretzels from Revolutions Bowling • Bar • Grille. Visitors can also sample CityPlace favorites including the chilled beef tenderloin from Blue Martini; fresh sushi from Thai Jo; and the Arancina rice balls from Il Bellagio, which is still undergoing its major renovation but will participate nonetheless. Other “tastes” include the pasta a la vodka from BRIO Tuscan Grille; mini pulled pork empanadas from Mojito Latin Cuisine & Bar; prickly pear margaritas from Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill; and draft beers from The Brass Tap. An assortment of entrées, robust wines, beers, specialty cocktails and desserts will also be available from Mellow Mushroom; Sugar Chef Cupcakes; Pampas Grille; City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill; Sweet Ginger Asian Bistro; City Pizza; Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Panera Bread; Rita’s Italian Ice; ITALY Fast Quality Food; The Olive Tap; Starbucks; and Muvico IMAX Theater.
A portion of the proceeds from The Taste of CityPlace will benefit the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Participants are encouraged to show support for breast cancer awareness by wearing pink to the event. Advance tickets for $20 are available at CityPlace Guest Services or online at CityPlace.com. On-site passes will be available for $25 at the ticket booth on the plaza the day of the event
“Taste” sponsors include Midtown Imaging and The Comprehensive Breast Center of Good Samaritan Medical Center.
For more information about CityPlace, please visit CityPlace.com or call CityPlace Guest Services at (561) 366-1000.

* Dead On Arrival–Butcher & the Burger

Back on April 19, 2013 Jeff Eats “ran” a story on a new fast food joint—Butcher & The Burger which had just opened in Boca Raton’s Town Center’s food-court…suffice it to say—the rather blunt call was- that the concept would fail. To you-guys’ credit, tons of comments came in, with most of you agreeing–that the owner had created/designed a disaster. Before I chat further about Butcher & The Burger you guys do know, that Jeff Eats would match its readers’ “smarts” and “taste” against any food-blog/review site currently out there. No bs here—some of you guys are absolutely brilliant in the way you see business/food etc…

Anyway…

Last week, Butcher & The Burger closed.

Look!

Since Jeff Eats has no “skin” in the game…I could care-less if a restaurant makes it or doesn’t make it. On a personal level, I only wish new restaurant ventures the best of luck… That said, I do know as a general rule- two things about restaurants…You want to eat in them not own them–but that’s just me.

The point of this “story”—in the case of Butcher & the Burger, a guy from Chicago with a very-very successful restaurant–opened a fast food outlet in Boca Raton without doing his “homework” and as a result lost a ton of cash…when, all he had to do before spending even one thin dime—was ask you local guys-what you thought.

* Best CHEAP Seafood Joints in South Florida

Can we get a list of the Best CHEAP Seafood Joints in South Florida?

Now “CHEAP Seafood” may-be an oxymoron here, but do your best.

Thanks,

* Cluck Miami (September 27, 2013–Miami)

Got an interesting CHARITY EVENT for you guys…

Cluck Miami—-which will be held at Studio 255, 255 NW 25th Street, Wynwood Arts District, Miami, Florida 33127 on Friday Night, September 27, 2013 from 7pm-11pm.

For what it’s worth, I’ll bet you guys a buck that the FRIED CHICKEN that’s gonna be cooked-up, is better than Publix’s fried chicken which some-how (last Friday) was rated by the Sun Sentinel as “best” in South Florida.

Jeff Eats is hearing some awesome “things” about this event which will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities…in addition to top-notch food and drink, I understand that the guest list is a who’s who of local culinary, sports, tv celebrities.

Now nothing for nothing, I appreciate that an online ticket price of 85 bucks, $100 at the door—is definitely up there…but every so often, you do know, you gotta live!

Printed below is a PR piece which Jeff Eats literally just received.

If this sounds like something you might like to attend…you can check details/buy tickets at www.cluckmiami.com
*****
“Combining the worlds of luxury and casual comfort, The Cluck will showcase some of the nations top chefs as they battle it out preparing their version of the classic Fried Chicken. Toast the night away during our Veuve Clicquot Champagne Reception as well as our premium open cocktail bars while you taste the culinary masterpieces and cast your vote to help decide who is the reigning winner of The Cluck. Featuring more than a dozen of South Florida’s top chefs showcasing their take on this classic dish paired with their signature sides, this night is sure to be a thrill featuring live entertainment and celebrity guest hosts. This delicious night will take place in Miami’s hottest new venue, Studio 255, located in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood Arts District.

Proceeds from this event will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, an organization that finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.”

* Like We Didn’t Already Know!!

Just read this story in “Business Insider”…

*****

Yelp-Reviews

Flickr / Robyn Lee

Yelp might have to reconsider its classic slogan, “Real People. Real Reviews.”

Sure, the people might be real, but apparently one-fifth of all the reviews are big, fat phonies.

The number of fake reviews on Yelp rose to 20% in 2013 from only 5% in 2006, according to a new report out of Harvard Business School.

The study, which we found on Market Watch, comes hot on the heels of The New York Attorney General’s bust of 19 companies that specialize in publishing fraudulent online reviews, a process called “astroturfing.”

These companies hire freelancers from places like the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Eastern Europe to write fake reviews for $1 to $10 each, and The Attorney General’s Office slammed them with combined fines of more than $350,000.

But this big reveal just scratched the surface.

“The problem is definitely more widespread than the Attorney General’s investigation,” the new report’s author, Michael Luca, warned Market Watch.

The rush for rave reviews may be growing as more businesses realize the power of Yelp’s 108 million monthly visitors. Boosting a restaurant’s rating on Yelp by even one star can increase its revenues by as much as 9 percent, according to a different study that Luca published in 2011.

So, what’s an honest Yelp user to do?

Pay close attention to the language and source of both one and five-star reviews, as those extremes are more likely to be fake. Also, Yelp tries to weed out professional reviewers by encouraging people to post with their real names, so if you spot an extremely sunny or negative review from a nicknamed user, proceed with caution.

***** Zorba’s Taverna, 4801 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach, Florida 33445, (561) 381-7411.

I know-I know-I know–real original name…

That said, if you want some real good Greek-stuff, then you gotta try Zorba’s Taverna in Delray Beach.

Nothing fancy going on here…maybe 20 tables inside, maybe another 6 outside—and two doors down in the shopping center you got a nice sized Big Lots’ store. On the décor front, white/powder blue walls and a massive (and I do mean massive) painted wall mural of either Tony Bennett, Telly Savales, Fred Astaire, Ernie Anastos (not from NYC? Google him!) or my late Uncle Murray (he was married to my father’s sister- Irene)…if you eat at Zorba’s, please drop me a line as to who you think is portrayed in the mural, ’cause I’m not really sure!…that said, I’m leaning towards Uncle Murray.

Earlier this evening, Jeff Eats gave Zorba’s a shot…gyro, souvlaki, roast chicken, Greek salad, tzatziki, hummus, Greek fries, French fries, pita, pistachio baklava—for the record, Mrs. Jeff Eats shared the meal…didn’t want you guys to think that I was a certifiable pig. The verdict, this 6-month old joint makes real-good food. Pleasant-competent service, huge portions and super reasonable prices.

Just so we are straight with each other–after all this is a food blog…the pork souvlaki was a bit on the tough side–but once wrapped in pita bread with a shot of tzatziki/Greek salad–it went down quite nicely. Hopefully this “criticism” satisfies those of you who recently e-mailed asking for more “detail” on the foods consumed.

Check www.eatzorbas.com for menu/prices.

Let me wrap this one up…

Jeff Eats really enjoyed Zorba’s Taverna which is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.