***** VooDoo BBQ & Grill *****

Friends of mine (yes, Jeff Eats has friends!) who recently visited New Orleans “raved” about fast food bbq joint—VooDoo BBQ & Grill.

Anyway, purely by coincidence-this morning I received a press release about this small bbq chain

From what I understand, 3 South Florida locations are “in the works” for 2013 namely, Pembroke Pines, Kendall and Delray Beach.

Thought you guys might like to be the first to know about a “new” franchise headed our way.
***
From: Todd Templin
Subject: ttemplin@boardroompr.com

Message Body:
For Immediate Release

Media Inquiries:
Todd Templin
Boardroom Communications Inc.
954-370-8999 (office) or 954-290-0810
ttemplin@boardroompr.com

Susan R. Miller
Boardroom Communications Inc.
954-370-8999 (office) or 954-294-4973 (cell)
smiller@boardroompr.com

VooDoo BBQ & Grill is Set to Bring Its New Orleans Magic To Kendall

Lease is signed for 2,500-square-foot location at The Palms at Town & Country

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Sept. 27, 2012 – VooDoo BBQ & Grill, the nation’s fastest-growing barbecue franchise, will soon bring its Cajun-Creole barbecue fusion menu to Kendall, FL. Its Florida franchisee group, BBQ Boyz, LLC, has signed a lease for 2,500 square feet of space at 8326 Mills Drive in the Palms at Town & Country shopping center. The Kendall location will feature indoor and outdoor seating for 85 people. Construction will begin in the first quarter of next year, with opening scheduled for March 2013.
New Orleans-based VooDoo BBQ & Grill has been recognized as one of the most successful fast casual restaurant franchises in the industry, with locations opening or under development in more than 56 cities and five states. The very first restaurant opened on Mardi Gras Day in 2002, right on the parade route in New Orleans.
VooDoo BBQ & Grill is known for its mouth-watering, competition-style barbecue that stands out from the rest. It features chicken, ribs, pork and brisket that are all hand-rubbed with authentic Cajun spices and then slow-smoked to perfection. And there are three signature barbecue sauces for diners to choose from. For those who might want something different, the menu offers other Cajun favorites like gumbo, PoBoy sandwiches, and a variety of salads and burgers all prepared with the spice and magic of Louisiana. VooDoo BBQ also features down-home side dishes like Gris Gris Greens, Rattlesnake Beans, Corn Pudding, Zapp’s Potato Chips, Sweet Potato Souffle, as well as a variety of desserts.
“We are looking forward to bringing a taste of New Orleans to South Florida,” said VooDoo CEO Tony Avila. “We know from our research that Floridians love their barbecue and I’m convinced that once they taste our magic, they will be hooked like so many others are.”
“When you think of New Orleans you think of Mardi Gras, parties and fun,” said Jack Flechner, president of BBQ Boyz, LLC. That’s the same vibe you’ll find in VooDoo too. I’m expecting that South Florida will eat it up. It’s something very new and different for the area.”
BBQ Boyz, LLC purchased rights to fund, develop and operate up to 26 VooDoo BBQ & Grill locations in Florida, south of the Panhandle. The first South Florida restaurant will open in Pembroke Pines in November, followed by Delray Beach, Kendall and Fort Lauderdale.
About VooDoo BBQ & Grill
VooDoo opened its first location in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day 2002. VooDoo serves competition-style barbecue beef, pork and chicken with down-home side dishes, plus salads and sandwiches, in a clean, colorful fast-casual environment. The company is ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500” and is also a recipient of the Franchise Business Review’s “Top 50 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.” For more information log on to www.voodoobbq.com.
About BBQ Boyz, LLC
BBQ Boyz, LLC is a restaurant development company that is a licensed franchisee of VooDoo BBQ & Grill. The principles have more than twenty five years of collective experience in the restaurant industry and are also licensed attorneys and experienced developers. For more information log onto www.thebbqboyz.com.

***** HOODIA LOLLIPOPS *****

A few years ago, Jeff Eats went on the Hollywood Cookie Diet…I dropped 25 pounds in 3 months. At the time, Mrs. Jeff Eats “told” me and I quote, “The cookie diet is a nonsensical fad placebo diet.”- blah blah blah…anyway, all I know is that I lost weight.

Periodically, Jeff Eats finds that he can’t button his pants—well this is one of those “periods.”

So- four days ago, Jeff Eats decided that it was time to try another “nonsensical fad placebo diet”…it was a close “call” between SENSA (you know, shake shake shake) which supposedly curbs your appetite when sprinkled on your food…and HOODIA LOLLIPOPS (Power-Pops) which when “licked” 30 minutes before eating a meal-suppsosedly curbs your appetite…Anyway- for no particular rhyme or reason, Jeff Eats went with the pops.

My 30-day shipment of Power-Pops arrived this morning…so I’m good to go!

I’ll let you know, how this all turns out in a future column.

If any of you guys have “tried” these pops I’d appreciate knowing your thoughts. Same goes for SENSA…because sooner or later, Jeff Eats for sure will be shake shake shaking!!

*****
October 26, 2012 UPDATE

I think I followed the “rules”—Didn’t lose a single pound.

***** Pizza De Luna Italian Restaurant, 8211 West Atlantic Boulevard, Coral Springs, Florida 33071, (954) 753-6055.

Got a good “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint for you…Pizza De Luna Italian Restaurant in Coral Springs. You can check menu/prices at www.pizzadeluna.com.

Pizza De Luna’s menu has the full boat of appetizers, pizzas, pastas, subs, meat/seafood/chicken entrees. It’s got the “expected” soup/or salad–garlic rolls–entree with pasta side deals.

Jeff Eats recently did a dinner at Pizza De Luna…veal parmigiana, boneless chicken cacciatore, meat lasagna—the food was OK, but nothing that blew my socks off. Please don’t get me wrong, the stuff was decent enough, but there are a number of “mom & pop” joints in the Coral Springs’ “area” that do this “food” better.

Now for “other” news…Pizza De Luna makes both New York Style Pizza and Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza…

For the record, the plain New York pizza with its thin crust/Grande Cheese/sweet sauce and the Chicago deep dish pizza were absolutely delicious. As a born and bred New Yorker, I can say with some authority–that the New York pizza could definitely make it on the streets of the 5-boroughs. Although Jeff Eats doesn’t know the first thing about Chicago, other than-that my first cousin Bobby a bigshot-famous SEC attorney lives there–I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that Pizza De Luna’s Chicago style deep dish pizza would also do well there…it was really delicious.

So what do we have here?

Pizza De Luna has decent enough “entrees” and absolutely delicious New York Style Pizza and Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza.

Pizza De Luna Italian Restaurant is open 7 days a week 3pm-10pm.

For those of you who are interested, Pizza De Luna’s website has a whole bunch of pizza discount coupons.

***** WALMART ANOTHER CRAP COMPANY *****

About two weeks ago, Mrs. Jeff Eats needed to buy a new 2-slice toaster.

Mrs. Jeff Eats went to Town Center at Boca Raton and bought a toaster from Macy’s which was on sale for $39.95.

That evening, Mrs. Jeff Eats checked Walmart’s website and found the exact same toaster listed at $13.95. Mrs. Jeff Eats also checked the website and confirmed that the toaster was available at the Walmart Supercenter, 16205 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484.

The next morning, Mrs. Jeff Eats returned the toaster to Macy’s and went to the Walmart Supercenter where she learned that the 2 slice toaster wasn’t carried by the store despite the website “saying” that it was.

The following day, Jeff Eats wrote an e-mail and called Walmart’s complaint-line advising Walmart of the incident.

A few days later, Jeff Eats received a call from the Walmart Supercenter’s manager who advised that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats should come to the store at our convenience and pickout “any” toaster that we liked and that even if it was more expensive we would only be charged $13.95.

Three days later, Jeff Eats and Mrs Jeff Eats went to the Walmart Supercenter. Jeff Eats picked out a 4 slice toaster from the display priced at $39.95 but was advised by a sales associate that Walmart was out-of-stock. Jeff Eats personally advised the manager, who called Jeff Eats later that day and advised that the item was on back-order, but that he would scout around other stores and see if he could find one for Jeff Eats. Jeff Eats asked him, as to why Walmart would keep a “sample” on display if an item was on back-order? The manager really had no answer. He later called and left a message that one had been found.

Yesterday morning, Jeff Eats received a call from a woman who said that she was the manager’s assistant and advised that either “today” or tomorrow Walmart would deliver free of charge the toaster to Jeff Eats’ home and the total charge would be $10.18 because the manager had “given” Jeff Eats a further discount.. The woman was given directions to Jeff Eats’ home. The woman said she would have the delivery person call 30 minutes prior to the delivery.

No delivery call yesterday. No delivery call today.

About 70 minutes ago, Mrs. Jeff Eats bought a new 2 slice toaster at a local Target Store.

WALMART IS A CRAP COMPANY.

What do you guys think?
*****

Septmber 28, 2012 UPDATE

Received a call this morning from the Linton store’s GM who arranged and then personally delivered to Jeff Eats’ home a 4-slice toaster priced at $10.18.

So…what have we learned from this exercise…the little guy can “win” if he is persistent and doesn’t take “no” for an answer…and that Jeff Eats now has 2 toasters, a 2-slicer from Target and a 4-slicer from Walmart.
.

***** GOT A FREE MUSIC EVENT FOR YOU *****

Wanna go to a terrific FREE music event?

Back on February 2, 2010 I told you guys about Rock N Roll Ribs a terrific bbq joint in Coral Springs.

The original writeup is re-printed below.

To make a long story short…last, year Rock N Roll Ribs “started” an annual music thing—where the joint takes over its shopping center’s parking lot, tents it—and holds an enormous FREE- ALL DAY CONCERT starring Rock N Roll Ribs’ owner Nicko McBrain (who is the drummer of heavy metal band “Iron Maiden”) and a handful of local rock n roll bands. The music is free, with Rock N Roll Ribs hoping that you “buy” its beverages and food both under the tent and inside its restaurant.

Unfortunately…I didn’t make it to last year’s event, but numerous people told me, that it was absolutely terrific with hundreds of people attending. By the way, appreciating that “heavy metal” music isn’t everyone’s bag, Rock N Roll Ribs has scheduled all “types” of bands to perform.

If this type of thing interests you— here’s 2012’s info…

The “event” will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012. The first band hits the stage at 2pm and the music goes until 10pm.

***** Rock N Roll Ribs, 4651 State Road 7, Coral Springs, Florida 33073 (954) 345-7429.

Rock N Roll Ribs is a “bbq joint”…it opened about 3 months ago…one of its co-owners is Nicko McBrain, the legendary drummer of the metal-band Iron Maiden…by the way, Nicko lives in Boca Raton. So, you now know— how “it” probably got the name Rock N Roll Ribs. The joint, has videos of bands playing, records on the wall, hanging guitars and a drum set as its decor. Rock N Roll Ribs is located in a shopping center on State Road 7…I think there are more empty stores than going businesses. Personally, I think that the spot stinks, but hey, it ain’t my dime! The joint isn’t all that big, maybe 80 seats. From what I understand, although Nicko is one of the owners and hangs out there- when he is in “town” (he wasn’t there, last night), it is run by “Moby” Rick Baum who according to the joint’s “pr” has an extensive background in developing/opening/running restaurants—the guy also plays guitar in Nicko’s (other band) McBrain Damage… What I can tell you, based on last night’s meal, this guy Moby Rick knows his bbq.

At this stage of the concert, check www.rocknrollribs.org for menu/prices/photos.

Now let’s talk food…tried- baby back ribs, bbq chicken, pork sandwich, cheese burger, french fries, garlic toast—this is some of the best bbq that I have had “down here” in South Florida. This joint’s bbq is not heavy-smokey, but rather “sweet” grilled stuff, that is right on the money.

On the pricing front—very reasonable…a full rack of baby back ribs with garlic toast and 2 sides goes for $15.95…a 1/2 chicken with garlic toast and 2 sides $12.95.

On the service side—very pleasant and efficient waitstaff.

Like I said before, 80 seats, looks better than a Hard Rock Cafe, real good food, real good prices, real good service, lousy location. Hey! Nicko and Rick, you got a great concept here…I just hope that people “find” you.

One final thought, you might like to check www.ironmaiden.com and www.myspace.com/mcbraindamge and read about Nicko and Rick’s music and bandmates. Just so you know, Nicko-is considered by many, to be one of the top rock drummers of all-time.

I really enjoyed Rock N Roll Ribs.

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

31 Comments to “Rock

***** BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, 12100 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33026, (954) 430-3545.

BJ’ Restaurant & Brewhouse “American Style” chain…for right now, BJ’s has 125 restaurants in 14 states…61 of the joints are in California, 27 in Texas—for our purposes there are 9 Florida locations- 1 in Pembroke Pines, 1 in Citrus Park, 1 in Clearwater, 1 in Daytona Beach, 1 in Gainesville, 1 in Jacksonville, 1 in Kissimmee, 1 in Orlando, 1 in Pinellas Park.

Best way to describe BJ’s decor..looks like J. Alexander’s, looks like Houston’s, looks like (you insert the name) your favorite dark wood sports bar.

You can check BJ’s menu/prices/locations at www.bjsbrewhouse.com. The joint’s menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, meat/seafood/chicken entrees, beers/full bar.

Jeff Eats recently had dinner at BJ’s in Pembroke Pines…babyback ribs, bacon cheeseburger, grilled pork chops, bbq pulled pork sandwich, chicken fried steak…

Let me make this one short and simple, the food was okay, but not one item really stood out. Really-nice looking joint. Pleasant enough service. Fair enough prices.

BJ’s is OK…but that’s about it.

The joint looks better than its food tastes, so you are setup for a huge disappointment when the food arrives.

BJ’s is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-midnight and Friday-Saturday 11am-1am.

***** Shakers American Cafe, 1308 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, Florida 32804, (407) 422-3534.

Shakers American Cafe…”mom & pop” breakfast and lunch diner in Orlando. You can check menu/prices at www.shakerscafe.com.

Just so you know, the joint’s Americana decor features something like 12,000,000 types of salt & pepper shakers—thus the name Shakers. An 8 year-old with a bat would have a field day in this joint.

Shakers’ menu is loaded with breakfast stuff, salads and sandwiches.

Jeff Eats recently did breakfast there…western omelete with hashbrowns ($6.59), Greek omelete with potato pancake ($6.59), french toast with blueberries ($5.49)—everything was delicious. A special shout-out to the potato pancake. Real reasonable prices, very pleasant service.

Just so you know, Shakers is open Monday-Friday 6am-2:30pm, Saturday 6am-2pm, Sunday 7am-1:30pm. Monday-Friday Shakers serves breakfast until 11am but on Saturday-Sunday breakfast is served all-day.

You’ll need a freaking train schedule to keep track of this joint’s hours.

Anyway…the food is really good so if Shakers fits your schedule, give it a try.

Southside Johnny

***** JUKE BOX GENERATION SERIES *****

Every “season” the Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth produces the “Juke Box Generation Series.”

This year’s shows…

Thursday- Januray 31, 2013- Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
Thursday- February 28, 2013- Jarrod Spector
Thursday- March 20, 2013- The Bronx Wanderers

Jeff Eats has seen all 3 “acts” and they are terrific.

The Duncan Theatre seats 700. Every seat is good.

The series costs $63 for all 3 shows. There are no service or additional fees.
By the way, you can buy individual shows for $29 a seat.

TICKETS JUST WENT ON SALE.

IF YOU WANT TICKETS, DON’T WAIT…call the box office at (561) 868-3309. This series is always a sell-out.

You can check www.palmbeachstate.edu. for further details.

***** The Daybreak Diner, 3335 Curry Ford Road, Oralndo, Florida 32806, (407) 898-8338.

The Daybreak Diner…”mom & pop” diner located in Orlando.

I’ll bet you a buck, that without ever setting foot in the door, you guys know exactly what The Daybreak Diner looks like…let’s just say “formicasville” tables/booths. You can check menu/prices at www.daybreakdiner.org.

You regular Jeff Eats’ readers know, that “mom & pop” diners have a special place in my heart. Personally, I’d rather eat breakfast/lunch in a neighborhood diner, than in a bagel joint, fast food restaurant, chain operation. You guys gotta appreciate that most of us-folks of the 50’s-60’s were raised on diners—anyway…

A week or so ago, I was up-in Orlando and came across the Daybreak Diner. All kinds of breakfast stuff, appetizers, salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, subs/wraps, meat/fish/chicken “meals”- desserts. A quick taste “test” netted Jeff Eats…western omelet with hashbrowns ($6.59), bacon cheeseburger and french fries ($8.50), chicken salad on white toast ($4.95)—everything was just right. Just so we are straight—Was the Daybreak Diner the best “diner” I’ve ever eaten in? Nope! But as “expected”…my party was served decent enough diner food by a super pleasant waitress…suffice it to say, The Daybreak Diner held-up its end of the bargain…the food, the decor, the vibe–just what the “recipe” called for.

So, you Orlandoians and non-locals now know about a mom & pop” diner where you can catch a decent enough breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The Daybreak Diner is open Monday-Friday 6am-8pm, Saturday 6am-2pm, closed on Sunday.

*****. Obama–you gotta be kidding me! *****

Every tv news network Jeff Eats has watched today has reported that the United States Government requested Google and You Tube to remove the “Video” that supposedly sparked the current “unrest” in the Middle East…and that Google and You Tube refused to do so.

Hey Obama—I know this is a food blog but it’s time you stop being such a PUSSY!