***** Tavolino Della Nonna, 10181 West Sample Road, Coral Springs, Florida 33065, (954) 509-0046.

Back on July 18, 2009 I told you guys about a terrific “semi-upscale” Italian joint Tavolino Della Nonna in Coral Springs. The original writeup is reprinted below.

Since that “story” appeared some- 4 years ago–Jeff Eats has eaten in Tavolino something like 4-5 times. In all honesty, until last Friday night, the last visit was probably well over a year ago.

Anyway- to make a long story short, last Friday night Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple ate at Tavolino. The food was as good as the “first” outing and the owners and staff just as engaging and competent. The “update” here is–that Tavolino’s owners recently spent some-big bucks expanding the joint having added an entire “wing” dedicated to entertainment. The night Jeff Eats was there, a jazz group was entertaining a huge crowd.

Let me end this thing by saying, I highly recommend that you guys try this joint. It really has everything going for it…delicious food, terrific service, very reasonable prices–and now, a “night-club” atmosphere for those of you looking for something that you normally don’t find in an Italian joint in the heart of Coral Springs.

Posted on July 18th, 2009 · Coral Springs Italian
***** Tavolino Della Nonna, 10181 West Sample Road, Coral Springs, Florida 33065, (954) 509-0046.

Last night I ate in Tavolino Della Nonna…a terrific white tablecloth Italian joint located in Coral Springs. Just so you know…A couple of you guys wrote to me and told me that I had to try this joint…so, old Jeff gave Tavolino a shot.

Anyway…Tavolino has been in business for something like 2-years. For you GPS types out there, it is located on Sample Road, within short walking distance of both Pizza Time and DeSalvo’s the well known “red sauce” joints. Tavolino is-not a pizza joint…it’s a semi-upscale restaurant with both indoor and outdoor patio seating…but don’t worry your tee shirt-shorts ensemble will work. At this juncture take a look at Tavolina’s website www.tavolinorestaurant.com for menu/prices/photos.

Like I said before, semi-upscale, but the guys running this joint make you feel like an old friend…when you eat there, you’ll see what I am talking about. The owners–shall we say, are very visible and make sure that everything is running just right. Last night, I watched as they made the rounds to each and every table, kibbitizing (in an Italian restaurant?) and making people “try” this and “that”…

Before I talk food, let me tell you about a cute “idea” that the joint has decor-wise…one little side room, is decorated Ralph & Alice Kramden, 328 Chauncey Street…there is a formica table circa 1955 that seats 6-maybe-8…so if this type of thing floats your boat, call ahead and reserve that “table.”

Onto the food…last night I “tried”– meatball appetizer ($11), tortellini appetizer ($13), veal parmigiana ($23), chicken scarpariello (on bone) ($21), snapper almondine ($23), grilled chicken/pasta ($17)…the food is absolutely delicious.

Just so you know…Tavolino isn’t a $13.95-$16.95 soup or salad-entree-pasta side-garlic rolls joint…there is no pizza, subs, calzones or stromboli. Figure on spending–something like 40-50 bucks a head for a great meal. Trust me on this one, the food runs absolute circles around most of the Italian joints down here. I know that the ala carte menu may “scare” some of you guys…the house salad is big enough to feed two as are the side pasta dishes, so if you order the “right way” you won’t have to get a second-job to pay the tab. Our waitress was super-helpful on “picks” etc…last night, they had a “strolling” magician who worked all the tables…how he changed those $1 bills into $100 bills is beyond me.

Since I am on the Hollywood Cookie Diet, I passed on dessert. I will tell you, that the dessert tray looked absolutely incredible and that everything including the joint’s bread are made in house.

You guys know that I eat in Italian joints all the time…I am telling you, that Tavolino is one of the better restaurants in South Florida. You definitely want to try this one.

Tavolino is open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 4pm-11pm and Sunday 4pm-10pm, the joint is closed on Monday.

***** El Tamarindo Pizza & Continental Cuisine, 614 Southeast 10th Street, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441, (954)480-9919.

Got an interesting “one” for you guys…El Tamarindo Pizza & Continental Cuisine in Deerfield Beach.

To make a long story short…a Salvadorian guy named Nestor Amaya comes to South Florida in the late 1990s—and today…his wife, his brothers, his sister, his sons and daughter own 3 restaurants and are currently developing 4 other locations. The current locations are, El Tamarindo Pizza & Continental Cuisine, El Tamarundo Bistro & Bar Latin Café (this was the first location which opened in 2003 and is located on State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale), El Tamarindo Coal Fired Pizza (Hallandale)…

You can check menus/prices/locations at www.eltamarindocafe.com. The restaurants in development are in Lighthouse Point, Aventura, Miami Beach, Pine Crest. Very interesting concept, all of the restaurants feature Italian, Mexican, Salvadorian dishes–but the menus although very similar- are all also “different”—for example, one joint has coal fired pizza, while another has “regular” New York Style pizza, while another location has no pizza at all. When you check the website, take a look at the menus—and you’ll see what I’m talking about…The planned Lighthouse Point joint (El Tamarindo Café)-which is set to open in two weeks-will be the “family’s” first venture into adding sushi to the menu-mix.

Anyway…last night Jeff Eats “tried” the El Tamarindo in Deerfield Beach. First, let me start by saying, the staff of this joint is one of the friendliest most hospitable crews that I’ve ever encountered. The “brother” Jackson who runs this particular outpost is one of the most pleasant and welcoming people I’ve had the pleasure to do business with. Now—the NY Style pizza was thin-crisp-delicious sweet sauce…the penne ala vodka was right on the money…the chicken soup was as good as anything Jeff Eats’ mom use to turn out (and trust me, that lady really knew how to make chicken soup)…the grilled tilapia was dynamite…the mixed salad as fresh/crisp as could be…the prosciutto/mozzarella panini was off the chart. On the price front, figure about 11 bucks per dish and the entrees come with two sides.

I am telling you that El Tamarindo Pizza & Continental Cuisine is a homerun.

Just so we are straight, this “story” is about the Deerfield Beach joint (it opened about 8 months ago)…Jeff Eats hasn’t tried the other locations. Call it a gut feeling, but my money says that the other locations are probably just as good- food/service-wise as the joint I was in. The passion that Jackson and his staff “have” is definitely a family-thing…

El Tamarindo is a must try.

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

***** REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY *****

What are your favorite restaurants in South Florida?

Some “color” on your picks would be nice.

***** Delray Marketplace *****

Finally, Delray Marketplace a 258,000 square foot “center” opened in Delray Beach at the intersection of West Atlantic Avenue and Lyons Road.

Check www.delraymarket.com for a list of stores/businesses that includes Publix, Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille, Chico’s, White House/Black Market, Jos. A Bank and Burt & Max’s Grille.

Here’s a “call” for you guys…the Delray Marketplace will prove to be an absolute “white elephant” and a financial disaster for most of the tenants that took leases.

Just for starters- stop and think for a second…
Do we really need another Jos. A Bank men’s clothing store peddling–buy 1 suit and get 3 suits and 9 ties for free?
Do we really need an upscale candy store named IT’SUGAR where candy sells for “an arm and a leg?”
Do we really need another White House/Black Market a women’s chain which literally has stores in every major American shopping mall?
Do we really need another Chico’s a women’s chain which literally has stores in every major American shopping mall?

Look! Jeff Eats could go on and on–telling you that Delray Marketplace is just like that movie “Groundhog Day”—but I won’t.

Real simple…America’s retail-space is OVERBUILT. In this particular case, Delray Beach–doesn’t need any new retail businesses. Trust me, every one of its residents has seen it-done it.

I’m hearing that some “tenants” are paying 50 bucks a square foot…to be part of what will prove to be Armageddon.

Only time will tell, but my money says that most of Delray Marketplace’s tenants will dread the day that their lawyers said it was “ok” to sign their leases.

***** Bacon Bites *****

Last Saturday night– Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and something like 5,000 of our closest friends attended Baconfest Florida 2013 at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek…food, drink and music galore.

Didn’t really get a count, but there must have been 25-30 vendors “passing out” all types of finger foods (burgers, wings, shrimp, sandwiches, salads, ribs, desserts) that incorporated bacon into their respective recipes.

Midway during the event, awards for the “best this” and the “best that” were announced…

Of note “1st Place Best Dessert” went to a New Jersey based company named Bacon Bites for its Peanut Butter Bacon…think-nice crisp strip of bacon–covered in delicious dark chocolate and topped off with a racing stripe of peanut butter–and you’ll be in the ballpark.

You guys do know that Jeff Eats is a VIP- don’t you? Well anyway, in addition to the “aforesaid” peanut butter bacon, Jeff Eats was also allowed to sample Bacon Bites’ “Oreo” (Oreo Cookie covered in Bacon/Dark Chocolate), “Original” (bacon covered in dark chocolate) and “Carob” (bacon covered in carob)—and I gotta tell you, the stuff that Bacon Bites is making is absolutely delicious.

Bacon Bites is an online company…www.baconbites.com. (201) 724-0303.

The suggestion here, check-out the above website. The Company has some very unique “bacon” dessert products that it ships all over the country. When you are on the site, you will also find a whole list of retail stores that currently carry Bacon Bites’ products. For our purposes, Bacon Bites has yet to crack the Florida retail store market –that said, based on my “sampling” I wouldn’t be surprised to see its stuff on Florida shelves real soon.

Let me wrap this one up…very-unique delicious products!

Next time you’re thinking—fruit basket, flowers, candy basket, cheese tray (assuming the intended recipient isn’t kosher or vegetarian)—Bacon Bites’ stuff will definitely be appreciated.

***** Texas Tony’s BBQ Shack, 4519 Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida 34112 (239) 732-8392.

Got a real good bbq joint for you—Texas Tony’s BBQ Shack in Naples.

When you check www.texastonys.com you’ll find menu/prices/loads of food-décor photos.

Before Jeff Eats tells you about the delicious stuff I recently had–a quick comment to Texas Tony’s owner…You got a great concept going-on. Please explain to me, with all of the apparent hard work that you put into this business, why your website has two “spellings” for your joint? In one place on the site, you have Texas Tonys BBQ Shack and in another spot you have Texas Tony’s BBQ Shack…I know it’s a very slight difference–but it would just seem to me, that spelling your restaurant’s name correctly would be a no-brainer. So which is it–Texas Tony’s or Texas Tonys? Thanks…Jeff Eats

Anyway…like I said a few seconds ago…real good bbq. The stuff is “lightly” smoked…Texas Tony’s has 3-different sauces—hot-spicy, sweet tomato, mustard. Tried all 3 and thought that sweet tomato and mustard were dynamite, the spicy-not my cup of tea.

Recently “sampled” baby-back ribs, bbq chicken, brisket sandwich, sausage sandwich, French fries, onion rings, macaroni & cheese…suffice it to say, Texas Tony may not be the best speller-going, but “he” sure knows how to make bbq and sides.

Jeff Eats absolutely loved the food.

Texas Tony’s or Texas Tonys is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

***** Jodi’s Cupcakes & More, 129 Northwest 13th Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 416-5559.

A real short story for you guys…

Jeff Eats recently attended a big charity event…the kind, where on the day of the event- you play Zelig and hope that your tuxedo fits!

Anyway… for dessert, the event’s-sponsors had an enormous buffet of cakes, pastries, ice creams, pies—and 10 different types of cupcakes.

Being the public servant that he is, Jeff Eats “sampled” all 10—chocolate cheesecake, chocolate mint, pecan pie, espresso, banana cake, almond cake, triple chocolate, vanilla, strawberry cake, lemon cake…and I gotta tell you, these mini-cupcakes were sensationally delicious.

After the event, I learned that a small-hole-in-wall bakery, Jodi’s Cupcakes & More was the responsible party that had Jeff Eats dieting the next day.

Look, I’m no expert on cupcakes…with that in mind, what I do know—is that this joint turned-out some of the most novel-delicious flavored cupcakes that Jeff Eats has ever eaten.

You can check flavors at www.jodiscupcakesandmore.com.

Jodi’s is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, closed on Sunday-Monday.

***** What Are Your Best BBQ Joints? *****

How about a list of your favorite South Florida BBQ joints?

***** Blondies, 181 US Highway 1 North, Tequesta, Florida 33469, (561) 744-0807.

For our purposes…let’s call Blondies a “neighborhood diner.”

For a pleasant change–no faux 50’s look or falling a-part “formica” deal – but rather…warm tones–semi-upscale counter/booth/table seating setup.

Blondies is open Monday-Saturday 7am-9:30pm, Sunday 7am-3pm. You can check menu/prices at www.blondiesgoodfood.com.

Now for the story…absolutely loved the joint. Recently did lunch…

Blondies does-a-beautiful thing, that being, it serves breakfast all day. So while Mrs. Jeff Eats and her friend Ellen where able to eat salads, I (or is it me?) and Ellen’s husband Steve–were able to stuff our faces on breakfast stuff at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I gotta tell you, Blondies makes an absolutely perfect thick-French toast and has a breakfast sub (3 scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, American cheese) that alone is worth the price of admission. To round out this story for you, Jeff Eats “forced” himself to sample the tuna and chicken salads that the ladies had—they were also delicious. Throw in a fried macaroni & cheese nibblet appetizer and a bacon cheeseburger with fries—and I gotta tell you, Blondies is an absolute homerun.

Let me wrap this one up…

Blondies was one of the best neighborhood–mom & pop diners I’ve ventured into–down here in sunny South Florida.

One final thought, for you faux 50s and falling apart formica diners out there…please don’t take umbrage with Jeff Eats’ “décor” comments—I still love you guys and always will!

***** 2013 BaconFest Florida *****

Back on January 14, 2013 Jeff Eats “told” you guys about BaconFest.

Since that date…there has been an enormous national & local Florida tv-radio-print marketing campaign. It also didn’t hurt that Kevin Bacon is currently starring in “The Following” a new series on Fox TV.

To make a long story short, Jeff Eats just received the following press release from the Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek that the event has sold-out.

The point of this rant: Do me a favor–I try my best to give you guys “heads ups”…so if you plan to go to “events” that I talk about, please don’t wait to the last minute to buy your tickets.

****

Tickets to the inaugural 2013 BaconFest Florida are sold out. Making its debut in the Sunshine State, the 2013 BaconFest Florida, presented by Hormel® Black Label® Bacon and hosted by Chef Todd Fischer from Discovery’s Destination America show, ‘United States of Bacon,’ will take place at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. The bacon-lover’s paradise will feature performances by The Bacon Brothers and The Dan Band with frontman Dan Finnerty, who is most recognized as the wedding singer from Old School.

This outdoor festival features bacon-inspired fare from South Florida vendors including Bacon Bites, Big City Tavern, Bru’s Room Sports Grill, Caffé Luna Rosa, Gimme a Burger, Grind Espresso, Hibiscus Café, Jodi’s Cupcakes and More, Kapow! Noodle Bar, La Marquise Desserts, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, The Melting Pot, Over the Top Culinary Affairs, Red Rock Oasis, Rock ‘n Roll Ribs, Shooters, Smokey Bones, Susy Pops, Sybarite Pig, The Gypsy Horse, and Ms. Cheezious food truck.

BaconFest will also feature a chef throw down competition with celebrity judges for the best bacon recipes, as well as a number of fun bacon-related activities, including Harley the Mechanical Pig rides, corn-hole and beer can bowling, and a Harley Davidson exhibit with more than 50 ‘hogs.’

WHEN: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek – West Parking Lot

5550 NW 40th Street

Coconut Creek

Located at the corner of 441 (State Road 7) and Sample Road

WHO: Presented by Hormel® Black Label® Bacon, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s No. 7 and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

INFO: For more information, please call Seminole Casino Coconut Creek at 954-977-6700 or visit www.baconfestflorida.com. Fans can follow all the updates on Twitter via #BaconFestFL.