***** Cupcake Cottage, 11051 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, (561) 793-5110.

You regular readers-know by now, that I consider the “retail” cupcake store business to be a FAD…One of these days, like the home-video-rental business, many of these mom & pop ventures aren’t going to be able to pay their rent…same also goes for the yogurt by-the-ounce guys out there. Simply put, there are just way too many stores for what I think are relatively limited markets.

With that in mind…Cupcake Cottage makes some of the most delicious cupcakes that you have ever eaten. Take it from a guy who was raised on Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies and Ding Dongs—this joint’s stuff is amazingly good.

Cupcake Cottage www.cupcakecottage.net is open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm, Sunday 11am-6pm, closed on Monday.

***** The Breakfast Shack, 3469 West Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436, (561) 735-3594.

The Breakfast Shack is a “mom & pop” breakfast-lunch joint in Boynton Beach. The Breakfast Shack has a website www.thebreakfastshack.com– but as far as I’m concerned- it’s totally worthless as it has no menu/prices/photos.

Real simple, tons of breakfast stuff, burgers, sandwiches, salads.

The joint is open Monday-Friday 8am-2pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-2pm.

Despite the crap website–I really enjoyed the joint. Delicious western omelet, banana waffles, french toast.

The Breakfast Shack is a nice break from the bagel-deli gigs playing all over South Florida.

**** MONEYSAVER *****

I recently came across MONEYSAVER—www.moneysavercouponsonline.com. Real simple “situation”—go to the website, “type” in a business type or business name, type in your location/or zip code, click “search now”—the site will list various discounts/coupons, you print-out what you want. No cost to the user.

Thought you’d might like to know about this service.

***** Kiki’s Asian Bistro, 71 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 338-7888.

Kiki’s Asian Bistro…”takeout/delivery” Chinese/Sushi joint in Boca Raton.

Let me make this one short and simple, this joint’s food is some-of-the-best-around. A recent outing had me “doing” wonton soup, egg rolls, bbq ribs, fried dumplings, general tso’s chicken, pepper steak, shrimp with lobster sauce, sweet & sour pork, roat pork fried rice.

Like I said before, takeout-delivery only-unless 2 small tables and a 3-seat counter are your style! Prices are what you’d expect from a neighborhood “hole in the wall” joint.

You can check men/prices at www.kikisasianbistro.com.

If you live or work in Kiki’s neighborhood, you now know about a realy-really good takeout joint.

Kiki’s is open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm and Sunday 5pm-10pm.

***** Super Subs Etc., 6380 Bird Road, Coral Gables, Florida 33155, (305) 665-0990.

In my day, I’ve eaten my fair-share of subs/grinders/heros (pick your regional term)—I maybe going out on a limb here, but this 6-seat sub shop which has been around since 1977- has to be right up there with the best-of-all time. Now this isn’t an exact count, but its menu lists something like 100 different hot/cold (6″ & 12″) sandwiches. You can check menu/prices at www.urbanspoon.com.

A recent outing had me “doing”—chicken cordon bleu, philly cheesesteak, bbq steak, bbq pork rib, mushroom cheeseburger subs. I am telling you, some of the best sub-stuff that I have ever eaten. On the price front—no more expensive than your favorite neighborhood joint.

For you-guys out there who don’t get from where I am coming… A Super Subs’ sandwich is a Rembrandt, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh (Well, maybe not a Picasso!). Think, your favorite “slice” of pizza matched against a slice from Little Caesar’s…a Volkswagen CC against a Corvette…a 32″ flat screen tv against a 72 incher.

To sum it all…Super Subs Etc. is a terrific sub shop.

The joint is open Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm and Sunday 10am-5pm.

***** Marcella’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, 12305 Pembroke Road. Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025, (954) 433-1522.

Marcella’s Restaurant & Pizzeria…”mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint, located in Pembroke Pines.

Just so you know, I “originally” talked about this joint way back on July 13, 2009. Hadn’t been back since then. Got good news for you guys and “them.” I liked Marcella’s in 2009…I still like Marcella’s in 2011-and actually think that the food is even better than it was 2- years ago. Then again, I’m getting up there in years, so maybe…Anyway, Marcella’s is a real good one.

You “know” the drill here—pizzas, calzones, subs, entrees come with soup/or salad, garlic rolls, pasta side. Tee shirts/shorts/sneakers-flip flops-sandals— dress of the day.

Let me make this a quickie for you…if you are looking for reasonably priced really good red-sauce stuff, Marcella’s will definitely get the job done for you. A recent outing had me trying–pizza, meat lasagna, veal parmigiana, veal marsala, clams oregenata, spaghetti & meatballs—everything was A-OK.

To sum it up, I enjoyed Marcella’s…everything- shall we say “sampled”- was as good if not better than most of the stuff served at the 100,020,004 “mom & pop” red sauce joints that seemingly inhabit every strip center in South Florida.

Marcella’s is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday noon-10pm.

***** GreatDealsInMyCity.com *****

Recently came across a very interesting website that I thought you guys might like to take a look at…www.GreatDealsInMyCity.com.

This is a real easy one—type in your zipcode and the site gives you a list of businesses/services which have discount coupons that you can print out. For our purposes, there are a ton of South Florida restaurants listed—and a buck is a buck!

***** Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 590 Northeast 167th Street, Miami, Florida 33162, (305) 949-6135.

As I’m sure- most of you know that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is a “national-international” donut chain with stores in the United States and abroad. Really don’t have the time or inclination to go into detail, but the chain- which has been around since 1937 found its “growth” stunted a few years ago, when its management was caught-up in a public accounting/business scandal. Suffice it to say, many think (me included) that the new management, installed just a few short years ago, has turned Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ business around. Now, I could be wrong here, but I think that Krispy Kreme’s stock currently selling at $6.39 (KKD) is an absolute steal. Do your on own DUE DILIGENCE. You can get details on Krispy Kreme at www.www.krispykreme.com.

As for Krispy’s donuts…a recent outing to a Miami location convinced me that its hot-glazed donut is one of the most delicious “things” known to mankind. To be perfectly honest with you, Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee is better, but Krispy’s donuts are better. Just so you know, my taste test also included, cake and cinnamon twist donuts–also delicious.

For the record, I bought KKD yesterday. Like I said before, I think that “new” management has finally gotten a firm hand on this turnaround situation. I also like the fact, that huge foreign expansion plans appear to be in the works.

By the way, the Miami location listed above, is open 24/7.

***** The Dandee Donut Factory, 1422 South Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441, (954) 429-0869…1900 East Atlantic Avenue, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060, (954) 785-1461…102 North 28th Avenue, Hollywood, Florida 33020, (954) 929-1118.

Let me make this one short and sweet (pun intended)…I never met- a donut that didn’t like me and vice versa. One of my favorite “in house” delights, is to pig-out on 6 honey glazed donuts with a hot cup of coffee while reading the newspaper. Suffice it to say, when I’m in such a mood, I really don’t care if the donuts are Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Publix brand… just call it, a quest for a sugar high or a carefree moment. Not being a limited kinda guy–I also love powdered, jelly, cake donuts (just to name a few)–but honey glazed is at the top of the list. Anyway…the point of this discussion, is to get across the fact, that donuts are one of my favorite food-groups.

For the record, over the years I must have eaten/taken out donuts from the Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach–Dandee locations a combined 30 times. I have never tried the Hollywood joint. From what I understand, the 3-stores are owned by different people…but the donuts and food menus are basically the same. You can check menu/prices at www.dandeedonuts.com.

The best way for me to describe The Dandee Donut Factory, “think”– Dunkin’ Donuts meets Waffle House or Ruffle House (By the way, when the guy who owned Waffle House wouldn’t sell a franchise to a guy who wanted one, the second guy started his own chain named Ruffle House. I thought you’d like that little gem, in case you ever go on Jeopardy). All 3 locations, in addition to donuts have a breakfast/lunch menu. Counter/table seating. For the record, the “non” donut stuff, is as good as any “mom & pop” diner’s offerings and runs circles around the IHOP’s, Denny’s and Perkin’s of the world. That said, the real game at The Dandee Donut Factory is DONUTS.

Let me close this out by saying…the donuts served by Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme are no match whatsoever for the donuts made by Dandee.

If you realy want to eat 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11…delicious- out of this world donuts, you gotta try The Dandee Donut Factory. The Pompano location is open 24/7. The other two joints are open Monday-Sunday 6am-4pm.

These “guys” really know how to make donuts.

***** Sparky’s Roadside Barbecue, 204 Northeast 1st Street, Miami, Florida 33132 (305) 377-2877.

Absolutely loved this “hole in the wall” 48-seater bbq joint in Miami. Absolutely nothing fancy going on here, so your tee shirt/shorts/Crocs-sneakers-sandals ensemble is a go.

Sparky’s menu isn’t huge, but definitely gets the job done. The joint also has something like 12 million micro-brews for you beer drinkers out there.

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

A recent outing had me doing…corn nuggets, baby back ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, bbq chicken, waffle fries, macaroni & cheese—the bbq “not too smokey” just like I like it (you-all, do know that I’m originally from Brooklyn, not Memphis)…to break this down a bit more, I enjoyed the ribs and chicken—that said, the pulled pork and brisket were grandslams…the mac & cheese was good, same for the corn nuggets—but no match for the waffle fries which were outrageously delicious.

Like I said before–loved this joint…definitely one of the better bbq joints that I’ve been to down here in South Florida.

Sparky’s is open Monday-Friday 10:30am-9pm and Saturday-Sunday noon-9pm.