***** Milani Gelateria, 436 Espanola Way, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, (305) 532-8562.

Look, I’ll level with you…I really don’t know the first thing about GELATO…keep in mind, that I was raised on Good Humor, Bungaloo Bar and Dolly Madison–ice cream. My knowledge of gelato…it’s Italian ice cream.

Now, that I’ve confessed—I will tell you, I do know when something tastes absolutely delicious. With that in mind, let me recommend Milani Gelateria in Miami Beach. Phenomenal-tasting- pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, lemon gelato. Order at the counter/art deco decor/Italian owner from Italy making the stuff fresh daily—check menu at www.milanigelateria.com.

The joint is open Monday-Thursday 10am-12:30am and Friday-Sunday 10am-1am.

***** Ireland’s Steakhouse, 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, Florida 33326, (954) 349-5656.

Go figure…one of South Florida’s best “upscale” steak-seafood restaurants—Ireland’s Steakhouse is located in the Hyatt Regency Bonaventura Conference Center & Spa. Not exactly, Macy’s in Herald Square!

Like its “brethern”…Ireland’s ain’t a cheap date. You can check menu/prices at www.bonaventure.hyatt.com.

A recent outing had me “sampling”—20 oz. bone-in-ribeye ($48), petite filet mignon ($37), seared yellow tail snapper ($37), potatoes au gratin ($9), sauteed mushrooms ($9), creamed spinach ($9). Hey! I told you, this wasn’t a cheap date–that said, everything was absolutely delicious.

Delicious food. Modern upscale decor… A really beautiful thing, the staff is as pleasant and professional as can be. Nobody and I do mean not-a-one, has a “know it all” attitude.

Ireland’s is hidden in a “resort”…I am telling you, it’s as good as the “best” that’s out there.

The joint is open Tuesday-Saturday 5:30pm-10:30pm.

***** Sugar Chef Cupcakes, 600 South Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401, (561) 835-2045.

Now…I haven’t changed my mind on the subject—that being, that “these” cupcake stores which seemingly pop-up every day– are nothing but a gigantic fad which is going to end sooner than later. Maybe I’m nuts, but tv shows about “Cupcake Wars” seem to be slightly over the top. Then again, maybe I’m out of step, in that I can’t figure out why millions of people watch this lady Snooki on some ridiculous tv show about her and her friends who live in New Jersey.

Anyway…for as long as the party lasts, I’m in..having devoured over the past 2-days some absolutely delicious cupcakes from Sugar Chef Cupcakes in West Plam Beach. You can checkout out the menu/prices at www.sugarchefcupcakes.com.

Keep in mind, that old Jeff Eats was raised on Twinkies and Devil Dogs…that said, Sugar Chef’s chocolate bean, chocolate blackout and vanilla bean cupcakes- gave the previously mentioned “standbys” a real run for the money.

Like I always say—if you can’t beat’em, join’em.

Sugar Chef Cupcakes is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday noon-9pm.

***** Pizzeria Oceano, 201 East Ocean Avenue, Lantana, Florida 33462, (561) 429-5500.

If you are looking for a “red sauce–huge menu–soup/salad/garlic rolls/entree/pasta side” Italian joint…Pizzeria Oceano ain’t for you.

Pizzeria Oceano is a “very interesting” concept. A handfull of appetizers/salads/pizzas–the menu CHANGES every day and a ton of product comes from local farmers. In fact, the “purveyors” names are listed on the menu—sort of like when 5 Guys tells you where the daily potatoes come from. There is very little seating inside, maybe room for 12—there is also an outdoor patio for dining. You can check menu/prices at www.pizzeriaoceano.com.

Like I said, very limited menu. In fact, the menu states “TAKEOUT IS NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE & NOT RECOMMENDED.” A husband/wife team–Dak & Martha own the joint, and seem more interested in turning out great food than filling their bank account—let’s call their business-style “novel.”

Anyway…a recent outing had me doing their basic pizza—mozzarella/tomato sauce ($13). Let’s just say, that this thin crust-sweet sauce pizza was off-the chart. Absolutely delicious.
I’ll bet you a quarter, that your favorite neighborhood pizza—doesn’t come close to this slice.

Don’t know Pizzeria Oceano’s business model…What I do know, is- that the fresh made daily mozzarella made Jeff Eats’ 25 minute drive (one way) worth while.

Pizzeria Oceano is open Monday-Saturday 5:50pm-no set closing time…the joint is closed on Sunday

***** The Lemon Ice King Of Wellington, 13860 Wellington Trace, Wellington, Florida 33414, (561) 792-2900.

If you like ICES, you will absolutely love The Lemon Ice King Of Wellington—which opened for business in August, 2010.

Let me make this story short-and-simple…For the past 60 years or so, The Lemon Ice King Of Corona has been cranking out some of the most delicious ices known to mankind. To many native-New Yorkers, The Lemon Ice King is to ices what Nathan’s in Coney Island is to hot dogs & fries.

Anyway…Back in August, 2010–The Lemon Ice King Of Wellington opened in Wellington. The Florida “outlet” imports its ices from the Corona location. Check www.thelemoniceking.net for flavors. You can also check www.thelemonicekingofcorona.com for information/history about the original location.

The Lemon Ice King Of Wellington has something like 36 different flavors. I am telling you, lemon, cherry, chocolate, pistachio ices like you never tasted before…unless, you’ve been to the original location.

The Lemon Ice King Of Wellington is open Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm and Sunday noon-8:30pm.

***** Mario Bros Gourmet Pasta Restaurant, 1193 Royal Palm Beach Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, (561) 656-1990.

You ever wonder what happend to those “video” Mario Brothers? Anyway… got a terrific
“mom & pop” or shall I saw “brothers” red sauce Italian joint for you…Mario Bros Gourmet Pasta Restaurant in Royal Palm Beach.

This joint is a real hole in the wall…maybe seats 20. The food is right on the money…big portions…reasonable prices…tee shirt/shorts- dress of the day.

A recent outing had me doing—fried calamari, chicken marsala, eggplant parmesan, baked stuff filet of sole, manicotti. You can check menu/prices at www.mbpasta.com.

This one is a HOMERUN. The bet here, Mario Bros is probably better than your “favorite” mom & poppa.”

Mario Bros does dinner 7 days a week and lunch Tuesday-Friday.

***** Bud’s Chicken & Seafood, 509 East Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, Florida 33435, (561) 732-3618.

Bud’s Chicken & Seafood has been around since 1957. There are currently 7 locations in South Florida.

Let’s make this one short and real simple…If you change Bud’s name to BUD’S FRIED CHICKEN & FRIED SEAFOOD, you’ll know- exactly what old Bud’s is all-about.

Amazingly- delicious fried chicken and fried seafood items. For sure, they have a handful of salads, bbq ribs and non-fried stuff…but the game here–fried chicken, fried shrimp and fried corn fritters…just what the old cardiologist ordered. Throw in super reasonable prices, shorts/tee shirt friendly decor, super pleasant staff…and you got a huge winner.

Like I said before, there are currently 7 locations. You can check menu/prices/locations at www.budschicken.com.

Bud’s is open 7 days a week 10:30am-9pm

***** Jimmy The Greek Taverna, 8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434, (561) 477-3272.

Very original name, don’t-cha think…Jimmy The Greek! That aside, this “mom & pop” Greek joint serves some really dynamte-reasonably priced stuff. You can check menu/prices at www.jimmythegreekrestaurant.com.

Over the past 3-weeks, I did 2- lunches and 1-dinner at Jimmy The Greek. Let’s just say, that the joint didn’t miss a beat–delicious gyros, pork souvlaki, char-broiled pork & lamb chops, Greek salad, moussaka, tilapia lemonato. Lots of food for the money…the most expensive “dinner” on the menu runs about 18 bucks.

If you like Greek stuff, I think that you will really enjoy Jimmy The Greek.

The joint is open 7 days a week 11am-9pm.

***** Joseph’s Italian Pastry Shop, 788 South Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441, (954) 571-7747.

Yesterday, I told you guys about Gran Forno Las Olas…a terrific Italian Bakery in Fort Lauderdale.

Now let me tell you about Joseph’s Italian Pastry Shop, another terrific Italian Bakery in Deerfield Beach.

Just so you know, both joints make absolutely delicious cakes, breads, cookies, pastries…the big difference between the two—Gran Forno Las Olas is playing the Starbucks/Panera Bread decor card…while, Joseph’s looks like an Italian bakery circa NYC 1960…both are really cool, but throw-off totally different vibes. Now don’t “holler” at me, but Gran Forno- on LAS OLAS is a YUPPIE-GENERATION X version of Joseph’s- which is just a plain old “mom & pop” neighborhood bakery.

I am telling you, if you want outrageously delicious cannolis, rum cake, cookies—you gotta give Joseph’s a shot.

You now know about two joints…to get some heavy duty delicious Italian baked goods.

Joseph’s is open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-6pm and Sunday 9am-3pm. Joseph’s is closed on Monday.

***** Gran Forno Las Olas, 1235 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, (954) 467-2244.

Let’s start with a point of reference…I was born in 1949 and until 1975 lived at 811 Cortelyou Road, Brooklyn New York 11218. The neighborhood bakery was Steinhardt’s Bakery owned by Arnold Steinhardt (my mother always called him Mr. Steinhardt) and the joint made the most delicious onion rolls, butter rolls, challah, rugalah, bobka- known to mankind. For sure, during those “formative” years, I ate plenty of pizza, meatballs & spaghetti and had my fair share of Italian ices, cannolis, tartufos and spumoni…but my “expertise” was in deli and Jewish style baked goods.

With all that in mind, let me tell you about Gran Forno, an Italian Bakery located on East Las Olas Boulevard. Now, not claiming to be an expert on Italian baked goods, I’m gonna take a shot here and tell you, that Gran Forno makes some absolutely delicious- breads, cookies, cakes, ciabitti, focaccia, biscotti, pastries, filone, pizza, sandwiches.

Since those Brooklyn days, I’ve kinda broadened my taste-field…and I want you to know, that Gran Forno has to rank up there with the best Italian bakeries I have been in. Just so you know…there are a handful of tables, so you can eat-in, if that’s your game.

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

Gran Forno is open every day 7:30am-7pm except Monday when it’s closed.