***** Rait Financial Trust *****

Rait Financial Trust is a publicly traded reit (RAS: B-$2.25–A-$2.26).

Do some DUE DILIGENCE on this one. I think that it may-be a very interesting play in the U.S. apartment-rental arena.

As always-with this stock stuff…you gotta do your own research and homework.

Good Luck!

***** Beard Papa’s, 19501 Biscayne Boulevard (Aventura Mall), Aventura, Florida, 32771, (305) 682-8580.

Beard Papa’s…last count 39 locations—fast food… “cream puffs, rice balls filled with ice cream, handful of other desserts. For right now, this small chain has 2 Florida locations, Aventura and Orlando.

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

Not sure how long this “dessert” concept is gonna last…it sort of reminds me of the current cupcake and self-serve yogurt crazes making the rounds.

Anyway, stopped by the Aventura joint and tried chocolate and vanilla cream puffs—also had Japanese rice balls filled with vanilla and strawberry ice cream . DELICIOUS!

To be perfectly honest with you, old Jeff Eats found -Beard Pappa’s to be a real nice change from the standard food court -bourbon chicken and Sbarro pizza.

Beard Papa’s is open Monday-Saturday 10am-9:30pm and Sunday noon-8pm

***** Jack’s Hollywood Diner, 1031 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, Florida 33020, (954) 929-2888.

Jack’s Hollywood Diner—my kinda of joint. A REAL DINER–its been around since 1953 …and it’s open 7 days a week- 24 HOURS A DAY!!! Check www.jacksdiner.com for menu/prices/loads of pictures.

If you are a reincarnated truck-driver like old Jeff Eats is, you will absolutely-positively love this joint. Huge breakfast menu, burgers, french fries drowned in ketchup, onion rings, meat-loaf, daily specials, vinyl booths, formica tables, counter seating…a throw-back to the days when Ike was calling the shots…and Ray Kroc hadn’t yet figured out assembly-line burgers.

Jack’s is open 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

***** Alter Eagles *****

If you like the music of The Eagles…you gotta check-out the ALTER EAGLES a Tampa based tribute band.

I recently saw these guys at a private Boca Raton party—and they were absolutely dynamite. Dead on and I do mean dead on Eagles’ vocals. You’ll swear that Glen Frey and Don Henley are in the house.

The Alter Eagles play all over South Florida—like I said before, if The Eagles are your game, you gotta check these guys out.

You can get further info on the band at www.altereaglesband.com/home.cfm.

***** China Hollywood, 3605 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida 33021, (954) 966-9600.

Literally-every day, old Jeff Eats gets asked…”What’s a really good Chinese restaurant down here.” For those of you who live or work in Hollywood–try China Hollywood.

At this stage of the proceedings check www.chinahollywoodrestaurant.com for menu/prices.

Recently did dinner at this joint–and I gotta tell you, the food was very-good. My outing netted me–egg rolls, bbq ribs, pan fried dumplings, wonton soup, roast pork fried rice, shrimp with black bean sauce, sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak with onions…like I just mentioned, the food was very-good.

I’m gonna go out on a limb here…China Hollywood’s food is probably better, that’s right better–than your favorite neighborhood joint. If this joint was in my neighborhood, it would definitely have me as a steady customer.

As you guys know, what consitutes good food is a very subjective thing. With that in mind, I’m telling you that China Hollywood passed Jeff Eats’ Brooklyn-taste test with flying colors.

China Hollywood is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

Posted on April 12th, 2011

***** Bella Monte Italian Deli, 2688 East Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, (954) 946-0333.

Bella Monte Italian Deli is a small “Italian Market”…takeout subs/salads/soups—packaged items/meats. The joint is located in Pompano Beach.

Not sure how you say this…FUGETABOUTIT!! Absolutely amazing subs– Recently “tested” meatball, chicken cutlet parm, chicken salad, hot roast beef.

I am telling you, if you like-love good subs, Bella Monte Italian Deli’s stuff is right up there with South Florida’s best.

Bella Monte is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.

***** Local.com Corporation *****

Every so often, old Jeff Eats comes across a “stock situation” that I think might be of interest to some of you guys. Just so we are straight, you gotta do your own DUE DILIGENCE.

Over the past year or so, “discount coupon” companies have been getting tons of press. Companies like Groupon—via the internet, “offer” you merchandise etc at huge discounts. From what I’ve been reading, the public-markets are assigning gigantic and I do mean-gigantic numbers as to what these companies are worth.

If this “industry” is of interest to you, you might like to take a look at a small public company—Local.com Corporation (LOCM: Bid $3.92-Ask $3.93)…www.local.com.

I’m no expert here…that said, if this internet “discount coupon” industry is for-real, this little company with something like 21 million shares might be an interesting investment.

You’re on your own here.

Good luck.

***** Bagel Hut, 4877 Coconut Creek Parkway, Pompano Beach, Florida 33063, (954) 975-3442.

Bagel Hut is a “bagel-deli”…located in Pompano Beach.

Recently did breakfast…delicious “everything” and western omelette.

Think-typcial bagel joint and you’ll know what Bagel Hut is all about… 4,000,000 types of bagels, all kinds of breakfast stuff, deli sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads.

If you live or work in Bagel Hut’s neighborhood—you can’t go wrong here.

Bagel Hut is open Monday-Friday 7am-3pm, Saturday 7am-2:30pm, Sunday 7am-2am.

***** BurgerFi, 4343 North Ocean Drive, Lauderdale by the Sea 33308, (954) 489-0110.

Walked into this free-standing “fast food” burger joint last Saturday night—and immediately new that I was going to love it. The easiest way to describe BurgerFi–Shake Shack (see 8/1/10 review) meets Five Guys Famous Burgers (see 11/2/06 review) with indoor and outdoor “picnic table seating.”

Let me make this real simple…one of the best fast-food cheeseburgers and hand cut fries that I’ve had in a very long time.

At this stage of the proceedings, check www.burgerfi.com for menu/prices/photos.

I am telling you, if burgers and fries are your game, you are absolutely gonna love this joint.

As a 1949 “baby” I think I know a thing or two about the fast-food-burger industry. Trust me on this, old Jeff Eats has eaten his fair share of burgers and fries.

I think I know exactly what BurgerFi is “trying” to do here…The joint’s decor looks like a roadside fast-food burger joint circa 1950’s/1960’s with some-modern touches…throw in “gourmet” burgers and “upscale” fries-other stuff…and BurgerFi’s got all of the bases covered. It’s cooler looking than Five Guys but cheaper than the “upscale” full service-burger restaurants that are currently America’s latest craze.

Check Burgerfi’s site, there are a handful of pictures which will give you some idea as to what I am yapping about here.

Like I said before, if you like burgers, fries, hot dogs, custard…you’ll love this joint.

BurgerFi is open 7 days a week 11am-1am.

***** Lotus Express, 10300 West Forest Hill Bouelvard, Wellington, Florida 33414, (561) 792-0554.

Lotus Express is a “fast food” Chinese joint–located in the fast-food court at The Mall at Wellington Green in Wellington.

Tried Lotus today for lunch. For $6.69, Jeff Eats got a combination plate of orange chicken/General Tso’s chicken/white rice. I also “tried” an egg roll, shrimp pork fried rice, boneless spare-ribs.

The verdict, the food is edible…with the orange chicken actually being quite decent. As for the other stuff, I’m willing to bet that your favorite neighborhood Chinese takeout makes better stuff.

So, if one-day, you find yourself in The Mall at Wellington Green with an “urge” for orange chicken, you now know where you can get your fix.

Thank you…