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 Check, Please! South Florida turns up the heat with all-new episodes beginning May 21, 2012 on WPBT2. In the season premiere, three local firefighters come to the rescue with the dish on their favorite dining hot spots! Host Michelle Bernstein jumps back into the mix with fifteen new reviewers, offering restaurant picks from Tequesta to Sweetwater. We’ll visit trendy up-and-coming neighborhoods like Wynwood in Miami and Northwood in West Palm Beach, and we’ll get the lowdown on the food truck frenzy with a stop at the Biscayne Triangle Food Truck Round-up in North Miami, one of the largest meet-ups in South Florida. Whether you’re craving authentic Cantonese, Nicaraguan, Israeli or Italian food, we’ve got you covered.
These fun new episodes will be served up on WPBT2 starting Monday, May 21, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Episodes repeat on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. Season 8 is made possible by the generous support of Badia Spices, Whole Foods Market, Illy Caffe, and Johnson & Wales University.
SEASON 8 EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS:
5/21: Tropical Chinese Restaurant in Miami, Wings N Ale in Coral Springs, and Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante in Miami Beach.
5/28: Hog Snappers Shack & Sushi in Tequesta, Talia’s Tuscan Table in Boca Raton, and Jade Kitchen in West Palm Beach.
6/4: Madroño Restaurant in Miami, Valentino’s Italiana Cucina in Ft. Lauderdale, and Sunrise Pita & Grill in Sunrise.
6/11: The Cottage in Lake Worth, Don Arturo in Ft. Lauderdale, and Joey’s in Miami.
6/18: The Biscayne Triangle Food Truck Round-Up in North Miami, My Big Fat Greek Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale, and City Oyster & Sushi Bar in Delray Beach.
 Our 2nd Tasting Tour is right around the corner. On Tuesday evening, May 15th, two private buses will transport 100 guests to some of our favorite Boca Raton hot spots for menu tastings, wine, cocktails, and an evening of fun! We thought we'd give you a peek at some of the menu highlights planned for that evening.
Ready to salivate?
Michy's
Watermelon Greek Salad
with a sparkling Strawberry Basil "Mojito"
Sushi Rock
Spicy Tuna Wonton
Garlic Mussels
Josephine's Italian Cuisine
Chicken Spedini with orange balsamic marmalade
Sausage Meatballs ala Sicilian
Norwegian smoked salmon on fresh herb crostini
Bogart's Bar & Grille
Baja Fish Tacos with pico de gallo, guacamole, and cilantro lime aioli
Casa D'Angelo Ristorante
Braised beef short ribs with amarone fig sauce and pear raviolini
Tin Muffin Cafe
Assortment of homemade muffins, pies, and cakes
(including peanut butter pie, coconut cream pie, carrot cake, German chocolate cake, banana cake and more!)
*Red and white wines courtesy of Antinori Santa Cristina
*Specialty cocktails courtesy of Tito's Handmade Vodka & Happy Wine the Grove
*Italian gourmet coffee courtesy of Illy Caffe
Hungry yet? Buy your tickets HERE. Don't miss out on this fun and delicious event!
 Back by popular demand, the Check, Please! Tasting Tour returns on Tuesday evening, May 15, 2012...this time in Boca Raton! Join us for a whirlwind charter bus tour of five restaurants, along with a special appetizer by our host, chef Michelle Bernstein of Michy's.
Paul Castronovo of the Paul & Young Ron Show and Castronovo Vineyards returns as our co-host for the evening. (Paul & Michelle will join guests on the bus as we make our way through this delectable evening full of food and fun.)
*CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS* (Tickets are very limited and non-refundable)
You can choose a tour departure time of 5:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. Participating restaurants include Sushi Rock, Josephine's, Bogart's Bar & Grille, Casa D'Angelo, and Tin Muffin Cafe. At each stop, guests will enjoy a menu tasting and wine or specialty cocktail.
And thanks to our wonderful event sponsors for making it all possible: Illy Caffe, Santa Cristina, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and Happy Wine The Grove.
(NOTE: Happy Wine received rave reviews in our first season and just recently opened a second location in Coconut Grove. Check out the link for more info.)
This is not only a fun-filled evening for all involved, but it's a delicious way to support public television. All of the proceeds go toward the continued production of Check, Please! South Florida on WPBT2. We hope to see you there!
*If you missed our last Tasting Tour event, check out this video from the evening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtfZf0IZD2k&list=UUKSrz33hLhDwMZPXlGq85dQ&index=10&feature=plcp
 I have recently been a guest on Check Please, South Florida and would like to comment on the experience. It was generally speaking nothing but fun.
To start with, I really enjoyed going to the couple of restaurants recommended by my fellow guests. Both were places I would not have gone to otherwise, given the cuisine of one and the location of the other (about 65 miles from where I live).
Nevertheless, both were an experience. Fortunately, the food was good at both places and it made me try new foods. For a dedicated foodie, I still seem to frequent places I know and like. I was forced out of my comfort zone and I enjoyed it.
Defending my own choice made me think more deeply about why I liked my choice so much.
Made me think harder about what a complete dining experience is all about.
I would also like to say that the team at WPBT was most helpful, very professional and just down right pleasant. They really got us to do what was needed when it was needed but making it seem like fun. On taping day, the staff really shined. Every effort was made to get us relaxed (the wine helped alot) and moved us through make-up,etc. very calmly.
Lastly a word about the Michelle. She is the nicest person imaginable. She made everyone feel totally at ease. Michelle is a great chef (the classical training probably helps), very professional with a wonderful sense of humor. I still have to laugh at some of the interaction between Michelle and the guests.
If you have a chance to be a guest on the program, just do it!
H.S.F.
Palm Beach
 Our guest reviewers love when they have leftovers to take home from their favorite restaurants. "I had leftovers for a day and a half!" you'll hear them proclaim on the show, as they gush over large portion sizes.
But, LEFTOVERS are especially exciting when it's a reference to the brand new companion web video series to the Check, Please! South Florida television show.
Want to get a look beyond the broadcast? Craving another taste of the featured restaurants reviewed on the show? We've got recipe demos from some of the season's best chefs and an extra serving of sound bites from restaurant owners and managers. (We just couldn't let perfectly good scenes go to waste.) Find out more about their life stories, learn the secrets behind some of the traditional menu items, or hear about their general food philosophy.
For an extra serving of Check, Please! South Florida, check out the LEFTOVERS video series, posted on the show's YouTube channel. Enjoy!
 On Monday, January 23rd, a brand new season of Check, Please! South Florida will premiere on WPBT2....sporting a brand new look! Yep, we gave the show a bit of a facelift - with some fun new music, colors, and graphics - but you can still expect to see our host Chef Michelle Bernstein's shining smile and hear the honest and passionate reviews of local guest reviewers. This season's restaurants include a lively mix of cuisines and cultures from as far South as Palmetto Bay and up North to Palm Beach. Looking for dog-friendly vegan cuisine? We've got a hidden away waterfront spot just steps away from Dixie Hwy. (Who knew?) Craving something creative and special without the upscale prices? We've got a few chef-owned restaurants this season that will fit the bill. From authentic Mexican street food (no burritos here!)....to a Vietnamese mainstay (smack in the middle of Little Havana!)....to a mom and her son serving up soul food near Dolphin Stadium (think tailgating grub!)...to some truly unique special occasion gems, we've got a whole smorgasbord of spots for you to check out.
Also new this season: a companion web series, called Check, Please! South Florida "Leftovers," will offer you another chance to meet the chefs or owners of some of the featured restaurants, hear more about their food philosophy, and even watch them make some of their signature dishes. For these 'video extras,' stay tuned to our blog, Facebook page...or check out our YouTube channel.
Finally, last season's bus tour through Ft. Lauderdale - the Check, Please! Tasting Tour - was a huge success, and we've had lots of requests for another one. So...there's a pretty good chance another exciting event will be right around the corner. Stay tuned for details!
In the meantime, don't miss the bus on the brand new season, starting Monday, January 23rd at 7:30 p.m., brought to you thanks to the generous support our sponsors: Badia, Whole Foods Market, Johnson & Wales University, and George & Helen Weaver.
Bon Appetit!
We're coming up on the Production of Season 8, and we think it's time to feature the food truck frenzy that has swept over South Florida. But, rather than focusing on just one or two trucks, we'd like to hear about your favorite food truck meet-ups. (They happen nearly every day of the week all across South Florida.) You can also include info on which trucks at the round-ups are your go-to spots.
If you'd like the chance to be one of our food critics-for-a-day, go to our website and click the "be a reviewer" link toward the top of the page. That will launch the online application. Fill it out and nominate any one of the local Food Truck Round-ups as your favorite 'restaurant' and you may be chosen to join us for the upcoming tapings in early February.
A couple of restrictions to note: You can't be a food professional (food critic, food blogger, restaurant owner, or chef), and you can't have any financial ties to any of the food trucks, their related restaurants, or meet-up venues.
Let the nominations begin!
Close to a hundred restaurants have been featured on Check, Please! over the past few years. We thought it was time to give you a chance to send us updates on any restaurants that have changed hands, closed, renovated their building - or their menu...for better or for worse.
Sadly, several of the restaurants that have been featured have closed their doors for good, including Casa Bella of Dania Beach, DeVito's of Miami Beach, and Scorch of North Miami Beach.
Some, like our friends at Josef's of Plantation have closed their restaurants, but have big plans to re-open soon in a new location. Others, like Pasta And... in Margate, changed ownership shortly after they were featured, but have stayed open in the same location with the same menu.
With all these changes taking place, we'd love for you to be our eyes and ears, feeding us news on our featured restaurants when you hear about it. So here is a place to leave your feedback. Loyal viewer, Jack Gilman, recently visited Boston's in Delray Beach only to find a completely renovated restaurant with a few new menu items as well. His comments can be found below.
Calling all Beer Connoisseurs! Sublime Restaurant & Bar (formerly reviewed on Check, Please! Season 2) has an exciting event coming up with your name on it. From 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20th, you'll get the chance to taste over a dozen craft beers from some of the country's best microbreweries. Alongside the beers, enjoy Sublime's housemade kettle chips and pretzel bites.
We've got two pairs of tickets to give away for this fun evening of brews! Leave a beer-related comment on our Facebook page Wall between now and 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, 10/18, and you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets. (Only one entry per person.)
Winners will be announced on FACEBOOK Wednesday morning.
(Tickets can also be purchased here.)
Cheers!
 After our exceedingly delicious - and very successful - tasting event in May at the WPBT2 studios, we heard from several viewers asking for an event in Broward. (You know who you are!) So, we have decided to take to the road with our next shindig. The Check, Please! South Florida Tasting Tour will take place on Tuesday evening, November 8, 2011.
Hosted by chef Michelle Bernstein and Paul Castronovo of the Paul & Young Ron show, this progressive party will transport you to 5 different restaurants in the Ft. Lauderdale area, where you can taste some exciting menu items and sip on wines or specialty drinks, while mixing and mingling with dozens of other local foodies. No need to worry about the hassles of driving and parking. We've got two private charter busses reserved just for you (and 99 of your closest friends).
Tickets go on sale to the public at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 3rd. (Check out a special episode of Check, Please! South Florida, which will air at that same time on WPBT2, to get the scoop on all the details of the event.) Tickets are extremely limited. They are $125 each and available only at checkpleasefl.com.
All proceeds go toward the continued production of Check, Please! South Florida on WPBT2. So kill two birds with one stone - enjoy an exciting evening of food, while supporting your favorite restaurant review show. We want to keep bringing you the dish on South Florida's dining gems, recommended by regular people like you!
Participating restaurants for the Tasting Tour include Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar, Coco Asian Bistro & Bar, Canyon Southwestern Cafe, Sublime Restaurant & Bar, and the 11th Street Annex. (The last stop includes dessert, coffee, and a street party put on by those lovely ladies who call themselves "the two ugly sisters." They're longtime caterers, and we hear they know how to put on a party!)
Our sponsors for this fun-filled evening include the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Miami-Dade chapter, Southern Wine & Spirits, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Terressentia, and El Carajo International Tapas & Wines. We're grateful for their generous support and assistance in making this an evening to remember!
Now, all we need is YOU! Hope to see you there!
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