Located on 16^th and Alton Road, chef and restaurateur Bernie Matz cooks up traditional Cuban food in a very non-traditional way.

“This is a very simple, unpretentious local spot that serves a modern healthy approach to a classic Latin flavors,” said Matz.

That’s not to say you won’t find cheese steak, sweet potato fries or any of those Latino favorites we all love and crave, but Matz makes it a bit healthier.

It’s a more modern approach to the same Latin American cuisine with whole grains, real fresh veggies, fresh salad, quinoa, and a mix of 5 different varieties of rice, things you wouldn’t find in a typical Latin American restaurant

Most meals run between $8- $12 dollars, making Bernie’s LA Cafe a South Beach staple for those who enjoy healthy Latin cuisine.

For more info log onto http://www.bernieslacafe.com/

Everything is under $7.95. Cant beat it,” said General Manager Gareth Ojeda.

Founded in 2001 by two friends who moved to South Florida from California, Zona Fresca’s concept is clear: To serve not-your-everyday Mexican food, but Mexican food you can eat every day.

One best seller, the tostada salad with tender chicken and creamy guacamole. The $3 dollar fish taco is also a hit, and the Cali Wrap features with fresh chicken, guacamole, lettuce and cheese.

Another popular Broward eatery is the Pink Submarine, A local favorite on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.

“One of our specials that we are known for, we put crunchy onions on top of the sandwich,” said Dawn Holloway, Owner of Pink Submarine in Wilton Manors.

Holloway and partner Lori Tanner operate this mom and mom shop, serving the most creative and tastiest sub sandwiches around. All are $9 and under.

“We have a little touch of gourmet. Everything is fresh and made to order, and who gives you 19 toppings to choose from? Asked Holloway.

All of the sandwiches have nautical names. Jameson, a regular, orders “The Captain”–  ham and turkey topped with macaroni and cheese!

“It’s wonderful” said Jameson.

Side dishes like the  delicious watermelon mint salad, the chunky potato salad or the orzo salad are winners. As are the  handmade mouth watering chocolates.

For more information:    

zonafresca.com

thepinksubmarine.com

The yearly closure helps to protect stone crabs during its peak spawning season.

The nice thing about eating stone crab claws, other than they are delicious, is that stone crab claws are the only renewable resource from the water. Crabbers take only one claw from each crab, which is then regenerated over time.

Stone crab season reopens October 15.

Stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to May 16 by a licensed wholesale or retail dealer.

Stone crab traps must be removed from the water within five days after the close of the stone crab season unless a special extension is granted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing.

One of those restaurants is The Dutch at W South Beach. This ultra cool, relaxed space is the sister to one of New York’s hottest restaurants. It opened in South Florida during Art Basel week in November 2011 and it has become a true dining destination.

The living room style decor is an inviting space for guests to enjoy the cuisine on chef Conor Hanlan’s eclectic menu.

“We like to make it like roots inspired cooking. Whatever your Grandmother made or my Grandmother made. We put a twist on it,” chef Hanlan told CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo.

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Dutch has something for everyone.

New on the menu for Spring is corvina ceviche. The magical marinade includes 3 citrus juices topped with fresh avocados, onions and jalapeno peppers. The plump seared scallops are served atop homemade kimchee and there’s a fresh sour cherry pie served with pistachio ice cream for dessert.

The Dutch isn’t cheap. Dinner prices range around $16.00 per appetizer. Entrees range from to $22 – $44 dollars.

The Dutch is located inside W South Beach Hotel & Residences, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach.

On Mary Brickell Village, diners can get a traditional taste of Tuscany with a modern twist at Toscana Divino.

Executive chef Julian Baker is an Englishman who knows Italian cooking.

“How does an Englishman cook Italian so well?” asked Petrillo.

“Do you have to be French to French kiss?” joked Chef Julian.

Chef Julian spent years in Italy fine tuning his craft. At Toscana Divino he serves up everything from very affordable pasta dishes, seafood, burgers and more. For lunch, Lisa Petrillo recommends the boccocino. Its cod cooked in black butter served on top of a divine chick pea puree.

“This is a melt in your mouth delicate fish,” described Petrillo.

It’s all about Tuscany in this sexy space. Diners not only get to enjoy the delicious food, they can bring a piece of Tuscany home. There are beautiful purses and leather goods as well as barware and artwork from the village for sale inside the restaurant.

“The origin of Tuscany is our partner,” said General Manager Mauro Bortignon. “You can shop while you eat!”

Toscana Divino is located on 900 South Miami Avenue in Miami in the Mary Brickell Village.

Goldsmith is the executive pastry chef for the Genuine Hospitality Group and she’s the only Miami chef left in the “James Beard” finals, to be awarded on May 7th.

She’s famous for her bold yet whimsical desserts at Michael Schwartz’s Miami restaurants “Harry’s Pizzeria” and “Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink.”

CBS4’S Lisa Petrillo recently caught up with the pint sized pastry chef who has been wowing guests with her sweet and savory creations for decades.

“I went into this business because I love people. When people are happy, there’s nothing like ending a meal with something incredibly delicious and a smile on people’s faces. That’s honestly what makes me happy,” said Hedy.

Every day, Hedy creates her delicious desserts in the kitchen at Michael’s Genuine than walks to Harry’s Pizzeria, Michael’s second spot in the Miami Design District, where she delivers her delicacies by hand.

“It’s all about the street, connecting the two and its all day long and it’s great fun,” said Hedy

Hedy delivered delicious hand-made Anise Biscotti the day Petrillo paid a visit. But she also whips up an amazing Italian Zeppole, which is a deep fried dough dessert that’s light, airy and so delicious. There’s also a yummy chocolate chip cookie and a heavenly butterscotch pana cotta.

The James Beard Foundation Awards, for which Hedy is a finalist, are often called “The Oscars of Food.”

“I have so already won, laughed Hedy. “I’m so honored and so psyched about it. I just have to decide what to wear!”

The James Beard Awards will be handed out in New York city on May 7.

Their mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it.

Earlier this year, patrons of this roving culinary adventure found themselves sitting in a field at a long, long table on Hani Khouri’s Redland Farm.

Guest Norma Jean Abraham gazed across the scene beaming, “The people, the food, the ambiance. Look at this! It is so unique. That’s what makes this so special,” declared Abraham.

Outstanding in the Field is known for selecting farmers who produce the highest quality products.

Since 1999, the group has pulled off events all across America and abroad, serving 13,000 meals on mountaintops and in caves, at the shore and, of course, in a grassy field or two. Its first South Florida event was at Paradise Farms in 2008.

Chef Alex Pinero of Sustain was the honored chef of the night, and created a medley of dishes inspired by Hani’s various goat cheeses.

The creator of the event is Jim Denevan, who smiled from under the brim of his trademark cowboy hat and announced “Welcome everyone, to Outstanding in the Field.”

He knew by the end of the night and some eight courses of locally produced organic dishes and treats, those who traveled here to sit at his infamous table, would understand what this ‘green effort’ is all about.

“It’s not just what is on your plate or fork but what is behind it,” said Denevan when he explained his passion.

“Last year we served 15 thousand people. It’s to get people close to where the food comes from. And this is pretty close,” said a smiling Denevan looking over his shoulder at the goats. “The harvest was an abstract thing, rather than a physical, visceral, or delicious thing. To see the harvest directly, to enjoy food with one long table, everyone dining together, expressing their appreciation for the farmer, that’s what the magic of the night is all about,” he said.

For $190, guests were given a wine and hors d’oeuvre reception, along with a four-course wine paired meal made with ingredients sourced from other South Florida farmers including: Paradise Farms, Teena’s Pride, Knauss Berry Farm, and Bee Heaven’s Farm.

For Lebanese goat herder Hani Khouri, it was a truly magical night. Just 3 years ago, he was a player in the marketing and financial world. He gave it all up for organic farming and the goats.

“I have been doing this for 3 years and this is like the culmination of what I have been doing. It validates it all,” said Khouri, who was assisted  by his beaming wife and son.

“The gratification is when someone takes a bite and says ‘Wow!’ Thank you, Thank you!” He exclaimed.

And this night there were plenty of “wows”.

“I would rate it with the best. Definitely. That would include Paris, Rome, Spain, they are all tremendous. The food has been beyond. I can’t believe how wonderful it is,” exclaimed Lillian Gillen, a devout foodie and cook who enjoyed the evening’s delectable homegrown feast.

“It’s exciting. It really is an exciting time,” said Gabrielle Marewski, founder of Paradise Farms, thrilled to see all enjoying the magic of the local farm.”When people actually come to the farm, and eat the meal at the farm, they get it,” said Marewski.  The nights organic greens and blossoms were all just picked at Marewski’s Paradise Farms.

“We grow it with love. We love what we are. The energy shows in everything we grow. It shows in the food,” said Marewski.

The mantra around the table that night, seek out produce from local farmers, it not only tastes good but is good business.

“That’s why we go to local restaurants and support our local restaurants that are family-owned. Because we want to see that family guy be able to sustain his family, his kids, put them through school, that’s the American way,” said foodie Tom Abraham.

So the next time Outstanding in the Field comes to town, just bring your appetite, a dinner plate, and a curiosity to connect to the land and all the blessings we share it with who help feed our body and soul.

On what they’ve dubbed National Pancake Day, IHOP restaurants across South Florida and nationwide will be offering anyone who walks through the door a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. as part of a fundraising effort for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In exchange for the free pancakes, IHOP asks customers to donate what they would have paid for the pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network.  In South Florida, the money raised goes to Miami Children’s Hospital.

The free pancake offer is no small undertaking for the restaurant chain. This marks the seventh year IHOP has flipped free flapjacks for charity, and they plan to give away more than five million pancakes.

IHOP hopes the program in 2012 will raise $2.7 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In the first six years, they’ve raised nearly $8 million through National Pancake Day.

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and make an online donation, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.

And did you know that Pancake Day is a tradition that dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products, hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.

On what they’ve dubbed National Pancake Day, IHOP restaurants across South Florida and nationwide will be offering anyone who walks through the door a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. as part of a fundraising effort for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In exchange for the free pancakes, IHOP asks customers to donate what they would have paid for the pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network.  In South Florida, the money raised goes to Miami Children’s Hospital.

The free pancake offer is no small undertaking for the restaurant chain. This marks the seventh year IHOP has flipped free flapjacks for charity, and they plan to give away more than five million pancakes.

IHOP hopes the program in 2012 will raise $2.7 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In the first six years, they’ve raised nearly $8 million through National Pancake Day.

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and make an online donation, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.

And did you know that Pancake Day is a tradition that dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products, hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.

If that’s your idea of fine dining, then the PL8 Kitchen and Side Bar might be the perfect cheap eat.

For those who enjoy tasting, sharing and sampling eclectic dishes PL8 Kitchen and Side Bar is a must try.

PL8 is located in downtown Fort Lauderdale and is gaining popularity.

“We noticed a lot of people coming in and sharing plates whether it was appetizers or entrees and they would very often be sharing entrees,” said Executive Chef Joel Christy. “We decided to go in the movement of small plates, tapas style, but not tapas. It’s fun food and very sharable.”

Chef Joel prepares one of PL8’s specialty pizzas, The Sunny Side Up.

“It’s smoked gouda, mozzarella, maple syrup, quail eggs, potatoes,  peppers, and onions,” said Christy. “No marinara”.

If money’s tight, PL8 might have just what the doctor ordered. Plates range from four dollars to 12 dollars.

“[The pricing] really allows our guest to come in and get a lot of different things together and have fun,” Christy said.

One of PL8′s most popular plates includes: the bratwurst sliders served on a pretzel bun and topped with potato salad and the Korean short ribs with a side of pineapple kimchee.

The low key atmosphere is friendly and cool, accented by a giant floor to ceiling tree made from clothes pins.

Fridays are Happy Hour at PL8 where select appetizers go for three dollars and you can hang out at the side bar which is connected to the kitchen all night.

PL8 Kitchen and Side Bar is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

For more information, click here.

For more cheap eats, click here.

“Lolita was originally conceived to be a burlesque or bordello Mexican spirit and we wanted to take street food of Mexico but keep it simple,” said owner Jody Pennette.

It’s not your typical Mexican eatery; serenading Mariachi Bands are not on the menu. Lolita Cocina and Tequila Bar is the third take on a concept started in Boston and Connecticut.

As for cost, customers can pretty much determine their final check by the bountiful offerings and price ranges in the menu

“You can come out and get a couple of taquitos and tacos and come out light and then we also have tequila at $100 a shot,” said Pennette.

Lolita Cucina and Tequila Bar is opened 7 days a week.

Danny Server has been a chef and executive chef, but always working for someone else. Blue Collar, located at 68th and Biscayne in Miami, is his first attempt at running the whole show, and two weeks after the opening, he’s starting to hit his stride.

“We’ve had tremendous support from  the neighborhoods; the place fills up every night and it just stays busy,” Serfer said.

He said the restaurant’s title is simple. He grew up a nice Jewish boy in Miami with friends who became doctors and lawyers, while he stuck with the food they like to eat.

“My friends  would ask what I thought  about a certain thing they were talking about and I  would answer I don;t know what your talking about, I’m just a blue collar cook!” laughed Serfer.

He may be blue collar, but the food is anything but. Try the Big Ragu sandwich, a meat-lovers dream. Pork, Veal shoulder, brisket, panacetta mozzarella, tomatoes and more.

He likes to call the food ‘hassle free gourmet.”

And if you’re into veggies, the Blue Collar has you covered.

“We are  very veggie friendly restaurant  we’ll have  20  fresh vegetables on any given day. You can pick four and make a veggie plate” said Serfer.  ”The food is of the highest quality but not pretentious – it’s  approachable.”

And are the eats cheap?

“Everything is under $20  –  the highest thing on the menu is meat for $19.” said Serfer.

Blue Collar is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

www.bluecollarmiami.com

There are now several South Florida restaurants offering healthier options which can help you make more nutritious choices.

One of those restaurants is “evo-lutionizing” the fast food industry.

EVOS is an all-natural chain that makes healthier wraps, hamburgers and French fries. The fries are even air-baked instead of deep fried, without any grease or oil.

The delicious milk shakes are made using organic milk and sugar.

“We’re just the healthiest version of traditional fast food you can find,” said Roland Rafuls from EVOS.

It’s all the food kids’ love and mom and dad don’t feel bad feeding it to them.

“Parents don’t have to do much convincing in trying to get their kids what they are use to eating but parents like it because it’s a lot better for them,” Rafuls said.

EVOS, which has one South Florida location in Pinecrest, is getting some competition in the healthy fast food business.

Elevation Burger is opening up their second location in South Miami this week. Other locations include Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines and Miami Lakes.

They serve 100-percent organic, grass-fed, free range burgers which means their cows eat grass not corn and are treated much more humanely.

“So putting organic grass fed meat into a burger makes it healthier and it’s also hormone and antibiotic free,” said Magali Vannier from Elevation Burger.

For those you counting those carbs, they’ll even serve your burger in lettuce instead of a bun. The French Fries are made from real potatoes and cooked in 100-percent olive oil.

If you want a healthier option for the big game this weekend, Elevation Burger is offering one free burger if you buy two.

Energy Kitchen is another healthy option. It boosts a guilt-free, fail-proof menu with no hidden temptations, no hidden calories, and no regrets. It’s only Florida location is in Pinecrest but another is expected to open in Fort Lauderdale.

Finally, there’s the Muscle Maker Grill which says every dish is prepared with your health and taste buds in mind. There are South Florida locations in Midtown Miami and Deerfield Beach.

Thursday is the official start of Girl Scout cookie season in South Florida.

From Thin Mints to Samoas, all the favorites are back but there’s also a new cookie being introduced this year.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting this year, a new cookie, Savannah Smiles, will be included in the list of sweet treats.

The cookie is named after the birthplace of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low and is described in the sales guide as “bite-sized, lemon-wedge cookies dusted in powdered sugar and bursting with zesty lemon flavor.”

About 28 are packed in each box and they contain zero grams of trans fats per serving.

Girl Scout cookies sell for $4.00 a box.

The annual cookie sale is part of a big business for the Girl Scouts. Revenue from the sale makes up a large part of the yearly budget, so every cookie counts.

The program is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates over $700 million for girls and communities across the country.

In Miami-Dade, the annual Girl Scout cookie sale runs from January 12th to February 12th. In Broward County, the cookie sale runs from January 19th to Febuary 12th.

Zagat selected the top rated restaurants for food in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach Counties based on their most recent survey.

According to Zagat, this time out, 6,671 local restaurant-goers rated 1,352 local eateries, giving diners plenty of places to choose from. Zagat relies on real diners to rate the restaurants who make the list.

Notably, the guide points out some interesting statistics: The national average of meals eaten out per week is 3.1, which is steady from last year but down from 3.3 before the recession hit.

The average price per meal around the country has gone up slightly – from $35.37 last year to $35.65 this year, representing the lowest annual inflation in five years.

Here’s a look at the restaurants rated best for food in South Florida.

In Miami, Naoe, the Japanese sushi hotspot in Sunny Isles, made it to the top of the list. Following right behind is Palme d’Or in Coral Gables. It’s a “superb new French stunner,” according to Zagat. If you haven’t dined at Zuma before you may want to check it out. Zagat recommends it on their list, taking the number three spot in Miami. The Palm, II Gabbiano, OLA, Pascal’s on Ponce, Michy’s, celeb favorite Prime One Twelve and Nobu Miami Beach completes the list.

For full details on the Miami ratings, click here.

Heading north to Broward County? Zagat names La Brochette Bistro at the Embassy Lakes Plaza at the top of the list. Café Sharaku, the Asian Fusion restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, just below. The list continues with Canyon on Sunrise Boulevard, Casa D’Angelo, Eduardo de San Angel, Valentino’s Cucina Italiana, Kitchenetta Trattoria, Café Maxx on Atlantic Boulevard, and many other restaurant.

For the full list, click here.

Zagat’s Palm Beach list puts Marcello’s La Sirena in West Palm Beach and Chez Jean-Pierre in Palm Beach at the top. Following closely behind were 11 Maple St., Captain Charlie’s reef Grill, Cafe L’Europe, Casa D’Angelo and Abe & Louie’s.

Check out the full Palm Beach County list here.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, recreational fishermen will be able to hunt for the tasty crustaceans.

But there are a strict set of rules that must be followed:

• When catching catch a crab the claws can be removed, but throw back the crab
• Stone crab claws must be at least 2¾ inches in length to be harvested legally
• Crabs must be captured in baited traps, declawed and released
• Egg bearing females cannot be declawed
• No hooks or spears are allowed

Click Here for a complete list of rules and regulations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The season runs from October 15 to May 15.

The nice thing about eating stone crab claws, other than they are delicious, is that stone crab claws are the only renewable resource from the water. Crabbers take only one claw from each crab, which is then regenerated over time.

Florida Keys fisherman definitely benefit from the 7-month stone crab season. About 900 fisherman harvest stone crab in the Keys and around 65-percent of all stone crab harvested statewide, the annual average is 3.2 million pounds, comes from Monroe County waters.

An executive at Keys Fisheries says consumers should anticipate average season-opening retail market pricing at $19 per pound for jumbo, $14 for large and $9 for medium claws.

If you don’t own a boat or can’t wait for someone who does, you’re in luck.

Joe’s Stone Crab, a South Florida institution, opens Friday to celebrate its 99^th season.

Nestlé Prepared Foods Co. is recalling selected packages of its Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selects Chicken Fettuccini after a small number of the boxes were mislabeled.

The company said fewer than 200 packages of Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selects Lemon Garlic Shrimp were inadvertently placed into packaging for Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selects Chicken Fettuccini and possibly shipped to grocers in Florida, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington State.

Nestle is voluntarily recalling the product out of an abundance of caution, noting that consumption of shrimp by consumers with an allergy to shellfish could lead to a serious or life-threatening reaction. So far no illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported.

The specific product affected by the recall is Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selects Chicken Fettuccini, with UPC code 13800-14880. The affected product also has a production code of 1253595911G and a “best before” date of October 2012.

Nestlé says consumers can get a full refund by calling Nestlé Consumer Services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-800-542-6935.

A new study out by the social website LivingSocial.com shows South Floridians eat more meals out than anywhere else in the country.

According to the survey, we eat out a whopping six times a week, outpacing major cities like Dallas, New York,  Los Angeles, and Boston.

Many blame their laziness and lack of time to cook a meal.

“People don’t have time to cook.  People don’t have time to sit down,” said Philly Sub Shop owner Karelli Mila. “Might as well come down and do it in a restaurant.”

Miami is not nationally known to be at the top of the culinary food chain, which makes many wonder why so people are packing local restaurants.

“Well it’s quite surprising actually,” said Miami food critic Grace Della.  ”It has to be the weather.  The weather is just so inviting.  Also, I think people watching.  What a great city for people watching.”

Which leads us to the last part of the survey: Who we are going to lunch with?

In Miami it’s friends, dates, colleagues and then spouses. Della believes Miami’s party scene tempts us to leave our spouses behind.

If you do the math, eating out six times a week.  That is 312 meals a year.  Looks like we have a lot of meals to make up to our spouses.

Cold Stone stores across the country, there are more than 1,400 of them, are inviting ice cream lovers to join them for a free 3 ounce serving of Sprinkled with Wishes, a tasty treat consisting of sweet cream ice cream, moist brownies, rainbow sprinkles and rich fudge.

The ice scream is free but donations to Make-A-Wish are accepted.

The world’s largest ice cream social takes place Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Local donations made at the event, and all during September, will benefit the Southern Florida chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Since 2002, Cold Stone Creamery has raised more than $4 million nationally, enough to grant 800 wishes for children who have life-threatening medical conditions.

Since 1983, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida has granted more than 8,000 wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.

The nonprofit organization serves families in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin,  Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It receives no federal or state funding and raises money to grant wishes through corporate sponsorships, special events, foundation grants, and individual contributions. The Southern Florida chapter grants a wish every 16 hours, every day of the year, at an average cost of $5,000.

South Florida’s first iPhone app for finding and mapping the vast fleet of convenient cuisine on wheels is now being launched.

“It’s the best way if you live in South Florida to find where the food trucks are right now,” said Davide Di Cillo, the creator of the Burger Beast Food Truck Tracker App.

The Food Truck Tracker app lists all Miami food trucks, their menus, and a GPS tracker helps you locate the trucks at all times of the day.

“You can see the profile for each truck, and see the menu, you can see the future location they’re going to be,” explained Di Cillo.

“People are always chasing us, which is a good thing. The app definitely makes it easier for them,” said David Garcia, owner of the Fish Box food truck.

South Florida foodies can celebrate the launch of the Food Truck Tracker App at a launch party Friday night at Tamiami Park.

More than 50 trucks will be there from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.

“You see all these families, they bring out their tailgate gear. It’s a great experience. That’s what they should do tonight,” Garcia said.

The party also features Burger Beast giveaways, including an iPad2 with the Beast’s app pre-installed.

Entrance and parking to the food truck feast is free, just make sure you bring your appetites. Glass containers and pets are not allowed.

With today’s labels, even the most scrutinizing shopper can get confused.

“Americans increasingly want to know more about their food before they eat or buy it. They want to know where it’s made, how it’s grown and what’s in it,” said Elisa Zied, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author.

Sometimes labels help, but sometimes they only make things more confusing.

“I think it’s very difficult for a consumer to understand what exactly it is that they’re considering buying,” said one grocery shopper.

Zied, who wrote “Nutrition at Your Fingertips,” helps decipher the lingo, starting with genetically modified (GMO) foods.

“If a food is genetically modified it means its genes are altered. DNA from one species is inserted into another species to create a unique genetic combination that doesn’t occur in nature,” said Zied. “At least 60 to 70 percent of processed foods that you’ll find in grocery stores contain at least one genetically engineered ingredient.”

Currently the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t require specific labels for GMO foods, but you may see companies point out when they are not genetically modified, with “non-GMO” or “GMO-free” labels.

“Though you might not see it that often, a PLU sticker on produce can tell you a little something about the food,” said Zied.

For example, a five-digit number that starts with an “8″ is genetically modified, although it’s rarely used. But stickers starting with “9″s stand for organic and can be found on lots of produce.

What makes something organic?

“If a food is organic that means it was prepared without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers and it’s also not been genetically modified or radiated,” said Zeid.

You will only see the official United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal on products that have 95 percent or more organic ingredients.

“If you see ‘made with organic ingredients,’ that means the product contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients,” Zied said.

When it comes to dairy, “rBGH” or “rBST” will signify things such as artificial hormones.

There’s even something to look for with sugar.

“When you’re reading a label for sugar and its non organic sugar, know that sugar may be sugar from sugar cane with genetically modified sugar beets,” said Zied.

No matter your stance on genetically modified, organic or other products, knowing what your food is made of matters.

Read the label and figure out what it is you’re feeding to your family.

Foodies all over South Florida have been waiting for the 10th annual Miami Spice to begin and now its here.

One of the Miami’s most popular restaurants is even getting into the spirit, telling CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo all about their a creamy vegetable risotto topped with braised short ribs.

“Short ribs we braised for 6 to 8 hours with a red wine reduction. It’s great and one of our signature dishes,” said Scott Conant, chef and owner of Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau.

More than 130 top local restaurants participate and offer a 3 course menu at bargain prices; lunches run $22 dollars per person and dinners are $35 per person.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Scott. “It opens up the restaurants to people who wouldn’t normally come to the restaurants and what we decided to do is create all our signature dishes and put them on the menu and make them available for people at really deep discounted prices.”

Miami Spice began August 1st and runs for two months until September 30th.

For more information, go to www.ilovemiamispice.com.

The new North Miami Beach location is the 24th restaurant in the privately owned chain. It featured more than 180 flat screens television in a large-sized space, CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo said.

“It’s the best place to watch any sporting event any game,” general manager Max Marion said. “We watched the Casey Anthony trial yesterday. That was very cool.”

The restaurant also has a dock for boaters.

“It’s just under 30,000 square feet,” Marion said. “There’s a dock with 500 feet of dock space for 15 boats right in front of the restaurant.”

Marion said patrons can also enjoy great American fare at very affordable prices.

“Everything from ribs to burgers to salads to wings, crab cakes…salmon.” Marion said. “You can easily get lunch here with a drink tax and tip for 10 bucks.”

Additionally, kids eat free on Wednesdays. The restaurant also promotes its daily lunch specials for $6.99. A tarragon chicken salad with a side salad and homemade chips is a feast for a fraction.

Why not try their bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato sandwich for $6.99? The sandwich comes with a side of tasty vegetable soup.

The rodeo burger topped with a volcano of onion rings is more than a mouthful and under $10, Petrillo said.

Duffy’s now has the MVP card, which is a point for every dollar you spend, which means you can eat or drink for free

For more information, visit Duffy’s Web site. http://www.duffysmvp.com/

Now through the 19^th, dozens of restaurants in the city are offering special three course lunch and dinner menus at a discounted price.

For example, at the Gables Dinner, you can start off with a crab cake appetizer, have an almond crusted rainbow trout for your main dish and top it all off with a “Homemade Million-Dollar Carrot Cake”, all for $25.

And if that doesn’t have you salivating, maybe Red Koi’s shrimp in a blanket, sautéed Thai noodles and fried ice cream for $20 will do the trick.

“I’ve taken a peek at the menus our chefs have created and can say that patrons will have a tough time choosing where to dine,” says Mari Gallet, executive director of the Business Improvement District of Coral Gables.

You can check out a list of participating restaurants and their deals at http://www.coralgablesrestaurantweek.com.

Norman Brothers Produce in Kendall has a burger that fits the bill.

It’s the 50/50 Burger. A mixture of 50-percent Wagyu Beef and 50-percent ground smoked apple wood bacon. In case you’re wondering, Wagyu beef comes from Japanese beef cattle. It’s a densely marbled, rich beef similar to Kobe beef and usually quite expensive.

The burger is nestled between a fresh made Brioche bun which is buttered in a chipotle Aioli sauce.

The burgers are topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fresh avocados slices and apple wood smoked bacon .

They cost $7.99 per burger.

Customers can watch the burgers being made Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., or you can buy the raw patties and make them at home.

The ten-acre Batten’s farm, which shut down in 2008, was known for its fresh strawberry fields, milkshakes and U-Pick tomatoes.

According to the Sun Sentinel, nearly 175 farmers from Broward County will sell fresh fruits and vegetables, some organically grown at the farmer’s market. The market will also sell homemade specialties like sweet potato pie, brownies, specialty sauces and soups. Fresh smoothies and milkshakes will be made on site.

It’s being opened by the North-South Institute, a nonprofit organization that assists small farmers. The Davie-based organization is leasing the land for $12,000 a year and will maintain the building, grounds and landscaping as part of the deal.

In addition to the farmers market, there are plans for a U-Pick area for berries and tomatoes, an Asian tea garden, a petting zoo with rabbits, sheep and goats, an agricultural museum, and a community garden with pots for basil, rosemary and oregano. Health fairs and educational workshops will be held monthly.

Chefs Paula DaSilva (1500°), Dean Max (3030 Ocean), Michael Bloise (American Noodle Bar), Timon Balloo (Sugarcane), Sean Brasel (Meat Market) and Hedy Goldsmith (Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink) are partnering to present Chefs for a Cure.

Proceeds from the five-course feast will benefit the American Association for Cancer Research.

The menu is billed as a “culinary tour of the best of Miami,” with a different chef preparing each course and highlights including sautéed Sebastian Inlet soft shell crab, seared diver scallops with braised oxtail and dry aged beef tenderloin.

The event is Tuesday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. at 1500° at the Eden Roc, Miami Beach.

The cost is$150 per person, call (305) 674-5594 for more information or to make a  reservation.

There’s nothing better than cooling off from the South Florida heat than free ice cream and you can get your free scoop of your favorite flavor at any Haagen-Dazs Shop from 4 – 8 p.m.

Häagen-Dazs will also announce its search for the official “Häagen-Dazs Flavor Ambassador.” Participants will be able to upload videos to the Häagen-Dazs Facebook site, explaining why they want the title and duties, which include eating all the ice cream they want for a year. Other perks for the Flavor Ambassador include a blog on the Häagen-Dazs website and a chance to participate in taste-testing new flavors.

Häagen-Dazs locations in Miami-Dade and Broward include:

Miami International Airport
Miami, 33159

Bayside Marketplace
401 Biscayne Blvd., Space #5595
Miami, 33132

American Airlines Arena
601 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, 33132

Miami Airport-Terminal D
4200 NW 21st Street, North Terminal
Miami, 33122

Continuum
40 South Point Drive
Miami Beach, 33139

Miami Beach
424 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, 33139

South Beach
1451 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, 33139

Dadeland Mall
7501 Southwest 88th Street, FC1
Miami, 33156

Westland Mall
1675 West 49th Street, Space 1460
Hialeah, 33012

Village at Gulfstream Park
801 Silks Run
Hallandale 33009

Pembroke Lakes Mall
11401 Pines Blvd.
Pembroke Pines 33026

Aventura Mall
19575 Biscayne Blvd.
Aventura 33180

Hollywood Beach
814 N. Broadwalk
Hollywood 33019

Broward Mall
8000 Broward Blvd.
Plantation 33388

Sawgrass Mills Mall (two locations)
12801 Sunrise Blvd.
Sunrise 33323

The vote was 115-1.

This bill (SB 1312) has been a pet project of Adam Putnam, the agriculture commissioner, who said it will help create efficiencies between Florida farmers and school meals and bring more fresh and wholesome foods to Florida’s school cafeterias.

Many Democrats spoke in support of the measure, saying it will help lessen obesity problems in the state.

“Florida’s children deserve every opportunity to have a well-balanced and nutritious meal, and Florida agriculture stands ready to partner with local school districts to ensure this is not only a possibility, but also a top priority,” Putnam said in a statement.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)

A web site that tracks urban legends has confirmed a little-known secret about those colored twist ties and plastic closures on your favorite loaves of bread.

Research done by Snopes.com indicates that the color of the tags and ties tells consumers how fresh the bread is. Commercial bakeries use the different color tags to specify the day of the week the product was baked, according to the Snopes article.

Monday – Blue

Tuesday – Green

Thursday – Red

Friday – White

Saturday – Yellow

Wednesday and Sunday aren’t included on the list, because bakers traditionally don’t bake on those days, according to Snopes. So if you shop on a Wednesday, the green tag is the freshest you’ll get, although it is a day old.

Some stores get bread deliveries every day, so the system isn’t perfect.

If you do buy the logic, an easy way to remember the color code is that the colors appear in alphabetical order.

In addition, some commercial bakers don’t use the color system at all. They instead put “sell-by” dates on their bread closure tags.

The rule also seems to apply to other baked goods, like rolls and tortillas and it comes in especially handy at discount stores, that don’t clear out their shelves every day.

On what they’ve dubbed National Pancake Day, IHOP restaurants across South Florida and nationwide will be offering anyone who walks through the door a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. as part of a fundraising effort for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In exchange for the free pancakes, IHOP asks customers to donate what they would have paid for the pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network. In South Florida, the money raised goes to Miami Children’s Hospital.

The free pancake offer is no small undertaking for the restaurant chain. Last year IHOP gave away more than 4 million pancakes and raised over $2.1 million in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. IHOP hopes the program in 2011 will raise $2.3 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and make an online donation, visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/.

And did you know that Pancake Day is a tradition that dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products, hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.

The 10th annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival kicked off Thursday night with the “Burger Bash” hosted by Rachael Ray.

The weekend-long festival even featured “The Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ”, hosted by chef, restaurateur and Food Network TV personality Bobby Flay, and sold out at $350 per ticket. The VIP reception was $450.

This marquee event features non-stop temptations at a variety of serving station that feature treats such as juicy grilled meats and succulent seared seafood and fire-roasted vegetables. There are all kinds spicy, creamy, crunchy side dishes and daring, decadent desserts topped off with endlessly flowing Perrier-Jouët champagne.

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival is a star-studded four-day event that showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirit producers, chefs and culinary personalities.

The event began in 1997 as a one-day festival called the Florida Extravaganza and was held at FIU. It was founded as a fundraiser for Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and has grown over the years.

It is now one of the largest and most well-known festivals of its kind in the country.

High-profile events include Saturday’s $150 “The Best Thing I Ever Ate At The Beach,” hosted by Duff Goldman at the Ritz-Carlton beach, and Guy Fieri’s $125 Big Beach Bar and Grill Closing Party at Ganesvoort South Beach on Sunday.

There’s also Saturday and Sunday’s $225 Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village at 13th and Ocean Drive.

Another fun event for the entire family is the Fun and Fit As A Family event featuring the Kidz Kitchen which takes place at Jungle Island.

The two-day long mini-festival teaches kids and their parents how to make healthy food choices and featured a variety of cooking demonstrations for children by various Food Network personalities such as Rachael Ray, Rocco DiSpirito, and Giada DeLaurentiis on Saturday and, Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence and Duff Goldman on Sunday. Tickets are $20.00.

The Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival will run through Sunday, Feb. 27th.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. on the soft white sand of the Delano Hotel. General admission tickets are $350 but the event is sold out, along with the $450 VIP reception.

This marquee event features non-stop temptations; serving station after serving station of juicy grilled meats and succulent seared seafood, fire-roasted vegetables, and all manner of spicy, creamy, crunchy side dishes and daring, decadent desserts. Don’t forget about the endlessly flowing Perrier-Jouët Champagne.

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival is a star-studded four-day event that showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirit producers, chefs and culinary personalities.

The event began as a one-day festival called the Florida Extravaganza in 1997 at FIU. It was founded as a fundraiser for Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and has grown tremendously over the years. It is now one of the largest and most well-known festivals of its kind in the country.

In addition to Thursday nights Burger Bash, other high-profile events include Friday night’s $350 Bubble-Q on the sand behind the Delano on South Beach hosted by Bobby Flay,

In addition to Thursday nights Burger Bash, and Friday night’s Bubble-Q, other high-profile events include Saturday’s $150 The Best Thing I Ever Ate At The Beach hosted by Duff Goldman at the Ritz-Carlton beach, and Guy Fieri’s $125 Big Beach Bar and Grill Closing Party at Ganesvoort South Beach on Sunday.

There’s also Saturday and Sunday’s $225 Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village at 13th and Ocean Drive. Tickets are still available for the Grand Tasting Village.

Another fun event for the entire family is the Fun and Fit As A Family featuring the Kidz Kitchen which takes place at Jungle Island. The two-day long mini-festival teaches kids and their parents how to make healthy food choices and features a variety of cooking demonstrations for children by various Food Network personalities such as Rachael Ray, Rocco DiSpirito, and Giada DeLaurentiis on Saturday and, Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence and Duff Goldman on Sunday. Tickets are $20.00.

The Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival will run through Sunday, Feb. 27th.

This year, the winner was Food Network Iron Chef Michael Symon which marked the first ever back-to-back Burger Bash wins. His winning burger was dubbed the Yo! Burger, which had fried salami, aged provolone cheese, shasha sauce which is a hot mustard sauce with hungarian peppers and pickled onion.

The award is part of the Burger Bash, an annual event at the festival hosted by Rachael Ray. Chefs from around the country gather on the beach for a massive grill session and let attendees vote for best burger.

The 10th annual Wine and Food Festival is a star-studded four-day event that showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirit producers, chefs and culinary personalities.

The event was founded as a fundraiser for Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and has grown tremendously over the years. It is now one of the largest and most well-known festivals of its kind in the country.

In addition to Thursday nights $200 Burger Bash, other high-profile events include Friday night’s $350 Bubble-Q on the sand behind the Delano on South Beach hosted by Bobby Flay, Saturday’s $150 The Best Thing I Ever Ate At The Beach hosted by Duff Goldman at the Ritz-Carlton beach, and Guy Fieri’s $125 Big Beach Bar and Grill Closing Party at Ganesvoort South Beach on Sunday.

There’s also Saturday and Sunday’s $225 Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village at 13th and Ocean Drive. Tickets are still available for the Grand Tasting Village.

Another fun event for the entire family is the Fun and Fit As A Family featuring the Kidz Kitchen which takes place at Jungle Island. The two-day long mini-festival teaches kids and their parents how to make healthy food choices and features a variety of cooking demonstrations for children by various Food Network personalities such as Rachael Ray, Rocco DiSpirito, and Giada DeLaurentiis on Saturday and, Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence and Duff Goldman on Sunday. Tickets are $20.00.

The Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival will run through Sunday, Feb. 27th.

The Burger Bash, held on the beach of The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, is a fan favorite and pits some of the country’s greatest beef patty purveyors against one another as they show off their grilling skills. The friendly competition ends when hostess Rachael Ray tallies up the votes and announces the winner of the “People’s Choice Award.”

More than 18,000 people are expected to visit the 10th annual Wine and Food Festival, hosted by The Food Network. It’s a star-studded four-day event that showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirit producers, chefs and culinary personalities.

The event was founded as a fundraiser for Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and has grown tremendously over the years. It is now one of the largest and most well-known festivals of its kind in the country.

In addition to Thursday nights $200 Burger Bash, other high-profile events include Friday night’s $350 Bubble-Q on the sand behind the Delano on South Beach hosted by Bobby Flay, Saturday’s $150 The Best Thing I Ever Ate At The Beach hosted by Duff Goldman at the Ritz-Carlton beach, and Guy Fieri’s $125 Big Beach Bar and Grill Closing Party at Ganesvoort South Beach on Sunday.

There’s also Saturday and Sunday’s $225 Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village at 13th and Ocean Drive. Tickets are still available for the Grand Tasting Village.

Another fun event for the entire family is the Fun and Fit As A Family featuring the the Kidz Kitchen which takes place at Jungle Island. The two-day long mini-festival teaches kids and their parents how to make healthy food choices and features a variety of cooking demonstrations for children by various Food Network personalities such as Rachael Ray, Rocco DiSpirito, and Giada DeLaurentiis on Saturday and, Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence and Duff Goldman on Sunday. Tickets are $20.00.

The Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival will run through Sunday, Feb. 27th.

The reason behind the change is because tomato prices are skyrocketing and may continue to rise until late March or mid-April. Cold weather in Florida, Texas, and Mexico is the culprit behind the tomato price increase.

Most varieties of tomatoes, including: regular, vine ripes, Roma, and cherry, have seen higher week-over-week retail prices, according to the National Fruit and Vegetable Retail Report.

And don’t think that the problems will be limited to tomatoes. Other veggies like lettuce, cucumbers, and even peppers may prove tough to obtain and will cost more.

The prices for all vegetables should begin to come down in the next several weeks as crops begin to mature and replace those that were damaged by the colder than usual winter weather.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Owner Luis Gajer opened the restaurant, located at 933 Normandy Drive, 15-years ago next month. He says when it comes to great tasting steak, keep it simple.

“We don’t put anything on these steaks,” said Gajer. “Just salt. We’re cooking it South American style, Argentina style and from Uruguay.”

“We start at 20 dollars a bottle and go up to $4,000 for a bottle of wine,” said Gajer. “We have people with all kinds of palettes and all kind of budgets.”

Speaking of budgets, anyone on a budget can eat heartily and happily here. For example, a mouth watering “Enrollada” or skirt steak is more than 3 feet long. It can easily be shared by 2 or even 3 people.

“The skirt steak, which is the best seller for 15 years. is almost 2 pounds of meat for $23.99.”

A pound and a half grilled chicken breast is actually an order for one. It runs around $21.00 but fills up a platter and can be shared as well.

“Our prices are really affordable and accessible and sometimes even ridiculous,” said Gajer.

Even the appetizers are huge. The Proveletta is an elegant piece of grilled provolone cheese seasoned with oregano. It’s an ooey gooey meal in itself.

Another $12 appetizer of baked eggplant topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese is yet another delicious meal in itself as well as the langoustines with hearts of palm.

Las Vacas Gordos is open 7 days a week. Click here for more information.

Still in the mood for some meat? Click here for our list of Best Steak Houses In South Florida.

The farmer’s market features some of the best local, mostly organic, affordable produce in South Florida. It serves the under-served, and doubles EBT (food stamp) money up to $10 per visit. That means for every $1 in food stamps, buyers get $2 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables. The new location features ample parking, bathroom, a children’s program and even after-school care.

The farmer’s market is open to the public every Thursday from noon to 6:00 p.m. through April.

Additional information is available at www.urbanoasisproject.org or by calling (305) 638-6771.

It’s the Tamiami Truckers Food Court, one of the largest and most popular gatherings where food lovers can tempt their tastebuds with help from a caravan of food trucks.

The Tamiami Truckers Food Court takes place outside of Lexus of West Kendall, located on SW 137th Avenue and 136th Street from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. on Friday nights.

Bring your own lawn chairs or even a blanket because there aren’t any tables or chairs available.

On Saturday, the Truckers Food Court will dishing out their delicious meals in Wynwood, between NW 22nd Lanes and 22nd Street.

Mobile restaurants who provide their delicious mobile meal include Burger Beast, Wing Commander, MonTaco, Caza Crepes, La Camaronera’s Fish Box, Latin House Grill, Churromania, Grill Master Cafe, Slow Food Truck, Cheeseme, The Rolling Stove, Jefe’s Original Fish Taco & Burgers, Latin Burger, Ms. Cheezious, Sakaya Kitchen’s Dim Ssäm à gogo, and Feverish.

Click here to see a list of some of Miami’s Best Food Trucks.

The market’s grand opening is Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the old historic race course, 445 West Davis Parkway, and will feature festivities that include crafts, a bounce house and face painting for the kids.

The first 200 families will be given a $10 coupon that can be used to purchase produce.

All produce sold at the Florida City market will be locally grown and marketed by the growers themselves. These farm workers, many of them formerly migrants, have come together with offerings of local in-season produce.

Choices for Saturday may include string, pole and snap beans; six varieties of tomatoes, yellow squash, bell peppers, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, onions. Root crops such as malanga, boniato, yucca will be offered beside fresh fruits such as star fruit, plantains, bananas, strawberries and lemons, according to the Coalition OF Florida Farmworker Organizations, Inc. web site, COFFO.org.

The market serves several purposes; it provides local farmworkers with an opportunity to sell their own crops and put down roots of their own by establishing themselves in the community while also offering the public healthier choices for the dinner table.

Fresh produce is healthier because of its fiber, according to the Mayo Clinic which recommends adult men under 50 to eat at last 38 grams of it day, women 25.

Eating higher levels of fiber can normalize bowel movements, relieving irritable bowel syndrome, maintain colon health, lower blood cholesterol levels and controls blood sugar levels, according to Mayoclinic.com. It also helps in weight loss, according to the web site.

Dental hygienist Mary Ann Delaney’s back was always in pain.

“It was debilitating. I would be in tears by the end of my work day,” explained Delaney.

Her back pain was so severe, it was ruining her life. Her weight wasn’t helping. Delaney was 215 pounds. Now she is 70 pounds lighter and she credits an “anti-inflammation” diet as the secret of her weight loss and pain-free life.

Pain expert Dr. Mark Darrow is 100-percent convinced many people can be pain-free by changing their diet. He suggests more protein, more water, and more vegetables.

Researchers at Michigan State University found a chemical in tart cherries that has anti-inflammatory properties. And when it comes to veggies, experts say, the greener the better. Try kale, spinach, broccoli. And when it comes to fruit, pile on the dark berries.

Olive oil, green tea, and brightly-colored fruits and vegetables all have been proven to lessen inflammation in cartilage in the spinal column — that also helps control back pain and stiffness.

Researchers say also get rid of processed foods, and fast food which can cause inflammation.

Dr. Jason Hymes, a specialist in pain medication, says science is backing up doctors who ease back pain with food.

“Saturated fats (the bad fats) also seem to be pro-inflammatory,” said Dr. Hymes. “On the other hand, fatty acids found in foods like salmon, walnuts and sardines are thought to be anti-inflammatory.”

So here’s the prescription from Dr. Darrow:

Take:
Vegetables, but avoid starchy one like potatoes
Fruits/mostly berries
Proteins/if you eat red meat buy grass fed, it’s high in omega three fatty acids
Vitamins, especially D

Avoid:
All processed foods
No grains, no flours, no dairy which can be inflammatory
Sugar
Caffeine and alcohol

It’s working for Mary Anne. She’s no longer in pain and is even back to running.

“When you start to see the results you can do things you never thought you’d be able to do, that’s the reward and it’s just great,” she said.