A little slapstick and wise-cracking with your self-serve yogurt.

Comedian/actor Art Metrano, AKA Lt./Capt./Cmdt. Mauser from the second and third Police Academy movies, must have a penchant for sequels.

The entrepreneur has opened his second self-serve yogurt joint in South Florida. Yogurt Ur Way Cafe opened on Hollywood Beach at the end of March. It's the second Broward County location; the original is on Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The cafe sells a variety of fro-yo, custard, ice cream, and sorbet flavors with 60 toppings like crushed candies and nuts. Like the now-familiar self-serve model that is sweeping the nation, customers can sidle up to the yogurt machines and choose from among the rotating flavors like blueberry acai, pistachio, or red velvet cake. The café also serves wraps, smoothies, coffee, and other snacks.

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Zach Bell will roll up his sleeves this Monday for Feeding South Florida.

If you've always wanted to sweat it out on the line with some of South Florida's culinary stars but you don't have the chops to get a job in one of their kitchens, here's your chance (sort of; no cooking is involved). Share Our Strength is hosting a service day on Monday, April 23, at Feeding South Florida in Pembroke Pines with more than a dozen chefs, including Zach Bell, Allen Susser, Paula DaSilva, and Chris Miracolo. 

Chefs and other volunteers will work together from 10 a.m. to noon at the food distribution center helping to sort donated food items that eventually will make their way to various South Florida agencies that help to combat hunger in our communities. As part of the event, several food trucks will be on-hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will donate a portion of their proceeds to the organization. 


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On May 15, Michelle Bernstein will lead a Check, Please! tasting tour of Boca Raton by bus, sponsored by WPBT2. Michy's provides the appetizers, with stops at Sushi Rock, Casa D'Angelo,Josephine's Italian Cuisine,Bogart's, and Tin Muffin Cafe. 

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He's ready to kick it up a notch.

The American Fine Wine Competition's fifth year comes to a close with Thursday night's gala dinner at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. Chef Emeril Lagasse is a featured guest, as he will be preparing the main course for the four-course dinner. Superfans have a chance to sit onstage at "Emeril's table." A predinner lottery will select a handful of guests to sit ringside as the champion of "Bam!" prepares the entrée for the evening: roasted filet mignon with brown-butter Gulf blue crabmeat, a fondue of local mushrooms with spring field peas, and a black truffle sauce.

The rest of the meal -- which will not be prepared by Lagasse -- includes a first course of shrimp and ricotta ravioli with roasted tomato, cioppino shellfish broth, and a sourdough rouille crisp; a second course of baby arugula with Zinfandel poached pear with sugared walnuts and blue cheese with grain mustard vinaigrette; and a "tribute to Florida Key lime" dessert with a black-bottom spiky Key lime pie with crystallized candied Key lime and chocolate Key lime truffles. Passed hors d'oeuvres and, of course, lots of American wine -- as in, more than 600 varietals -- also will be served at the event, which runs 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets cost $300 per person.

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Demonstrating that baked goods can be nonpartisan or, perhaps more accurately, bipartisan, Cupcake Couture Sweet Boutique in Delray Beach this past weekend prepared special sweet treats for a second presidential hopeful in less than one week.

On Sunday, April 15, the boutique bakery created nearly 300 cupcakes for a fundraiser held in Palm Beach and attended by presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. The bakery also prepared cupcakes that were served to President Barack Obama during his Tuesday, April 10, visit to South Florida. (Read about the president's red velvet request here.) 

"We couldn't be more proud that we have been asked to be a part of both of these political events," said owner Pamela Joyner in an email to Clean Plate Charlie.

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PETA

Joanna Krupa is an angel to homeless dogs... even the two-legged variety.

Joanna Krupa -- Playboy model, Dancing With the Stars alum, and the newest cast addition to the hit Bravo reality series Real Housewives of Miami -- was at Sublime in Fort Lauderdale recently to celebrate the unveiling of her new PETA ad, which reminds us to adopt our furry companions.

Krupa, who was named one of E!'s sexiest women, is not just another pretty face. The model turned businesswoman is a frequent contributor on Fox Business.

Besides being drop-dead gorgeous and smart, Krupa is kind. An ardent supporter of PETA and the Humane Society, Krupa states on her website a simple mission in life: "helping those who depend on us the most: children and animals." Awwwwww.

The PETA campaign unveiled at Sublime depicts a winged, topless Krupa, holding a rosary and hugging a small Yorkie. Everyone repeat after us -- lucky dog! 

At the event, Krupa asserted her support for PETA's animal adoption campaign. "We're spreading the word that breeding your dog or cat isn't the way to go," said Krupa. "Somebody needs to put their foot down and stop this breeding and these hideous puppy mills. Dogs're in these little tiny cages for life. It makes me so angry, and if our government doesn't do anything about it, I have to."

Pictures of the leggy Miami housewife, after the jump:
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The president's flavor of choice? Red velvet.

Cupcake Couture Sweet Boutique in Delray Beach scored a culinary coup this week when their sweet baked goods were served to President Barack Obama who spoke Tuesday at Florida Atlantic University as part of a visit to South Florida (view a slideshow of images here). The boutique bakery's cupcakes were served Tuesday at a private fundraiser for Obama: he had three such stops as part of his visit to South Florida.

The bakery got the call on Monday afternoon that a caterer they work with was in need of sugary treats for a private affair with Obama in attendance. On Tuesday morning, they baked 40 "vogue" cupcakes (muffin-sized) as well as 100 petite cupcakes in an assortment of flavors. The president's flavor of choice? Red velvet. Or in Cupcake Couture parlance, Red Valentino.

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This is a man who knows his wine.

​Paul Castronovo, a noted South Florida radio personality ("The Paul and Young Ron Morning Show") and partner in the Italian winery Castronovo Vineyards, is a self-described food and wine guy who's had the opportunity to eat at a number of South Florida's top restaurants.

After a recent talk with Castronovo about the growth of his wine label (the brand will expand this year with sales in all Florida Publix stores and an addition of a white wine to the label) Clean Plate Charlie asked the oenophile via email about some of his favorite places to eat and drink in South Florida. We were particularly interested in hearing about where he likes to head during the spring and summer months, and some of his favorite wines to sip when the temperatures start to rise. His answers, after the jump.


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Via Burrito Bros. Facebook -- used with permission

The not-so-secret-anymore hangout for athletes of the pro and not-so-pro variety.

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Paul Castronovo (left) with Katie Woodbury, and restauranteur Dennis Max.

​Paul Castronovo is a talker. That's probably a given, considering he's made his living as a radio personality, known throughout South Florida as half of the "The Paul and Young Ron Morning Show." But this famous voice also loves to chat wine and food. His wine label, Castronovo Vineyards, is a favorite topic of conversation, particularly as since his experience as a purveyor of Italian wine has led to an opportunity to travel throughout Italy and interact with wine experts from around the world.

When Clean Plate Charlie reached Castronovo on Wednesday afternoon, he had just finished up talking travel details with American Express. He's currently putting the finishing touches on plans for his annual pilgrimage to Italy to check in with the vineyard and winery where he is a partner. He'll head out on June 8 with friends and family -- ten people in all -- and spend time in Rome, Sicily, and Abruzzo, where the vineyard is located.    

"What a great excuse to go to Italy," he said.

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