Chefapalooza

The fifth annual 7 Days for SIDS fund-raiser kicks off a week of events starting on Monday, including Chefapalooza at the Midwest Culinary Institute Tuesday. Chefapalooza offers live cooking demonstrations by area chefs as well as food samplings and wine. Scheduled chefs and entertainers include Bootsy Collins; Kathy Wade; former 98 degrees band member Justin Jeffre; Jean-Robert de Cavel; Meg Galvin of Local 12's The Dish; Michelle Brown, executive chef for Jag's Seafood and Steaks; David Cook of Daveed's at 934; and Julie Francis, chef/owner of Nectar. The final event will be a Father's Day Champagne Brunch June 17 at Cincinnati Museum Center with dishes from Jean-Robert at Pigall's, Daveed's at 934, Cumin, Andy's Mediterranean, One and Red, just to name a few. For a complete list of the week's events, visit www.7daysforsids.com.

In downtown news, Washington Platform is temporarily closed, after its building was damaged by a pair of car accidents. The Mexican chain Jalapeños closed its Seventh and Elm location. Kung Thai also closed, but the sign on the door tells patrons to watch for the opening of the Buddakhan Bar & Grille in its place on Vine and Seventh streets.

Poppa Joe's Kickin' Chicken Fingers and Fries recently opened on Court Street downtown. Other downtown openings to look forward to include the Boi Na Braza Brazilian Steak House across from Fountain Square on Friday and Cadillac Ranch Rock-n-Roll Bar and Grill, Potbelly Sandwich Works and a new Graeter's location on the Square.

In Over-the-Rhine, Vinyl's Final Friday block parties are back and Jardin Spanish Wine and Tapas Bar is opening later in June.

Noodles & Company will open in Hyde Park this fall. This quick-casual restaurant will serve Asian, Mediterranean and American noodle dishes such as Japanese pan noodles, Wisconsin mac and cheese, pesto cavatappi and Bangkok curry.

Riverside Korean Restaurant in Covington is serving a late-night menu of grilled foods, soups and drinks on the patio Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Owner Mark Jang says they expect to open a second Riverside location in Hyde Park sometime this fall as well.

Korean cuisine also came to Harrison Avenue, Kim's Korean Restaurant is serving traditional Korean cuisine for lunch and dinner.

The Four Seasons Restaurant on Kellogg Avenue is now called Boatyard Grill and is offering a casual menu that includes some new items such as Seared Salmon, Island Mahi Mahi and Mardi Gras Shrimp.

SIDEDISH
Nectar's Dinner Club on June 21 will be "The Fabulous Fig." The Dinner Club, which started earlier this year, is a fix-priced menu for the evening with a specific theme for all courses. Chef/owner Julie Francis will create a five-course menu that infuses figs at every course while Brian and Carolyn Madison, owners of Madison's Produce, will guide patrons through the dinner so that they enjoy learning a little something new about figs as they enjoy their meal. Reservations are required and can be made at 513-929-0525.