If all that holiday shopping has made you hungry, there are lots of new, or new-look, dining options around the East Valley. The Mancuso family’s latest concept, Bobby’s, just opened at Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Road and Greenway Parkway on the Scottsdale-Phoenix border.

How’s your appetite for spanakopita? The Festival of Greece wants to enlighten everyone this weekend and is holding classes to teach newcomers how to make this traditional Greek dish and learn about other Greek customs and activities.

MEXICO CITY — Christopher Kostow foraged in the open stalls of the Mercado San Juan, the most gourmet of Mexico City's crumbling, pungent public markets, as vendors hawked: "This way, this way! What can we offer you?"

Capt. Gastro has dropped wheels in Africa. Today, the Dark Continent disguises itself as Cafe Lalibela, a highly regarded Ethiopian restaurant east of the Arizona State University veldt in Tempe.

Long before Emeril — long before even Julia Child and James Beard — America had its first great cooks: American Indians.

BLD (1920 W. Germann Road, Chandler [480] 779-8646). Short for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, BLD serves up chef-crafted comfort foods in a casual neighborhood environment, with a healthy disregard for when you’re “supposed” to crave dishes like bacon-studded waffles paired with fried chicken. (Breakfast is available until 2 p.m. daily.) A drive-thru window serves barista-made coffees, specialty drinks and meals on-the-go when you’re in a hurry — but a couple of bites always convince us these are meals best lingered over with good friends, good drinks (also available) and good conversation. $$

Kai executive chef Michael O’Dowd and former chef de cuisine Jack Strong have co-authored a new cookbook, “The New Native American Cuisine: Five-Star Recipes from the Chefs of Arizona’s Kai Restaurant," with veteran food writer Marian Betancourt.

With hundreds of restaurants throughout the East Valley, how can a new restaurant stick out? One common theme of late is to focus on foods with an All-American flavor.

With the Valley’s weather starting to heat up, the Häagen-Dazs Shop at Arizona Mills in Tempe is hosting a free ice cream day. You can stop by for a free scoop of ice cream from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 8.

A kitchen fire burned part of Scottsdale eatery Bloom late Friday night, according to the Scottsdale Fire Department.

Enjoy free buttermilk pancakes Feb. 5 at IHOP restaurants around the East Valley in celebration of National Pancake Day. During the event, guests will be encouraged to make a voluntary contribution. Proceeds from Valley IHOP locations will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which has a clinic and after-hours care center in Mesa.

Were you a fan of Caffe Boa Bistro, the sleek, boutique restaurant that lasted for 18 months in 2010 and 2011 at The Villages at Las Sendas at Power and McDowell Roads in Mesa? Its chef, Payton Curry, is gearing up to open his latest eatery: Brat Haus.

Through a month-long series of events culminating with a pizza-eating contest at its Gilbert location, Flancer’s restaurant raised $28,000 for Warfighter Sports (formerly known as the Wounded Warrior Project), which rehabilitates wounded soldiers through sporting events.

Tysen Manuel is owner and operations manager of Ncounter, 310 S. Mill Ave., Suite A101, Tempe. (480) 968-9288 or www.ncounter.com

Julian Wright is owner of La Bocca Pizzeria + Wine Bar, 699 S. Mill Ave, Tempe. (480) 967-5244 or www.LaBoccaPizzeria.com

We could never pick a favorite when it comes to policemen and firemen, but we’ll happily vote with our taste buds for which one of their pizzas we like best.

Bar En Gril had its official grand opening on Halloween after a soft launch Aug. 16. The restaurant serves eclectic American cuisine at its location at Val Vista Drive and Elliot Road in Gilbert and also has a stage for life Top 40 music with a house band on Friday nights. They also have fish fry and prime rib on weekends, and a portion of proceeds from chicken breast dishes are donated to charities that fight breast cancer. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays. Their website is www.bar-en-gril.com

A new study says food at popular chain restaurants and in the frozen food aisles can be more fattening than advertised.

October 21, 2004