Takamatsu at 5532 E. Speedway Blvd. reopens Thursday, wrapping up a lengthy recovery from a fire that shuttered the restaurant more than a year ago.

Owner Peter Koga sent out a press release this week announcing the opening and detailing the improvements made to the eatery during the reconstruction.

Koga says he’s added a cocktail lounge and increased the size of the sushi bar. More big-screen televisions have also been added, as well as additional “Japanese flair” throughout.

The restaurant will now feature an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $9.95 and will serve sushi all day long. A happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. will feature items from the dinner menu done tapas-style and, of course, specials on drinks.

Few restaurant closings have stirred as much emotion amongst Tucson diners as this one; I’ve received numerous inquiries as to when they would reopen. I’ve also spoken to Koga on several occasions during the recovery, and he’s gone to some extreme lengths to get the doors back open.

So welcome back Takamatsu. Tucson has certainly missed you.

• Day breaks on Culver's.

6:02 a.m. The first employee is walking to the back door. The words of a Facebook friend — “I bet if you show up at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning you will be the first in line. Culvers ain't no iPhone release day” — run through my head.

6:17 a.m. The Holsum bread truck is here. The phrase “bread man walking” runs through my head. The sign on the Golden Corral next door says “We love to party!” Sure you do.

6:31 a.m. Damn, the sun is hot. Need to find some shade.

6:37 a.m. Staring, staring, staring at the word “deliciousness” on the drive-through board. Entrée is spelled “entree.” Consider telling management. Brain still not fully functional.

7:01 a.m. Sun is over the roof. Must move again. This is the stupidest assignment I’ve ever been on, and it was my idea. I don’t even like hamburgers very much. I need a nap. Hoping I’ll feel better when I smell burgers frying.

Tucson's Home Instead Senior Care office is holding a recipe contest to encourage families to invite their senior relatives over for dinner, especially if those relatives live alone.

More from Home Instead Senior Care:

What does an older adult who lives alone want most for dinner? The answer may surprise you.

According to new research, an overwhelming majority of seniors say that having someone to share their meals with makes those times more satisfying for them. The survey of seniors age 75 and older who live alone showed that:

· Seventy-six percent of these seniors eat alone most of the time.
· Two of five seniors who live alone have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health.
· One in five seniors says he or she sometimes or most of the time feels lonely when eating alone.
· Seventy-eight percent of these seniors wished their families shared more meals together.

That’s why the Home Instead Senior Care office serving the greater Tucson area has launched a new program called Craving Companionship — which encourages families to dig into their recipe box, find that favorite dish and share it with their senior loved ones.

We also are asking families to enter that recipe in our Homemade Memories Recipe Contest which runs through September 15, 2011.

Enter the contest through the Homemade Memories Facebook page.

If you have yet to eat at a hot-pot restaurant, it’s awesome. You order one of several broths spiced to your specifications, and then order a bunch of meat and veggies to toss into the heated pot on your table.

Tucson’s kind-of-new hot-pot restaurant, Impress Hot Pot, at 2610 N. First Ave., also has a table where you can make your own dipping sauce. This, of course, makes the dining experience that much more awesome.

The restaurant is also holding a contest through Sunday, July 31, to see who can create the best dipping sauce. The winner takes home $100. More details over yonder.

Woo-hoo! The Culver's restaurant at 40 S. Broadway Place, near Broadway Boulevard and Prudence Road is open.

I know this restaurant chain well from my youth in Wisconsin, and you're in for a treat Tucson. Totally decadent. Totally greasy. Totally delicious.

The other location on Thornydale isn't done yet, but looks to be about there.

Genghis Grill is opening a location near the Tucson Mall. The restaurant is a build-your-own stir-fry joint that says it models its cooking techniques on the legend that Genghis Khan's Mongolian warriors cooked their meals on overturned shields while in battle.

Not bad, Genghis Grill. That marketing detail is almost as badass as Khan himself. Almost.

No word on when it'll open or what the exact address is, but I'll let you know when more details become available.

Tapas Tuesdays at Ghini’s French Caffé have always been a hit, but patrons asked owner Coralie Satta to move the event to a day when they could let loose a bit more. The result is Fabulous Fridays, which will start at 3 p.m., Friday, July 29, and feature French-inspired small plates and $3 wine, beer, cocktails and more.

Speaking of happy hours, Pastiche Modern Eatery now has specials on drinks and appetizers from 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

The opening of the new Mr. K’s Barbeque on the corner of River Road and Stone Avenue is so close you can almost smell the smoke. The restaurant has already announced a soft opening in the first week of August, and should be open to the general public shortly thereafter. We’ve also heard that the guys from the original Mr. K’s on South Park Avenue might be opening a new joint before long, but details are scarce for the time being.

Janos Wilder and the guys and gals from Sleeping Frog Farms are planting a patch of heirloom pumpkins and squash next to Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails on Monday, July 25. We hear they’ll be putting in a few scarecrows, too. When the pumpkins are done, Wilder will hold his first-ever Pumpkin Palooza, which will feature a pumpkin-carving contest and other revelry. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Also on Monday, July 25, is the Zona 78 Iron Chef competition. The chefs from each location will duke it out, there will be a secret ingredient, and guests will receive four small plates and two wine-pairings for their $40 admission fee. It takes place at the Zona 78 on Tanque Verde Road, and reservations are required; 296-7878.

In other food events, the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market at the Mercado San Agustin will feature cooking demonstrations and Peruvian music on Thursday, July 28. It’s a celebration for the market’s new location, which offers a lot more shade and, in general, many more accommodations than the gravel lot it used to be held in.

And last, but certainly not least, you should go eat at the Onyx Room soon. It’s a classy joint, the food is good, and the family that runs it is great. I’m not even that big of a fan of Southern cooking, and the chicken, mac and cheese and collard greens blew me away. The fried catfish is also out of sight.

Sure, it would seem a little unfair to ask more from the low-paid employees of area fast food establishments, but my burrito at Los Betos this morning would have definitely tasted better if a synchronized dance routine proceeded my receiving it.

Related (sort of):

[Reddit]

Wouldn't it be awesome if the caravan had cookie hubcaps? Hey, a guy can dream.

From the press release:

DoubleTree by Hilton SWEETENS SUMMER TRAVEL WITH Cookie CAREAVAN TOUR

WHEN: Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

WHERE: Jácome Plaza in Downtown Tucson at Pennington/Stone

from 8am to 9:30am

The Galleria at the Tucson Convention Center, next to Granada Avenue

from 10am to 11am

WHAT: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels is kicking off a nationwide tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary our iconic chocolate chip cookie. Tying into the food truck phenomenon, the “DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie CAREavan” is embarking on a 10-week, 10,000-mile, 50-city tour to bring its sweet treats to travelers, workers and local charities nationwide.

On Wednesday, July 20th, the DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie CAREavan will arrive at the Jácome Plaza in Downtown Tucson, Arizona. From 8am to 9:30am, while supplies last, the Cookie CAREavan team will be giving out free cookies to anyone who stops by. In addition, the Cookie CAREavan will arrive at the Tucson Convention Center from 10am to 11am, while supplies last.

• By Twitter user @KelliMarshall

We still have 65 days to wait before the season four premiere of Parks and Recreation, so amusing grocery labels will have to suffice as entertainment until then. $3.99 isn't bad for center cut, however.

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