Has everyone voted to determine who's going to compete in this year’s Iron Chef Tucson event? If not, you can do so over here.

Imagine the possibilities! Will Allen Yap of OM Modern Asian Kitchen drop a curry smack down? Can Steven Schultz of Red Sky and Luna Bella dominate with techniques from around the globe? Or will Ryan Clark of Lodge on the Desert—who, by the way, lists cooking for Jennifer Aniston as one of his accomplishments—go all farm-to-table on our asses?

The two day event—which features food and drink galore as well as the Iron Chef competition—takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, at Loews Ventana Canyon. Tickets are available here.

There’s a new shaved-ice store under construction in the former home of Copper Kettle Popcorn at 3701 W. Ina Road.

The new owners have put up white paper in the windows proclaiming that Shoobies Shaveice—that's how it reads on the sign—cometh to rock our shaved-ice worlds, but no opening date or other details were in sight.

I tried to corner who I thought was Shoobie coming out of the store this afternoon, but he denied any affiliation and looked a little scared, so I took this picture and ran off.

• The writing's on the wall at Noble Hops Gastropub.

I mean, yes, you can smell the slow-roasting “drunken chicken” from the parking lot, and the burgers and salads coming out of the kitchen are gorgeous, but that’s all built around a staggeringly large and assorted selection of fine brews. The server will give you a little taste of the beer, if you’d like. You may comment on the aroma and character and receive knowing nods of encouragement, or down it barbarian-style and order a couple pints (you savage you).

Which is to say: Noble Hops splits it down the middle. You get a little more character than a bar, a dash of class and a pub feel with all the cigars and beer and all that. Yet it is not in any way stuffy or cloying. It just seems like a nice place to grab a really good burger and a beer, but even on a first date or a business lunch. Nice patio scene, too.

The place just opened last week at 1335 W. Lambert Lane in Oro Valley, and was doing a tidy little afternoon business today. Looks like the place might be a good fit for that neighborhood.

Various eateries and shops inside the new Mercado San Agustin have been opening quietly over the past several months, but this weekend is when the place and its incredible courtyard officially opens to the public.

The opening celebration starts today, Friday, May 13, and continues through the weekend with brunches, live music and a chance to check out the new cake shops, taquerias, snow-cone shops and other businesses calling the market home. You can also check out the impressive commercial kitchen with all its fancy new appliances and square miles of stainless steel.

We were told by a woman speaking on behalf of the market that Argentinean restaurant Casa Marita Restaurante Argentino will not be a tenant after all. An unnamed group is opening a restaurant in the space instead, but there's no word on what it will be or when it will open.

We've also heard that the Santa Cruz River Farmers' Market—held weekly on Thursdays—will be relocating to the market, but we're still working on confirming that.

There's more information on the market's website.

Lament no longer, fellow fans of frozen custard!

After many months of teasing us with an “Opening Soon” sign, the new Frosty Jake's at 3102 E. Grant Road opens this weekend.

Will it be worth the wait? All signs are pointing to yes at this point, especially after my education this afternoon regarding the shop’s “concretes,” which apparently include a super-frozen-custard of sorts.

I’ve always known concretes to just be frozen yogurt or custard with candy or cookie chunks mixed in. Not so at Frosty Jake's. Their concretes are actually a way-thicker version of frozen custard with a distinct flavor due to the different egg-to-cream ratio, says Mark Lindley, who is opening the store with brother Eric Lindley and their parents, Lew and Linn Lindley.

Flavors will include raspberry, orange, caramel, pineapple, butterscotch, strawberry, banana, coffee, peach, vanilla and chocolate.

The store opens at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 14.

I’ve been hearing good things about the unique eggs Benedict being served at this new place called Izzi’s Café up in Oro Valley, yet I haven’t be able to get up there to eat yet.

But I spoke with owner Alex Izzard this morning, and the stories are true. His newish breakfast-and-lunch joint up at 12985 N. Oracle Road does specialize in breakfast food with a twist, although you can get all your morning American standards there, too.

The first memorable item he mentioned was an eggs Benedict served on polenta with a side of corned beef. Izzard says it’s one of the most popular items served right now, although the French toast stuffed with cream cheese and strawberry compote is a close second.

Izzard and his family lived overseas for decades, and they like to incorporate culinary elements from their travels into the food. They even hold an international day once a month, where the whole menu is overhauled with items from across the globe.

Izzard says business has been climbing steadily, and that he may add dinner hours in the coming months. For the time being, hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday.

Call 818-9391 for more information.

(By the way, Izzard's 17-year-old son, who cooks at the restaurant on Sundays, is also a young expert on international food who has contributed to the Arizona Daily Star as a food writer. How cool is that?)

The former owner of Café D’Auria is back with a new Italian restaurant opening this summer at 4445 E. Broadway Blvd.

Bella D’Auria will serve “Naples-style Italian food,” according to Chef Lorenzo D’Auria, who will be heading up kitchen operations. A trained sommelier and cigar expert, he will also oversee those aspects of the business when it opens this June.

“The food at this restaurant will be about flavor infusions. When you taste one entrée, you will taste seven different flavors,” said Chef D’Auria, before delving into a mouth-watering description of mussels-and-clams done D’Auria-style.

The restaurant will take extra steps to accommodate diners with dietary restrictions. Diners will be able to leave a description of their specific needs—gluten-intolerant, vegan, specific needs related to other health conditions, etc.—and the chefs will come up with dishes that meet those restrictions.

The restaurant is expected to have an upscale “Las Vegas” feel, with a lengthy glass bar and LED lights. Projectors will light up the walls with images of Italy. There will be college nights, classical-music nights and other entertainment throughout the week.

Coffee and ultra-affordable breakfasts will available by morning, and the full menu will be available even into late-night.

“I just want Tucson to know that there is a restaurant coming that cares about them, and that it makes real Italian food, too,” said Chef D’Auria.

I almost didn't post this due to my outrage over the omission of the pixie stick sandwich from The Breakfast Club, but my love of movies and sandwiches won out.

The RumRunner holds its Saturday Sippers event from 2 to 4 p.m., tomorrow (Saturday, May 7). This month’s event will feature three tasting stations where you can try a few sangrias and about a dozen other wines.

The best part: It’s free!

Tom Smith from the RumRunner tells us Savida Sangria will be available for sampling, and that all of the wines featured at the event will be available for purchase at a 15 percent discount. I think they serve cheese and crackers, too.

But exhaust and desert heat are nothing to the seasoned roadside diner, and plenty of us were hanging out at Angela’s on a recent afternoon. Some scratched at lotto tickets and nursed bottled sodas. Others mooned at their dates over plates of tacos, or just sat staring across the hazy skyline.

At Angela’s, the holy dining triumvirate of food, service and atmosphere is, shall we say, stripped down. They flash big smiles and bring stacks of napkins, but do not stop to make small talk. The tablecloths feature a lovely jalapeno print, but there is nothing special about them. The food is rudimentary and plentiful, but not out of the ordinary. The salsa bar is sufficient, but not breathtaking.

But there are things that stand out. Take the pico de gallo, which is hot and tasty due to equal parts tomato and jalapeno. Or those bottled sodas, which come out so cold that the first drink is a welcome mouthful of Coke slush. And then there are the ladies who run it, whose shining eyes let you know that they are very happy you decided to stop in.

Angela’s Mexican Food is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. Most of the tacos, burritos and quesadillas are less than $5, and a Sonoran hot dog goes for the usual going rate of $2.50 a piece. A soda will set you back $1, and a Sunny Delight is only 75 cents.

• The chicken combo plate in all its glory.