The people up at jaxKitchen are really onto something with their recently launched blog that follows the progress of their new chef's garden in Barrio Viejo.

It takes the whole farm-to-table concept to another level: Knowing your food is grown locally means the food is usually fresher and of a higher quality. Watching the tomatoes and cucumbers you'll someday dine on as they ripen on the vine—which the blog makes possible through vivid pictures and regular posts—makes the whole experience special and somewhat intimate.

The veggies will be featured on special tasting menus expected to debut sometime this summer.

CiCi's Pizza is opening three new locations in Tucson as part of an expansion that is expected to result in as many as 25 locations across the state, according to a press release.

CiCi's Pizza currently has one location at 2912 W. Ina Road, and it has already closed and reopened since coming on the scene early last year. They serve all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and desserts for around $5.

We're not sure where the new locations will be opening, but we have a call into CiCi's headquarters to find out. We'll keep you posted.

Jason's Deli is reopening its recently closed store at 4545 N. Oracle Road and will be giving away 1,000 free sandwiches on Monday.

Another location at 5420 E. Broadway Blvd., which also closed unexpectedly on Sunday, May 30, is expected to open in late 2010.

From the full press release:

In a surprising turn of events, Jason’s Deli will re-open on June 14th at the previous location on Oracle Road. Another location, on Broadway, is expected to open late in 2010. The previous franchisee closed on May 30 primarily due to insurmountable debt owed to numerous creditors.

“We are elated and hopeful that we can hire back the former employees,” stated Blake Parker, a regional director for the Jason’s Deli parent company. “In this day and age, you don’t expect to resolve landlord, electric, and City issues quickly, but that’s exactly what occurred. Honestly, my hat is off to the City of Tucson.”

Before re-opening the deli, Jason’s is attempting to contact and interview as many of the previous 85 employees as possible. “Clearly we want to give these folks the first shot, yet some may have already received job offers,” stated Mr. Parker.

In celebration of the opening, the first 1,000 people who go to the Jason’s Deli Oracle Road location on June 14th have the option to select one of the following sandwiches for free (a ham Po’Boy, a California Club or a quarter ham muffaletta). This offer is limited to one sandwich per person, only available for dine in orders, and only on the opening day.

D and D Island Grill JA is a food truck parked in a parking lot at 6245 E. Broadway Blvd. Owners Duwayne Hall and Danny Heath serve fried fish, curried goat, jerk chicken, oxtail, beef patties and delicious fruit-juice concoctions.
We stopped in last weekend and found Hall working away in the kitchen as his kids played in the nearby grass. A steady stream of visitors stopped in to eat or just say hello. Reggae music throbbed and a flag bearing the lion of Judah flapped in the hot breeze.

The food was great, and the fruit drinks they make from pineapple, carrot, ginger, apple, banana and mango were heaven. Another drink made from sour sop is purported to calm the nerves, and was equally heavenly. There are palm trees to dine under, icy Jamaican sodas and a calming island vibe that is a nice counterpoint to the hectic pace of city life.

It can be difficult to find D and D's, so here are some directions: Get on Broadway Boulevard until you hit Wilmot Road; turn north; take the first U-turn and head back toward Broadway until you see a brightly painted truck in a parking lot on the northwest corner of Broadway and Wilmot, or you smell curry, whichever comes first. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., every day but Sunday. They also cater. Call 867-0100 for more information.

This NPR story got me thinking: If one-eighth of the seafood consumed in this country comes from the now-tainted waters of the Gulf of Mexico, would the effects of the spill be felt in Tucson anytime soon?

According to Don Garrot, the owner of Don's Bayou - Cajun Cookin' at 8991 E. Tanque Verde Road, he's already feeling the effects. He said he's out of the oysters that he typically orders via overnight delivery from a major seafood distributor in Louisiana. He ordered two gallons a week or so ago, and his distibutor said he won't be able to provide any more.

He said he's also unsure if he'll be able to get blue crabs, which also live in the briny marshes along the coast of Louisiana.

Garrot may try ordering oysters from the Pacific Northwest or the Gulf of California, but for a native of Baton Rouge, that's bordering on sacrilege. Plus, they don't taste the same.

The rest of the foods Garrot serves—frog legs, crawfish, catfish and others—come from freshwater farms that are unaffected by the spill.

Update: Fred Harris of Kingfisher says they've also been out of fresh Gulf of Mexico oysters for about two weeks. The oysters typically top the list of offerings at their popular oyster bar.

Nimbus Brewing Company is opening a new location called Nimbus Ice House in the old My Big Fat Greek restaurant building at 95 W. River Road.

Kevin Brown, a manager at Nimbus Bistro and Brewpub, a joint venture with Metro Restaurants that opened last September at 6464 E. Tanque Verde Road, said he expected the new location to be open in eight to 10 weeks. He said more details will be available when company officials finalize the plans next week.

Metro Restaurants will not be involved with the new Nimbus location, according to a company official.

The chefs at Kingfisher have embarked on their annual summer roadtrip. First stop: Right here in the Southwest. I popped in last night for the tortilla lasagna, which features roasted red peppers, poblanos, avocado, and herbed goat cheese layered in flour tortillas and topped with salsa fresca. It's a delight.

I'm eager to try the agave nectar glazed mixed grill tostado: Gulf shrimp, chorizo, chicken,
black beans, chopped lettuce, tomato, avocado crema and fresh salsa. How do you go wrong with that?

Check out the whole menu here.

Janos Wilder, owner and operator of Janos and the J-BAR, has been blogging up a storm about designing his up-and-coming restaurant, Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails. The restaurant is expected to open in September in the former Barrio Food and Drink space at 135 S. Sixth Ave.

Check out Wilder's blog here.

Both local Jason’s Deli locations closed their doors Sunday, according to a spokesman for the restaurant chain.

“It’s sad. There were 85 employees and a lot of loyal customers,” said Dan Helsman, a company spokesman. “We had been working with (the franchisee) for a while to avoid closure.”

Helsman said the local franchisee, Delwest, Inc., had run into irreparable financial problems with several organizations, including the Internal Revenue Service.

The restaurant—which opened its first Tucson store more than 20 years ago—had locations at 5420 E. Broadway Blvd. and 4545 N. Oracle Road.