Doug Levy says he's excited that the new location for his popular Feast restaurant is just across the street from local biker bar the Bashful Bandit. He thinks the proximity of the two decidedly different businesses could make for some interesting cross-over experiences.

"I like the idea of people having an appertif at the Bashful Bandit before wandering over to Feast for a meal," said Levy. "Maybe some people will even end up back at the Bandit for a digestif."

Levy says he is going deeper into debt than ever before to move his restaurant from its current spot at 4122 E. Speedway Blvd. to the new under-construction building at 3719 E. Speedway Blvd. He expects to invest about $1.5 million before finishing the project in September.

"Overall, it's still sort of a risky time, but if you don’t do it during the risky time, you’re paying top dollar," said Levy.

Levy, however, is no stranger to risk. Summer is typically a lean time for many Tucson restaurateurs, yet Levy opened Feast in summer of 2001. Then, mere months later, the Sept. 11 attacks came, and business dried up even more.

"That taught us a lesson on how to open a restaurant," said Levy.

The ever-changing menu and casual atmosphere at Feast will stay the same, but the new location will have better parking and 40 more seats than the original spot. A private dining room will also allow the eatery to host special events, private parties and food and wine tastings.

"We're very much a casual neighborhood place."said Levy. "I want to keep Feast the place where I want to eat on my night off."

CaffeNation, the locally owned café and sandwich shop at 3191 E. Valencia Road, Suite 111, is expanding.

Irina Rudnitsky, who owns the shop with her husband, said the expansion into an adjoined building will add more than 30 seats. CaffeNation currently seats about 60 people inside, she said, with additional seating available outside on the patio.

Rudnitsky hopes more seating and the recent addition of a full bar will pull in a late-afternoon and evening crowd. She said business currently drops off to just about nothing after 2 p.m.

She said the expansion will be completed as soon as the Pima County Health Department signs off on a number of changes made to the buildings.

I never got a chance to watch the Man v. Food episode with El Guero Canelo's Sonoran hot dog, but I found this clip from the show, which tells a story of the good 'ol American dog that made a long journey to Sonora after World War II, only to return more embellished and smothered with jalapeño sauce.

Does that mean that before World War II, there were no Mexican Americans living on this side of the Sonoran Desert who put jalapeños, a lot of poblano sauce and other good stuff on those wonderful American hot dogs (and hamburgers)?

Haven't most people been eating a version of a Sonoran hot dog long before so-described treacherous trip to Mexico and return to the U.S.?

Joe Scordato seems happy to be back in the restaurant business, and why wouldn’t he? His name is synonymous with fine food in this town and people have reportedly been flocking to his new Italian restaurant, Guiseppe’s, since it opened a few weeks ago at 6060 N. Oracle Road.

Scordato sold his popular and well-reviewed restaurant Trattoria Guiseppe about eight years ago and has been repairing appliances and hanging drywall for a living ever since. He said the urge to cook again struck when he helped his brother, Daniel Scordato, open Pizzeria Vivace last summer.

He’s partnered with two former employees for his newest venture, and despite long hours and some very busy dinner hours, is thrilled to be back at it.

“I just love to cook and it’s fun to have people enjoy your food,” said Scordato. “I’ve had people stick their heads in the kitchen and just yell, ‘Thank you! Thank you!’”

The most expensive item on the menu is $16, but a large plate of pasta and meatballs will set you back about $7. Wine ranges from $11 to $32 per bottle, and a draft Peroni costs $2.75.

Must try items? Scordato says the Bolognese sauce made with prosciutto, pork sausage, beef, veal, heavy cream and tomato paste is very popular. He’s also been getting great feedback about the seafood soup, and says he’s never sold so many stuffed mushrooms in his life.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Call 505-4187 for more information.

A message on the answering machine at Barrio Food and Drink says the restaurant has closed and that the business will continue on as Barrio Catering.

Rumors have circulated for months, but this is the first solid information we've received concerning the fate of the downtown restaurant. The Arizona Daily Star published this article earlier this month, but couldn’t get in touch with the owner to verify the closing. Then, Inside Tucson Business put out this short story hinting that Janos Wilder may open up shop in the space. We talked with Wilder last week, and he had no comment on the ITB story or his plans to eventually open a new restaurant downtown.

In related news: Ciaran Wiese, who created many of the popular drinks at Barrio Food and Drink (including the Basil Collins, last year's second-runner-up for the Best of Tucson® Best Signature Cocktail award), is now working at Maynards Market and Kitchen. Wiese, who spent time honing his bartending skills in New York, is expected to be quite an asset to the cocktail programs at Maynards and across the street at Hotel Congress.

Tucson Originals holds its popular quarterly gift-certificate sale on Wednesday, March 24. You can save between 20 and 40 percent on meals at more than 40 independent, locally owned eateries by getting up early tomorrow and clicking here.

An official with InstaGift.com, the company handling the sale, says the gift certificates will go on sale between 6:45 and 7 a.m. Quantities are limited, and many restaurants sell out quickly.

An O’Hungry’s Restaurant is on track to open next month at 944 E. University Blvd., in Main Gate Square, according to the general manager of the restaurant’s original location in San Diego.

Stan Chu tells The Range that he’s working out some details with the liquor license and kitchen equipment for the new Tucson location, and that he hopes to have the restaurant open by the end of April.

The O’Hungry’s Restaurant in San Diego is famous for serving full yards of beer, which is illegal in Arizona due to a liquor law that prohibits the serving of more than 32 ounces of beer at a time. Diners at the Tucson location will have to make do with half-yards of beer, Chu said.

Local marriage equality activist Buck Bannister happens to be an amazing baker. On his blog Sugar Pies, he recently posted a recipe for Irish soda bread and put up his first how-to video on YouTube. I happen to be a fan of currants in my Irish soda bread served with a healthy schmear of real butter. Happy St. Patty's Day.

There are a bunch of noteworthy food-themed happenings taking place at the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend. They actually have a whole stage dedicated solely to culinary demonstrations, most of which take place Saturday, and presentations about food, most of which take place Sunday. You'll find a schedule below.

We wrote about a restaurant called Chinese Box in this week's Noshing Around column, but outside of information gleaned from a banner on the exterior we knew very little about it. A reader dropped us an e-mail this morning to let us know that Peter Fung, the owner of Mandarin Grill at 8300 N. Thornydale Road, will be co-owner of the business.

Fung says the place will serve authentic Cantonese and Mandarin fast food. He stressed that the place will not be just another Panda Express and that it will not serve "Americanized Chinese food." The menu will have about 25 items, most of which will fall in the $6 range. He hopes to have it open by the end of April, and would like to open other locations if the first one works out.

Delivery will be available within a three-mile radius. Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. on weekends.