Meze House is at 552 E. Olive Avenue. Initial hours will be 10:30 a.m. to about 9 p.m. daily; Salem says he will tweak the hours according to the flow of customers. Details: (559) 266-6393.
Later this summer, Charlotte's BakerEatery will take over the old Thaiphoon across the street from Meze House. the shop is leaving its current location at the end of the month. it will re-open in mid-to-late July in the new space.
The move provides almost 400 additional square feet of dining space and turns Charlotte's into a true restaurant. Co-owner Susan Rocha has plans for the menu: more soups and salads at the launch, hot dishes by the fall, and an emphasis on vegan and vegetarian food. (Meat eaters, don't worry. Charlotte's is planning dishes for you, too.)
The new space has a built-in bar, but it won't have any alcohol. Instead, Charlotte's will offer smoothies, as well as coffee from Fabiano's Roasting Co. on W. Fairmont Ave.
Also expect Charlotte's to stay open later, at least until 7 p.m. and have live entertainment. Rocha's son, bass player Sam Rocha, occasionally will play there.
Charlotte's is at 1292 N. Wishon Ave. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. the new space is at 609 E. Olive Ave. new hours and times of operation have yet to be determined. Details: (559) 233-5500.
Calling all cooks
Foster Farms is sponsoring the West Coast Chicken Cooking Contest, which aims to fill the void left by the demise of the National Chicken Cooking Contest.
The grand prize: $10,000 and a one-year supply of fresh Foster Farms chicken. Only residents of Washington, California and Oregon ages 18 and older can submit original recipes featuring Foster Farms chicken and local ingredients.
Later this summer, Foster Farms will select 15 semifinalists, who each will receive $100. the company will narrow this group to six finalists - two from each state - who each will win $1,000.
The finalists will compete for the grand prize in September at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley.
The deadline to submit recipes is June 30. Submit recipes at fosterfarms.com/cookingcontest, e-mail them to cookingcontest@fosterfarms.com, or mail them to Foster Farms, Cooking Contest, P.O. Box 306, Livingston, CA 95334.
Tower District freshens up with 2 restaurants