This Fresh Forkin’ Friday I am cooking a dinner for some people who bid on me at the Pacer benefit. This is the second time I’ve done it, and these are the same people who won last year. I guess the first meal was a win. It’s great because the house where we will cook and dine was donated by a friend, and it is an airy and gorgeous summer home on the lake. After talking about food and eating other people’s food all week long, it’s kind of gratifying to put my own knife to the board and ante up. I still very much inside of me have the need of a restaurant kid to serve and feed. I don’t mind giving up a Friday night because sometimes the elemental satisfaction of chopping a ton of cilantro to make charmoula for someone else’s dinner feels like a little payback into the universe for the goods that have come my way.

*****

OPENS

It’s 2.0 Fever! Rusty Taco opened a second location, this time in Nordeast and with a liquor license. Margaritas ahoy! It’s located in the space next to the old Wilde Roast.

And Masu will open this Sunday in the shiny Mall of America. The space feels just like the Nordeast location, still v. cool but smaller. Exec Chef Chris Olson will be manning the operation and dealing with all the mall people.

There’s a new pizza-winery just south of St. Peter. Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery is open to the public and its tasting room features Neapolitan pizzas, cured meats, and antipasti along with its locally grown wines.

CHANGES/MOVES/COMING SOON

First of all, you heard about the Sopranos-close-Figlio-open didn’t you? The world is shifting, but JP Samuelson remains.

Origami is leaving Ridgedale to become a new tenant in Uptown’s MoZaic project. It should land next to Bar Louie sometime in early December.

Pizza Luce is going into the former Bridgeman’s site in Richfield of W. 66th, continuing their world domination. PS … Luce now delivers pints of Izzy’s ice cream, y’all.

Damn, Five Guys are everywhere. I just saw that one is planned for the former Baja Sol in Uptown. Also, apparently, get ready for a Hardees onslaught.

*****

If you need to escape the heat this weekend, maybe plop in front of the tube on Sunday for the PBS airing of Food Forward. The show, which airs at 12:30 pm and 6:30pm on channel 2, focuses on real food people (chefs, scientists, farmers, eaters, etc.) who are working hard to create a healthier food system.

*****

And why not get farmy this weekend? Join up with the Eat Local Farm Tour and meet the people growing and making the tasty things you love. Head down to Shepherd’s Way and check out the cheese, then maybe loop over to L & R Poultry and Produce and walk through the sugar maple grove. Download the guide book to help you on your way.

*****

Beer Dabbler will be killing it at Highland Fest this weekend, while the All Points North beer fest in Duluth will likely be a big draw for lovers of the suds.

*****

And if you haven’t heard, Chef Marcus Samuelson will be in town on Tuesday the 24th for a lot of signing for his new memoir Yes, Chef. The Cook’s event is sold out, but I think you can still catch him at Macy’s and the American Swedish Institute if you hurry and sign up.