You can see the sign out front of the Ashland Pub, Corte Inge’s new venture in the former Memories location and they anticipate opening for business by June. They are awaiting approval on some city permits.

The Pub will be open seven days a week to see if it works to “scratch that Sunday itch” says Corte. As I wrote earlier he is going to have pizza, salads and pasta specials on the weekends along with a full bar.

Corte Inge and Noel Broughton are trying to do a cable access TV show looking on lesser known aspects of Mobile dining. It will showcase what is going on, with the pilot focusing on Gulf Coast Produce, a company providing a product including micro greens, heirloom and organic produce.

Eat at the Y

Even if you are not a member of the downtown YMCA, check out Richard Walsh’s Café 100. I have had some very good lunches there lately, among them a fine turkey burger, the best I have ever had.

For the most part his menu includes the favorites from his former venture at the Exploreum, the Li’l Lunchbox Café, including a vegetable pesto sandwich and his incredible chicken, ginger and green apple salad. He has a special of the day, turkey chili and soup of the day. If the soup is asparagus make sure to order it.

Causeway fundraiser

The Coastal Conservation Association Annual Spring Fling is being held on Friday, May 9 at Five Rivers on the Causeway. This is a great place for a party, especially for this group, with engaging views of the Delta. There will be dinner, auction and raffle along with entertainment by Locust Fork. The cost is $85 couple or $55 single in advance, $95 couple or $60 at the dinner. The cost includes one membership to the CCA.

M is for…

Mother’s Day really is just a short time away, and I have already gotten information on the celebration brunches being held at the Battle House and Riverview. I encourage any and all restaurants having any special menus, openings or other information on Mother’s Day to contact me and I will put the information in this column.

The Battle House brunch will have a Northern Italian motif, being served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A plated brunch, the cost is $55 per person. Look for choices such as a grilled lamp chop with polenta, pesto and red wine demi glace or carmelized Chilean sea bass with sweet peas, morel mushrooms and spinach in a beurre rouge sauce. Call 338-5493 for reservations.

Over at the Riverview Plaza there will be a plated meal/buffet combo for the adults ($25-$30) and children’s buffet for $13. Each entrée includes your choice of soup, salad, dessert omelet station, waffle station and pastries. The salads range from classic green to heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella to a Mediterranean seafood salad. A selection of the entrees are a poppy seed crusted salmon with potatoes, French green beans with horseradish honey glaze; steak and eggs or veal picatta. Make rerservations by calling 415-3092. The Riverview will be serving this brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Downtown java

I am frequenting Serda’s quite a bit, and soon hope to do a review. The only caveat is that I am enjoying the same thing almost every time I go. In the mornings I like the berry smoothie with protein powder and at lunch I get the heated Santa Fe chicken wrap with potato salad.

They are doing a booming business, and don’t forget that they have a full bar that is open after work along with being open for breakfast and lunch five days a week.

Oh, what a knight

The famous Royal Knight Restaurant and Bar on Government Street across from Grady Automotive has long served fantastic food, especially their steaks, which are hand-cut. They have begun a lunch buffet Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $8.50, with the Friday buffet serving seafood for $10.50. The menu also has some new entrees, appetizers such as Oysters Rockefeller and complimentary appetizers served during the week at 5 p.m.

Herb garden

I bought some healthy, locally grown herbs such as purple basil and mint a few weeks ago at the Botanical Gardens plant sale and talked with the ladies with the Gulf Coast Herb Society. The society and the Botanical Gardens are celebrating Herb Day 2008 this coming Saturday at the Larkins Center at the Gardens. Entitled “Native Edibles,” the group will present a talk by Dr. Charles Allen, author of “Edible Plants of the Gulf Coast.” The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and the cost is $25 for lunch, door prizes and information on herbs.

Herb plants and related items will be on sale before and after the program. Seating is limited and registration is required. Make your reservation by calling 604-4385 or send an e-mail to herbday2008@aol.com.

Kinnon Phillips is Lagniappe cuisine editor. Contact him at kphillips@lagniappemobile.com.

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