Aug. 1 is the last day for Colossal Cafe (1839 E. 42nd St., Mpls., www.colossalcafe.com) owner Bess Giannakakis at her smaller-is-better breakfast and lunch joint. She's moving to Austin, Texas, and opening a bed-and-breakfast, the Gateway Guesthouse. "I'll be doing the same thing, but for a smaller amount of people," she said with a laugh. "I'm thinking of it as a kind of working retirement. I'm not a spring chicken anymore."
Giannakakis has sold her five-year-old, 16-seat cafe to Elizabeth Tinucci. "And yes, I'll be teaching her how to make the pancakes," she said with a laugh, referring to the cafe's fantastic yeast-raised flapjacks. If the Tinucci name sounds familiar, it's because Tinucci's father, John Tinucci, is the co-owner of Tinucci's (396 21st St., Newport, www.tinuccis.com). "Yeah, I grew up in the business," said Elizabeth Tinucci, who has also logged two years at Broders' Pasta Bar. "I've always wanted a breakfast place," she said.
To this change-averse diner, she's promising the same name, hours and menu, including Giannakakis' wonderful chicken pot pies. "I've heard all about that chicken pot pie," she said with a laugh. "I'm sure it will stay, as well. No worries."
Around townThursday is the scheduled opening day of the new location of Heartland (289 E. 5th St., St. Paul, www.heartland restaurant.com) with dinner service (Tuesday through Sunday) in the dining room and lounge. The restaurant's adjacent Farm Direct Market is set to open in late August, and the dining room's weekend brunch service (the St. Paul Farmers Market is across the street) will follow at a date to be announced.
Cookbook author Raghavan Iyer has called it quits as consulting chef at Om (401 1st Av. N., Mpls., www.omminneapolis.com). "I have terminated my contract effective July 12th and severed all ties with Om," he said in a statement. "I feel my beliefs, high standards and professional standing is no longer in congruence with those of Om's. I wish them well in their continued journey."
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant (1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., www.dakotacooks.com) chef Jack Riebel is continuing the club's 25th birthday celebration by offering his fabulous walleye-wild rice sausages, on a toasted brat bun, during lunch ($8.95), through Friday.
Next Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of Izzy's Ice Cream Cafe (2034 Marshall Av., St. Paul, www.izzysicecream.com), and it's a day of cheap eats and giveaways, including $1 mini-waffles with syrup and cream cheese ice cream from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and free "Izzy scoop"-sized cones all day (personally, I'm hoping for a crack at Norwegian Chai, or Birchwood Key Lime Pie), plus raffles and T-shirt giveaways.
Freebie alert: Eden Prairie residents -- or workers with a business card bearing an Eden Prairie address -- can drop into Wildfire (3020 Eden Prairie Ctr., www.wildfirerestaurantcom. edenprairie) through Aug. 31 and enjoy a free dessert (lunch or dinner purchase required, and limit one for every two diners, so be prepared to share), in celebration of the city hitting the No. 1 spot in Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live" survey.
