Closings a hard hit for neighborhoods A trio of recent closings has put a tear into the dining fabric of three Twin Cities neighborhoods. St. Paul's Cathedral Hill won't be the same after the loss of Zander Cafe, where chef/owner Alexander Dixon has been cooking since 1998. Leave it to Dixon to go out as he came in: with class. "Please do look forward to the next business that comes in here," he says on the restaurant's voicemail greeting. "We hope that it will be as beneficial to the neighborhood and as loved as Zander Cafe was by all of you."

In Minneapolis, the sweet My-T-Fine Bakery/Cafe has gone dark at 43rd St. and Bryant Av. S. in Minneapolis; fans of their extraordinary sugar buns -- myself included -- are in mourning. And late-night in the Warehouse District is a little less interesting with the demise of Betty Jean's Chicken n Waffles.

Check them out Co-owners Patrick and Azita Bernet are always giving customers a reason to return to Patrick's Bakery & Cafe (2928 W. 66th St., Richfield, 612-861-7570), as if anyone needed any beyond their pear-almond Danish and Opera cake. A recent addition worth checking out is a new line of burgers: some made with beef and topped with caramelized onions and brie, others made with lamb sausage or chicken, all served with a mound of golden, skinny fries.

Mairin's Table (23 4th St. NE., Minneapolis, 612-746-4272) has always been sprinkled with a few Moroccan touches (thanks to co-owner Rafiq Antar, a Moroccan native), most notably a monthly all-Moroccan multi-course dinner, still held the first Saturday of every month. But ever since chef John Lambe took over the kitchen, the daily menu features a number of delicious Moroccan-inspired classics (feisty lamb sausages, a lovely lemon-scented chicken with couscous, a fine beef tagine, a blend of roasted vegetables with couscous), all a pleasant alternative to the menu's easygoing meat loaf/shepherd's pie/BLT comfort fare. "We're branching out into more Moroccan dishes, due to customer demand," said co-owner Jennifer Schroeder. "But also because there aren't a lot of Moroccan options in town."

Tuning in There's a new food show on the airwaves: "Local Food Hero" Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m. on KTNF (AM 950). Hosts Brett Olson and Lindsay Rebhan look at the culinary world from a green angle, not a surprise since the show's sponsor is Renewing the Countryside, the nonprofit that works to raise support and awareness of sustainable rural communities.