Open, or opening soon

What was Citizen Cafe is now Pilgrimage (2403 E. 38th St., Mpls., www.pilgrimagecafe.com).

The name reflects chef/owner Craig Ball's background. After logging 13 years in global sales for a food company, as well as a stint as a beekeeper in Paraguay for the Peace Corps, "food has always been a pilgrimage for me," he said. "I've always wanted to open a restaurant, and decided to go for it before it was too late."

The menu's focus is on what Ball calls "globally inspired comfort food, seen through a Midwestern lens," he said. Translation: a turkey mole eggs Benedict, a Philly-style steak sandwich finished with chimichurri sauce, all crafted fresh on the premises.

Ball is starting with breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday. Dinner (along with beer and wine) will arrive by the end of the month.

Twenty-year old Hoban Korean Restaurant (1989 Silver Bell Road, Eagan, www.hoban restaurant.com) is expanding into Uptown Minneapolis, opening in the former home of Design Within Reach at 2939 Hennepin Av. S.

In the downtown Minneapolis skyway, Sprout Salad Co. (555 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., sproutsalad.com) is now serving a full roster of chopped-to-order salads made with a wide variety of proteins (Korean-style barbecue flank steak, blackened shrimp) and a dozen house-made dressings at weekday lunch.

Freshii (651 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., www.freshii.com) will be setting up shop on the next block in Gaviidae Common. The Canadian quick-service chain emphasizes fresh, quick-service salads, rice bowls and burritos at breakfast and lunch.

And since three constitutes a pattern, meet Greenfield Natural Kitchen (120 S. 6th St., Mpls., www.greenfieldnk.com). This roomy iteration of the fresh-and-healthy skyway set specializes in made-to-order bowls or wraps filled with grains or beans, greens, proteins and vegetables; in the a.m., add eggs.

Chef exit

A fruitful and dynamic culinary partnership has come to a close. Tyler Shipton has left Borough (730 Washington Av. N., Mpls., www.boroughmpls.com) and Coup d'état (2923 Girard Av. S., Mpls., coupdetatmpls.com). Chef/co-owner Nick O'Leary will continue to oversee both restaurants.

"I am ready to take some time off to travel, to explore and to be further inspired to share that experience in my cooking," Shipton said in a prepared statement.

Monday, Monday

In the news reported this week regarding the change of ownership at Lucia's Restaurant (1432 W. 31st St., Mpls., www.lucias.com), the new partnership emphasized that it is not introducing alterations to the Uptown dining landmark. There's one obvious — and welcome — exception, however. Starting Dec. 22, Lucia's To Go — the bakery/cafe/grab-and-go side of the business — will be open on Monday.

A tuneful month

Vincent (1100 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., www.vincentarest aurant.com) is usually closed on Sunday. But through Dec. 21, chef/owner Vincent Francoual serves Sunday dinner (coq au vin, pan-seared scallops, cassoulet, the one-and-only short ribs-stuffed Vincent Burger) with a side of classical music, played by a string quartet. And talk about a White Christmas: On Dec. 17, Francoual is hosting a four-course white truffle dinner (with wines selected by Jack Farrell of Haskell's Wine & Spirits). Cost is $200 per person, with $100 donated to Second Harvest Heartland; reservations 612-630-1189.