Fresh Sheet: Tortilla Union opens downtown

A new restaurant specializing in Southwestern fare has opened in River Park Square.

Tortilla Union, the latest eatery from the owners of Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar, is located on the ground floor of the mall between Nordstrom and Williams-Sonoma in the space that formerly held the Loft clothing store.

Starters include cornbread for $7.99, guacamole for $10.99 and plantain chips for $7.99. Handhelds include a burrito, barbacoa torta and double cheeseburger for $13.99 each.

Look, also, for a variety of tacos – fish, pulled pork, barbacoa, carne asada, verde chicken, fried avocado – from $9.99 to $13.99. Desserts – tres leches panna cotta, sopaipillas (fried dough with chipotle-honey dipping sauce) or chocolate cake with avocado ice cream – all cost $7.99.

Tortilla Union is at 808 Main Ave. On the web: www.tortillaunion.com.

Rocking and rolling

Rock City Grill has reopened.

The restaurant’s new location is 2911 E. 57th Ave. at Regal Street. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Starting in September, breakfast will be served on weekends. Meantime, the menu is the same. So is most of the staff. Parking is free.

In June, Rock City Grill closed its River Park Square location after 24 years downtown and 13 years in the mall. On the web: rockcitygrill.com. On Facebook: facebook.com/rockcitygrill.

Ask the experts

If you can’t make it to the 27th annual National Lentil Festival next weekend but have questions about cooking legumes, don’t fret.

You can tweet your questions @PNWCoop by Aug. 17.

The Ask-the-Experts panel starts at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19. Attendees will get the chance to quiz top chefs and agriculture experts about everything related to lentils and garbanzo beans. Those who have tweeted their questions in advance will get to participate online.

The 2016 National Lentil Festival takes place in Pullman Aug. 19 and 20. On the web: www.lentilfest.com. Call (800) 365-6948

Clover hosts winemaker’s dinner

Reservations are being accepted for the El Corazon Winemaker’s Dinner at Clover.

The six-course dinner, held in collaboration with winemaker Spencer Sievers of El Corazon Winery in Walla Walla, is slated for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18. The cost is $99 per person.

Courses include poke-style albacore with fennel and pine nuts paired with Red Frog Rose of Syrah 2015 and duck breast with spiced peach gel, duck fat cornbread pudding and nasturtium oil paired with a 2013 cabernet franc.

Reservations can be made by calling Clover at (509) 487-2937. Clover is at 913 E. Sharp Ave.

Clover Hour

In more Clover news, the restaurant has started a new happy hour program with drink and food specials from 3 to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to close daily.

Clover Hour features lighter fare and sandwiches as well as $5 beer and wine, and a rotating selection of craft cocktails at $6 each. Menu items run from $4 for popcorn to $15 for the burger. Clover Hour is available on the patio and lower dining room.