Carla Hall Will Be Cooking at JuneBaby Next Week

RAVENNA — As part of some special Black History Month programming, James Beard award-winner Edouardo Jordan will be hosting special guest Carla Hall at JuneBaby in a little over a week. Hall, known for her work on Top Chef and The Chew, will get behind the burners on Saturday February 16 Hall isn’t the only special guest appearing at Junebaby: Charleston’s BJ Dennis is also cooking there this Saturday (February 9), bringing Lowcountry cuisine and almost certainly some seafood. Other special events for the month can be found on Jordan’s Facebook page.

BALLARD — Longtime 24th Avenue coffee shop Java Bean is preparing for a rebrand — after 30 years, it’ll change names to Venture Coffee Co., and will close from February 25 to March 3 for renovations. Venture will have a refreshed look, but still serve the same coffee and breakfast bagels.

Omega Ouzeri/Facebook

CAPITOL HILL — Former Mbar chef de cuisine Tana Mielke has moved over to 14 Avenue Greek restaurant Omega Ouzeri as executive chef, a tidy fit with her Mediterranean specialty. She’s starting up a Sunday afternoon Pikilia series, highlighting mezze and Greek drinks. For $55, you’ll get two drinks (wine, beer, ouzo, tsipouro) and bright bites like tzatziki, smoked octopus, wild boar kefta, pomegranate lamb, and fava with spiced lamb. The first has been postponed to Sunday February 24 (it was originally intended for February 10), and they’ll happen on the last Sunday of each month.

CAPITOL HILL — Oddball travel website Atlas Obscura is teaming up with Seattle’s Intrigue Chocolate Co for a special event on Saturday March 2. Expect a talk and tastings of chocolate truffles, paired with beverages, including coffee from Conduit. It’ll happen at the 15th Avenue Intrigue location, and costs $40.

• After almost 30 years, Java Bean to rebrand with new name Venture Coffee Co. [MyBallard]
• Pikilia Pop-Up [Eventbrite]
• For The Love of Chocolate [Atlas Obscura]