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Fresh Manna Cafe and Catering has recently opened at 116 E. Main St. at River Twist in Jamestown. But a grand opening will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Marciá Devlin, who has been in catering with her family for more than 10 years, had been looking for a place to open a cafe and found out about the space vacated by River Twist Kitchen.

So, she and her husband, U.T., who owns Shine Unlimited, a shoe repair shop on High Point Road, set up shop in the kitchen.

The new cafe offers breakfast and lunch.

Breakfast items include Breakfast Sliders, a yeast roll stuffed with country ham, bacon and other items, along with omelets, hand-cut hash browns, muffins, bagels, yogurt and fruit cups.

Stop by for the Saturday morning breakfast hot bar, and for $7.95 (one trip) load up a plate with bacon, sausage, shrimp and grits (some weekends), eggs, hash browns and other items. The deal includes a beverage.

Lunch items include sandwiches such as ham and cheese, chicken salad and Philly steak and cheese; salads including grilled chicken and a daily soup. Desserts include items such as the Homemade Triple Chocolate Brownie.

The Devlins, along with Carl and Jan Galloni of River Twist and Galloni Triad Door Services, will enlist the help of Cub Scouts to deliver meals to needy families on Thanksgiving.

Cafe hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For information and catering inquiries, call 887-0001.

Bistro planned

Renee Schroeder's catering has outgrown the kitchen at her restaurant, Sweet Basil's. So, she went looking for a larger space.

Now, she plans to open Basil's and Co. with her husband Richard and Sweet Basil's pastry chef Julie Watson.

"We have decided to ... open a bistro wine bar and dessertery that will also serve as a home for our catering company," Schroeder says.

Basil's and Co. will open in the space recently vacated by Madison Park Cafe, which plans to open in a new, yet to be determined location.

Schroeder's new restaurant will offer bistro-style lunch and small plate dinners ($15 or less) consisting of items from Sweet Basil's menu, pastries and fresh baked breads and French press coffee and espresso drinks.

"It's a place where people can come and have a glass of wine and a casual meal," she says.

The bistro will offer music and host wine dinners.

Plans are to open Basil's and Co. in early December in time for holiday parties.

Sports bar closes, possibly reopening

The Green Burro at 106 W. McGee St. in downtown Greensboro drew the last beer last week. Owner Simone Ritchy-McClinton has decided to sell the sports bar.

"I'm just ready to move on," Ritchy-McClinton says.

The closing is bittersweet. Ritchy-McClinton took over the restaurant from her two brothers four years ago and the third floor night spot was always a popular destination. But Ritchy-McClinton, who has four children, also owns M'Coul's Public House downstairs at 110 W. McGee St. She says the burden of owning both businesses was taking a personal toll. She wants to focus on M'Coul's and spend more time with her family.

But no sooner had the last draft been drawn when interested parties started inquiring.

"I already have ten potential buyers," she says.

She says the sports bar will most likely reopen soon and she's confident the concept will change little under new ownership.

Annual benefit

It has been a tough year for most. But for many, the past year has been truly grim.

To that end, Greensboro Urban Ministry's 18th annual Feast of Caring will be held Thursday at First Baptist Church, 1000 W. Friendly Ave. in Greensboro.

Drop in between 5 and 7 p.m. for a simple meal of soup and bread.

The event begins the annual operating fund campaign. When you make a pledge of $20 or more, you get a handcrafted pottery bowl donated by area potters or four honor cards.

Artist William Mangum's 2009 Honor Card, "Moving On," will be available for a donation of $5 per card. Mangum is a longtime champion of the homeless.

More than $240,000 was raised last year through the honor card program.

For information, call Greensboro Urban Ministry at 271-5959 or visit www.greensborourbanministry.org.

Breakfast offered

Four Winds Cafe (5924 Liberty Road, Climax; 674-6100; 4windscafe.com) is offering a Saturday breakfast menu from 7:30 to 11 a.m. that includes The Continental ($5.95), a homemade Danish, pastry or muffin with fresh fruit; Bennies and Jets ($8.95), a choice of Eggs Benedict or crab meat with asparagus covered in Hollandaise sauce with potato casserole; and Chef Steve's Very French Toast ($6.95), a slice of homemade French bread dipped in vanilla egg, grilled and topped with applewood smoked bacon.

Breakfast also includes quiche of the day, egg and meat combinations and even Champagne Mimosas.

Wednesday night at Four Winds is Italian night, with something a little different each week, such as Eggplant Rolatinia or Baked Ziti with portabellos with sweet Italian sausage served with soup or salad and sides.

Or grab some comfort food to go, such as a loaf of fresh bread ($2.25) and soup by the quart ($4.25).

Four Winds is just south of Forest Oaks near Monnett Road.

French wine in spotlight

On the third Thursday of November, Beaujolais Nouveau, a light red wine made from Gamay grapes, is released in France. Beaujolais Day is the celebration of the first wine of the new harvest.

On Thursday, in honor of this French tradition, Print Works Bistro (702 Green Valley Road, Greensboro; 379-0699) will be serving Beaujolais Nouveau and a few menu specials for lunch and dinner that pair well with the wine.

Visit www.printworksbistro.com.

Eat for a cause

Ten percent of sales from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Chick-fil-A (869-7280) at 2700 N. Main St. in High Point will be donated to the High Point Children's and Youth Chorales.

For information, contact the High Point Area Arts Council at 889-2787.

From 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 2, five percent of sales at McAlister's Deli (252-1000) at 1603 Highwoods Blvd. in Greensboro will go to Piedmont Wildlife Rehab (piedmontwildliferehab.org), which cares for and releases injured and orphaned indigenous wildlife.

Holiday tasting

Zeto Wine and Cheese Shop (335 Battleground Ave.; www.zetowines.com) in downtown Greensboro will hold a Thanksgiving-inspired tasting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Sample wines, cheeses and Red Oak Amber lager. Cost is $5. Call 574-2850 to RSVP.

New menu items

The Undercurrent (327 Battleground Ave.), just steps away from Zeto Wine Shop, has some new seasonal items that include Ginger Butternut Squash Bisque, Fried Oyster Salad, Taragon Shrimp Salad and Turkey Pastrami.Visit www.undercurrentrestaurant.com or call 370-1266.

Another seasonal menu

Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar (100-D W. Washington St.; www.libertyoakrestaurant.com) in downtown Greensboro is also offering a fall menu featuring appetizers such as Ravioli, Duck Liver Pate and Hardwood Smoked Salmon, and entrees such as Shrimp and Tasso on a fried potato cake, Short Ribs and Chicken Penne. Call 273-7057 for reservations.

Ceramics event

Alessandro Taddei, Italian designer and creator for the Old Saint Nick pattern of Vietri ceramics, and Susan Gravely, founder of Vietri, will meet and greet patrons from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at The Extra Ingredient, 801-D Friendly Center Road at Friendly Center in Greensboro. For information, call 299-9767.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com