Expanding

The Neighborhood Dining Group plans to open Husk Nashville in an 1895-era historic home in the heart of the Music City. Sean Brock, executive chef and partner in Husk and McCrady’s, will oversee the opening. He will maintain his Charleston home.

Now open

Cafe Paradiso, a Mediterranean cafe and hookah lounge at 51 S. Market St. Call 958-9717.

Brent’s on Broad is now the Brown Dog Deli, featuring a sit-down restaurant with full service replacing the former cafeteria-style deli.

Yum Yum Yogurt is now serving at 3642 Savannah Highway.

Grind and Squeeze in I’On at 357/1A N. Shelmore Blvd. in Mount Pleasant is open 7 a.m-4 p.m. This is a new coffee shop, smoothie and juice bar serving up offerings with seating on the outdoor patio. Call 606-2857.

Under construction

Manny’s Mediterranean Cafe is working on its fourth Charleston location at 41-B George St. A November opening is planned.

Closed

The Patat Spot on George Street has shut its doors.

Contest

The BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival Lambs + Clams Original Recipe Contest kicks off as eight top food bloggers from around the country compete to win a trip to the 2013 festival.

The bloggers each will create four original recipes using products from Craig Rogers of Border Springs Farm and Travis Croxton of Rappahannock River Oysters. Each of the four monthly challenges will focus on a different product, including leg of lamb, oysters, lamb shoulder, and a combination of lamb and clams.

Public voting will take place on the festival’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/chswineandfood, and each person may vote once per challenge. A panel of judges will evaluate each recipe as well.

The winner of each challenge, announced when voting closes about one week after each round of recipes is posted, will receive a product from Le Creuset. The blogger with the most overall votes at the end of all four challenges will receive a trip to the 2013 BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival and will have one of his or her recipes prepared at Pinot Envy Uncorked.

Carnivores

Check out Jonathan Safran Foer at the College of Charleston at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the TD Arena. The author of “Eating Animals” will discuss “What did you eat today?” The event is free and open to the public. Check out cofc.edu.

New top toque

Al Di La Italian trattoria has announced a new chef, Joaquin Bustos.

Bustos is from the Midwest and has more than 20 years of restaurant experience. He attended the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley, and he has held chef positions at nationally recognized restaurants such as Grand St. Cafe in Kansas City, Mo.; Yia Yia’s in Memphis, Tenn.; Eau Bistro in St. Louis; Vin Rouge in Durham, N.C.; and Lidia’s Italy in Kansas City, Mo., where he worked under well-known Italian chef Lidia Bastianich.

Al Di La is at 25 Magnolia Road in West Ashley. Call 571-2321 or go to AlDiLaRestaurant.com.

Food on film

On Oct. 25, Slow Food Charleston and Whole Foods Market will host a showing of “Ingredients” at Cinebarre, 963 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Foods inspired by the film will be created by the chefs at Whole Foods and will be available at the showing. Admission is free. Go to www.slowfoodcharleston.com.

Re-Fished

Fish is revamping its Monday-Thursday happy hour to spotlight a new menu section of $15 medium plates. Each day, one dish will be offered for $10 alongside the new $5 dim sum menu. Half-price wine bottles and drink specials will continue. The happy hour special will be available 4:30-8 p.m. in the bar and dining room. Fish is at 442 King St.

Talking turkey

Whole Foods Market will host a Taste of Thanksgiving event 5-8 p.m. Nov. 9 at Heirloom Books, 123 King St. Guest are asked to bring a $10 donation to benefit Feed the Need.