I know that many of you have been waiting anxiously, so here's the update: VegiTerranean has a target opening date of Nov. 5.

Crews are putting the finishing touches on the vegetarian restaurant and coffee shop owned by rock and roll hall of famer Chrissie Hynde and Canton restaurateur Dan Duplain.

Executive Chef Scot Jones said staff for the kitchen and the front of the house has been hired and he hopes to begin training in the last week of October.

Jones said there had been talk of a soft opening simply opening the doors without any fanfare and then holding a grand opening at a later date. However, much of what happens will depend on Hynde's schedule and when she will be back in her hometown of Akron.

He stressed that the Nov. 5 date is a target, not set in stone.

VegiTerranean is at 21 Furnace St., on the first floor of the Northside Lofts, just north of downtown Akron.

And, no, the place still doesn't have its phone hooked up or an assigned number.

Jones said anyone with questions can call Duplain's other restaurant, Fedeli, in Canton at 330-489-9777. However, Fedeli staff is not taking reservations for VegiTerranean.

VegiTerranean's hours will be 7 a.m. daily for the coffee shop, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for lunch, Monday through Saturday; 5-10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight for dinner Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours for the restaurant are 1-8 p.m.

Vine Valley is open

Vine Valley, the new Middle Eastern restaurant at 1562 Akron-Peninsula Road, is open and owner Jean Saidi reports that things are going well.

Jean and his wife, Caroline, also operate the nearby Vine Valley Market on North Portage Path, which specializes in Lebanese and Middle Eastern groceries and prepared foods.

The restaurant offers traditional Middle Eastern favorites, including hummus, tabbouleh, and kibbeh.

Vine Valley, the restaurant, is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. It's closed on Monday.

Ohio foods writer

Marilou Suszko, author of Farms & Foods of Ohio: From Garden Gate to Dinner Plate, will be the featured speaker at the Orrville Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7.

Suszko will talk about her book and give recipes and gardening tips.

For information, contact the library at 330-683-1065.

Put on your false face

The Zoar Tavern & Inn is having a Halloween Party at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Prizes will be awarded for best costume.

Executive Chef Joe Belinsky said he recently has taken over management of the tavern and is trying out some new ideas, like the party. Belinsky said he hasn't made too many changes at the restaurant, and has maintained the weekend all-you-can-eat crab legs special for $25.99 every Saturday and Sunday.

Zoar Tavern is at 162 Main St. in Zoar. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Just the berries

Harvest season is winding down, but things are still ripe at Greenfield Berry Farm.

The farm has pick-your-own organic raspberries, just in time for cobblers and jams.

Daniel Greenfield said the berries should be available until the first hard frost.

Contact Daniel or Michele Greenfield at 330-322-4626 or 330-657-2924 to check on availability and to schedule a time for picking.

Greenfield Berry Farm is at 2485 Major Road, Peninsula. The berries are $3 per container.

Shop closing

Tony Nicolino tells me he will be closing his Darrow Road pizza shop, Nicolino's Italian Foods, at the end of November when his lease expires.

Nicolino said the original Nicolino's Family Italian Deli, at 1768 Goodyear Blvd., will remain open, offering the same pizza, pasta, soups and sandwiches.

Nicolino said customers in the Darrow Road area who want a deep dish or an Italian beef pizza only have about a month to satisfy their cravings before they'll have to make the drive to Goodyear Heights.

Wine tastings in Stark

Fishers Foods will hold wine tastings at its various stores from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The tastings will feature the store's top 16 seasonal and holiday wine list.

The schedule is Nov. 3 at the store at 44th Street and Cleveland Avenue North in Plain Township; Nov. 10 at the Fulton Drive store in Jackson Township; and Dec. 8 at the store at the Northpointe location, 8100 Cleveland Ave. N.W., also in Plain Township.

Fishers also will offer 10 percent discounts on full cases of wine, which includes mix and match.

To speak to a wine adviser, call the Fishers wine hot line at 330-497-3003, Ext. 1590.

Dining with dinosaurs

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is kicking off its third annual Natural History of Food dinners.

The first in this four-dinner series is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3. The Natural History of Olives event includes a seven-course dinner with wine pairings, prepared by Chef Sergio Abramoff of Sergio's in University Circle and Sarava in Shaker Square. The meal will highlight olives and olive oils.

Patricia Hajifotiou and Sue Kluchar, sisters and owners of the Chagrin Falls-based import business the Olive Orchard, will talk about olives.

Tickets are $150 per person, or $500 for the four-dinner package. Other upcoming dinners include the Natural History of Chocolate on Feb. 9, grapes on April 19 and asparagus on June 14.

For reservations, call 216-231-1177 or 800-317-9155, Ext. 3279. Seating is limited to 100 per dinner.

The museum is at 1 Wade Oval in University Circle.