Jimmy Carter’s Café in Hillcrest reopened last week as a colorful Mexican eatery, replacing its lunch and dinner menus with carnitas, tacos, burritos and other south-of-the-border faves. Owner Jimmy Carter moved the concept to his long-established café from the Mexican restaurant he operated in Mission Hills, which he recently closed after the landlord tripled his rent. Now, his original Hillcrest haunt has been redecorated to look “very Mexican,” he says, though it still maintains the popular breakfast offerings. 3172 Fifth Ave., 619-295-2070.

For those harboring a secret passion for spaghetti sandwiches, Damien Devine of Devine Pastabilities in Loma Portal presents an ingenious, non-messy solution called the “torpasta,” which gives customers a torpedo-like sandwich completely encasing various pasta fillings. Devine’s creation dates back to childhood, when his school cafeteria would serve spaghetti with a bread roll. As a fan of spaghetti sandwiches, he hollowed out the bread and packed it with the pasta so that the noodles stayed neatly contained. His torpastas come in 14 choices, including sausage and penne, cheese tortellini, fettuccini Alfredo with broccoli, spaghetti and meatball, and more. And fittingly, the staff T-shirts read: “I love carbs.” 3545 Midway Drive, Suite E (Nordic Village Plaza), 619-523-5441.

More than 60 restaurants and bars in metro San Diego will donate at least 25 percent of their sales on April 24 to The Center’s HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs. The program, Dining Out for Life, is an international fund-raising event to fight AIDS. The San Diego effort features 22 additional eateries compared to last year. Participants include Café Eleven, Bread & Cie Bakery, Crest Café, Flicks, Gulf Coast Grill, Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge, Kous Kous, Indigo Grill and many more. For a complete list, visit: www.diningoutforlife.com/sandiego.

The Old Town Community will present Fiesta Cinco de Mayo starting at noon each day on May 2-5, amid the shops and courtyards at the Bazaar del Mundo. Festivities include specialty fare cooked by Chef Jose Duran of Casa Guadalajara, a margarita garden and mariachi and ballet folklorico dance performances. For more information, call 619-296-3161.

Known for its midweek “dive-in” movies and gay-friendly lounge scene, The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma has rolled into spring with young, seasoned Chef Trey Hartinger. His menu takes a rustic approach to California cuisine, featuring things like candied pork belly, wild mushroom risotto, Maker’s Mark sweetbreads and Kurobuta pork chops with sourdough Boursin bread pudding. Hartinger arrives to the stylish Pearl after working under top chefs at Stingaree, Azzura Point and Sun City Resort in Palm Desert. 1410 Rosecrans St., 619-226-6100.

Blue Boheme in Kensington has introduced brunch with a French twist, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays. Say bon jour to homemade waffles topped with fresh berries and whipped cream, fresh asparagus omelets and warm, flaky tarts topped with bacon, onions and melted Reblochon cheese. 4090 Adams Ave., 619-255-4167.