The owners of Brians’ American Eatery on Washington Street in Hillcrest have sold their downtown location, of which the new owner (named Steve) is calling Brian’s 24. The restaurant, located at the base of the historic Hotel St. James, features the same style of belly-busting comfort food, but with a host of new menu items for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night eating. The kitchen is open 24/7. 828 Sixth Ave., 619-702-8410.

The Riviera Supper Club and Turquoise Room in La Mesa conducted its official ribbon-cutting this week after opening to the public in December. The restaurant and lounge is operated by the former owners of The Turf Club in Golden Hill, which remains in place after selling it off to a new proprietor. The new location is double in size and still features a grill in the middle of the dining room that allows customers to cook their own steaks and seafood. And the menu makes way for new side dishes and a wide range of desserts that includes none other than bacon-chocolate cake! 7777 University Ave., La Mesa, 619-713-6777.

Temecula pastry chef Frania Mendivil of Harrah’s Rincon Casino will represent the United States in the upcoming International Patisserie Grand Prix, considered the Olympics of the dessert world. The eight-nation competition takes place March 14 and 15 in Tokyo. Mendivil and her team will create a sugar showpiece, a chocolate showpiece, one type of plated dessert, one type of entremets, two types of chocolate bonbons, a gâteau de voyage and three types of petit gateau – all within 13 hours over two days for a stab at winning first place.

After a series of delays, the globally-inspired Papa Nanou is now set to open in April in the heart of Mission Hills. The spacious new restaurant is the brainchild of restaurateurs Philippe Beltran and Jacqueline Delaney of Blue Boheme. According to Beltran, customers can expect a warehouse-style design featuring different dining sections and a large outdoor patio. “It’ll be a high-energy look incorporating Old World and New World elements,” he adds. 4020 Goldfinch St., papananou.com.

Hand-crafted pizzas and home-brewed beers take center stage at the upcoming Blind Lady, set to open next month in Normal Heights. The venture is being launched by a local partnership that includes brew master Lee Chase, formerly of Stone Brewery. Pizzas will be constructed with fresh mozzarella and humanely raised meats. As for the beer, they’ll use organic malts and locally produced yeast. 619-255-2491, 3416 Adams Ave.

Bon Appetite’s editor-in-chief Barbara Fairchild come to Del Mar to promote The Bon Appetite Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook, from 6 to 8 p.m., Feb. 8, at Addison in The Grand Del Mar resort. The book features 1,100 “approachable” recipes designed for getting dinners on the table fast and without much fuss. The cost is $75 per person, which includes a signed copy of the book. To purchase tickets, call 858-314-1900.