The space formerly occupied by Parallel 33 has undergone major transformation as The Red Door, a new restaurant opened recently by Rick Libiron, who also owns Café Bleu in Hillcrest and Market Street Café and French Bakery in San Marcos. Manager Justin Watlington describes the new look as “antique-chic,” featuring interior brick and a miscellany of upholstered wooden chairs. And yes, the front door is actually red.

The menu points to comfort meals such as wine-braised pork cheeks in puff pastry, maple-brined pork chops, cornmeal-crusted catfish and IBC root beer floats served with warm cookies. Soon, the adjoining space that served as Parallel’s Lotus Lounge will be utilized as a martini bar and steakhouse under a different name (yet to be determined).

The Red Door is open for lunch Monday through Friday; dinner nightly; and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. 741 Washington St., 619-295-6000.

Downtown’s confectionary hotspot, Chocolat Cremerie, (editor’s note: correct spelling) has added to its line of fine gelatos a rousing menu of sweet alcoholic drinks that include chocolate ports, blood orange cosmopolitans, pomegranate mimosas and peach Bellinis. 509 Fifth Ave., 619-238-9400.

An herb garden on the ninth-floor terrace of Downtown’s new and stylish Hotel Indigo San Diego is being utilized for crafting gourmet meals at the hotel’s Phi Bar and Bistro, which features composite decking made of recycled grocery bags, plastic milk jugs and furniture-making byproducts. In addition, organic waste from the pantry and kitchen goes straight into composting. 509 Ninth Ave., 619-727-4000.

The rambunctious and highly unpredictable Frank Terzoli, famous for his cooking antics on Bravo’s Top Chef, has exited his namesake restaurant, Frankie the Bull’s BBQ, located in the Morena District. The Western-theme restaurant still remains, however, under the new name Bull’s Smokin’ BBQ. Terzoli suddenly turned over ownership to an existing and new partner for personal reasons, although all of the main smoked barbecue items and the wildly popular spicy gumbo are still in place. 1127 W. Morena Blvd., 619-276-2855.

Bourbon Street plays host to the 14th annual wine tasting for Mama’s Kitchen, to be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20. In addition to eclectic wines being poured, the fundraising event also features food pairings and live music. Tickets are $65 per person. Group rates are available online. For more information, call 619-233-6262 or visit mamaskitchen.org.

On the hunt for a good chunk of feta? Check out the European Market & Deli near University Heights. Their deli case houses feta slabs sold by the pound, and made in a variety of styles, such as French, Bulgarian, Epiros and Kopanitsi, each boasting different levels of creaminess and salt. 4135 Park Blvd., 619-298-8661.

Point Loma is home of one of the best artisan bread bakeries in town, called Con Pane Rustic Bread & Café. Recent outstanding discoveries include gruyère-chive (available only on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays) and raisin-hazelnut (daily). The selection extends to about 10 other varieties, used also for making assorted deli sandwiches that can be eaten onsite. 1110 Rosecrans St., 619-224-4344.

El Indio Mexican Restaurant stinks! Overpricing and a decline in food quality have turned this long-established taco “factory” into a bygone destination in my book. The once-delectable beef-filled mordititas taste more like yesterday’s taquitos bathed in flavorless, watery cheese sauce. Beef quesadillas with guacamole (once outstanding) turned up stringy and chewy on my last two visits. The salsa bar is generally unkempt. And the wait time for getting your food is painstaking. 3695 India St., 619-299-0333.