TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Jimano's Pizza, at 9510 Hageman, is now Cubbie's Chicago-Style Pizza. Owner Jim Reed said the change came Jan. 1 and was motivated by his desire to have the flexibility of a non-franchised restaurant.

"It was expensive, getting our supplies and food shipped from Illinois, and we weren't getting the support we needed," he said. "We're still going to produce Chicago-style pizza, but more along the style of Geno's East, with the sauce on the top. We're adding a lot of new things to make our menu more unique."

Last year during Lent Reed said the restaurant sold fish and chips, a non-Jimano's item, and it was a big boost to business. He plans to bring the limited-time menu item back this year. They've also added cupcakes from Gimmee Some Sugar, 2100 19th St., which is making changes of its own.

Owner Stephanie Caughell-Fisher said she's extending her hours this month to 5 p.m.

"We had a lot of customers asking us to stay open later," she said. "We're doing it as an experiment right now."

She said the Cubbie's offerings will also be tweaked, though the pizza parlor sold out the first two days it was offering the treats. She added that customers can pre-order birthday and other celebratory cakes from her bakery, which can be delivered to Cubbie's for the party.

Wok this way for 'Asian-Inspired'

More new and different: BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse has new "Asian-Inspired" creations such as orange chicken, kung pao chicken, Thai salmon, a seared ahi tuna snack and Thai chicken wontons. I've also been told that BJ's has a great gluten-free menu, and Elephant Bar also has a few gluten-free offerings. I expect that trend to keep growing.

Ta-da! Lorene's face-lift appears complete

Staying open during construction work: the Lorene's Coffee Shop at the corner of Ming Avenue and Ashe Road. Workers closed the entrance through the patio facing onto the parking lot, and the entry was shifted to the Ming Avenue side of the building temporarily. Looks like the work is wrapped up now.

Free meals should go like hotcakes

Don't miss out on free National Pancake Day, a holiday invented and promoted as a charitable fundraiser by the IHOP chain. On Tuesday, Feb. 28, you can get a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, though the restaurant is encouraging donations to the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, with a goal to raise $2.7 million nationally. The offer is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day.

Become a wine snob in 47 minutes

If you're not experienced in wines, it can be intimidating to order off a wine list, but you can learn a lot of what you need to know from a new DVD, "Wine Basics -- The Beginner's Guide" by Brett Graham. The 47-minute DVD talks about tasting, wine etiquette, food pairing tips, storing wine and more. It's available for $14.95 at www.winebasicsdvd.com.

Famous for a reason

Sometimes popularity fades for chains after a year or so, but Famous Dave's on Rosedale is still pulling them in. We visited on a Saturday night recently and it was a half hour wait for a table, and we snagged the last stools at the bar while waiting. I think the secret has got to be all those different barbecue sauces at each table, with Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas well-represented in those distinct condiments.

A Jack of all trends

Moo Creamery has an imitator of sorts. The premium creamery/restaurant is famous for its bacon ice cream, and Jack in the Box is copying that concept. The chain is offering a bacon ice cream shake for a limited time, expanding food horizons one fast-food customer at a time. Something tells me, however, that the product at the fast-food chain will function mostly as a dare item, maybe even a double-DOG-dare!

-- Pete Tittl