Chef Louis Cressy (previously at Bistro Lancaster, A Fare Extraordinaire and City Kitchen Catering) recently joined Cardinal Special Occasions, a catering company based in Alvin. Cardinal Special Occasions is a new spin-off of Cardinal Culinary Services, which provides meals to subsea construction and dive boats working out in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s owned by Mike Robinson.

There was word last week that barista David Buehrer is finally moving out of the basement at Greenway Plaza. Buehrer and partner Ecky Prabanto have agreed to general terms with the partners of Anvil Bar & Refuge, Underbelly and The Hay Merchant to develop the building that formerly housed the bar Mary’s Naturally (1018 Westheimer) into a coffeehouse. Minor construction and planning for the shop, which will be called Blacksmith, has already begun with a projected opening date of Spring 2012. Greenway Coffee & Tea will continue with regular operations. Also on the construction front: We hear that Gravitas (807 Taft), now under new owner Liquid Gold Hospitality, will update the interior of the restaurant, adding savvier signage and a sexier, more intimate banquette area as well as possibly reformulating the layout of the rest of the dining room. A concept in the works for a specialty bar and restaurant is also, possibly, on the drawing boards — for this project, Liquid Gold may be digging around in The Heights.

We dropped in at Felix 55 (5510 Morningside) on Sunday for brunch. This is chef Michael Kramer’s new spot in The Village. It’s wedged in between D’Amico’s and Baker St. Pub and had a very soft opening last Wednesday. We loved our food – grilled steak with poached eggs and hollandaise, roasted potatoes and arugula for him, shrimp and grits for us, and apple-ricotta fritters for the table. Our service was just the right mix of familiarity and snap-to attention. The setting, we were told, is a work in progress. All of the table and chairs are temporary as the restaurant awaits delivery of its custom banquettes and oversized couches. Currently Kramer is serving lunch, dinner and brunch. Possibilities include bourbon-brined pork chop, fried chicken and waffles, mesquite-smoked duck, flatbreads and, at lunch, sandwiches and salads. There are also late-night and happy-hour menus.

Chef Alex Padilla at the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation has just introduced a line of four Ninfa’s salsas, and it’s about time. Choose from the House Red Roasted (mild or medium), smoky Chipotle or Green Hatch Chile. The salsas are available at Central Market and HEB stores and retail for $4.49 to $4.98 per 16-oz jar.

Congratulations to Joe and Alma Gonzalez, whose El Jardin Mexican Restaurant (7849 Harrisburg Blvd.) is celebrating 35 years of service in Houston’s East End. Rudi Lechner’s (2503 S. Gessner) is also celebrating 35 years and is offering a $35 celebratory dinner for lunch or dinner for only $15.95. Coupons are available online at rudilechners.com.