We’ve been waiting for it: Epicurean Express (2018 Rusk) opens today in east downtown. Downtown dwellers can expect the store to open with a bang today and tomorrow, with special offers on merchandise and a slew of samples. The small but sophisticated 3,500-square-foot retail space will sell household items, fresh produce, meat, cheese, fish and specialty import items. Their hours are 7 am to 9 pm Monday-Saturday and 10 am to 6 pm Sunday

Pop up dinners are back this month courtesy of Seth Siegel-Gardner and his business partner Terrence Gallivan. The duo founded Pilot Light Restaurant Group and are actively searching for restaurant space. In the meantime, the chef-driven group will be ringing the dinner bell at Revival Market. Three dinner dates (June 18, June 25 and July 2) have been set for the pop-up series. Tickets are $65 each and can be purchased with cash or check on Saturday, June 11 from 4 pm to 7 pm at Revival Market (550 Heights Blvd). Each dinner is BYOB. If you recall last year’s Just8 Project dinner series, seats go fast. There is a limit of four seats per person, so choose your guests wisely

Downtown’s Samba Grille (530 Texas) has dropped their rodizio service, and chef Cesar Rodriguez has recently unveiled a new a la carte menu featuring 20 new dishes, including steak tartare, antituchos (grilled beef heart), sweet and spicy scallops, and grouper. The restaurant management has also introduced a new aggressively priced wine list … Love mangos? June is Mango Month, so each Sunday throughout June chef Kay Soodjai at Khun Kay Thai Cafe (1209 Montrose) is creating two new mango dishes (think: fried mango with coconut ice cream or mango curry). Some may stick around longer than a week while others will be a get-it-while-you-can offer. All are $8.95 or less … Neal Cox has been promoted to executive chef at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa following a nearly year-long stint as executive sous-chef. He will oversee all culinary functions at the hotel, including four onsite restaurants – Olivette, The Manor House, Center Court and The Gazebo. Jeff Everts, who was the executive chef, has been promoted to director of food and beverage … French chef/restaurateur Georges Guy and his wife Monique have retired and sold their La Brocante Cafe (2825 S. Kirkwood) to manager Caroline Pose.