Lance Fegen and Lee Ellis – the duo behind Liberty Kitchen in The Heights – are planning to take over the defunct Vida Sexy Tex-Mex spot on San Felipe by the railroad tracks. Scheduled to open in the first half of 2013, this newest addition to the Ellis-Fegen stable will be named Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette. As described in a press release, “We learned a lot as Liberty Kitchen grew into the neighborhood, the menu is never static, it evolves constantly. However, what will be the same is great food and service, supported by a high energy, focused staff.” This bigger brother (4,000 square feet) to the original Liberty Kitchen, is described as “similar but not the same.”

The much-anticipated “Pass” half of The Pass & Provisions, a two-in-one restaurant located in the old Gravitas location on Taft, will open on Tuesday, November 27. It will be dinner only Tuesday through Saturday, and only set five-course and eight-course menus will be served by chef/owners Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan. Reservations are now being accepted: 713-628-9020.

We were chatting recently with Al Marcus of The Grateful Bread, who told us of tentative plans to develop a commissary kitchen with leasable space. Given the strict food-safety laws and lack of local facilities, it’s very hard for people with an idea for a food product to find a kitchen with all the appropriate permits so that the food can be sold retail or to other restaurants. It’s even harder when it comes to meat products, which must have USDA inspection for certain classes of sales. There was nothing signed as of our discussion, but Marcus says he hopes to open the commissary in Southwest Houston.

Chef/restaurateur Hugo Ortega, whose new book Street Foods of Mexico is one of the season’s favorite Christmas gifts, is working on a second book to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his other restaurant, Backstreet Cafe. It’s well into production now.

Family-owned Rice Epicurean Markets announced last week that they are closing four of their five stores to make room for The Fresh Market, a chain of 128 specialty food retailers based in Greensboro, NC. Rice Epicurean Markets will operate all five stores through the end of the year and into early 2013. The only store that will not close is the Fountainview location. Fresh Market plans to remodel each location and reopen in Fall 2013. Speaking of grocery stores: Whole Foods will open their seventh Greater Houston area store in Katy on Wednesday, January 30.

Attention, Francophiles: Frédéric and Michelle Perrier have closed their Aura Restaurant in Missouri City. But don’t despair. It will re-open at the end of November in Sugar Land Town Square as Aura Brasserie Moderne. In the meantime, as reported by B4-U-Eat.com, the hard-working Perriers opened Coco Pazzo by Aura in Aura’s original Missouri City location. Coco Pazzo serves a broader Mediterranean menu.

He’s ba-a-a-a-ck. Chef/restaurateur Bruce Molzan, who generated so much controversy and lawsuits at his late Ruggles Grill (the building was bulldozed a few weeks ago), is opening in The Brownstone with a concept called Corner Table by Chef Bruce Molzan. It’s part of a major revamp of The Brownstone, which will include 1919 Wine & Mixology downstairs and The Oak Bar & Nightclub upstairs. Doors open after Thanksgiving.

Four Seasons Hotel Houston (1300 Lamar) brings back its annual Holiday Teas and Gingerbread Workshops beginning this Saturday, November 24, 2 to 4 pm. Kids 12 and younger are invited to participate in a hands-on workshops (any Saturday through December 22) and learn how to decorate gingerbread houses. The workshop will be held in a spacious, private room next to the first-floor Lobby Lounge where afternoon tea is now served. As the icing flies under the supervision of hotel pastry chefs, adults can escape the sugary mayhem next door in the lounge. All participants are urged to bring new or gently used children’s books, which will be donated to Casa de Esperanza. Each child bringing one or more books will receive $2 off the cost of the workshop (only one $2 discount per child). Cost is $42 for both adults (afternoon tea) and children. Workshops are limited to 20 children per workshop, so reservations are required. Call 713-276-4700.