Boulder´s Naraya Thai and Sushi, formerly known as Siamese Plate, offers an affordably priced Southeast Asian and Japanese menu, similar to its predecessor. Happily, it's also under new ownership. The previous proprietor, who was indicted on tax and employment charges, is long gone. What hasn't changed much is the colorful dur in this second-floor venue, which still affords a picture-window perspective of Folsom Street below.

Typically I resist reviewing chains, although a combination of curiosity and coincidence compelled me to check out Ted’s Montana Grill, cable magnate turned environmentalist/land baron Ted Turner’s culinary endeavor. When it comes to outspoken American billionaires, I’ve always preferred Turner’s vaguely crazed bravado, such as when he won America’s Cup in the ’70s, to Donald Trump’s cranky hyperbole.

Intriguing goings-on are afoot in downtown Louisville as summer draws near. Making my way to meet friend Kuvy for a weekend lunch, I picked my way across a criterium bike race like a real-life Frogger. My destination was the modern, minimalistic environs of Lucky Pie Pizza and Taphouse. It’s an aesthetically clean space, with pristine white walls and a welcoming, open warehouse-style ambience.

Like its French counterpart, the bistro, the Italian trattoria typically refers to a less formal eatery than a full-tilt restaurant.

The surrounding environs are an eclectic place where traditional homes ringed by porches rub shoulders with boxy modernistic houses where the occupants would be well-advised not to throw stones. True to the New Urbanist ideal of walkability, there's also a smattering of retail space here, including wine shops and other spots offering food and drink.

Visiting Boulder’s Arabesque, which features first-rate Middle Eastern food, I was fortunate enough to be joined by Ghada, who grew up in Lebanon eating Arabic food. She helped me better appreciate the subtle and authentic touches during lunch at this homey, family-owned operation. The owner does the cooking, while her husband assumes host duties; their adult children help out with waiting tables.

Open from four in the afternoon until midnight, Boulder Baked is a no-frills joint, with at-the-counter ordering and a slightly funky feel. It's also centrally located on Broadway in the heart of downtown.

A couple of years back, Fiat, Ferrari's parent company, introduced a diminutive vehicle, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari.

At both lunch and dinner, the menu is divided into small plates, soups, salads, burgers and entrees. Entrees range from house-made pasta with red sauce to formidable duck confit cassoulet. Consigliere Keith and I sought out a hearty lunch to kick off the work week, and 4580's offerings appeared to be positioned to satisfy our needs.

Some local Italian restaurants trace their culinary lineage back to the venerable Americanized red sauce haunts of San Francisco or the East Coast. Alternatively, they may possess a more direct link to the old country without the hindrance of flavors compromised to suit New World palates.