Bonefish deal

Bonefish Grill's happy hour, with $5 drink specials all day, now adds $5 appetizers 4-6 p.m.: Among the lineup are "Bang Chicken" (crispy chicken in creamy and spicy sauce), "Bang Tacos" (shrimp tacos), ceviche and more. 7520 Pineville-Matthews Road, 704-541-6659; and 10056 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews, 704-845-8001.

Food trucks / Art

The trucks will be out March 2, in coordination with the South End Gallery Crawl once again.

Local chefs head to NYC

Executive chefs Marc Jacksina, Alyssa Gorelick and Blake Hartwick -- of siblings Halcyon, Fern and Something Classic, respectively -- will travel to the James Beard House in New York to put together a five-course "Taste of Charlotte" dinner June 28. Each will prepare a dish of his/her own, and the trio will collaborate on two dishes. Also on tap: wine pairings, plus a moonshine cocktail from Halcyon mixologist Maggie Ruppert. Details (menu, price, etc., since it's open to the public as well as members) to come, but there is talk of possibly using a whole (local) pig ...

Also coming up from this restaurant group:
Fern hosts a Mother Earth Brewing beer dinner March 19 for $45. Among the courses will be creamy polenta in French onion broth with chanterelles and Sisters of the Moon; and sweet potato and rosemary croquettes with braised mustard greens, with Dark Cloud. Reservations: 704-377-1825; 1323 Central Ave.

And Halcyon hosts "Grapes Down South" with Brooks Winery and winemaker Chris Williams on March 29. Look for oysters with buttermilk foam and mustard caviar, with Willamette Riesling; "Marc's Picnic Fried Chicken" with Japanese potato salad and Janus Pinot Noir, and more. $70; reservations: 704-910-0865; 500 S. Tryon St.

Updated: Emeril's opens for lunch

Update: An alert reader let me know the e2 website listed the burger at $13, and I've confirmed that with the restaurant -- the original menu had it at $16, but general manager Jeff Wakem says he decided to drop the price.

e2, Emeril's Eatery, begins serving lunch Feb. 28. The lineup, which will be offered 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays, includes:
* "The Burger" for $13: house-ground sirloin with aged white cheddar, aioli and hand-cut fries.
* Pork cheek ragu ($14), with fresh pasta.
* Chef's daily pie (from the wood-burning pizza oven).
Also on the menu are items from the dinner menu such as chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and more. 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts uptown (between Tryon and Church streets); 704-414-4787.

Dine out, do good

Bonterra continues its support for Charlotte's Heartbright Foundation with a Switchback Ridge Winery dinner March 15, with winemaker Kelly Peterson on hand. Among the courses: Snapper ceviche with 2009 Robert Foley Pinot Blanc; veal chop with 2005 and 2009 Switchback Cabernets; and more. Reservations through the foundation, which provides cardiovascular and diabetes services for the underserved: $125; 704-373-3002; 1829 Cleveland Ave.

Dine out, do good

Dine out (in April), do good: The East Lincoln Relay for Life “Betting on a Cure” team will get 100 percent of the proceeds from breakfast and lunch April 9 (that's Easter Monday) from West Lake Restaurant in Denver, raising money for the American Cancer Society. Hours are 6 a.m.-2 p.m., and the restaurant is at 1235 N. Highway 16; 704-483-9023.

FABO stalks Stewart

Coffee shop/art gallery FABO has a "Stalking Jon Stewart" campaign going, trying to convince "The Daily Show" star to stop in during the Democratic National Convention for a cup of coffee -- or maybe broadcast from her place? Recent victory: Owner Amy Aussieker got to meet "Daily Show" reporter John Oliver, in town on an unrelated (but comedy) gig. She presented him with a gift basket; he pronounced it the "most pleasant stalking I think there's ever been." Could Amy be on the road to victory? Watch the effort at www.facebook.com/StalkingStewart. (The clip of Oliver with Aussieker on WCNC is on that page.) FABO is at 2820 Selwyn Ave.; 704-900-2430.