Solana Beach is lucky enough to be home to the second Waters Gourmet To Go store. Newly opened, this fine foodery owned and operated by Mary Kay Waters, the woman behind the highly regarded Waters Fine Catering, took over the former Tropical Fruit Gourmet space on Highway 101. The weekly menus are posted at waterscatering.com. Waters primarily uses locally grown produce and her dishes feature fine ingredients like Bellwether Farms cheese. You can’t miss the gorgeous deep blue awning, so stop in and indulge in one of her delicious sandwiches, soups or salads for lunch or pick up an entrée like Honey Glazed Salmon or Mediterranean Chicken with Lemon and Olives to take home for dinner. Go ahead, tell your hubby or guests that you made it. I’m sure Mary Kay won’t mind.

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Check out the chic Alexander’s at 30th and Upas streets (across from Zensei Sushi) in North Park. This neighborhood eatery is brought to you by Alex Walter, who I remember as the owner’s kid when I was a waitress at Old Venice in Point Loma in my 20s. The slickly designed bar and restaurant has the same sleek, understated elegance as Old Venice: lots of white, a gorgeous white marble bar top and lots of candles. Although similar, the menu has been updated and has reasonable prices. Alexander’s is open seven days a week starting at 5 p.m. with plans to stay open as late as 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, depending on the crowd. No Web site as of yet. For more information or to obtain reservations for parties of eight or more only, call (619) 281-2539.

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Local television personality Sam Zien, known as Sam the Cooking Guy, has been selected by Newcastle Brown Ale to serve as its spokesperson (not to be confused with spokesmodel) for its 2007 marketing campaign. Life-size cutouts of Sam (although he admits to asking Newcastle to “add a couple inches”) will go on display this month in more than 5,000 grocery stores nationwide.

The marketing campaign, “Smooth with Food,” focuses on simple recipes and grilling tips. Shoppers will be able to pick up a copy of “Newcastle Brown Ale’s Summer Grilling Guide,” which features tips and a few recipes created by Sam that incorporate the product in the marinades and recipes.

And if you haven’t had your fill of Sam yet, he has started production on a cooking show for the Discovery Channel, which will air nationally late this year. Wow, what a local success story.

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If you haven’t tried Jayne’s Gastropub, do. This small, French-style bistro opened for dinner on the corner of 30th Street and Adams Avenue in mid-February (Valentine’s Day, to be exact) after a 10-month renovation of the former Creations Café. Co-owner Jayne Battle, who recently moved back to San Diego after a stint in San Francisco, is an alumnus of such local favorites as Parallel 33 and the Airport Lounge. Executive chef is Kristin Hutter, a California Culinary Academy graduate and also a veteran of Amiko Gubbins’ kitchen at Parallel 33. The menu features bistro dishes such as steak frites, moules and onion soup. Jayne’s (jaynesgastropub.com) serves dinner only Tuesday-Saturday.

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Congratulations to El Bizcocho executive chef Gavin Kaysen, who was named one of America’s Best New Chefs by Food & Wine magazine. The announcement came on April 4 when the 10 up-and-coming talents were honored at a party in New York at 7 World Trade Center. All will be featured in Food & Wine’s annual July chef issue.

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The 416-room Red Lion Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley transforms this month into the Crowne Plaza San Diego. Elaine Shea, director of sales, says the hotel will become San Diego’s first Crowne Plaza in the history of InterContinental Hotels Group, which operates the brand. Hotel ownership and management remain unchanged. The change follows a $7 million renovation that included improvements to the lobby, business center, on-site Islands restaurant, lounge, meeting space and guest rooms. In addition, 4,000 square feet previously used as the Peacock restaurant is now meeting space. Construction begins soon on an 8,000-square-foot ballroom that will open next year as part of the expanded Hanalei Conference Center.

Terryl Gavre believes the world would be a better place if everyone worked once as a foodserver. She is owner of Café 222, Downtown, and can be reached at (619) 233-4060, Ext. 316, or terryl@sandiegometro.com.