Florent Chef's New Menu & Grower Event at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

GASLAMP— Florent Restaurant & Lounge is celebrating its first anniversary and recently hired executive chef Brad Hightow (pictured), formerly of the University Club, has unveiled a menu that's been almost completely refreshed. It includes a slew of new dishes, ranging from short rib tacos with roasted corn salsa, cabbage, avocado creme and cottage to 1874 Sliders that sandwich Canadian bacon and habanero-pineapple-mango chutney on Hawaiian rolls and seared big eye tuna with sweet chili spaghetti squash, cucumber salad, ponzu, yuzu caviar. [EaterWire]

AROUND TOWN— Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is hosting a free, and cool, event this Saturday, August 22 from 10 to 11 a.m. at their Little Italy coffee bar and from noon to 1 p.m. at the roastery's original Bird Rock location. Owner Chuck Patton will be welcoming coffee grower Anny Ruth Pimental from Finca La Gloria farm in El Salvador, one of the shops' Direct Trade coffee partners, in for a Q&A about the coffee growing industry. [EaterWire]

MIDDLETOWN— 57 Degrees Wine Bar is holding its second annual Ceviche Showdown this Sunday, August 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. Local chefs from George's at the Cove, Puesto, The Blind Burro, Sirena Gourmet Latin Seafood, Casanova Fish Tacos and more will offer up their best renditions of ceviche to win a Best Of award from a panel of judges and ticket holders. Tickets are $24 in advance or $35 at the door. [EaterWire]