Fame for cupcake shop

Another Omaha cupcake spot will be featured on the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars."

Cuppycakes Couture Cupcakes is scheduled to appear on the show in March, said owner Shari Preister.

The cupcake shop, inside Sempeck's Bowling Alley in the Elkhorn area, has a burlesque theme, and its menu is divided accordingly: cupcakes from Cuppycakes are "naughty" (the "Wanna Smore" has chocolate cake and marshmallow cream and a graham-cracker dusted top), "Fresh" (think coconut and vanilla), "Fruity" (key lime and margarita flavors) and "Spicy" (a spiced chai-frosted spice cake, among others),

Preister said her shop made cakes for singer Katy Perry when she came through Omaha, and the cupcakes were themed after the singer's hits: a "That's what you get for waking up in Vegas" cupcake, for instance, was red velvet and topped with fondant poker chips.

"I've just always loved the retro, 1950s pinup-style stuff," Preister said. "I thought this would be a fun take on cupcakes."

The shop is at 20902 Cumberland Drive. For more information, see a link to its website at omaha.com.

A game worth opening for

Mangia Italiana is open one Sunday a year — Super Bowl Sunday.

The restaurant will run a number of specials on Sunday for Facebook followers and people on its e-mail list. The specials haven't been released yet, but they will be by Saturday.

The restaurant, at 6516 Irvington Road, will be open that day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.mangiaitaliana.com.

Beer-inspired feast

Dario's Brasserie will celebrate Omaha Beer Week with a dinner featuring beer from five local breweries.

Nebraska Brewing Company Belgian Wit, Upstream Brewing Company Belgian Dubbel and Lucky Bucket Brewing Company Barleywine all will be part of the Belgian-inspired feast.

The brewers will be at the dinner to explain the beer and food pairings. Seating is limited to 50 diners.

The dinner takes place Monday. Doors of the restaurant, at 4920 Underwood Ave., open at 6 p.m. and the dinner starts at 7. The meal is $55 per person. For a reservation, call 402-933-0799.

Beer here and everywhere

Tons of events are taking place around Omaha starting Friday for Omaha Beer Week. Tonight alone, there are special tastings and events at the Crescent Moon, CIB Brewery, Gator O'Malley's, Jazz, Krug Park, the Lauter Tun, Lucky Bucket, the Nebraska Brewing Company and the Upstream Brewing Company.

Events include live music, beer tastings, special happy-hour pricing, prizes and, obviously, lots of beer. For the full week's schedule and information on Saturday's bus tour of breweries and bars all over Omaha, visit omahabeerweek.com.

Le Quartier open daily

Le Quartier Baking Co. now is open daily.

The shop, at 87th and Pacific Streets in Countryside Village, is also serving new hot breakfast paninis.

The sandwiches have scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, an herbed cream cheese sauce and a choice of bacon, sausage, ham or veggies on freshly baked cheddar bread.

The shop's new hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mimi's shows heart

Mimi's Cafe has partnered with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement to raise money to fight heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.

The monthlong fundraiser begins today. If guests wear red today, they'll get a free cup of soup.

All month, guests will be invited to buy a $1 red heart-shaped tribute card that will hang in the restaurant. For a $5 donation, they will get a commemorative red dress lapel pin. The Mimi's Cafe in Omaha is at 301 N. 175th St.

Guide to restaurants

Sarah Baker Hansen's first book, "The Insider's Guide to Omaha and Lincoln," includes her take on more than 150 restaurants. Buy it online at owhstore.com or in the lobby of the Omaha World-Herald building at 13th and Douglas Streets.