What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene.

Taste winners. The 17th annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street is over, and now the bragging rights begin. The judges have voted, and the Best Food at the Taste was given to Terra Brasilis. Second Place went to last year’s winner ,Vintage Grille, and an Honorable Mention went to Piccolo’s. The judges recommended a Best Drink award for Victory Bar & Cigar. BTW, don’t fret if you missed it — a second Taste will be held Sunday, Oct. 7. Watch for details.

I’m really mad. Maddi’s Cookery & Taphouse opened in the middle of June on Worcester’s Water Street. The pub will feature the food of Chef Chris O’Harra, who has won the People’s Choice Award at Worcester’s Best Chef. The Canal District is becoming more of a second dining area in the city.

Twisted sister. The Twisted Fork Bistro — a French, Italian and American Bistro in Leicester was recently sold and is under new management, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

He’s still twisted. Chef Jay Powell of the Twisted Fork plans to open a new venture shortly. We will keep you posted on his plans to open The Twisted Cochon BBQ and Grill in Auburn.

Duck Zoup. Zoup, a soup emporium on Main Street in the heart of Worcester’s downtown abruptly closed in the middle of June and ducked out of town. They did great at lunch but had no evening business.

Seven is a lucky number. Seven Saws Brewery in Holden opened its taproom to the public at the beginning of June. The taproom is located at 1148 Main St. and is named for the seven sawmills that were once located in Holden

Man versus Worcester. Casey Webb, of the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food, brought his TV show to Worcester recently. The show aired the first week of June and featured challenges at three local eateries. He took on the challenges at Broth in Worcester’s Canal District, The Boynton on Highland Street and the Miss Worcester Diner.

Speaking of Broth. Broth, a ramen noodle shop on Green Street, recently re-opened after a change in ownership. The former Broth owner got into some hot soup and had to sell out.

When pigs stop flying. The founder of Figs + Pigs in Worcester’s DCU Center has left. Figs + Pigs will remain open under the management of the DCU Center.

It’s at the apex. Okami, a Japanese steakhouse recently opened in Marlborough‘s Apex Center on Route 20. The Apex Center is a relatively new entertainment and dining destination in Marlborough.

Paris of 2018. It looks like Worcester, the Paris of the ’80s, was delayed by 40 years, but Worcester will soon be getting a creperie. The Side Street Creperie is about to open on Highland Street in Worcester. For the uninitiated, crepes are thin French pancakes that can be filled with almost anything, from sweet to savory.

Paul Giorgio