By Paul Giorgio

Great Wraps. Great Wraps, an Atlanta based chain with 85 stores nationally, recently opened its first Massachusetts store in Fitchburg. The store sells sandwich wraps and plans on targeting students at Fitchburg State College.

El Basha East. El Basha is set to open by mid March in their new Westboro location. The third El Basha (there are two in Worcester) is located in a new plaza built along the Connector Road close to the Route 495 exit. Their number is 508-366-2455.

Zia cooks up something new. It looks like Paula McCarthy of Zia’s Grille and Earl Llana, late of Bergson’s 1790 House, might be teaming up. Zia is thinking about opening Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The nighttime openings will be a departure for this breakfast and lunch spot. According to McCarthy, they will upscale the food in the evenings. This should be something since their breakfast and lunches are pretty good already. Where else in Worcester can you get crab cakes topped with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce?

Wine tasting at Union Station. The 4th Annual Worcester Wine and Food Festival takes place on Saturday, March 11 at 7:30 PM in Worcester’s Union Station. Tickets are $60 in advance and $75 at the door. The festival is sponsored by Austin Liquors and will feature wine and food pairings. Tickets for this event, which benefits the Worcester Jewish Community Center, can be purchased by calling 508-756-7107 ext. 278.

While we are talking about food benefits. The Annual Taste of the Nation takes place on Monday April 10 at Worcester’s Crown Plaza Hotel. This is considered one of the top food events in the country with 100 percent of the money going to feed the hungry. Over 25 of the areas top restaurants take part as well as winerys and others. Organized Nationally by Share Our Strength, tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at the door.

Junior’s new owner. Junior’s Restaurant, a fun pizza place owned by Jeremy O’Connor and Tony Tyan (also former owners of the Foo Bar on Park Ave.), was recently sold to Dan Morrissey. Morrissey has yet to take over, but should shortly. No word on if he plans to change the concept of the restaurant.

Kenzo in Northboro. Kenzo, the area’s premier sushi chef, formerly of Willy’s in Shrewsbury and Zipango in Worcester, has opened his own place in Northboro. The small restaurant is located in the same plaza as the Steakloft.

And speaking of Japanese restaurants. A new Japanese restaurant will be opening soon at 309 Park Ave. in a spot which formerly housed a beauty salon. There are no details as of yet about a name.

Another rumor. The Shrewsbury Street rumor mill is rife with talk about an Olive Garden coming to the street. It is allegedly going to be built on property owned by Gallo Motors in the block between Imperial and Caprera Roads.