By Paul Giorgio

Tortilla Sam’s closed. One of Highland Street’s oldest eateries, Tortilla Sam’s in Worcester, has closed its doors after more than a decade in the business. Tortilla Sam’s served decent Mexican food at affordable prices and became a staple among the college crowd.

And Thai Time opens. It appears that Thai Time, which was located behind the former Spag’s in Shrewsbury, will be open in the space that, until recently, was home to Tortilla Sam’s at 107 Highland St.

Jazz on the Patio. If you enjoy classic cooking and classic Jazz, the Castle Restaurant in Leicester is the place for you. Every Sunday, from July 7-Sept. 15, the Castle will offer free jazz on its patio overlooking Lake Sargent. The concerts run from 3-7 p.m. Check out the Castle’s website for a list of performers and dates.

Salem Cross gets new chef. The Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, which opened in the 1700s, has a new chef. Robert Thackenberry, who worked as a private chef for a number of years, recently took over the range at this venerable dining establishment. Thackenberry plans to update the menu and use fresh ingredients from the inn’s new garden.

It’s become a summer Ritual. Ritual, on Worcester’s Main Street, will offer a Summer Seafood Fest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-10 p.m. The restaurant will do all-you-can-eat steamers, mussels, shrimp and fried clams for $15.

Speaking of summer rituals. Watch for Buster the Crab to return to the Sole Proprietor on Worcester’s Highland Street this July. The annual visit of the crustacean marks the beginning of the summer seafood season.

New sports bar. Our Shrewsbury Street spies tell us that a new sports bar will be opening soon next to Victory Cigar & Bar. We hear that Josh Head, who has owned a couple of different restaurants, including Trinity at Kelley Square, will be the owner.

Taste winners. Miranda Bread won top honors at the recent Taste of Shrewsbury Street. The bakery gets bragging rights for the next year for serving the best food on Worcester’s Restaurant Row. The Brazilian Bakery went out of its way to put out some great Brazilian specialties. The runner up was Café Manzi. These two small eateries bested some of the big boys on the street.

In other Shrewsbury Street news. We hear that construction is under way for the new home of Sweet, a Shrewsbury Street bakery and dessert bar. Sweet is now located next to Funky Murphy’s but will move to a much larger space next to Volturno at 72 Shrewsbury St. Volturno only does one dessert, so Sweet may be able to get customers who want something sweeter.

Farm to Canal. Worcester’s Canal District will host a farmer’s market on Thursdays from 3-8 p.m. during the summer. Maybe chefs from the surrounding restaurants will stop by and serve their customers the freshest of ingredients. The market will be held in a vacant lot in Kelly Square.

Lobsters on Park Ave. Peppercorn’s on Worcester’s Park Avenue will roll out its Lobstermania for summer. Among other things, it will feature a Lobster Roll, Lobster Mac n’ Cheese and an Asian-inspired Lobster Lettuce Wrap.