There’s no denying that Harbor East has become a culinary destination with stalwarts like Charleston and Roy’s and newbies like Talara and Bagby Pizza Co. Even the geographical lines are starting to blur as the ritzy 'hood edges into nearby areas.

Now, a new restaurant—Milan, featuring eclectic Italian/Mediterranean cuisine—will open late this fall, according to Profiles, a media-relations agency. The new restaurant, shadowing Harbor East and Little Italy, on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Exeter Street, will feature three levels of space with a modern design and contemporary music. The main floor will house a sushi bar and a lounge surrounding a U-shaped, 30-seat bar.

In addition to Milan’s signature menu—focusing on grilled meats, hand-made pastas, bruschetta, and flatbreads—it will offer guests a selection of traditional Italian fare at an adjoining lower level cafe to be called Intermezzo.

The area's becoming positively European with a restaurant on every corner.

Remember Blue Grotto in Towson? No? I’m not surprised. It had to be one of the most short-lived restaurants in the Baltimore County proper. One day, it was serving Mediterranean and Greek food; the next day, the owners were clearing out the property.

But the cavernous space—once a popular Sunny Surplus store—didn’t stay vacant for long. Now, it will be 7 West Bistro Grill, according to the Towson Times, a free weekly suburban paper. The liquor license transfer took place last week.

I haven’t been able to reach the new owners, but according to the newspaper, the restaurant at 7 W. Chesapeake Ave. plans to concentrate on fine dining. It could open as early as Nov. 4.

I’m not sure what the menu will be, but maybe chef Chris Patternote, who just left Taverna Corvino and was once at Towson’s VIN, is looking for a job?

Hey all, this is Jess Blumberg from On The Town, guest-blogging for Suzanne. We had a funny moment at the magazine yesterday when managing editor Max Weiss told me that I had to try The Scooch sandwich at 13.5% Wine Bar in Hampden. I asked if she meant the one at Isabella's in Little Italy. We realized that the delicious Scooch—a sandwich of capicollo, soppressata, porchetta, gouda cheese, roasted peppers, greens, and balsalmic vinagrette—is available at both places. I had to get to the bottom of this.

So I called over to 13.5 and spoke with Will Bauer, who created the wine bar's menu. He explained that he's been working in the Baltimore food industry since he was 13, starting at DiPasquale's and then opening Isabella's in 2006. Bauer says The Scooch was inspired by an old coworker Dominique (or Dominooch, hence Scooch), and was first introduced at Isabella's when it opened in 2006. Bauer left the Little Italy deli a year later and met Wayne Laing, current owner of 13.5, who asked Bauer to be in charge of the wine bar's menu.

"I bring The Scooch wherever I go," says Bauer, who explained that you can also get the famed sandwich at Sapori Di Italia in Cockeysville. But it doesn't stop at The Scooch—13.5 Wine Bar offers other selections from Isabella's, including the Tuna Diavolo (Sicilian tuna, pepper cheese, hot peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and balsamic) and the eponymous Isabella (proscuitto di parma, soppressata, capicollo, Asiago cheese, olive spread, and olive oil).

Bauer added that the Scooch's inspiration, Dominique, just packed up yesterday to move from Baltimore to Montana with his family. While its namesake may be gone, The Scooch can still be enjoyed all over town.

Jesse Sandlin of Abacrombie was told to pack her knives on last night’s Top Chef episode. But, on Food Network, Father Leo bested Bobby Flay in a fajita throwdown. I’m proud of both of them. They put Maryland in the food spotlight.

This season’s Top Chef contestants are topnotch. Jesse hung in there for a while, but she came up in the bottom group too many times. Her days were numbered. You can get a recap of the show on managing editor Max’s excellent blog.

But don’t dismiss Jesse. She does some great cooking at Abacrombie. I’m still dreaming about a red-wine braised lamb shank she cooked at an all-female chefs dinner sponsored by the Baltimore Foodies. Check out its website for other fun food events.

Father Leo Patalinghug is no cooking slouch either. He certainly kept chef Flay on his toes last night. And he’s such a charmer. I think we’ll see more of him.

Maryland’s Father Leo or grillmeister Bobby Flay? We’ll find out on Wednesday (Sept. 9) when the Food Network airs the episode pitting the cooking priest against the Iron Chef in Throwdown with Bobby Flay at 9 p.m.

I wrote about the fajita cook-off earlier this summer. Now, the day of reckoning is almost here. To show support for Father Leo Patalinghug— who is director of pastoral field education at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg—a free event is being held from 8-10 p.m. in Little Italy at DaMimmo’s parking lot, where guests can watch the show on a big TV screen.

Father Leo, who grew up in Brooklyn Park, will be there, too. He wants to spread the word about his program, Grace Before Meals, which encourages people to share meals. He has a website and a book with recipes to promote the endeavor.

I talked to Father Leo on the phone this week. The 39-year-old priest still remembers how nervous he was during the competition with chef Flay. "My hands were shaking," he said. "He’s the king of grilling."

If nothing else, we’re pretty sure Father Leo has God on his side

Kooper’s Tavern now has its Chowhound Burger Wagon on the road. Look for it tomorrow (Wednesday) between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the 1000 block of Hull Street.

I’ve seen the distinctive beige-and-brown truck in Fells Point lately, but wasn’t sure what it was. Then, today, it was parked at Lancaster and South Caroline streets near the Living Classroom Foundation, serving up some great-looking burgers.

For $7.95, you can build your own burger—choice of 100 percent Angus beef, turkey, veggie, or bison, and add cheese, three toppings, and three sauces. There are specialty burger combos, too, plus fries and beverages available. You can sign up for Twitter updates @BRGRwagon or check its website to find out the wagon's current location and the full menu.

Brunch must be the new dinner. I’m just finishing up a roundup of 35 top places for brunch and breakfast for our October issue and was surprised by how many restaurants are serving brunch these days. Narrowing the field was tough.

And now I find out on Patti Neumann’s CITYPEEK blog that Tapabar in Little Italy has joined the ranks of those offering early-day meals. I caught up with Tapabar owner Carolina Llaguno today, and she said the tapas restaurant will begin serving Sunday brunch on Sept. 13.

In case you’ve forgotten about the year-old Tapabar, it serves authentic Spanish and South American tapas. I visited the cozy restaurant recently and will have a review in our October issue. Let’s just say that I’m looking forward to returning soon.