Dining calendar: Spring food truck events, new menu items and more

Portillo’s Beef Bus comes to town: As Portillo’s gears up to open its second area location in Livonia this spring, it will bring its famous, 32-foot Beef Bus to the location to serve hungry customers. Set to be in the area Thursday through March 30, the Beef Bus serves Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled Italian and Polish sausages and crispy crinkle-cut fries. Here’s where to find it:11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday at Portillo’s Livonia, 13004 Middle Belt9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Fri. and March 28 at Plymouth Food Truck Park, 39411 Schoolcraft11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat. at Glover Agency Easter Egg Extravaganza, 777 W. Ann Arbor Trail4-9 p.m. Sun. at Ann Arbor StreetSide, S. Main and Liberty, Ann Arbor3-8 p.m. March 29 at Detroit StreetSide, Woodward and Adelaide, Detroit11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 30 at Briarwood Mall, 100 Briarwood Cir, Ann Arbor

Suhoor for Humanity food truck rally: During Ramadan, food vendors of all types will gather on weekend nights to feed the fasting community and raise funds for charities in Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen. Find food trucks like Sami’s Fattoush, Big Moe’s Kitchen and Brick Oven Boys, plus indoor vendors like Mango Mania, Sugar Cloudz and Taco Time. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri. and Sat. during Ramadan. 23302 W. Warren, Dearborn Heights.

Muskrat and Beaver Dinner at Monroe County Rod & Gun Club: It’s rare, but not uncommon for folks in the Downriver area to eat muskrat during Lent. This gun club will host a dinner this weekend with muskrat, beaver, sauerkraut, corn, potatoes with gravy, coleslaw and dinner roll for $17. Not into muskrat and beaver? Chicken strips are also available. 5 p.m. Sat. 6280 Lighthouse, Monroe. (734) 243-9774. facebook.com/monroecounty.gunclub.

Brunch at New Age Noodles: This Asian-fusion restaurant’s Sunday brunch will have an a la carte menu featuring chili-topped potatoes, s’mores French toast, breakfast wonton soup, brisket shakshuka and a pork gyro bowl. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun. 143 N. Main, Mount Clemens. (586) 846-2364. https://order.toasttab.com/online/newagenoodles.

Detroit’s Bar Brawl: Bars from a Detroit-based hospitality group will compete with each other in a bracket-style battle to create the perfect craft cocktail. Contenders are Wright & Company, Grandma Bob’s, the Sugar House, Bad Luck Bar, Mutiny Tiki Bar, Time Will Tell, the Last Chance and Honest John’s. Battles are 6-9 p.m. Mondays March 25 through April 15. Battles are at Wright & Company, 1500 Woodward, Floor 2, Detroit. (313) 962-7711.

Homemade miso ramen class at the Kitchen by Cooking with Que: Join chef Amber Beckem as she teaches how to make umami-rich, homemade miso ramen. The class, which works for vegans and meat-eaters, includes instruction, appetizers and complimentary sake tasting. Bring your own beer or wine to enjoy without a corking fee. 6 p.m. Tues. plus April 23, May 28 and June 24. $99. 6529 Woodward, Detroit. thekitchenbycwq.com/classes/p/homemaderamenclass.

Upper Peninsula Lake House dinner at Frame: Chefs Jason Biega and Ali Adamczyk will prepare a five-course meal starring ingredients from their purveyors in the U.P. 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. April 27 and 4 and 7 p.m. April 28. $95 per person plus tax, fees and beverages. 23839 John R, Hazel Park. framehazelpark.com/experience/upper-peninsula-traceys-at-roam-inn.

More:After a rough winter, U.P. chef brings northern Michigan bounty to the table in Hazel Park

St. Florian Strawberry Festival: A celebration of Polish culture and sweet, red strawberries, this annual church event has desserts, pierogi, kielbasa, beer, dancing and more. 5-10 p.m. May 4 and 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. May 5. 2626 Poland, Hamtramck. (313) 871-2778.

Food and restaurant news

New and expanded menu at Bar Rotunda: Located in the beautifully renovated historic Book Tower in downtown Detroit, the lobby restaurant Bar Rotunda is now serving food all day, including breakfast. The new menu has quiche Lorraine, smoked salmon tartine, a house burger, steak tartare buns and cheese and charcuterie, plus a full bar. Open daily at 7 a.m. 1265 Washington, Detroit. (313) 597-7895. barrotunda.com.

Applications open for Olga Loizon grant: Olga’s Kitchen will distribute $75,000 worth of grants to women entrepreneurs this year via the Olga Loizon Memorial Fund. Women who live in the United States who are actively building a business in Michigan that can show a financial need and provide a formal business plan can apply for one of the grants at olgas.com/foundation through April 17. For those interesting in donation to the fund, visit olgas.com/donate.

New menu items at Townhouse Birmingham: Veggie nuggets, seafood cioppino, Korean-fried chicken and smash burgers are some of the trendy new items on Townhouse Birmingham’s revamped menu. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 180 Pierce, Birmingham. (248) 792-5241. townhousebirmingham.com.

Daxton Hotel launches private label wine: Known for upscale dining concepts and an exciting collection of art, the Daxton Hotel in downtown Birmingham now has its own private label wine. Made in Monterey County, California, Daxton’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are available by the glass or bottle throughout the property, including at Madam restaurant and the Geode Bar & Lounge. 298 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham. (248) 283-4200. daxtonhotel.com.

Melody Baetens