Around the city

• You can help the fight against HIV/AIDS by just opening your mouth today. Dozens of Houston restaurants are participating in Dining Out for Life project by donating 33 percent of today's food bills to AIDS Foundation Houston. Among the restaurants participating are Barnaby's, Pink's Pizza, Inversion Coffee House, Les Givral's Kahve and Reggae Hut. Find a complete list here. Last year, the project netted AFH more than $80,000.
• Coming soon: Another gourmet rice bowl chain.

James Nielsen : 29-95

• Ragin' Cajun is touting its new and improved stuffed shrimp. Five stuffed shrimp, two sides (I heart hush puppies!) and French bread for $12.99. If you try 'em, let us know.
• Alison Cook likes the Boiling Crab. We concur with Chris Vogel's take on Cielo Mexican Bistro. Enormo HH margaritas for $4.50! Starting at 2 p.m.!
• It's Chicken Pot Pie day at Beaver's Ice House. Lunch special includes pot pie, tea/soda, side salad and dessert for $12.

Around the country

• Can't wait for Ludacris to bring his $50 margaritas to Houston.
• Here's why I go to Jazz Fest. I missed the Link demo, but did catch Cafe Degas chef Ryan Hughes' sweet potato and brown shrimp vichyssoise and GW Fins chef Tenney Flynn's oyster cobbler with wild mushrooms. And during three days on the fairgrounds, I had crawfish bread, seafood mirliton casserole, pecan catfish meunière, crabs cakes with smoked tomato and jalapeno sauce, seafood au gratin, a shrimp taco and banana bread pudding. Off the fairgrounds (but not in one sitting): Two dozen grilled oysters at Acme Oyster House. Please forgive me Gilhooley's.
• Oui, Wii can learn to cook.