Editor's note: Seppia closed in June 2010.

Slipped into the new Seppia Grill Wine Bar Saturday afternoon.

What a lovely space. Rich wood tones and earthy upholstery with copper accents throughout. Inviting banquettes encircle the dining room, but I opted for a comfortable bar stool.

Order up: the steamed mussels appetizer along with a glass of Stellina pinot grigio, which was easy on the palate and the budget. The mussels came out perfect — all plump and juicy — and were accompanied by two massive logs of focaccia for sopping up the well-seasoned steaming broth.

My bartender/server/fellow Food Network fan Amber said the restaurant, which shares a kitchen and restrooms with upscale Tex-Mex sports bar Maggie Rita's, stays busy during the week with guests staying at the Galleria-area hotels. Weekends still are quiet for the month-old wine bar, which will celebrate its grand opening officially in the next couple of weeks.

It's free!
Two freebies to take advantage of today, June 3:

• Potbelly Sandwich Works is giving away free bags of those deliciously addictive Zapp's potato chips (with the purchase of a sandwich) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Free root beer floats 8 p.m.-midnight at Sonic Drive-Ins. I worked on and off at Sonic as a teen in Beaumont. The tips were for crap. So tonight, when you stop by for your free float, tip the kids. It's the right thing to do.

Around the city

• Our little Spring is the site of a new upscale Burger King, which opened last week at 8523 Spring Cypress Road. The prototype restaurant even features a chandelier, digital menu boards and three tables with monitors for playing video games.
• With Houston's wealth of ethnic diners, we're accustomed to seeing some mangled English or LOL menu translations. But the latest giggle comes from menu hyperbolism. Here is perfection.

  It boasts four perfect dishes: one is "seasoned to perfection," another "cooked to perfection" and still two others "grilled to perfection." I'm planning a visit soon so I can judge this perfection for myself.

  Ooh, ooh, and you should know the queso is "to die for." I know this because it says so on the menu.

Around the blogs

• At Cook's Tour, it's tomato season.
• I'm Never Full writes about the hottest ticket in town for foodies. Fried chicken is involved.
• Eating Our Words has made a spicy find.

Yes, I stalk celebrity chefs

• A Texas homemaker hopes to be The Next Food Network Star. She once lived in Paris for four years, which makes her a shoo-in. (Insert sarcasm here.)