BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

When an employee at Gino's Restaurant in Baton Rouge cut into an eggplant Monday, he found "GOD."

Chef Jermarcus Brady couldn't believe what he was seeing. "I saw a miraculous image formed by the seeds," said Jermarcus Brady. "It spelled out the word God!" Chef Brady has many responsibilities, one being cutting, salting and sauteing eggplants.

"When you sliced into it, the pattern showed from the seeds that were forming in the inside the letters G-O-D as God," said Brady. "I couldn't think of anything. I just had to tell somebody to come look at it."

Brady showed the eggplant to the owner of the restaurant and fellow coworkers and took photos, but he believed it was meant to be shared with everyone.

Brady says he is no stranger to life's struggle, and his faith has gotten him through. He raised four kids on a limited income before becoming a chef. He says the significance of the rare eggplant seeds aren't lost on him.

"Through the road, he's showing me that 'hey, I'm real' and that's the only thing I can depend on," said Brady.

The restaurant's co-owner, Gino Marino, has been in business for nearly 50 years and says with a find this rare, it is something he will never forget.

"You could cut one million eggplants and you'd probably never see that again, it's that rare," said Marino."God is within us and he has different ways of showing it in our lives, and this is just one way of showing it."

Whether it is divine intervention or not, it does not matter to Brady. "I don't know what it means. All I know is it tells me 'hey, he's real' and there's nothing that can change my mind about that."

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Baton Rouge restaurant employee finds 'GOD' in sliced eggplant

Business owners have gotten a birds-eye view of demolition and construction on Hypolita Street, and for some it hasnt been a welcome sight.

Colleen Messner, owner of The Spice & Tea Exchange at 59 Hypolita St., said traffic to her business has decreased since work began.

And there have been some surprises.

I had a dump truck butt up against my door, she said. It really hurt us.

Several business owners and employees in the area said while they are looking forward to the benefits of the Downtown Improvement District project, the construction has come with a price in the form of slowdowns in sales and fewer visitors.

Construction began in April to improve Hypolita, Spanish and Treasury streets. The project includes brick pavers, new light fixtures and upgraded utilities.

The project cost is more than $3.3 million, which includes site furniture, construction inspection services and the cost of buying bricks, according to Reuben Franklin Jr., project engineer.

The funding comes from the citys storm water, utilities and general funds, and $750,000 is being paid by adjacent property owners and can be paid over 15 years.

The cost of construction alone is $2.7 million, according to Franklin.

Work on Hypolita Street is projected to be finished mid-October. The entire project is expected to be finished in April.

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St. Augustine business owners experience fewer sales, visitors due to construction

NASHUA New Hampshires first Noodles & Company restaurant will open its doors next week in the Gate City.

The restaurant, which serves noodle and pasta dishes from around the world, will celebrate its grand opening on July 16 at the Daniel Webster Shops, 219 Daniel Webster Highway.

This is a brand new development with great visibility. It is just a great location, said Eve Metheny, director of brand marketing for Hamra Enterprises, a Noodles & Company franchisee.

The casual restaurant serves fresh, globally inspired dishes that are cooked to order with quality ingredients, according to Metheny, who said the company stresses fresh food that is made fast.

The Nashua site will be Noodles & Companys third restaurant in New England, and the first in the Granite State. The restaurant will seat about 75 patrons inside, and also offer outdoor seating for about 16 customers.

Daniel Webster Shops has been under construction for several months. Linear Retail Properties LLC, a Massachusetts developer, previously acquired the parcel at 219 Daniel Webster Highway, which was formerly owned by Cumberland Farms, Inc., for $1.45 million.

The old structure was razed and a new, 12,000-square-feet retail property was constructed. In addition to Noodles & Company, it will also house b.good restaurant, which has several facilities in Massachusetts and features burgers, sandwiches, salads and shakes.

Noodles & Company will have its grand opening from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 16. A soft, private opening will take place on July 15 during a benefit event for the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter.

Noodles & Company will donate 100 percent of proceeds from the day to the organization, who will in turn use these funds to provide food, shelter and services to the individuals and families they serve, said a release.

Noodles & Company, based out of Colorado, has about 380 restaurants across the country, with nearly 30 new locations in the works.

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Noodles Company planning Nashua grand opening July 16

Article updated: 7/7/2014 6:02 AM

Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington has ongoing modernization that will take approximately 18 months to complete forcing the main entrance to close.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Work has begun on a new main entrance at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, adding more traffic cones, construction cranes and workers in hard hats to the campus near Lake Barrington, but also signaling further progress in the facility's $247 million modernization project expected to finish in 2017. Officials say the new entrance will provide a much-needed facelift to the 35-year-old hospital. Full story.

Investigators are working to determine what sparked an early morning fire yesterday that left a downtown Naperville restaurant uninhabitable and caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to its building. No one was injured in the fire, which was reported at 6:13 a.m. by a passer-by that noticed a large amount of smoke coming from Rizzo's restaurant and bar at 6 W. Jefferson Ave., according to the Naperville Fire Department. Full story.

Daily Herald Law Affairs Writer Harry Hitzeman reports in his column this week about a phone scam that targeted two St. Charles residents. "Everyone hates paying taxes and the letters "IRS" are enough to strike fear in the hearts of the bravest people," Hitzeman writes. "So when two St. Charles residents got calls on June 26 and June 27 from people claiming to be IRS agents, saying arrests were imminent if past due taxes were not paid immediately, it's easy to see why they complied. Except it was all a scam, St. Charles police say." Full column.

The dogs had their day during the Frontier Days pet parade yesterday at Arlington Heights' Recreation Park. More than 50 pets, mostly dogs but also a cat and a guinea pig, participated in the event sponsored by Animal Feeds and Needs. Pets competed in five categories: best costume, best trick, cutest pet, most unusual and looks most like its owner. "I love it. It's amazing how everyone brings out their little pets," said parade organizer Carmella Lowth. "Everyone wants to win a prize." Full Frontier Days story. Other weekend festival stories: Naperville Ribfest and the Mundelein Community Days parade.

"It's a sport, not a ride," reads one sign posted on the observation deck of the new iFly indoor sky-diving center in Naperville. The sport is an adrenaline rush that simulates the free fall of outdoor sky diving, and it became available Friday to thrill-seekers who want to stop one step short of jumping out of an airplane. Full story.

Smooth sailing on area roads this morning. Drivers in Lake County should be aware of road work on Route 43 at Route 120, and in Cook County, there are road projects on Route 14 at Hicks and Smith roads. Full story

Partial sunshine is forecast for Monday with 25 percent chance of thunderstorms during the day. That chance increases to 40 percent this evening as a thunderstorm could pop up through Tuesday afternoon. Breezy conditions with winds up to 14 miles per hour are expected with a humid high of 82 degrees. Full story

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Dawn Patrol: Construction at Good Shepherd, Fire at Naperville restaurant

From the exhaustive wine list and filet mignon to the wood-accented interior and elegant lighting, you know you're in a downtown Chicago restaurant.

No, make that Indianapolis.

Wrong again try Fort Wayne.

The Summit City has called Eddie Merlot's its own since owner and founder Bill Humphries established the upscale eatery here in 2001. The 32-year restaurant veteran is overseeing an ambitious nationwide expansion that includes future locations in Scottsdale, Arizona; Orlando, Florida; and Chicago.

Construction is underway in Englewood, Colorado, so that an Eddie Merlot's can debut there by winter. Humphries celebrated the Pittsburgh, opening of his 10th restaurant in April.

Success among upscale diners is evident at other Fort Wayne restaurants. They are maintaining traffic and in some cases building sales even as some consumers are still frugal about spending.

Upscale and coming

Humphries said an aging population is the key to his marketing strategy.

The baby boomers just don't want to entertain, but be entertained, he said. When you come out for a good meal, there's no worry about cleaning up afterward. You can just sit back and enjoy your friends.

Chops and Baker Street restaurants are two other examples of businesses that could cash in on the expected increase in annual sales that the National Restaurant Association forecasts.

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Fine dining doing just fine

Federal Grill, Johnny Manana's, Made in Brazil and Sangria are just a few of the restaurants that have come and gone in downtown Allentown in recent years.

But with a minor league hockey arena, office buildings, shops and apartments in the works, many restaurateurs see a reversal of fortune ahead as hungry hockey fans, workers and new residents descend on the city.

Donny Petridis, founder of posh Valley eateries Blue and Melt, is one of these individuals. After six months of construction, he opened The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar Tuesday (for dinner only) on the first floor of Two City Center at 645 W. Hamilton St. It will be open for lunch and dinner beginning Monday.

The 150-seat restaurant is the first of what could be a dozen eateries ranging from coffee shops and diners to sports bars and upscale restaurants to occupy new downtown buildings.

Asked if he was excited to be a part of the city's turnaround, Petridis pointed to the nearly completed PPL Center arena across the street and quipped, "How can I not be?"

"I feel this will be the place to live, work and play in the Lehigh Valley," he added.

With the help of New York-based Celano Design Studio, Petridis incorporates an industrial feel complete with vaulted-brick ceilings, exposed steel beams, hand-painted ceramic tiles, reclaimed woods and crimson-leather seating. Vintage jugs, baskets, buckets and other accents add to the rustic ambience.

The menu features items "for all tastes and budgets" and will change at least twice a year, said Petridis, a resident of Lower Saucon Township.

Snacks, under $15, include common comfort foods such as mac and cheese, as well as more unusual offerings such as warm cheese curds and wild boar hand pie.

Flatbreads such as duck confit and pork sausage, as well as sandwiches such as the Reuben and Gulf shrimp po' boy tap out at $15 while main entrees, $12-$48, include New York strip steak, pan-roasted pork chop and seafood stew, among other items. House-made ice cream and other desserts are also available.

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Hamilton Kitchen adds to Allentown's tasty turnaround

Twitter: markcurtisABC6

mcurtis@abc6.com

There are signs the New Bedford economy is turning around.

One outside a restaurant under construction says, "Opening Soon".

Another outside a clothing plant says, Now Hiring.

That's because suit manufacturing inside, is booming.

"Our men's clothing business has really taken off over the past 12 months. We have 200 new hires in the last year of employees, and we're looking for help today. We probably need another 50 people, said Tony Sapienza, CEO of Joseph Abboud Clothing, and Chairman of the New Bedford Economic Development Commission.

Just down the road, construction continues at "The Black Whale" restaurant, which opens Thursday.

The owner believes a waterfront location, with seafood, is a perfect match in New Bedford.

"The City itself has changed. It's very pedestrian friendly. It's very tourist friendly. You know we want you to come down to see the character, walk around here and I think you'll enjoy the fishing boats you'll enjoy the food, and you'll enjoy just the character of the city," said Al Santos who owns The Black Whale and Hygrade Ocean Products in New Bedford.

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Huge Unemployment Drop in New Bedford; Economy Bouncing Back

Rival House Sporting Parlour is at 411 Minnesota St. in downtown St. Paul. (Courtesy of Rival House)

Rival House is on the street level of the DoubleTree hotel in downtown St. Paul. (Courtesy of Rival House)

The new street-level sports-themed restaurant in the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown St. Paul is now open.

Rival House Sporting Parlour is the creation of Graves Hospitality Corp., which manages the hotel, along with the Crowne Plaza on the riverfront, for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

The band bought the properties last year, and construction on the restaurant began shortly thereafter. Previously, there was only a skyway-level eatery in the hotel.

The sports theme of Rival House goes beyond big-screen showings of sporting events. There are also pinball machines, Skee-Ball, pingpong and tabletop games like Jenga.

The restaurant has partnered with the Red Wagon Pizza wagon, which frequents the Linden Hills Farmers' Market in Minneapolis, and uses its pizza recipes in a wood-fired oven. The pizza features farm-fresh ingredients and a heritage-wheat crust. There also are other bar snacks and entrees.

As for the drinks, servers are all certified cicerones (basically beer sommeliers), and the restaurant has 24 craft beers on tap. There are also beer-focused cocktails and other drinks assembled by the renowned bartenders at Bradstreet Craftshouse, which is a Graves concept.

Bradstreet, as we previously reported, will be moving from the 601 Graves Hotel, which was sold and is being renamed, to the old Rye Deli spot in Uptown this fall.

Rival House Sporting Parlour: 411 Minnesota St., St. Paul; 651-255-0645; rivalhousestpaul.com

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Rival House Sporting Parlour opens in downtown St. Paul

A brasserie called Cochon Volant is slated for the Hyatt hotel planned at 100 W. Monroe St. Photo from CoStar Group Inc.

Acclaimed Chicago chef Roland Liccioni and the restaurant unit of a fast-growing foodservice company are teaming up on a French spot in a forthcoming downtown hotel.

WellDone Hospitality Inc., part of Chicago-based OrganicLife LLC, signed a lease to open a brasserie called Cochon Volant French for flying pig in a 6,000-square-foot space in the 257-room Hyatt hotel under construction in the vintage office building at 100 W. Monroe St., said OrganicLife CEO Jonas Falk.

Mr. Liccioni, who built a name for himself at Le Franais in Wheeling and now runs Les Nomades in Streeterville, will oversee the kitchen, Mr. Falk said.

The restaurant will open in a corner space at Monroe and Clark streets, he said, offering all-day breakfast with French specialties like croissants and, in the evening, Mr. Liccioni's interpretation of dinner classics like steak frites. There will be about 180 seats, plus an outdoor seating area.

The Loop has been rapidly transforming in recent years with new apartment towers and hotel projects. The development boom has spurred a spate of new restaurants, including Chicago-based DineAmic Group's planned steakhouse at LaSalle Street and Wacker Drive and additional dining options in Block 37.

Yet pulling off a restaurant in a downtown hotel isn't easy, since guests often prefer to eat at places different than where they're staying. And the Loop still sees traffic in the area dip when office workers head home.

'TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF CHALLENGES'

At a lot of hotels in the area, restaurants have had tremendous amounts of challenges, and the Loop, on nights and weekends, is very, very quiet, said Chuck Hamburg, principal at Chicago-based consultancy Creative Hospitality Associates and a professor of restaurant management at Roosevelt University. They're going to have to market it as a restaurant that happens to be located in a hotel.

Having Mr. Licconi on board, however, is a huge asset for the restaurant and should help Mr. Falk and OrganicLife President Justin Rolls attract locals, said Mr. Hamburg, who once employed Mr. Rolls.

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Les Nomades chef part of French brasserie slated for Hyatt in Loop

A brasserie called Cochon Volant is slated for the Hyatt hotel planned at 100 W. Monroe St. Photo from CoStar Group Inc.

Acclaimed Chicago chef Roland Liccioni and the restaurant unit of a fast-growing foodservice company are teaming up on a French spot in a forthcoming downtown hotel.

WellDone Hospitality Inc., part of Chicago-based OrganicLife LLC, signed a lease to open a brasserie called Cochon Volant French for flying pig in a 6,000-square-foot space in the 257-room Hyatt hotel under construction in the vintage office building at 100 W. Monroe St., said OrganicLife CEO Jonas Falk.

Mr. Liccioni, who built a name for himself at Le Franais in Wheeling and now runs Les Nomades in Streeterville, will oversee the kitchen, Mr. Falk said.

The restaurant will open in a corner space at Monroe and Clark streets, he said, offering all-day breakfast with French specialties like croissants and, in the evening, Mr. Liccioni's interpretation of dinner classics like steak frites. There will be about 180 seats, plus an outdoor seating area.

The Loop has been rapidly transforming in recent years with new apartment towers and hotel projects. The development boom has spurred a spate of new restaurants, including Chicago-based DineAmic Group's planned steakhouse at LaSalle Street and Wacker Drive and additional dining options in Block 37.

Yet pulling off a restaurant in a downtown hotel isn't easy, since guests often prefer to eat at places different than where they're staying. And the Loop still sees traffic in the area dip when office workers head home.

'TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF CHALLENGES'

At a lot of hotels in the area, restaurants have had tremendous amounts of challenges, and the Loop, on nights and weekends, is very, very quiet, said Chuck Hamburg, principal at Chicago-based consultancy Creative Hospitality Associates and a professor of restaurant management at Roosevelt University. They're going to have to market it as a restaurant that happens to be located in a hotel.

Having Mr. Licconi on board, however, is a huge asset for the restaurant and should help Mr. Falk and OrganicLife President Justin Rolls attract locals, said Mr. Hamburg, who once employed Mr. Rolls.

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Planned Hyatt in the Loop adds a French brasserie