Two Greenville couples have opened The Eclectic Gallery and Dessert Bar in the Colonial Mall on Greenville Boulevard.

The dessert bar and consignment gallery is in the two-story, 5,600-square-foot space that formerly housed Annabelle's and Fat Katz restaurants, among other businesses. The space, near Pier One and Rack Room Shoes, had been empty for several years.

The endeavor is the brainstorm of Jeny and Whit Congleton, who recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Whit Congleton has a background in antiques and selling items on the eBay online auction site. Jeny Congleton is employed by Colonial Mall.

Jeny's parents, Phil and Elaine Martin, also are partners in the business.

"We saw the building and, given our entrepreneurial backgrounds, batted around a lot of different ideas," said Jeny Congleton. "This was the home run, we thought."

The large, elaborate bar downstairs, where cocktails formerly were poured, "screamed for something to be served," Jeny Congleton said.

"We had seen the dessert-only restaurant concept done in large cities like New York and Baltimore," said Whit Congleton.

"We focus on the concept of providing desserts to customers whenever they want one. ... We indulge the ultimate food fantasy of being able to forget starters and main courses and go straight for dessert."

The Eclectic's dessert-bar menu includes A Chocolate Trilogy (chocolate genoise and layers of dark and white chocolate mousse topped with shaved chocolate and confectioner's sugar) for $6.25; Cleopatra's Pyramid (white chocolate mousse and raspberries soaked in raspberry liqueur in a white chocolate pyramid shell) for $6.95; key lime pie for $5.95; and Yankee cheesecake for $4.95. Strawberry and blueberry muffins are $1.50 and biscotti are 75 cents.

"Our desserts are made by local pastry chefs, except for a few items from New York and Chicago," Whit Congleton said.

Ice cream is available by the scoop ($1.75 for one scoop) or as a two-scoop sundae ($3.25) or banana split ($4.75).

Beverages include coffee, cold and hot teas, Coca-Cola products and Jones Soda.

Jeny Congleton said she plans to add slices of pie for $3.25, along with milk shakes and smoothies.

Fine chocolate and bulk candies also will be sold.

The dessert bar, with murals by Greenville artist Glenn Nelson, features seating for 45 people at tables and the bar.

The upstairs space is being leased to individuals interested in selling antiques, collectibles and art. "We want to have an eclectic mix, and that's where the name The Eclectic Gallery comes from," Jeny Congleton added.

Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Call 321-1789.

El Azador opens

Gaby's Chicken and Barbecue at 1200 N. Greene St. is now El Azador, which means "The Griller" in Spanish.

The restaurant now specializes in authentic Mexican food made on site by manager Esperanza Venegas, a native of Mexico City who has lived in the United States for 13 years. The restaurant still is owned by Connie Hernandez.

A lunch buffet is offered daily, with traditional pork and beef dishes, scratch-made sauces and chicken grilled on charcoal in the grill house adjacent to the restaurant. Buffet entrees change daily. Cost for a combination plate featuring a serving of all the items on the buffet is $6.99.

The menu features tacos ($1.49) and quesadillas ($1.99 and $2.79) with a choice of filling: beef tips, seasoned pork, beef barbecue, beef tripe, pork skin or beef tongue. Other entrees include beef stew with vegetables ($6.99) and fried tilapia ($8.99).

In addition to soft drinks, homemade "fresh water" is offered for 99 cents. Venegas said it's similar to lemonade: a sweetened water flavored with a fresh fruit. Two varieties are offered daily, and flavors may include lime, lemon, pineapple and melon.

El Azador is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Call 353-4229.

New Duck Rabbit release

Farmville's award-winning Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery will release its next seasonal specialty, The Duck-Rabbit Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale, Saturday in celebration of American Craft Beer Week.

The release party will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the brewery, 2419 W. Pine St. in Farmville. Visitors will be able to tour the facility, taste the limited-release Wee Heavy, and sample complementary bratwurst.

The Duck-Rabbit Wee Heavy is described in a press release from the brewery as "a full-bodied, deep copper-colored treasure. Bold and malty, this beer's sweetness comes from a massive quantity of grain, complemented by an alcohol warming sensation."

American Craft Beer Week, held May 14-20, features celebrations by hundreds of small, independent and traditional brewers.

The Duck-Rabbit, which entered the craft beer market in August 2004, specializes in dark beers. Year-round offerings — Duck Rabbit Amber Ale, Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale, Duck-Rabbit Porter and Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout — are available in bottles and on draught throughout North Carolina and in South Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

The Duck-Rabbit is the first brewery in North Carolina to be involved with the Goodness Grows in North Carolina program.

For more details on the Saturday tasting, call 753-7745 or visit www.GreatAmericanBeerTour.org. For more information on the brewery, visit www.duckrabbitbrewery.com.

Chico's new specials

Chico's Mexican restaurant in Winterville now has new dinner specials, available beginning at 5 p.m., according to owner Lisa Eagle.

Sunday's special is "Fiesta Tacos Grande for Two Amigos": two beef fajita tacos, two chicken fajita tacos and two shrimp fajita tacos cooked with onion and bell peppers and topped with cheese and served with beans, homemade guacamole and pico de gallo, along with a fried ice cream to share. Cost is $23.99.

On Monday, the dinner special is Chipotle Pork Tacos — pork tenderloin strips sauteed in chipotle sauce with bell peppers and onions, stuffed in three tortillas, topped with cheese and served with beans, homemade guacamole and pico de gallo. Cost is $8.99.

The Tuesday special is Pollo Tacos, three tacos filled with strips of chicken dipped in a spicy batter and fried, then topped with tangy white sauce, red cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo and served with rice and beans. Cost is $7.99.

Wednesday's special is a choice of fish or shrimp tacos: three tacos filled with strips of white fish or shrimp dipped in a spicy batter and fried, then topped with tangy white sauce, red cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo and served with rice and beans. Cost is $8.99.

On Thursdays, the special is beef, chicken, pork or veggie fajitas. Your choice is cooked with green peppers and onions and served at your table on a sizzling skillet, with beans, homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream and warm tortillas. Cost is $7.99.

The special on Fridays and Saturdays is "Fiesta Fajitas for Two Amigos": shrimp, beef and chicken cooked with onions and bell peppers and served at your table on a hot skillet with beans, homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream and warm tortillas, with a fried ice cream to share. Cost is $23.99.

Drink specials are offered each day.

Chico's is at 4054 S. Memorial Drive, Winterville, beside Pitt Community College. Call 439-0003.

Nibbles

Vegetarians in Pitt County (VIPS) will hold its fifth annual Vegetarian Picnic from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at River Park North,1000 Mumford Road. Veggie burgers and dogs will be provided. Participants are asked to bring a side dish, beverage or dessert to share, along with outdoor games and toys. Call 329-0615 or visit the Web site at www.myspace.com/veginpittco.

Lopaus Point Market, 620 Red Banks Road, will host a casual wine tasting from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday. Fee is $5. Call321-FOOD or visit www.lopauspointmarket.com.

Hot Dish is a weekly column of restaurant and food news. To submit items for consideration, call Jane Hudson at 329-9577, fax 754-8140 or e-mail jhudson@coxnc.com.