Elevation Burger is coming to Westfield Whaton.

Fast-casual eatery updates

Potbelly fans may be happy to hear that the sandwich chain’s Union Station location officially opens today.

The fast-casual sandwich shop is located on the street level in West Hall, between the recently opened Chop’t and Chipotle. Bojangles, the North Carolina-based fast-food eatery featuring Cajun fried chicken and biscuits, is expected to open in Union Station’s lower level food court this spring.

The Brown Bag is celebrating the grand opening of its new location at 1625 Eye St. NW this Thursday. From 7:30 to 10 a.m., the Bethesda-based fast-casual eatery will be offering complimentary pastries, muffins, and coffee. The store’s concept, featuring customizable salads and sandwiches, started in 2002 with the Bethesda location, and has since expanded to five eateries around the D.C. metro area.

Panera Bread’s Wheaton location is also aiming for a spring debut. The fast-casual cafe and bakery will be located inside Westfield Wheaton shopping mall, on the upper level near entrance two and Hair Cuttery.

In addition to Panera, Westfield Wheaton will also be the home to a new Elevation Burger. According to Wheaton Patch, the organic burger eatery will occupy the space next to Panera.

Opening soon: Florida Coffee House

Florida Coffee House could be a new source of caffeine for nearby residents as soon as next Saturday, says PoP. The new coffee house, located at  220 Florida Ave. NW, seats about 15 people, with additional space in the back. According to PoP, the new spot will also have free Wi-Fi.

Meat Week is back

Just as Alexandria, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and the extended D.C. Restaurant Weeks come to an end, another week-long event of stuffing your face begins. Meat Week is back for its second year in D.C. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30, at Urban Bar-B-Que Company in Rockville. For those new to Meat Week, the week-long celebration highlights some of the best barbecue in the area. Each night takes place at a different restaurant, but meat-lovers aren’t required to attend every location. You can participate in any night you’d like, but note that attendants are asked to RSVP on Feb. 1 and 2.  This year’s schedule includes some repeats from last year, as well as the recently opened American Ice Company. See full schedule here.

In other food and restaurant news...

• Chef Jorge Pimentel of Sabor’a Street food truck will be chatting online today at 11 a.m.

• Francis Layrle has replaced Dennis Friedman as the chef at Bezu. Layrle, formerly a chef for ambassadors at the French Embassy, has transformed the Bethesda restaurant’s French-Asian menu into an all French fare. (The Washington Post)

• Old Ebbitt Grill is the second-most-checked-in “wine bar” on Foursquare. (DCist)

• A new deal site has launched in D.C. DealOn, in partnership with Zagat Exclusives, offers deals on high-end restaurants. The price of the deal drops as more certificates are purchased. Today’s deal: $25 or less for $50 of food and drinks at Zengo.

• A 22-year-old man dies after falling into a mixing machine at a tortilla factory. (New York Post)

• Foods that make your skin glow. (Let’s Talk Live)

• Trying to lose a little weight? Try staring at food porn. (The Atlantic)

• Pig Business: A documentary that explores the dark side of the pork industry.

From TBD’s Community Network

• Borderstan: Recap: Saturday Night Sips: Fighting hunger in D.C.
• Girl Meets Food: Where to dine on Valentine’s Day
• Capital Cooking: Quick Clip: Cookie decorating with Larry Calvert

• We Love DC: First look: D.C. Empanadas
• Penn Quarter Living: Review: Presidents Sports Bar
• DC-Wrapped Dates: Review: Big Cheese Truck

Plan Ahead -- Upcoming food and drink events

• Jan. 21-30 -- Alexandria Restaurant Week
• Jan. 24-30 -- Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week
• Jan. 30 - Feb 6 -- D.C. Meat Week

Sweet Deals

• Zpizza: Buy one Rustica, get one free (till Jan. 31)
• Jan. 27 - Complimentary pastries and coffee at the Brown Bag (I Street NW)

Food truck time...