Daily Grub closing its doors

* Loyal followers of the vegan restaurant Daily Grub are sad to hear it is closing. The restaurant located at 1054 S. 20th St., in Omaha will serve its last bowl of black bean soup tomorrow, April 29. (canadianpharmacy365.net) Elle Lien, restaurant owner and chef, made the announcement this week via Facebook. She sighted a major construction project that severely impacts access to the diner as a primary reason for closing only a week after celebrating its 1-year anniversary. In a note to fans Lien thanked patrons for supporting her and the restaurant, “You changed our lives! You changed the face of food in Omaha,” she wrote. “Having the opportunity to see your faces each week is thing we will miss the most.” Although her creative takes on local foods and flavors will be missed on a daily basis, Lien has partnered with Clementine’s Produce and Provisions to offer cooking classes from May through October. Classes will include recipes and instruction for six meals, including one on preserving what’s in season. They are only $50. To learn more email dailygrubomaha@yahoo.com or friend Daily Grub on facebook and click on the shop now tab. * The Douglas County Health Department is using funding from the Douglas County Putting Prevention to Work Grant to provide an oasis in area food deserts. The health department and UNL extension office have partnered with three corner stores – two in North Omaha and one in South Omaha, to launch the Healthy Neighborhood Store Project. Its goals include increased access to healthy foods such as lean meats, fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy, as well as coordinated food education efforts. Cooking demonstrations have already proven to be a valuable tool. Nearly 70 people participated in a cooking demonstration last week. “We aren’t trying to turn a corner store into a Hy-Vee, but we are trying to increase healthy food access to those in the community,” says Sarah Schram, a clinical nutritionist with Douglas County.