News Bites

-- Restaurants Unlimited Inc. is giving up its Kayak Grill space on Lake Union (formerly Triples; formerly other things) to concentrate on national expansion of its Cinnabon, Zoopa and Palomino chains. As reported here last week, moving in will be McCormick & Schmick's Management Group, planning a massive expansion and renovation. RUI now runs 24 full-service restaurants, mostly in the West, and 275 Cinnabons. Five or six other RUI restaurants - in Spokane, Philly, Long Beach and Santa Monica - will eventually be phased out. RUI plans to add 30 new Cinnabons and Palominos this year. -- Shiro Kashiba, the master sushi chef who created (and later sold) Nikko, and inspired several local chefs, semi-opened his own place last week, Shiro's, 2401 Second Ave. (at Battery Street). "Soft" opening was Aug. 1; official door-opener set (tentatively) for next week. Among the first enthusiastic guests: Tom Douglas of Etta's and the Dahlia Lounge. (Shiro's: 443-9844). -- Thierry Rautureau, owner-chef of Rover's, 2808 E. Madison St., will be one of five of the country's notable French chefs demonstrating classic French dishes on "Great French Fest: Great Chefs Special," 1 p.m. Saturday on KCTS (Channel 9). Chef Rautureau also will be featured on "Great Chefs from Great Cities," to air this fall. -- Checked out the recently expanded Gaspare's Ristorante, 8051 Lake City Way N.E. Bigger menu, bigger kitchen, bigger digs. Still the same terrific pastas and pizzas. Try the Fettucine Bolognese with a carafe of the house chianti. 524-3806.