As we frequently hear these days, it can be tough to find a job in your field in this economy, so it's always a good idea to have other marketable skills to fall back on. In Danielle Petranto's case, that meant trying her hand in the restaurant business. Formerly a waitress at the South Wedge Diner on Clinton Avenue for more than six years, Petranto recently graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in professional technical communications and decided she would rather stick with what she was doing instead - only this time, as her own boss. So along with her sister, Nicole, and her boyfriend, Rochester Knighthawk Joe Walters, she opened the Union Station Diner on on Christmas Eve.

"I love waitressing because it's a people business," says Petranto. "You really get to know the people who come in really well - all different kinds - and it's great."

The diner, located in the former Webb's Cafe and Grill (which closed its doors last October) and the original University Avenue location of Mamasan's Noodle Caboodle (now on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford) before that, serves breakfast and lunch daily.

"Everyone was really upset when Webb's closed, because there's really not much here," says Petranto of the neighborhood's food options. "Sure, there are a lot of diners in the South Wedge area and Monroe, but not much over here."

The diner offers many local favorites, from the popular Station Skillet (a bowl lined with eggs and home fries topped with sausage gravy and cheddar cheese) to specialty pancakes (Petranto says the raspberry flavor are the most popular) and challah French toast.

"We obviously want to focus on quality service and food," says Petranto, "but what we really want to put an emphasis on is being friendly. We want this to be a happy place for people to come in and enjoy their meal."

To find Union Station Diner in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Union Station Diner is located at 309 University Ave., and is open daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, call 546-2125 or visit its page on Facebook.

Sweet and saucy pairings

Long-time Rochester landmark Donuts Delite, which in 2005 closed its doors on Culver Road after nearly 50 years, reopened Tuesday, January 12, as part of a new Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria location.

Salvatore's owner Sam Fantauzzo, who purchased the building in March 2008, restored the Rochester institution, adding a new tin ceiling, art-deco flourishes, and leaving in place its iconic sign. Fantauzzo also contacted former Donuts Delite owner Bob Malley, who agreed to share the original donut recipes; Malley's son, Mike, now manages the newly opened restaurant, which is now half Donuts Delite and half Salvatore's.

To find Salvatore's / Donut's Delite in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Salvatore's/Donuts Delite is located at 1700 Culver Rd. It is open Sunday-Thursdays 6 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturdays 6 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information call 288-5555.

Free treats

The pizza/donut combo isn't the only local partnership Rochesterians can enjoy: the Webster location of the international ice cream franchise Cold Stone Creamery is one of the first to join up with another national franchise, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. to offer customers myriad options to salve their sweet tooth. It will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, January 30, noon-5 p.m.; the first 50 people will receive a buy-one-get-one-free caramel apples - one of its new offerings - and samples will be served throughout the day.

The Cold Stone Creamery/Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is located at 1028 Ridge Rd. It is open Monday-Thursday noon-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. For more information call 645-6445 or visit coldstonecreamery.com or rmcf.com.

Chili Cook-off

Knapp Winery and Vineyard in the Finger Lakes is holding its first annual Firemen's Chili Cook-off on Sunday, January 31, 1-4 p.m. For $10 you'll get a taste of the competing fire departments' chili recipes paired with one of Knapp's wine offerings; all proceeds from ticket sales will go to the local participating fire departments. The cook-off winner will be chosen by popular vote. Knapp Winery and Vineyard is located at 2770 County Road 128 in Romulus. To reserve tickets, call 800-869-9271. For more information, visit knappwine.com.

Chocolate Ball

The Epilepsy Foundation will hold its 24th Annual Chocolate Ball on Saturday, January 30, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center (123 E Main St). This year's theme is "Nocha Caliente," which means "hot night" in Spanish, and will include a salsa dancing demonstration and Latin jazz music. As in the past, the event will feature more than a dozen themed chocolate creations to sample, and an auction of chocolate cakes created by Rochester-area pastry chefs. For more information or to purchase tickets (which cost $150) call 442-4430 or visit epilepsy-uny.org.

Closings

Less than two months after we announced its November 14 grand opening in this column, Gina D's Burger and Pizza Co. (4618 Ridge Rd W, inside the Doug Miller Sports Dome) has closed. Attempts to reach the owners, Patrick Dandrea, and his daughter, Gina, to determine the reason for the closing went unreturned. Dandrea also recently closed his pizzeria, Dandrea's Pizza in Greece, while his other daughter, Danielle, recently closed her restaurant, PaRe Bar and Grill of Pittsford. Gina D's has already been replaced with a Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria, which will be operated by Doug Miller himself. Meanwhile, PaRe is preparing to reopen as the Monroe Diner; check this column for more details soon.

Brockport's Merchant Street Smoke House (48 Merchant St, Brockport) has closed. The barbecue restaurant and bar had gone through some recent changes in an attempt to increase business, including a new emphasis on the nightlife aspect of the establishment. Attempts to reach the owners were unsuccessful, though local residents cite a lack of business as the reason for its closing.

Got a food or restaurant tip for our Chow Hound? Send it to food@rochester-citynews.com.