Sweetness in Oakley: Let them eat cupcakes! Orinda's Republic of Cake is expanding to East Contra Costa, with a new cupcakery set to open this summer in Oakley Plaza, next door to the new Carpaccio Ristorante. As devotees of the Orinda Theatre Square shop well know, Republic of Cake's thing is not just small, frosting-festooned cakes, but unusual cupcakes -- all the usual suspects, plus almond-green tea, cheddar-stout, wheat-free black velvet and the ever-popular Sam's Very Messy Chocolate, a four-way chocolate whammy that includes brownie cake, chocolate ganache, chocolate buttercream and sprinkles everywhere.

This is a sweet shop in every possible way. Proceeds from those very chocolate-y

Another round of Zagat praise naming Ajanta the best Indian restaurant in the Bay Area has spurred a change: a nightly chef's tasting menu. (Herman Bustamante Jr./Staff Archives)
cupcakes go to charities designated by Sam, general manager Peter McNiff's young son. Sales of Sam's cupcakes have sent more than $19,000 into the hands of 23 charities, including Children's Hospital Oakland and Seattle Children's Hospital, which McNiff describes as "Sam's second home." Details: www.republicofcake.com.

Indian tasting menu: Another round of Zagat praise naming Ajanta the best Indian restaurant in the Bay Area -- and the fourth-best restaurant, period, in Berkeley -- has spurred a menu change, one that decision-challenged foodies will find particularly enticing. Chef-owner Lachu Moorjani has added a nightly chef's tasting menu ($24-$27) to the local, seasonal, sustainable

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offerings with an assortment of appetizers, main dishes, rice, naan and dessert. Details: 1888 Solano Ave.; www.ajantarestaurant.com.

San Ramon ribs: Tri-Valley barbecue lovers, rejoice. San Ramon's Rubs BBQ Bistro opened last week. As you might guess, Hans van Oosterwijk's barbecue joint is all about the rubs -- mesquite-java chicken with a coffee rub, for example, or slow-cooked beef with a spicy Texas-style rub tucked into sliders, wraps, atop a salad or over lemon-pepper rice ($6.50-$7.50). Open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Details: 164 Marketplace; http://rubsbbq.com.

Send your Bay Area restaurant tips to food editor Jackie Burrell, jburrell@bayareanewsgroup.com.