Nuggets Food Briefs: ARTini, Infernos Pizza and ... shhhh ... Whispers 

Drink me!

Local restaurants are hoping to get the crowds smiling like the Cheshire Cat at ARTini in Wonderland from 7 to 11 p.m. this Friday.

The annual ARTini event will be held at OKC Farmers Public Market.

In addition to showcasing more than 75 pieces of local art, the event features food and martini combos from nine local restaurants. This year’s participating restaurants are The Barrel, Bolero Spanish Grill and Tapas Bar, Flint, In the Raw Sushi, James E. McNellie’s Public House, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, Museum Cafe, Park Avenue Grill and Picasso Cafe.

“All of the participating restaurants gets to create their own space, as well as come up with an original martini and appetizer inspired by the theme,” said Kristen Bromley, Allied Arts marketing director. “Everyone at the party will be able to vote on a People’s Choice martini, and we have a panel of local celebrities who give awards to the best food, best interpretation of theme and more.”

Bromley said the decor will be whimsical but definitely more Tim Burton than Disney. Tickets for the Alice in Wonderland-themed Allied Arts fundraiser are $75 and must be purchased in advance.

Learn more and find tickets at alliedartini.com or call Allied Arts at 278-8944.

Shh!

Oklahoma City will soon welcome a new strip club to the stage as Whispers Gentlemen’s Club readies for a spring opening.

Like a gyrating phoenix from the ashes, Whispers (pictured) is built on the site of the city’s first strip club, Albee’s Valley of the Dolls, which burned down in 2012.

Owner Elsie Edwards said she has heard wonderful — and colorful — stories about Valley of the Dolls over the years but Whispers, 1808 SE 59th St., is a different kind of club.

“The club is a new and modern place for adult entertainment,” she said. “It’s going to be more upscale. Everything is new.”

Edwards was the owner of Red Light Nights, which closed in February after legal battles over zoning.

The new business is smaller than Red Light Nights, and Edwards said it will provide a more elegant environment. It will open shortly after it is granted a liquor license.

Pizza party

The competition for pizza dollars on Memorial Road heats up as Infernos Pizza Wood Fired Oven & Spirits joins the fray.

With Hideaway Pizza and Revolve Pizza Kitchen already vying for the higher-end market and Pizza Hut, Stars & Stripes Pizza and Papa Murphy’s Take ’N’ Bake Pizza occupying the budget position, Infernos jumps into an already-crowded field with the announcement of its planned April 20 opening.

“There’s a place for everybody, but we’ve got a great pizza,” said owner Cary Hamer. “Once people try our product, they’ll be hooked.”

Infernos fills the space previously used by Bikini’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2747 W. Memorial Road, where Hamer previously worked on rebranding.

“When the owners pulled the plug, I decided it was time to dive into the pizza concept,” he said. “It’s a beautiful building with a great location.”

Hamer said Infernos uses dough made fresh every day, a pizza sauce with a little spice to it and a scorpion pepper sausage they make in-house. Though heat is inherent in the name, the menu isn’t just for chili heads.

The bar will offer 20 different styles of margaritas flavored with sake, champagne, wine, sodas and more. Infernos’ first location is in New Braunfels, Texas. Learn more at infernospizzeria.com.