Boost your luck with some traditional black-eyed peas

If you're looking to improve your luck in the new year, you might consider partaking of the black-eyed peas -- which Southern tradition holds are a food of fortune -- at Memphis Championship Barbecue. Anyone who dines at Memphis today will get a free sample of black-eyed peas.

Memphis also has started serving a country-style breakfast at its location at 1401 S. Rainbow Blvd. and will start serving it at the location at 2250 E. Warm Springs Road on Saturday. Available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends, the menu includes grits, biscuits and gravy, a Monte Cristo, smoked meats, omelets and more.

The company also has a location at 4379 Las Vegas Blvd. North. ...

Las Vegas Rocks Cafe, 450 Fremont St., will serve a champagne live jazz brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, and also offers it every Sunday. The brunch is $19.95 and includes a glass of champagne and a menu featuring a choice from among three appetizers and three entrees. For reservations, call 227-5872. ...

Origin India, 4480 Paradise Road, now serves a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. It's $14.95 per person (half-price for kids 11 and younger) and has about a dozen dishes including a rotating assortment of curries, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, salads, soup, naan, desserts and more. For reservations, call 734-6342. ...

Wine aficionados are invited to participate in a wine study at 4 p.m. Tuesday on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Space is limited; those interested in participating are asked to e-mail organizer Kathy LaTour at kathryn.latour@unlv.edu for details and reservations. ...

Ethel M Chocolates has introduced a special 16-piece collection in honor of the opening of Aria, with an image of Aria and most of the rest of CityCenter on the box. It's available at Elements inside Aria for $24. ...

For additional restaurant news, visit the Vegas Voice blog at reviewjournal.com.

Send information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. You also can send faxes to 383-4676 or e-mail her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com.