Cinco de Mayo (or the fifth of May) celebrates Mexican heritage and culture, but in Toronto, this often translates into Mexican-themed parties and food offerings. Given Cinco de Mayo's celebratory penchant, this isn't surprising, but this year, revellers have something extra to cheer about: the Kentucky Derby falls on the same day.

Here some events taking place around Toronto on Cinco de Mayo.

Michael Prue, the NDP MPP for Beaches-East York, has announced on his website this week that he plans to reintroduce Private Member's Bill 144, an amendment to The Employment Standards Act, 2000, to prohibit restaurant owners and managers from taking servers' tips.

The Protecting Employees' Tips Act aims to make it illegal for any foodservice employers to demand any portion of the gratuities earned by their staff.

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

• Farmhouse Tavern at 1627 Dupont Street cites rural Ontario as the inspiration for their new locavore eatery set to open in June in the spot previously occupied by June Harlowe Foods.

Barry Stein and Barry Bernstein, co-founders of Still Waters Distillery, are playing a waiting game. Because Canadian liquor laws require that Canadian whisky is aged at least three years before it can be sold, the duo, operating a small micro-distillery in Concord, Ontario, are patiently waiting for the day that their single malt, rye, and corn whiskies will be ready for sale.

Their oldest whiskies, casked in late 2009, won't be ready until the end of this year, so until then, they wait. In the meantime, however, the duo has hardly been sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

Artisanal products in Toronto are not, by any means, new (have you ever counted just how many places purport to create artisanal breads and pastries?), but they are expanding into new realms. Suddenly Toronto is plush with countless options for homemade gelato (not just on College), hand-pulled mozzarella, and exquisitely crafted chocolates and treats. While "artisanal" often translates to a few figures left of the decimal (see "$10 grilled cheese," below), the difference, to the discerning taste bud, is usually bar none.

Here are some of the newest spots to pick up artisanal products in Toronto.

This week on DineSafe, a handful of cafes and Chinese restaurants were branded with conditional passes. Lee Town Chinese Food Restaurant was the first; perhaps narrowing the options of cheap eats for Ryerson students this week, along with Chinese Food Gallery up at Eglinton and Chaplin, which was found in violation of eight health and safety conditions. Downtown was not immune to inspections this week either, with Canton Chilli in Chinatown, Weezie's on King, and EggSmart on Bay all falling victim to the yellow sign. Here are some of the DineSafe notables this week.