What's Marshall King up to this week? Find out in today's Dining A La King.

Election nights are necessarily big dining events, but when a Young Republicans group comes out, you're in business.

Antonio's in Elkhart hosted the Elkhart County group Tuesday night. Initially the group was expected to be about 30 people, said Paul Cataldo, Antonio's owner. But around 80 showed up.

Cataldo made blue and red cookies and allowed those at the restaurant to “vote” with their mouths. Since it was a Republican group, Romney won the cookie election even if he didn't win the national election.

“It was probably three to one,” Cataldo said.

The restaurant also sold about 25 Patriot Martinis — a layered blend of Chambord, Triple Sec and blue UVO vodka, according to Cataldo.

• When Ari Lambridis spotted the location for his fourth King Gyros, he was on his way to check out another potential location on the southeast side of Goshen.

Lambridis took over the former Goshen Express Cafe location at 507 W. Pike St., Goshen, and opened it in early October with partner Maria Ftergiotis after six weeks or so of work.

He said it's the smallest of his four locations, but is doing great. He also owns the King Gyros on South Michigan Street in South Bend, Lincolnway in Mishawaka and Cassopolis Street in Elkhart.

Hours of the new location are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 to 9 Sunday. Phone: 574-971-8220

• Aaron Beaver, one of the chefs at 523 Tap & Grill, sent a message after last week's column on local eating as it relates to Elkhart County restaurants. “We're moving more in that direction when possible at 523,” he wrote, adding that guests are giving good feedback when they offer Maple Leaf duck as well as locally sourced morels, tomatoes, herbs and peaches. “Now we're working on autumn gourds and squashes,” he said.

• March of Dimes' Signature Chefs Auction in late October raised more than $80,000 for the charity, according to a press release. The meal and silent auction at Palais Royale attracted 275 people to help address infant health problems.

• I'm awaiting results from Elkhart Dining Days and Taste of Downtown Goshen in terms of the money that was raised. I hope to get those numbers this week and will post them on the Dining A La King blog when I have them.

Marshall V. King is news/multimedia editor and food columnist for The Elkhart Truth/eTruth.com. You can reach him at mking@etruth.com, 574-296-5805, on Twitter @hungrymarshall or via Facebook. His blog is at www.blogs.etruth.com/diningalaking/.