Friday, June 11, 2010

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 11, 2010

Triangle restaurant news...that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler

  • Last week we reported the closing of Ruby Tuesday at Crabtree Valley Mall. This week we can tell you (before anyone else) that the new tenant will be Cantina Laredo. This will be the first location in North Carolina for the chain which has roughly 125 locations in 18 states. If you're not familiar with this concept, it is to Mexican what P.F. Chang's is to Chinese. No "open" date yet - in fact, it is not even showing up on the "Coming Soon" tab on their website. Let's just say, you heard it here first.
  • Listen up Cary-ites, Chef's Palette Restaurant and Bar is now open at the Stonebridge Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Kildaire Farm Road and Ten Ten Road. Check it out here.
  • If you were a big fan of Two Guys pizza on Hillsborough Street when it was owned by Chris Candes (he sold it in 2007), we've got good news. Chris has come out of retirement to open a new Italian restaurant called Ciago's at 522 St. Mary's Street in Raleigh (formerly BBQ Ribs & Co. and about a dozen other things...). The new concept, which opens June 28th, will feature some of your favorites from Two Guys.
  • In Apex, restaurateurs Niko and Victoria Angelis, owners of Ocean Stars restaurant, are retiring after 37 years. The last day will be THIS Saturday. But the space won't sit empty for long. Fugi Asian Bistro will open in its spot in a few months, offering sushi, hibachi and a buffet.
  • Yo quiero Taco Bell! Taco Bell is apparently giving away its new product, limeade drinks, through July 11, or until ½ million online coupons are redeemed (whichever comes first). So you better hurry! Click here!
  • In Cary, the Herons restaurant at the Umstead Hotel will be closed from July 5 through Sept. 10 for renovations. Didn't they just open?
  • Listen up wine lovers. Tuesdays and Thursdays are your days at Savoy in North Raleigh. Savoy sells its wines by the bottle for half price (on ALL wines!). Let's just say Savoy has an award-winning list. Oh, and did I mention the food is amazing!?!
  • If you live in Garner, you no longer have to wait for the wind to shift to get a waft of burgers being grilled up at Char-Grill. The crazy-popular burger joint has opened another Triangle location at 1155 S.W. Timber Drive East.
  • The Cary location of Courtney's ain't just for breakfast anymore. Owner Jeff Seidenstein has transformed the Cary location into Courtney's Bistro (1885 Lake Pine Drive) and is now open all day.
  • Coffee lovers can now enjoy a great (and I mean great) bite to eat at Café Helios (located on Glenwood South). They've brought on chef Rob Bland - a very talented chef who is anything but bland. He's already added a seasonally changing menu of sandwiches and small plates that are to die for. Great coffee and great food - sounds like Glenwood South just keeps getting better and better!
  • If you haven't been to the renovated and recently re-opened N.C. Museum of Art (you should, it is truly amazing) let me give you yet another reason besides the "new space" and the Rodin exhibit. It is also the new home of Iris, the museum's restaurant which is very hip, and very, very good. And the best news, chef Andy Hicks and his wife, pastry chef Jennifer Hicks, are still whipping up their amazing fare!
  • Looks like the Triangle has landed on the expansion map for yet another national chain's expansion plans. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant will open a dozen locations across North Carolina, with four of those being in the Triangle. It is too early to offer up any guesses as to where, but we'll keep an eye out.
  • Alright RTPers, tear yourself away from those computers and get out to try three new eateries in "the park." Cilantro Mediterranean Grill (5400 S. Miami Blvd.) where the specialty is Persian style kebabs. Just three miles down the road is Screaming Coyote Café (2945 S. Miami Blvd.), a counter service weekday lunch spot featuring Southwestern fare called "California style Mexican." And just two doors down in the same shopping center, Worth It Café serves up scratch-made soups, salads and an eclectic assortment of sandwiches in a café described as "the first farm to table restaurant in RTP."
  • Shirt and flip-flops required! Huh? Come on, don't act like you don't know that next Friday (June 18th) is National Flip-Flop Day. To celebrate, Tropical Smoothie Cafe stores in Raleigh (1028 Oberlin Road and 8111 Creedmoor Road) will each give away free 24-ounce Jetty Punch smoothies (strawberry and banana smoothie) to the first 500 customers who visit the store wearing flip flops. So wiggle your toes on over - there is no doubt it will be hot!
  • Wendy's is launching a new line of premium salads. The latest upscale salads are Apple Pecan Chicken, Baja, BLT Cobb, and Spicy Chicken Caesar
  • If you're looking for another reason to eat at Chipotle, the burrito restaurant recently announced that all of the beef it uses is now naturally raised - making it the largest restaurant seller of naturally raised meats. Mooooo!!
  • Looking for a deal at Quizno's? Here is a coupon for a sub, fountain drink and chips for $2.99. Hurry, it expires June 18.

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