Triangle Food Guy

Friday Fun Food Facts - February 3, 2012

2012-02-03T05:19:00.000-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Every year the N&O's Greg Cox puts together his "Best Restaurants of the Year" list. It is kind of like the Oscars for foodies throughout the Triangle. He also announces his "Restaurant of the Year" as part of this list. It truly is a remarkable list of restaurants and fun to scroll through. I won't steal any of Greg's thunder with his list, so you'll have to check it out here. Well done.

There is no rest for the folks over at Rocky Top Hospitality. Fast on the heels of the huge opening of Rockwell's over in Cary, they announced this week that they are now operating the cafe located on the 4th floor of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. And if that is not enough, as part of the adjoining Nature Research Center, which will open April 20th, Rocky Top will also operate their cafe which will have sidewalk tables. And it is possible that this concept will open prior to the Center's opening. Anyone want to "try" and guess what concept Rocky Top will introduce there?

And speaking of downtown Raleigh, according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, Oro Restaurant and Lounge, a new tapas restaurant, should open this spring at the corner of Martin and Wilmington streets on the ground floor of the RBC Plaza. Read Andrea's article here. Visit Oro's website here.

For those that loved the Flying Burrito over in Chapel Hill, we have good news for you. We have confirmed that they will re-open over in Raleigh in the former location of Lynwood Grill at 4821 Grove Barton Rd - adjacent to the Raleigh Grande movie theatre. No word yet on an open date, but we'll keep you posted.

Over in Carrboro, the former Johnny's in Carrboro has reopened as Johnny's Gone Fishing, and they are returning to their roots as a gathering spot in this "edition" of Johnny's. While they officially opened back in December, it wasn't until January that they started to hit full stride. Johnny's Gone Fishing is again becoming a social hub and gathering spot. Check in with them on their Facebook page here.

Also, next door in Chapel Hill, the Daily Tar Heel has updated us on a couple of restaurant tidbits. Front Porch Bar & Grill closed its Franklin Street doors on Wednesday, but it won't be gone for long. According to initial information, they will be simply moving the establishment from 143 E. Franklin Street to a retail strip or mall location almost immediately. Town permitting is the only hold up at this point. We'll keep an eye on it.

And the Daily Tar Heel has confirmed that after a seven-year hiatus, the Mellow Mushroom is in fact making a return to Chapel Hill - this time in the former Ham's location (something we reported a couple of weeks ago). The Chapel Hill location is co-owned by Karen Halsey, who is also a co-owner of the Raleigh location. They hope to be open by the time the students return in the fall.

Full Street Wings Cafe, a wings catering concept, will hold its its official launch on February 8th from 12-2 p.m. at The Cotton Room at 807 E. Main Street in Durham's Golden Belt. Get more details on the event here.

Over in Raleigh, according to the News & Observer, Baskin-Robbins is re-opening its store in Cameron Village. To celebrate, they are hosting a grand re-opening from noon to 4 p.m. this Saturday (February 4). Be sure to stop by.

And speaking of grand openings, Weinberg's The Delicatessen will be holding their grand opening celebration February 10, 11 & 12 over in Raleigh. Weinberg's is located in the Northridge Shopping Center at 6016 Falls of the Neuse Road. Get all the grand opening details here.

Got word this week that Captain Poncho's Tacos of Carrboro is selling their food truck business. That's the bad news. The good news is that they will continue to operate their Tienda Don Poncho over on Mt. Carmel Church Road in Chapel Hill. Visit their Facebook page here.

Following our posting last week about the pending opening of Camos Brothers Pizza in Chapel Hill, one of our readers informed us that Camos Brothers Pizza also opened another location on Capital Blvd, next to Best Buy & Triangle Town Center. The address is 6087 Capital Blvd. Check them out on Facebook here.

In the "rumor of the week" file, we'll go ahead and throw this one out there because we think it has legs, but we'll keep an eye on it for you. This week's rumor is that there will be a Bonefish Grill opening close to The Streets at Southpoint in Durham. It will be located in the same shopping center as the new Aldi grocery store. We'll continue to watch this. Bonefish already has locations in Cary and Raleigh. Check them out here.

A congratulations goes out to the folks at Carolina Brewery as they celebrate their 17th year in business. Sadly, I'm old enough to remember their opening on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. And they operate a second location in Pittsboro. The will be celebrating all next week beginning on Sunday with a slew of events including the release of a limited edition Anniversary Ale on Tuesday. The best detail of all the celebrations is in the Chapel Hill Magazine blog here.

Food trucks are about to start rolling into Chapel Hill...providing they follow a few rules (its Chapel Hill, right?). Anyway, the N&O has the latest on the newest Triangle community to open its streets to the food truck craze. Read the article here.

As a follow-up to keep the rumors flowing around the pending return of Chip Smith (formerly with Bonne Soiree), we have an update. Approached at his cooking class last Sunday about his return to the area, one of my Twitter friends, Matthew, inquired and found out that there is a "partnership" possibly forming with Celebrity Dairy where Chip has been returning to do special dinners. We will continue to watch during this 'dating phase.' Stay tuned.

If you are looking for a place to grab lunch today while supporting a good cause, you might want to trek over to our friends in downtown Durham's Ninth Street Bakery. They will be hosting their first 10% day of the year to benefit Earth Share of North Carolina. To find out more information on Earth Share, visit their Facebook page here. To find out more on Ninth Street Bakery, visit them here.

Looking to make your Valentine's dining plans in Durham (and why not?), then look no futher than a great guide put together by the folks over at Carpe Durham.

And speaking of Valentines, if you don't have plans yet for Valentine's Day, Taste Carolina has you covered. They will be holding two food tours that will include dinner, drinks, dessert and chocolate boxes! The tours will take place on February 14th from 5:15 until 8 p.m. in both Raleigh and Durham. Here are some of the restaurants that you'll be visiting on this tour - Raleigh: 18 Seaboard, Market, Escazu, Piebird, Tyler's Taproom, Calavera, Sitti, Chuck's, Beasley's, Jibarra, C Grace, Foundation, Draft, Natty Greene's, Raleigh Wine Shop. Durham: Revolution, L'Uva, Tyler's Taproom, Toast, Bull City Burger & Brewery, Piedmont, Dos Perros, Beyu. Sign-up and get more information here.

Raleigh's Mandolin Restaurant is hosting their first wine dinner on February 22nd. The dinner will feature world renowned wine importer Peter Weygandt and the cost is $140 per person + tax & gratuity. Space is limited, so call 919.322.0368 or email them. Get more information here.

Cafe Helios, located in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh, will host a brunch titled Blend on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 10 am. Chef Justin Johnson will prepare a five-course brunch, including crab and sweet corn chowder, and roasted heirloom beets with Raleigh's Videri brand chocolate served with homemade ricotta and micro greens. Five Counter Culture coffees will be brewed using five methods (they'll go into detail on each method and be available to answer any questions). Tickets to Helios' Blend brunch are $30 and available at the restaurant.

If you or someone you love requires a gluten-free diet, you might want to sign up for this. Lucky 32 in Cary will be hosting a Gluten Free Cooking Class (over lunch) on Saturday, February 4 from 11 to 1. You'll learn 5 great recipes that you'd never know are gluten free. He'll also talk about good ways to convert existing recipes to gluten-free alternatives. And in addition to lunch and a cocktail, you'll receive souvenir recipe cards and chances at give away door prizes. The cost is $39 per person (includes tax and gratuity). For reservations, please call Lara Yerges at Lucky 32 in Cary at 919.233.1632 or email her. Get more information here.

Mark your calendar for an event that will feature seven local star chefs from renowned restaurants that will compete for the title and bragging rights of Shrimp and Grits Champion in the inaugural Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chefs' Throwdown on Saturday, February 25 from 1-4 pm at The Carolina Inn. The competing chefs (as of now) feature Jeremy Blankenship, chef at Tyler's Tap Room; Trey Cleveland, executive chef of Top of the Hill; Adam Cobb, executive chef of Glasshalfull; Bret Jennings, executive chef and owner of Elaine's on Franklin; Vimala Rajendran, executive chef and owner of Vimala's Curry Blossom Cafe; Jimmy Reale, executive chef of Carolina Crossroads Restaurant and Bar; and Adam Rose, executive chef of Il Palio.Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online here.

And we close with another goody to add to your calendar. As part of National Pancake Day IHOP will host its seventh annual National Pancake Day free pancake giveaway on Tuesday, February 28th from 7 - 10 a.m. at restaurants nationwide. Each guest can enjoy a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes and make an optional contribution to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. Learn more here.

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Two Big Announcements

I want to pause for a second and thank all of my clients and all of my readers. My business - Triangle Food Guy - celebrates its one year anniversary tomorrow - February 4. It was one year ago that I launched this crazy business and it has been amazing. I have some of the most loyal clients that make it a blast to work with every day. I love all of you! Thanks!

And, this blog has become a beast of its own and is off the charts as far as readership. And to be honest, there is not any reason everyone in the entire Triangle shouldn't be reading this blog. To that end, we are "officially" giving it its own identity and name - Friday Fun Food Facts. Thanks to Seamus, Jeff and the team over at Liaison Design Group (who do all my work) we've created the following logo that you'll see starting next week. Thanks to all my readers and followers both on this blog, on Twitter and on Facebook. Thanks for all your support!

Friday Fun Food Facts - January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T05:45:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Cary just welcomed its newest addition to the area's food scene. Last night Rockwell's American Grill swung open their doors and joins the growing family of restaurants at Rocky Top Hospitality. Rockwell's is located at 1080 Darrington Drive in Cary and features a modern American grill with family style portions. Rockwell's serves breakfast all day and has an outdoor patio with seating for 100. Get this restaurant into your rotation quickly (serving dinner only for now; they'll add lunch in short order). Check them out here.

And right next door in Morrisville, the Park West Village Shopping Center (think Target and Buy Buy Baby) is starting to pop with dining options. YoLo Frozen Yogurt is already open. Looking very close to opening is Hibachi Blue and it looks like that will be followed by Ruckus Pizza, Pasta & Spirits. No open dates on those two yet, but they are getting close. And you might remember, back in October, 2010 we reported these other establishments would be coming to that development: Travinia Italian Kitchen, New Japan Express, Qdoba Mexican Grill, and Zoe's Kitchen.

Over in Chapel Hill, there is a new pizza joint in town - The Standard, located at 403 W. Rosemary Street. The Standard serves up not just pizza, but a pretty extensive "bistro" menu as well as beer and spirits. Here is a link to their Facebook page.

And if that is not enough pizza for Chapel Hill, there are two more pizza joints "Coming Soon." Over near Eastgate Shopping Center, in the space next to Blockbuster Video (and behind Staples), there is a sign up for Camos Brothers Pizza. It will be located in the former Quizno's location. Thanks to Jason for the heads up on this one. We'll keep an eye on it.

Also in Chapel Hill, up in Timberlyne Shopping Center, there is a "Coming Soon" sign for Pizza Vito, real New York pizza. No word on an open date, but it looks to be sooner, rather than later.

Durham's Golden Belt finally has a permanent spot to grab a cup of coffee, breakfast and lunch munchies as well as yogurt! Blend opened at the end of last week and will be serving Counter Culture coffee and Yogen Fruz yogurt. In addition, Courtney and Camryn Smith of Sudie's Fresh Baked Goods are managing the day-to-day cooking where you can expect soups, sandwiches and other grab 'n' go options. Blend is located at 807 East Main Street and is open 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 3 pm Saturday.

Sweet Frog in Chapel Hill, the area's newest yogurt shop, will be holding a multi-day grand opening today and tomorrow (January 28). They'll be giving away prizes every hour from 8 pm to 12 midnight today; and all day on Saturday. Sweet Frog is located at 105 East Franklin. I'd send you to the website, but it doesn't even list Chapel Hill yet. Go figure.

The Q Shack at North Hills in Raleigh is now serving breakfast seven days a week. They are smoking their own thick-cut bacon, making their own sausage and are using farm fresh local eggs for breakfast. The menu also includes sweet potato tots and slow-cooked stone ground grits with Ashe County hoop cheese. Prices range from $2.99 to $5.99 for breakfast sandwiches to entrees. Breakfast is served from 7-10 am Mondays to Saturdays and 11 am to 2 pm on Sundays. Stop in and say hello to Tom!

And speaking of breakfast/brunch, The Twisted Fork Restaurant & Bakery has added a Sunday brunch buffet as well as special deals for its soups, salads and grilled cheese sandwiches, and combinations of any or all three items, at lunch and dinner. For a full list of items and their individual costs, visit them here .

If you like to dine in downtown Raleigh and are looking for new options for dinner, Spize Cafe just extended their hours to accommodate you. Beginning February 1st, Spize will be open until 8:30 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Check them out.

And it is with great sadness that we inform you that last Wednesday, downtown Pittsboro's legendary General Store Cafe closed their doors. I had the pleasure of working with Vance and his staff for the past two or three years and can't say enough great things about him. This will leave a huge gap in the culture of Pittsboro, but I can't help but think that the space will be filled up quickly. We'll keep an eye on it. Thanks to Vance for everything he did for the community (and will continue to do I'm sure).

Well that didn't take long. The Daily Tar Heel reported this week that He's Not Here has come to terms with a new owner. All we know at this point is that the "winning bid" came from a UNC alum who played football at the University during the 1980s and his long-time friend (who's wife attended UNC-CH). Apparently, and not surprising, the level of interest was off the charts. Long live He's Not Here. I'll raise a Blue Cup for that!

In an effort to keep up with the rumors swirling around Chip Smith's (formerly with Bonne Soiree) return to the area, we do know for sure that he will be holding a cooking class this Sunday from 2-4 pm at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill. The class is all about sweets and you'll learn some excellent dessert recipes to add to your repertoire. The cost to enroll is $35; reserve your seat online here. And if you go, ask him when he's coming back and let me know!

Next Tuesday's (Jan. 31) opening night of Green Day's "American Idiot" at Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium will feature a food truck rodeo from 5-7:30 p.m. The rodeo will feature six trucks that will gather in front of Memorial Auditorium -- Klausie's Pizza, Only Burger, KoKyu BBQ, Baguettaboutit, Lo Yo On The Go and Chick-N-Que. Oh yeah. And if you are interested in going to the show, there is a special ticket offer for the opening performance: $32 for seats in the orchestra section, $22 for seats in the mezzanine section. That's a $10 discount. Use the code ROCK when ordering.

The Triangle's newest Tyler's Restaurant & Taproom, now open in downtown Raleigh's Seaboard Station, will host a tasting of rare and vintage beers from 2 to 6 pm on Saturday, Feb. 4. Forty craft breweries will be represented at the tasting. Tickets are $65 and include unlimited tastings, a commemorative stemmed glass, a tasting notebook, light appetizers and bottled water. Designated driver tickets are available for $15. To purchase tickets, click here.

Speaking of beer, North Carolina has developed quite a list of breweries and now there is a very cool interactive map that gives you all the information you want on each of them. Check out this great NC Brewery Map showing all of the local breweries throughout the state!

Cafe Helios, located in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh, will host a brunch titled Blend on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 10 am. Chef Justin Johnson will prepare a five-course brunch, including crab and sweet corn chowder, and roasted heirloom beets with Raleigh's Videri brand chocolate served with homemade ricotta and micro greens. Five Counter Culture coffees will be brewed using five methods (they'll go into detail on each method and be available to answer any questions). Tickets to Helios' Blend brunch are $30 and available at the restaurant.

If you or someone you love requires a gluten-free diet, you might want to sign up for this. Lucky 32 in Cary will be hosting a Gluten Free Cooking Class (over lunch) on Saturday, February 4 from 11 to 1. You'll learn 5 great recipes that you'd never know are gluten free. He'll also talk about good ways to convert existing recipes to gluten-free alternatives. And in addition to lunch and a cocktail, you'll receive souvenir recipe cards and chances at give away door prizes. The cost is $39 per person (includes tax and gratuity). For reservations, please call Lara Yerges at Lucky 32 in Cary at 919.233.1632 or email her. Get more information here.

This looks like fun. According to Tim Moore and Carolina Business Connection, seven local star chefs from renowned restaurants will compete for the title and bragging rights of Shrimp and Grits Champion in the inaugural Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chefs' Throwdown on Saturday, February 25 from 1-4 pm at The Carolina Inn. The competing chefs (as of now) feature Jeremy Blankenship, chef at Tyler's Tap Room; Trey Cleveland, executive chef of Top of the Hill; Adam Cobb, executive chef of Glasshalfull; Bret Jennings, executive chef and owner of Elaine's on Franklin; Vimala Rajendran, executive chef and owner of Vimala's Curry Blossom Cafe; Jimmy Reale, executive chef of Carolina Crossroads Restaurant and Bar; and Adam Rose, executive chef of Il Palio.Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online here.

And we'll close with something that will make everyone feel appreciated. Dairy Queen is celebrating Customer Appreciation Day on January 28th by offering everything at 1/2 off at participating stores! Click here to find out of there is a store close to you participating. (It appears as if most Triangle locations are participating)

Friday Fun Food Facts - January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T04:46:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

So we'll kick off this week with some exciting news out of Chapel Hill. Well, one is a pretty strong rumor and the other is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity (and not really food related, but I couldn't resist).

First, word on the street is that the Mellow Mushroom is making a return to Chapel Hill. For those that have been around a while, you'll remember MM's first attempt in the old Shoney's building across from The Siena Hotel (and Il Palio). Well, word has it that they will be moving into the old Ham's location on West Franklin Street. And the highlight of this location (much like their counterparts in Raleigh, Cary, Durham & Wake Forest) will be the outdoor patio. No date yet, but we'll keep you posted.

And just up Franklin Street The Independent noted that a local icon is up for sale - for a cool $165k. Chapel Hill's infamous He's Not Here is being sold. The original post on Craig's List has been pulled down, but it is now listed on Biz Quest (see it here). It notes annual revenue of $400k (that's about 7,000 blue cups!). Anyway, its been around since the mid 70's and the owner is retiring (again). The only catch, it is being sold "as is."

Cary is getting a new wing joint. Renovations are in full swing for North Carolina's first Hurricane Grill & Wings which will be in the Shoppes of Kildaire (same shopping center as Staples and Trader Joe's). Originally scheduled to open at the end of January, they are now looking at the end of February. We'll keep you posted. Get a sneak peek at their operation here.

Tyler's Taproom opened last month in Raleigh's Seaboard Station, and now Tyler's Bottle Shop, a small craft beer store, has opened right next door according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl. They will carry 400 different types of craft beer, but don't go there for the stuff you normally get at the grocery store. They'll be carrying select beers that aren't readily available. They'll also sell wine, brewery merchandise, barbecue sauces and NC peanuts. Future plans call for them to carry packages of Farmhand Foods sausage and possibly dedicate part of the space to serving coffee and espresso. The shop is open 10 to 10 everyday except Sunday when it is open noon - 8 pm. Check them out here.

And speaking of new, there is a new food truck on the way - The Humble Pig. The husband & wife team will serve up locally sourced organic bbq featuring smoked pork, chicken and beef along with other goodies like sweet potato fries (in brown sugar crumble and Rosemary Maple butter dip) and desserts like good ol' banana pudding and peanut butter pie. There is no date yet on when they'll start rolling around the Triangle, but we'll keep you posted or you can keep up with them on Facebook.

Raleigh recently landed the latest Papa Murphy's location, bringing the Triangle's total to 5. The newest location is in The Shops at Oberlin Court near Gigi's Cupcakes and Zoe's Kitchen. The other locations are in Cary (2), Wake Forest and Apex. Get more information here.

A couple of tidbits from Cameron Village. The first is the open date has been set for the country's first two-story Chick-fil-A. It will open on March 1 - which is a Thursday. We'll keep an eye on it and let you know more about their grand opening celebrations and such.

And we've got an open date for Sugarland's move into Raleigh, and more specifically, Cameron Village. Sugarland is re-creating the look and feel of its Franklin Street shop/bakery/bar in the old Lavender & Lace spot and the plan is to open April 1 (no kidding). Get ready for cupcakes and martinis Raleigh!

And speaking of new, the folks over at The Twisted Fork at Triangle Town Center have rolled out a new Sunday brunch menu, including $3 Bloody Marys and Mimosas! Check out their new menu here.

Four local food trucks are joining forces for Durham's first "Food Truck Mash-Up," at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at Motorco in Durham. The trucks include Chirba Chirba, Pie Pushers, Farmhand Foods and KoKyu BBQ trucks. The "mash-up" angle means each truck will make dishes using ingredients from the other trucks. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. (Get your tickets sooner rather than later because they will go fast.) To buy tickets, go here.

Triangle Restaurant Week returns to the Triangle next week and boasts nearly 90 participating restaurants. TRW gives restaurants the opportunity to feature a special fixed price, 3-course meal each and every day they are open during the event. We recommend making reservations all next week to ensure you can get in - this week has grown greatly in popularity. Get all the details here.

And after you've filled up on Restaurant Week, don't let the fun stop. Go ahead and make plans on February 2nd to attend a beer dinner at G2B Gastropub in Durham. They will be featuring a four-course meal paired with four Lonerider brews all for $32. There are only 40 seats so call 919.251.9451 now for your reservation! See the menu and get more details here.

Listen up coupon clippers - here's one you'll enjoy. Quizno's is offering $2 off purchases over $10. But hurry, the coupon expires on January 25, 2012. Get it here.

And we'll close with an amazing deal that is truly too good to pass up. Check out downtown Raleigh's Market Restaurant and their "Five Dollar Fridays!" Yes, you read that right - $5 for a great lunch every Friday. And better yet, there are always two choices, including a vegan option. So, what are you doing for lunch today? Market Restaurant is located in the historic Mordecai neighborhood at 938 N. Blount St. Check out their Facebook page here or their website here for more details.

Friday Fun Food Facts - January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T05:34:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Lots of grand openings today (Friday the 13th)! We start with Videri Chocolate Factory in downtown Raleigh. Their festivities run from 11 -7 pm today and tomorrow. They will be offering tours of the chocolate factory, free tastings and a "buy four bars, get one free" special for all those who visit. The factory and retail store are located at 327 W. Davie St. For more information about their chocolate made with fair trade cacao beans, check them out here.

Also in Raleigh, World of Beer Raleigh is celebrating its grand opening starting at noon today (let the boss know you'll be taking a long lunch!). The celebration includes live music, free food, giveaways and raffle items. The store is located at 4208-150 Six Forks Road in the Cap Trust Building, across from North Hills Plaza. For more information, go here.

Yogurt fans delight - a new yogurt shop opens today in North Raleigh. Moonlight Swirl is located in the Falls Village Shopping Center next to NY Pizza. Lots of giveaways, buy-one-get-one deals and an iPad giveaway! Check them out here.

Also, we told you about this last month, but Joe Van Loco, the joint venture between Joe Van Gogh Coffee and Locopops, has opened its store in North Raleigh. It features a menu of freshly roasted coffee and classic espresso drinks, along with the signature flavor combinations of Locopops handcrafted ice pops and pints. Swing by the Towne North Shopping Center at 8369 Creedmoor Rd, for those wanting a morning cappuccino or afternoon frozen treat!

So last week we talked briefly about Village Burger opening up soon in University Mall in Chapel Hill. After snooping around, we found out a little bit more. Also in that location will be Scout & Molly's (their grand opening is February 4th). Turns out Village Burger is the latest concept from GHG Restaurant Group (think Spice Street, Parizade, Vin Rouge, Bin 54, Nasher Cafe, etc.). So, what happens to Spice Street? Will it remain? Will it become a new concept? We will find out in February. Stay tuned.

Ben & Jerry's in Chapel Hill just "re-opened" after renovations since this fall to accommodate the installation of an Auntie Anne's Pretzels within the space. Free ice cream and pretzels were certainly attractions, as was an appearance by Ben and Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield. He and Ben Cohen launched the business in Burlington, Vt., in 1978.

Durham is about to get a little bit perkier. A specialty coffee and tea shop, Respite Café, is moving closer to reality and will soon open on Duke Street. Courtney Brown, owner of the future new business, hopes to open very soon after completing renovations at 115 N. Duke St. Brown is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law. She plans to offer loose-leaf teas, coffee from the Carrboro Coffee Co. as well as pastries, soups and possibly small sandwiches. Keep up with her progress on their Facebook page here.

Weinberg Deli in North Raleigh just announced new extended hours and that they will begin this Monday serving breakfast all day long! That is great news. Get more information on Facebook here or on their home page.

Four local food trucks are joining forces for Durham's first "Food Truck Mash-Up" at 6 pm Saturday, Jan. 21 at Motorco in Durham. The trucks include Chirba Chirba, Pie Pushers, Farmhand Foods and KoKyu BBQ. The "mash-up" angle means each truck will make dishes using ingredients from the other trucks. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. (Tickets will go fast.) To buy tickets, go here.

Friday's will be a little different at Ashley Christensen's Beasley's Chicken + Honey. On Friday's, Beasley's will expand their menu of fried chicken and an assortment of vegetable sides to include fish. Christensen says the particular fish featured will change each week. But for $9.50, each Friday plate will include a six-ounce portion of fish dredged in buttermilk and flour and accompanied by fries and roasted tomato malt vinegar slaw. Expect specials each day of the week before long to make it more of a Southern blue plate feature. The Friday fish fry is just the beginning. Get more information here.

Over in Cary, executive chef at An restaurant, Michael Choung, sent an email out earlier this week that he was no longer associated with An. Choung started An with the backing of Ann Goodnight (whose husband is the CEO of SAS in Cary). No word yet on who will take over the grill there, but Michael did allude to "his next venture" in his email, but nothing confirmed as of yet. We'll keep you posted.

It appears as if Ballymore Irish Pub in North Raleigh has closed. We got word from a friend that they went by and it was locked up and appeared closed. We attempted to reach Ballymore on numerous occasions during "normal" dining hours - but never got an answer.

On Saturday, the LiveWell Network will showcase Durham's Chirba Chirba dumpling food truck on "My Family Recipe Rocks." The episode designates Durham as one of the "top food truck destinations in America." Duh!

Triangle Restaurant Week returns to the Triangle January 23-29. TRW gives restaurants the opportunity to feature a special fixed price, 3-course meal each and every day they are open during the event. Get all the details here.

In Chapel Hill, Spanky's Restaurant & Bar is making room for new offerings. Beginning at 5 pm on Jan. 20, the restaurant will host a cellar-clearing event in collaboration with NC Brewing featuring 12 North Carolina draft beers. The cellar clearing is open to the public and is "for beer geeks and regular folks alike." The cost is simply the cost of featured beers purchased. Get more information here.

And if you can't make that beer dinner, check out the one over in Durham at G2B Gastropub on February 2 where they will be featuring a four-course meal paired with four Lonerider brews all for $32. There are only 40 seats so call (919) 251-9451 now for your reservation! See the menu and get more details here.

The folks over at Triangle Food Tour just released some new dates for Durham (as well as Cary, Raleigh and Chapel Hill/Carrboro). But if you are interested, you better go ahead and sign-up. These popular tours allow you to walk, talk, taste and sip from some of the area's best dining options. The tours are typically limited to 10 people and cost $35 plus a service fee. If you are looking for a very cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon, check them out here.

And kudos this week goes to Chick-fil-A for making strides toward making "kid's meals" healthier by adding Grilled Chicken Nuggets. The move marks the first time a national fast food chain has offered a grilled entrée as part of a children's menu. Additionally, the chain is enhancing its side choices, adding Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go applesauce, and its drink choices, by featuring one percent milk, 100 percent apple juice, its signature freshly squeezed lemonade, and water as drink choices. Hats off to Chick-fil-A. Now maybe the other boneheads will follow suit.

Friday Fun Food Facts - January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T05:28:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

We're getting closer and closer to Rocky Top Hospitality's newest venture here in the Triangle. Later this month, January 24th to be exact, Cary will become home to Rockwell's American Grill. It is located in the former Stonewood Grill location off of Cary Parkway. Rockwell's is being described as "polished casual" and family friendly. The menu promises comfort foods inspired by diners and delis, with breakfast served all day. We'll keep you posted on opening day festivities. Check them out here.

And speaking of Rocky Top Hospitality, there is a lot of buzz circling around their next move after the opening of Rockwell's. The Triangle Business Journal noted this week that they are looking for the next location of their wildly successful Tribeca Tavern (with Cary and Raleigh locations now). The TBJ reported that they are looking as far away as Greensboro and the Triad. While that is true, I can tell you there is a strong desire to locate one in the Chapel Hill / Durham area. We'll keep an eye on that and let you know something as soon as we do.

And before I leave this subject, I can tell you to keep your ear to the ground for a huge announcement from Rocky Top regarding a new venture in downtown Raleigh. I have been sworn to secrecy, but I can tell you this next project is going to be both unique and special - both for Rocky Top and downtown Raleigh. And to squash any early rumors, it is not anything to do with the Glenwood South district. Stay tuned.

And Tyler's Restaurant and Taproom is now open in downtown Raleigh. They are located in Seaboard Station next to Williams Peace University. Enjoy comfort food along with over 80 craft and specialty beers on tap! This newest location boasts a pretty amazing outdoor dining patio. Also, look for a bottle shop to open soon right next door! Tyler's also has locations in Carrboro, Apex and Durham. Check them out here.

My avid readers will remember this past summer, the 6-yr. old building that housed the former Carino's Italian Restaurant on Fayetteville Road near The Streets at Southpoint in Durham was demolished to make way for two more retail operations. Now we know that one of those will be a Buffalo Wild Wings, which plans to open on February 6. This will be the third Triangle location for Buffalo Wild Wings - with locations in Garner and Knightdale. Also of note, their webiste lists Morrisville as "Opening Soon" - we'll keep an eye on it. In the meantime, visit their website here.

And over in Chapel Hill, on Franklin Street, Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt has opened. It is located adjacent to Starbucks in the space formerly occupied by Kidzu Children's Museum (which has moved into University Square). Sweet Frog has other Triangle locations in Raleigh, Cary and Durham. Get more information here.

Also in Chapel Hill, Joe Van Gogh (out of Hillsborough) has opened up a kiosk in University Mall on the end near Dillard's and the new Chapel Hill Public Library. Check them out here.

Also in University Mall there is a somewhat subtle sign on the "construction wall" recently erected outside the mall entrance to Spice Street. The sign notes that "Village Burger" is coming soon. Unfortunately, that is all that we know at this point. I don't know much about Village Burger and don't even have a projected open date. But we'll keep an eye on it for you. And don't worry, Spice Street isn't going anywhere.

And in case you missed it. After a seven year run, the Red Room tapas lounge closed last week in the Glenwood South district of Raleigh. Red Room, located at 510 Glenwood Avenue, was owned by Rocky Top Hospitality.

Make plans now and don't miss the grand opening of World of Beer North Hills next Friday, January 13. They will have live music, giveaways and a raffle benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina. Get more details here.

According to the Independent Weekly, there is a new food truck on the horizon - Sympathy for the Deli. The concept features locally cured, smoked meats that will operate as a catering business as well as your "standard" food truck. Jonathan Richelson, formerly of Memphis, Tenn., is the brain child behind the Triangle's latest food truck. He will operate out of The Cookery in Durham. Keep up with his progress here.

Watts Grocery over in Durham is holding a cocktail class on February 22 at 6:30 pm. The cost is $35 and includes drinks, take home ingredients and great snacks! Call to reserve your spot at 919.416.5040. Or you can visit them online here.

How tasty is Raleigh? Southern Living magazine wants to see how Raleigh stacks up. Raleigh has been selected as one of the Top 10 "Tastiest Towns in the South" by Southern Living magazine as announced in the January 2012 issue. They are letting readers ultimately choose the winning town and hope that residents will rally around their hometowns and vote for their favorite through January 31. If you want to vote (we are currently in 9th place), go here.

Congrats to downtown Durham's Old Havana Sandwich Shop as they celebrate their one year anniversary at the end of this month. The festivities will begin on January 20th with a Dominoes tournament! Show up at 6:30 if you'd like lessons, and tournament play begins at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit El Centro Hispano. And on January 21st, they will have live music with Saludos Compay. Check out their Facebook page for the latest information.

And finally, I end with a selfish plug (it's good to be the king!). This month, all orders through Triangle Food Guy over $100, earns the person placing the order a $5 gift card to Starbucks! So, place 10 orders in January - receive $50 in free coffee (or mochas, or lattes...you can get a lot with that!). Also, over the holidays, we added 5 new restaurants to our lineup and added new menus to a half dozen of our restaurants. Check it out now!

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T05:29:00.000-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

According to the TBJ, the Triangle is getting its first Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery in North Raleigh this spring, just down the street from like-minded Hooters. Tilted Kilt is a Celtic-themed restaurant and bar that "caters to a male demographic." And before I get into any more trouble with the wife, they do have burgers, pizza, sandwiches, wraps and salads - so I've heard. It is expected to open in March, just in time for March Madness. Not that I'll ever go, but it will be located at 4516 Falls of Neuse Road in the Falls Center shopping center, in the stand-alone building adjacent to Carolina Ale House (the building that has housed a Cooker restaurant, Taste of Thai and the Japan Inn restaurant). I don't think I'll provide a link...

Through his GoGoRaleigh site my buddy Dana McCall announced this week that Vesuvio's, a casual Italian restaurant, will open in North Raleigh's Peachtree Market in the space formerly occupied by Bear Rock Café (and before that, Atlanta Bread Co.). Look or a springtime opening. In the meantime, visit their website here.

Videri Chocolate Factory opened this past Thursday at 327 W. Davie St., in the Depot Station across from The Pit barbecue restaurant. Videri offers up homemade chocolate bars made from organic cocoa beans, organic cocoa butter and organic sugar. Starr Sink and her husband Sam Ratto are behind the factory. It is open from noon to 10 pm Thursday through Sunday. Get more information here. Or here on their Facebook page.

Neomode will open its new North Raleigh Mediterranean/Lebanese eatery next week. The cafe and market will open in the Harvest Plaza shopping center at Strickland and Six Forks roads. Neomonde's other Triangle locations are on Beryl Road in Raleigh and Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville. Visit them online here. Or visit their Facebook page here.

Menchies Frozen Yogurt opened up its newest location over in Raleigh last weekend. This marks Menchies third Triangle area location. It is located in Sutton Square at 6325 Falls of Neuse Road. Find them on Facbeook here. Or visit their website here.

Today is the first full day for Alvin Cotto's latest venture - Bistro 155 in Apex (near the intersection of US 1 and Hwy. 55). Many of you know Alvin from his successful catering operation - We Cook For You (you can order from them here). Bistro 155 is located at 1402 E. William St. in the location that used to house Ocean Stars Seafood Restaurant. Congrats to Alvin and his team! Drop them a note on Facebook here.

We told you about this a few weeks ago, but the owners of ShabaShabu in Durham have converted that space and opened it as Fish House - a fish house and wine bar. It is located at 4020 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. directly across from Spartacus Restaurant.

Randy's Pizza is opening its 6th Triangle location this Saturday with a grand opening from 11 to 4. Look for free slices of pizza and soda as well as drawings for tons of cool prizes. The newest location is in the Alexander Village Plaza, at 2121 T.W. Alexander Drive, near Brier Creek. Visit them on Facebook here. Or visit their website here.

The Triangle's newest food truck hits the streets today (December 16th). Baguettaboutit will launch at Golden Belt in Durham as part of Third Friday. These sausages are inserted into a freshly baked French baguettes along with your choice of 8 unique sauces. Golden Belt is located at 807 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701. For more information, visit them online. or follow them on Twitter @baguettaboutit.

And speaking of food trucks, and lots of food trucks, coming up tomorrow (December 17) from noon until 6 pm is the Rock & Shop Market. It's a huge urban craft fair featuring 110 vendors selling their handmade goods, 2 bands playing, a DJ, a fashion show, and a food truck rodeo of sorts to boot. This year's event will be held at three adjacent venues in Durham - Motorco Music Hall, FullSteam Brewery, and the Trotter Building. The list of trucks slated to be there includes: Chirba Chirba; KoKyu BBQ; Parlour; Pie Pushers; Old North State BBQ; Will & Pop's; BikeCoffee; Only Burger; Klausie's Pizza; and Slippin Sliders. The trucks will be parked outside of Motorco and FullSteam. Admittance to the event costs $5. This will get you into the three venues to shop, see the bands, hear the DJ, see the fashion show, etc. Access to the food trucks is of course free. For additional information, directions, and details, go here.

The Chick-fil-A at North Hills is turning 7 and they want you to celebrate with them today (December 16)! They will have a variety of activities throughout the day. Lots of activities for the kids, including appearances by Cow Santa! For all the details of the day, visit the restaurant's Facebook page or their website here.

Western Wake Farmers' Market holds its pre-Christmas Market from 3-6 p.m. Dec. 22, featuring locally grown produce, meat, eggs, honey, coffee, breads, sweets, crafts and more. The market is on Morrisville Carpenter Road between Davis Drive and Highway 55 in Carpenter Village.

Vivace at North Hills will offer "La Vigilia," a seven-course seafood menu with optional wine pairings, at dinner during the week leading up to Christmas. It's the restaurant's observation of an Italian Christmas Eve tradition in which diners await the midnight birth of Jesus. The number of courses varies from city to city in Southern Italy. Details and reservations.

And finally, looking to eat out on Christmas Day? The News & Observer has you covered with this handy, dandy list. Check it out here.

And with that, I say goodbye to 2011. Hard to believe and what an amazing year it has been. But there is no rest for the weary here (not that I'm weary, but that is the saying...) as I will be reworking A LOT of menus on our site, adding new restaurants and caterers, and revamping this very blog during the holiday break. So, many, many, many thanks to all of you, and to all...a good night! See you in 2012!

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 9, 2011

2011-12-09T06:02:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Downtown Raleigh has landed a new quick Asian restaurant for the "little pod" (one of four) located on Fayetteville Street formerly occupied by Krispy Kreme. Fire Wok will be a Chinese food option featuring hibachi-grilled dishes, sushi and teriyaki. It is expected to open in early 2012. The same family owns Vic's Ristorante Italiano in City Market and La Volta Italiano in the Progress Energy building - both in downtown Raleigh.

Chocoholics unite! It was just announced this week that Videri Chocolate Factory will be swinging open their doors next Thursday, December 15th! Videri is located in the heart of downtown in the historic Depot Station, across from The Pit. Visit their Facebook page here or their website here. Look out Hershey, PA - you ain't got nothing on us!

The owners of ShabaShabu have closed down the Durham location (Raleigh remains open) and will quickly convert that restaurant into The Fish House, a restaurant and wine bar serving primarily grilled fish such as swordfish, salmon, tilapia and tuna. The restaurant is located at 4020 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. No open date is set, but they are hiring, so it will be soon.

Got word this week from our friends over at Carpe Durham that there will be a new coffee shop coming to the RTP area. Koinonia Coffee House will be opening soon at 2945 Miami Blvd. in RTP. Get more details here.

Also in Durham, my buddy Chris Duke (owner of Anna's Gourmet Goodies) shared with me that a new comfort food restaurant called Big Daddy's Grill has opened in downtown Durham at 608 N. Mangum Street (near the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau).

Speaking of Anna's Gourmet Goodies, now is a great time to give them a visit if you are looking for the perfect (and delicious) holiday gift. Check out their holiday gift ideas here.

With winter upon us and things getting colder, the food truck scene in the Triangle is heating up! (Thanks again to Mary-Ann Baldwin!) The first is Sarge's Chef on Wheels brought to us by Janet & Julius West, a husband and wife chef team. They describe their cuisine as down-home cooking with an Asian/Caribbean Flair. Sign me up! Visit them here.

Also coming on the food truck scene later this month will be Baguettaboutit (get it?) food truck which will feature European-style sausage sandwiches across the Triangle. Visit them here.

And this isn't exactly food-truck news, but is just as sweet. There is a "new kid" in town popping up at various venues tempting your dessert palette - Whoopie Squares. Intrigued? Think large, square oreo cookie, but 100 times better. They are a handcrafted gourmet snack with fluffy filling sandwiched between two cake-like cookies. Operating out of The Cookery in Durham, find out here when you can give one a try.

According to one of our readers, it appears as if Dogs and Something Else (yes, that is/was the name) has closed. The fast food restaurant served up Venezuelan style meals up at13200 New Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh.

Alright, I know what you are thinking - Where can we go out to eat on Christmas Day? Right? Fear not for the News & Observer has you covered. Here is a list of Triangle area restaurants open on Christmas Day.

And I know you are trying to think of what you can get that special person (or yourself for that matter) for the holidays. Well, the good folks over at Chapel Hill Magazine have put together a great list of cookbooks by local chefs - including Andrea Reusing, Bill Smith, Bill Neal, Mildred Council, Sara Foster and more. Check it out here. And to make it even better, a handful of these chefs will be on hand at A Southern Season in University Mall in Chapel Hill this Friday and Saturday where you can actually get a copy of their cookbook signed! Here is a link to their website and the schedule of book signings.

Guglhupf Bakery, Patisserie and Cafe in Durham is holding its annual German Christmas Market from 10 am to 4 pm this Saturday (December 10th). It's a version of the Weihnachts Market so popular in German villages, where folks can get a bite to eat while they enjoy music, kids' activities and holiday shopping. Guglhupf Bakery, Patisserie and Cafe is located at 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. For information, visit them here.

Here is another opportunity for you to pick up some locally made and crafted goodies for that "foodie" on your list - the St. Thomas More Christmas Holiday Shoppe. The craft show will feature over sixty artisans and crafters. The show is on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 am to 4 pm at 920 Carmichael St. in Chapel Hill. Admission is free.

So, if you haven't planned out your Saturday yet - hit the St. Thomas More Christmas Holiday Shoppe, then swing by A Southern Season (just a mile away), and then head straight down 15-501 into Durham and hit Guglhupf Bakery!

And finally, something to get on your calendar as well. The Western Wake Farmers' Market will hold its pre-Christmas Market from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, featuring locally grown produce, meat, eggs, honey, coffee, breads, sweets, crafts and more. The market is on Morrisville Carpenter Road between Davis Drive and Highway 55 in Carpenter Village. Get more information here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T05:52:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Bull Street Gourmet & Market, which originally opened on Bull Street in Charleston, S.C. has opened their third location, not on Bull Street, but in the Bull City. This location is on Shannon Road in Durham, in the same strip center with Pops Backdoor, Rick's Diner, Tutti Frutti and Only Burger's brick and mortar location. Visit them online here.

Gonza Tacos y Tequila is now officially open. They opened this week in the former Savoy location in Greystone Village in North Raleigh. To keep up with all they have going on, visit their Facebook page here.

We told you two weeks ago to look for a Thanksgiving week opening for Mandolin, and Sean and his team kept their word opening on November 23rd at the corner of Fairview and Oberlin in Raleigh. And contrary to popular belief, there is plenty of parking. Check out their website for details or visit their Facebook page here.

A new bakery opened in downtown Durham this past week at 111 W. Parrish Street. Loaf is the storefront from Ron Graff and his wife Jamie, who have set up the stand with the same name at the Durham Farmer's Market every Saturday for the past few years. Loaf's hours aren't set in stone yet, but we've heard they would be open 7am-7pm Monday-Saturday.

Einstein's Bros. Bagels has opened a location in Durham on Erwin Road (3000 Erwin Road to be exact) near the Lenox Baker Children's Hospital. Visit them online here.

Last week Glenwood South got a little sweeter with the opening of Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt shop. It is located at 222 Glenwood Avenue near Glenwood's intersection with Lane. Learn more about Tutti Frutti here.

Jake's Way Back Burgers has opened a second Durham location - with this one being in the food court at Northgate Mall. The other Durham location is off of Miami Blvd. next to the new WalMart and Sam's Club (near the 540 interchange). Jake's also has a location in Mebane at the Tanger Mall Outlet.

We told you back in September that Vin Rouge owner, Matthew Kelly, was putting together the financing to open a Spanish-inspired tapas bar and restaurant called Restaurant Mateo. Well, it looks like everything came together and he will soon be opening near Vin Rouge at 109 W. Chapel Hill Street (the former Book Exchange location) in downtown Durham. If his plans continue to come together, look for a springtime opening. We'll keep an eye on it.

Go ahead and circle February 2, 2012 on your calendar and get ready to "Eat More Chicken" as the country's first two-story Chick-fil-A (with two drive thru windows) opens in Cameron Village. See a photo of their progress and get more information here.

The Diner, which opened in January, 2010, closed their doors last week to walk-in customers. Their catering operation continues (you can order catering here) as Niall Hanley looks for a new owner of that spot in the popular Glenwood South district. Also, all outstanding Diner gift cards will be honored at Hibernian Restaurant & Pub, just down the street at 311 Glenwood Avenue. In addition to Hibernian, Hanley also owns Solas Raleigh.

And folks over in Cary are going to have to find a new place to get their morning mocha, as we learned about two weeks ago that It's a Grind (in the Cornerstone Shopping Center at the intersection of High House and Davis) surprisingly closed their doors. However, the Raleigh location on Falls of the Neuse Road in the Quail Corners Shopping Center remains open.

And I don't know when this happened (it could have been a while, as I had almost forgotten they were there), but the Bear Rock Café up on Six Forks Road across from Six Forks Station is no longer operational. Bear Rock continues, however, to do well at the original location on Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh, the store in Morrisville and the newest location over in Durham.

Here is the latest "rumor" running around the food scene right now. So you remember Chip & Tina Smith, the chef/owners of Bonne Soiree Restaurant that closed this last May over in Chapel Hill? After closing, they moved to New York, but have been coming back down periodically and doing dinners at The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City (the last one of the year is coming up. Sign up here). Well, word on the street is that fans of Bonne Soiree have convinced them to come back to North Carolina permanently. This will be a fun story to watch in early 2012. Stay tuned.

One of the region's premier fine dining destinations has received its first five-star rating from the 2012 Forbes Travel Guide. Herons, the restaurant at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, received the top honor after earning four stars from Forbes in each of the past four years. Herons is one of 25 restaurants worldwide and the only one in North Carolina to receive Forbes' five-star rating for 2012. Congrats to Scott Crawford and his team.

A new cook-off challenge will entice barbecue fanatics today (Dec. 2) when Historic City Market and Big Ed's host City Market Pig Wars in downtown Raleigh. Four professional and non-professional teams will face off in this new First Friday event. Eating will commence at 5:30 and will be complemented by live music and support for the Easter Seals. Get more information here.

Congrats to Chef Greg Lewis and his team over at Catering by Design as they were awarded the Best Caterer in the Triangle by The Knot (a wedding resource website) and their Best of Weddings Awards for 2012. If you'd like to order their catering, you can do so here.

And we couldn't conclude without some gift giving ideas for this season for the "foodie" on your list. First up, the News &Observer has put together a great list of gift ideas. Check it out here.

And if you are looking to give a cookbook as a gift (or suggest it to your loved ones as a gift to you!), be sure to check out the one by Andrea Reusing (Lantern) entitled, "Cooking in the Moment". It just made it onto the NY Times Notable Cookbooks list. As an added bonus, you can get it signed by Andrea herself at A Southern Season over in Chapel Hill on December 10th from noon until 2 pm. Here is the Southern Season Facebook page.

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 18, 2011

2011-11-18T05:43:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Dean Ogan and Rocky Top Hospitality are at it again. It was announced this week that Rocky Top would open their 6th Triangle-area restaurant concept in January of next year in the former Stonewood Grill location over in Cary near the intersection of Cary Parkway and Highway 54. Rockwell's American Grill will mesh the modern day American grill with the comfort of old school diners and delis. We'll let you know a firm open date once we have it. In the meantime, visit them on Facebook here.

It is nice to have great friends with great memories. Such is the case with my 'old' buddy Gordon Brown who reminded me of Mandolin's "any day now" opening at the corner of Fairview Road and Oberlin. As we reported back in September, their website still lists this month for their opening, and this week's Independent Weekly suggests it will be sometime around Thanksgiving. Good luck to Sean Fowler, also a Raleigh native like Gordon and myself, who will bring his experience at the Fearrington House to deliver contemporary Southern food to Raleigh. You can keep an eye on their opening announcement at their website here.

And for those playing at home, here is an updated list of occupants of the space that will soon be Mandolin - Johnson's Drug Store, The Bulldog, The Raven, Maccini's, Riptide's, EVOO, Mangia Bistro and Eat Kitchen & Bar, Bellini...and now, Mandolin.

Today is the day! The World of Beer will open in North Hills (directly across from Harris Teeter on the ground level of the CapTrust building) at noon (well, it is 5 o'clock somewhere). And if you are wondering if they will have your beer...did I mention 50 drafts and 500 bottled beers!?! Check their site out here or their Facebook page. And I think it is just coincidence, but happy birthday to Mindy!

JD's Tavern is opening this weekend in the old Xios Greek restaurant space in Apex at 800 W. Williams Street. They will hold a VIP event on Saturday, November 19th (must have reservations) and will open to the public on Monday, November 21st. Get more information on their website here or their Facebook page here.

This Saturday is the last Saturday Market at Rebus Works for the season - and this is one not to miss (Facebook Page). It opens as usual at 9, but will remain open until 4:30. All the "regular" local vendors will be on hand, but check out the food truck lineup - Old North State BBQ, Sausage Wagon, Chirba Chirba, Chicken-N-Que, Klausie's, Slippin Sliders and Triangle Raw Foodists as well as Fullsteam and Aviator Brewery. Spend your whole day on Saturday in downtown Raleigh with the Christmas Parade, the Saturday Market and the re-opening of Pullen Park.

Speaking of Pullen Park, when it re-opens this Saturday, it will feature a very cool café - Pullen Place Café which will open at 10 a.m. Pullen Place sits in the same place as the park's former concession stand, but that is the only similarity. Holly Taylor and her partners, Steve Mangano and Zely & Ritz chef/owner Sarig Agasi plan to offer fresh, seasonal, local foods at affordable prices. Check out their website here or here on their Facebook page.

And a shout out to Andy Siouville who is lobbying hard to become Triangle Food Guy's Western Wake County reporter...Andy shared with me this week that 1750 Original, which was at the corner of Tryon Road and Cary Parkway (behind Chilli's and next to Office Suites Plus), has closed. And from what Andy is hearing, look for an Irish Pub to give that spot a try next.

The Raleigh Wine Shop, located at 126 Glenwood Avenue, is about to host their first in-store food & wine event on Tuesday, December 6th at 7:15 p.m. The $30 event will pair wines of central Italy and Tuscany with food prepared by Chef Robin Bodwin. Space is limited, so visit their site now for more details and to make your reservation.

If you are looking for yet another reason to stop by Firehouse Subs, here it is. The Raleigh (in Brier Creek) and Garner (next to Lowe's Hardware) locations now feature the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. The "Freestyles" are the ultimate beverage experience that give you over 100 beverage choices in one sleek touchscreen.

Jibarra Modern Mexican in downtown Raleigh this week announced that new executive chef Oscar Diaz has developed and released his fall-winter menu after spending the last few months tweaking and refining it. Meet the new chef and browse their new menu on their website or visit them on Facebook here. Jibarra is in the renovated Depot Building in downtown Raleigh (327 W. Davie Street)

The Heart of Carolina Food Drive for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina kicks off today and runs through December. It is a community-wide food and funds drive to help stock the Food Bank shelves for the coming winter months. ABC 11 Eyewitness News is the lead sponsor. Get more information here.

Acme Restaurant in Carrboro will hold a Bordeaux Dinner this Sunday, November 20th at 6:30. A once in a lifetime chance to taste jaw-dropping red Bordeaux from the illustrious 2001 and 2005 vintages. We're talking fancy. And delicious. Reservations are required by phone. It will sell out. Price is $85 per person. Call 919-929-2263.

Still scrambling around for some last minute Thanksgiving recipes? What if you could get your grubby little hands on recipes from Andrea Reusing (Lantern), Bill Smith (Crook's Corner) and Colin Bedford (The Fearrington House Restaurant)? Well you can, thanks to the folks over at Chapel Hill Magazine. Check out those recipes here.

Don't feel like cooking on Turkey Day? No worries. The News &Observer has put together a great list of restaurants that will be open to handle the cooking (and cleaning) for you. Check it out here.

But if you feel like cooking, but run out of energy and great ideas for dessert, don't fret. The Twisted Fork Restaurant & Bakery will provide customers free pumpkin pies with each whole dessert purchased from the bakery for the Thanksgiving holiday season. All dessert orders must be placed by Monday. Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. And did I mention, Twisted Fork was rated the best dessert in Raleigh by CitySearch voters!?! Check them out here.

And speaking of desserts and baked goods, I provide you this link just to see if I can get your mouth watering. It is a link to Durham's Guglhupf Bakery and their holiday offerings. Guglhupf is now offering a tempting array of breads, cakes, tortes and desserts - all available for pre-order from now until Monday, November 21 at 4pm. Please, when clicking this link, do not have your mouth directly over your keyboard. You have been warned.

The N&O also reminded us of a great holiday activity when you have a house full of people - that you want out of your house for a few hours (and so you don't have to feed them!). Sign everyone up for one of the walking tours of great local restaurants through Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours. They have tours locally in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Hillsborough. Take a peek now and make your holidays a little bit more enjoyable.

Want to do something a little bit different this Thanksgiving meal? And keep it local? Then be sure to take some time off from work on Tuesday, November 22 when each of the five local farmers' markets (Carrboro Farmers' Market, Chapel Hill Farmers' Market, Durham Farmers' Market, Eno River Farmers' Market in Hillsborough and the Western Wake Farmers' Market in Cary) will host a special pre-Thanksgiving market featuring locally grown produce, artisan foods, cheeses, meats, eggs and seasonal flowers for your holiday celebrations. Visit the website for Triangle Farmers Market to get ideas and recipes for special dishes you can prepare as well as each market's hours for this event.

Speaking of Thanksgiving and keeping it local, why not turn to Raleigh's Q Shack to help you with your turkey and/or meal this year. The Q Shack is offering locally raised, all-natural fresh turkeys that feed up to 20 people for just $44.95! You can also order your entire Thanksgiving meal - it simply doesn't get any easier, or better, than that. Check out more details here.

And finally, I close with something I think is pretty cool. Raleigh City Farm is a group that is in the process of bringing rural farming to the city core of Raleigh by turning empty lots into produce-producing plots. If you think this is as cool as I do, check out their efforts here. And to make it even cooler, there are holding a Food Truck fundraiser on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26th. The event will be in the 200 block of E. Franklin Street in downtown Raleigh from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Only Burger, Chirba Chirba and Klausie's are the trucks confirmed at this point.

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I truly have so much to be thankful for. We all do. Thanks for all your support this year as I launched the Triangle's only locally-owned web-based catering service - http://www.trianglefoodguy.com (shameless plug!). And next Friday morning, I'll be hanging out with family thinking about all those things I have to be thankful - primarily an amazing wife and two of the coolest kids you'll ever meet. So, all that to say, I am very thankful...and, oh yeah, no Friday Fun Food Facts next week!!!

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 11, 2011

2011-11-11T04:53:00.001-08:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Neomonde will open its third Mediterranean/Lebanese eatery in the Triangle in December at the Harvest Plaza shopping center (corner of Strickland and Six Forks roads) in North Raleigh. Known for its fresh breads and foods, Neomonde currently has two Triangle locations - one at 3817 Beryl Road in Raleigh and the other at 10235 Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville. Next year, the company will celebrate its 35th year in business. Visit their website here.

DaisyCakes, which up until now had been operating out of a really cool retrofitted Airstream mobile cupcakery and bakery (called "Sugar"), will open a brick and mortar location today (11/11) at 10 a.m. on Foster Street in downtown Durham (401A Foster Street to be exact, just steps away from the Durham Farmers' Market). Check them out here.

I don't know how John (aka Triangle Explorer) came across this, but in a recent tweet he noted that according to job postings on Craig's List, it is looking like the newest Tyler's Taproom, which will be in downtown Raleigh in Seaboard Station, is shooting for an opening at the end of this month. That's exciting! We'll keep an eye on it (or I'll just ask John to keep me posted!)

And speaking of another place people are anxiously awaiting, according to posts on their Facebook page it looks like Weinberg's Delicatessen is aiming to open next week, possibly as early as Monday. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest updates.

This follows on the news yesterday that another "New York style" deli has closed their doors after less than a year in business. On their Facebook page, Streets Deli noted the economy as a driving factor. That marks the second "food" establishment (Stam's was the other) in Chapel Hill's East 54 development to close their doors.

But the news is not all bad coming out of Chapel Hill. A Chapel Hill institution since the early 70's, Linda's Bar & Grill, has a new owner. Chris Corini took over ownership of Linda's back in August. While much will remain the same, we should see an "upgrade" in the food served at Linda's as Corini has had stints at both Southern Rail in Carrboro and Ruth's Chris Steak House. And don't worry fans, there are no plans to change the name!

Love coffee? How about ice cream? You're going to love this then. The N&O reported this morning that the great minds behind Joe Van Gogh Coffee (Robbie Roberts) and Locopops (Summer Bicknell) will join forces when they open Joe Van Loco in the Towne North shopping center on Creedmoor Road in North Raleigh. They are shooting to be open by year's end.

Gonza Tacos y Tequila, which will open in the former Restaurant Savoy space in North Raleigh, will have a soft opening on November 21st and 22nd. Get more information on their Facebook page here.

I know I focus just on food, but this is too cool to not mention. Mark your calendar for next Friday, November 18th when World of Beer will open in North Hills (directly across from Harris Teeter on the ground level of the CapTrust building). And if you are wondering if they will have your beer...did I mention 50 drafts and 500 bottled beers!?! The grand opening next Friday will begin at noon and will last until 2 a.m. Check their site out here or their Facebook page.

Who else misses Bonne Soiree and chef Chip Smith? Well, he is returning to the Triangle once a month to cook a Sunday supper at The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. The next one is this Sunday, November 13th at 1:30 pm. The meal includes passed hors d'oeurves, an appetizer, entree and dessert. The meal costs $75 with wine pairings and $50 without wine. The final one of the year is scheduled for Dec. 11. To make a reservation, call 919-742-5176. For more information, go to their site.

The N&O also reminded us of a great holiday activity when you have a house full of people - that you want out of your house for a few hours (and so you don't have to feed them!). Sign everyone up for one of the walking tours of great local restaurants through Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours. They have tours locally in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Hillsborough. Take a peek now and make your holidays a little bit more enjoyable.

Want to do something a little bit different this Thanksgiving meal? And keep it local? Then be sure to take some time off from work on Tuesday, November 22 when each of the five local farmers' markets (Carrboro Farmers' Market, Chapel Hill Farmers' Market, Durham Farmers' Market, Eno River Farmers' Market in Hillsborough and the Western Wake Farmers' Market in Cary) will host a special pre-Thanksgiving market featuring locally grown produce, artisan foods, cheeses, meats, eggs and seasonal flowers for your holiday celebrations. Visit the website for Triangle Farmers Market to get ideas and recipes for special dishes you can prepare as well as each market's hours for this event.

Speaking of Thanksgiving and keeping it local, why not turn to Raleigh's Q Shack to help you with your turkey and/or meal this year. The Q Shack is offering locally raised, all-natural fresh turkeys that feed up to 20 people for just $44.95! You can also order your entire Thanksgiving meal - it simply doesn't get any easier, or better, than that. Check out more details here.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants will host its 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13. The M&S location at Crabtree Valley Mall will be participating. On this day, U.S. military veterans will be treated to a complimentary entrée from a special McCormick & Schmick's menu. Get more details here.

Want to sample local beer and support a deserving charity? (You had me at beer...) Come to the inaugural Homebrew for Hunger Festival this Saturday (Nov. 12), at the new West End public event space at462 W. Franklin St. in downtown Chapel Hill. From noon-5 pm, you can learn about and taste beer from more than 30 local home brewers and craft breweries. The event benefits the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Get all the details here.

There is something truly special about both great music and great food. What if the two were combined? Does it get any better? Check this out - members of the NC Symphony will put on an eclectic and intimate performance in some of the area's hottest restaurants in 2012. So, mark your calendars now and get your tickets soon for these dates/locations (they will sell out): February 12 - Humble Pie; April 16 - Bu*ku; and May 20 - Humble Pie. Tickets are $65 per person and includes a multi-course meal and musical performance. Dinner is at 6, followed by music at 8. Get tickets and more information here.

And finally, if you're thinking about opening a food establishment (whether it be a brick and mortar location or a food truck), you might want to grab a copy of The Food Entrepreneur's Business Planning Workbook: Costing, Pricing and Marketing your Culinary Creations. The workbook is the creation of Durham's The Cookery, an incubator kitchen space which you can rent by the hour. You can get more information and even order the workbook ($26.99) on their website here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 4, 2011

2011-11-04T06:09:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Word emerged this week that there will be a second restaurant on the ground floor of the RBC Plaza in downtown Raleigh, and this will also be from a restaurateur familiar with the downtown market. Cara and Chris Hylton will open a Spanish-style tapas restaurant called Oro at the corner of Wilmington and Martin Streets. The Hyltons are the couple behind The Mint restaurant.

Downtown Raleigh is getting ready to get another Indian option - Blue Mango (which follows the recent opening of Mantra a few blocks away). While it is not open yet, word on the street is that it is very close to opening (the website notes a "Fall 2011" opening). Blue Mango will be located 222 Glenwood South in downtown Raleigh. Not much on their website, but feel free to check it out here.

And speaking of 222 Glenwood South, earlier this week a sign on the door at the Triangle's second location of Tutti Frutti indicated that it would open this week - but I haven't been able to get by to confirm. Tutti Frutti's only other Triangle location is on Shanon Road in Durham.

And if that is not enough yogurt news for you, Durham got another yogurt shop last month with the opening of Moonberries Frozen Yogurt which is located in the expansive Streets at Southpoint complex in the strip center right in front of Target. And according to their website, this won't be the only Triangle location. The site indicates they will be opening locations in Raleigh, Cary, Durham (a 2nd) and Chapel Hill.

The long anticipated opening of the Triangle's third Which Wich Superior Sandwiches occurred this past weekend. The store is located in the "food court" area of North Hills "sandwiched" between Five Guys and The Q Shack. Which Wich's other two Triangle locations are on Lake Boone Trail (just down from Rex) and in Brier Creek.

And speaking of waiting forever, the wait is over for Sir Pizza fans. The latest North Carolina location will open in Morrisville on Tuesday, November 8th. If you are not familiar with Sir Pizza, you'll want to check out their "Endless Lunch Buffet" which runs 11-2 Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sunday. The Morrisville location is located at the intersection of Davis Drive and McCrimmon Parkway. Check out their Facebook page here.

We told you about this several weeks ago, but the doors have swung open again at the former location of Amedeo's North on Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh (behind Tribeca Tavern). LaCarreta Mexican Restaurant is now open.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, located in Crabtree Valley Mall, has launched a new small plates menu with seven new dishes (narrowed from 100!) that blend Asian influences with European flavors. Get more information here.

Things are heating up at Geer Street Garden over in Durham. Well, if you count their new heated patio space! So don't let the cooler weather keep you from heading on over. Geer Street Garden is located in the former Fletcher's Gulf Station on the corner of Foster and Geer Streets in downtown Durham. Visit their site here.

Today is the day most of you have probably been waiting all year for. It is Colossal Collard Day at the NC Farmers' Market in Raleigh! Festivities begin at 11 am, just in time for lunch. Fresh N.C. collards, hushpuppies and chow-chows are all part of the event and can be found at the State Farmers Market Restaurant. You'll be able to enjoy free collard samples as well as a variety of chow-chows and pickled relishes from market vendors. Locally produced collards also will be available for purchase from area farmers. Mmmmmm!

Elaine's On Franklin in downtown Chapel Hill will celebrate its 12th anniversary this Sunday (November 6) with a dinner that pairs food by chef/owner Bret Jennings with wines chosen by importer Danny Haas. There will be a variety of pairings to choose from. It's $100 per person and starts at 6 pm. Reservations can be made by calling 919-960-2770. Get more details here.

The Saturday Market will be hopping this weekend with "foodie" related activity. The highlight this weekend will be Durham's Cookery, which will be talking about their community kitchen as well as selling Monuts Donuts. In addition, Aviator Brewing Company will be there (11 - 2), Slippin' Sliders Food Truck and 10 other "food related" vendors ranging from Muddy Dog Roasting Company to Locals Seafood - just to name a few. Get more details on the weekly gathering that takes place at Rebus Works every Saturday from 9-2 in downtown Raleigh.

Outback Steakhouse will be honoring our veterans and active military with a free Bloomin' Onion and Coke all next week (Nov. 7-11). Get all the details here.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants will host its 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13. The M&S location at Crabtree Valley Mall will be participating. On this day, U.S. military veterans will be treated to a complimentary entrée from a special McCormick & Schmick's menu. Get more details here.

Mark your calendars for the extremely popular Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Jamboree which will take place next Monday, November 7th (4-8 p.m.) and Tuesday, November 8th (6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.) in The Durham Armory at 220 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. Kids eat free with adult.

This year, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is not only Election Day, but also the 23rd annual RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 Percent). Eat out or take out all day - breakfast, lunch and/or dinner - at any participating restaurant, and 10% of your tab will be donated to the Inter-Faith Council's hunger-relief programs, the Community Kitchen and the Emergency Food Pantry. To see a full list of participating restaurants, visit their website here.
Free coffee day is coming to Bruegger's on Wednesday, November 9th. Guests will be treated to a cup of coffee from opening until 2 pm. Donations to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals will be encouraged. More details and to find a location convenient to you, check out their website.

Want to sample local beer and support a deserving charity? (You had me at beer...) Come to the inaugural Homebrew for Hunger Festival on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the new West End public event space at462 W. Franklin St. in downtown Chapel Hill. From noon-5 pm, you can learn about and taste beer from more than 30 local home brewers and craft breweries. The event kicks off with "Homebrew U," a series of demonstrations on home brewing basics and tips for novice and experienced brewers alike from a panel of craft brewers including Erik Lars Myers of Mystery Brewing Company, Sean Lilly Wilson and Chris Davis of Fullsteam Brewery and Luke Studer of Bull City Burger & Brewery. The event benefits the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Get all the details here.

The annual Triangle Signature Chefs Auction featuring food from more than a dozen restaurants and caterers will be held on the evening of November 13th at the Carolina Club in Chapel Hill. Among the Triangle restaurants serving up tasting-sized portions of their signature dishes will be Winston's Grille, Gravy, The Mint, Solas, Coquette, Il Palio and Revolution. Tickets cost $150. Proceeds benefit the North Carolina March of Dimes. To buy tickets or for more information about the event and the auction items, go here.

Chick-fil-A has a couple of things you might be interested in. First, their annual "Cow Calendars" are now out and available while supplies last. They are $6, but note that there are great coupons for each month of the year. And probably more importantly, the "limited time only" Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake has returned. Get more details here.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and you find yourself with even less time on your hands, why not turn to Raleigh's Q Shack to help you with your turkey and/or meal this year. The Q Shack is offering locally raised, all-natural fresh turkeys that feed up to 20 people for just $44.95! You can also order your entire Thanksgiving meal - it simply doesn't get any easier, or better, than that. Check out more details here.

There is something truly special about both great music and great food. What if the two were combined? Does it get any better? Check this out - members of the NC Symphony will put on an eclectic and intimate performance in some of the area's hottest restaurants in 2012. So, mark your calendars now and get your tickets soon for these dates/locations (they will sell out): February 12 - Humble Pie; April 16 - Bu*ku; and May 20 - Humble Pie. Tickets are $65 per person and includes a multi-course meal and musical performance. Dinner is at 6, followed by music at 8. Get tickets and more information here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 28, 2011

2011-10-28T03:14:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

OK, this one is pretty easy. Largest food truck rodeo...ever. This weekend - Sunday, October 30 from 4-8 p.m. at Durham's Central Park. 27 food trucks. Yes, 27 food trucks! I would list all the participating trucks, but it would simply take way too much time. Instead, visit here to see the latest and greatest including additional vendors, activities and directions.

This one flew under our radar screen, but we have confirmed that Tracy's New York Deli & Coffee Shop has opened in Chapel Hill. Tracy's is located over on Elliott Road across from Monterrey Mexican.

Durham got a new restaurant this week. Bella's Cuisine opened in the dome-shaped restaurant space at 3128 Guess Road in Durham which formerly housed the 2nd location of Backyard BBQ Pit. Visit their website here.

Speaking of Durham, the worst kept secret in the Triangle is starting to come to light. The long anticipated opening of the Triangle's second location of The Pit is starting to pick up momentum. It now appears as if The Pit will open in the ground floor of the building at 309 E. Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham in the old Bargain Furniture space. We'll keep an eye on this and give you updates as we receive them.

Apparently Ashley Christensen's half-pound burgers at Chuck's were a little too much and a little too pricey for some. No problem. Chuck's now offers a "Little Chuck" that is a 5 oz. burger for $6.75. Check it out here.

According to Duke's student newspaper, The Chronicle, The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro is struggling a little bit with some of the restrictions of its new space. But if anybody can make that space work - it is Jimmy and Lisa Schmid. They have cut out their weekday lunch service, but have added on a new delivery service and remain open for dinner, as well as lunch on weekends. If you are a big fan of The Food Factory, and you are over in Durham, make plans to stop by and show your support! Here is a link to their site.

Also, apparently Streets Deli in Chapel Hill is struggling to stay afloat. Their facebook page and webite have posted pleas this week entitled, "Save the Deli Week" (October 24-November 6th) and asked for their fans to step up and show some love to the New York-style deli by helping to spread the word. If you haven't been yet, it is well worth the visit. Get more information here.

Bruegger's began selling their 2012 Bottomless Mug this week. Guests who purchase the mug receive free fill ups of coffee (hot or iced, in season), tea or soft drinks for the remainder of the year after purchase and throughout 2012 - a total of 14 months for first time purchasers! The cost is $170, but that could be huge savings if you are a big coffee drinker. A percentage of sales also goes to the Children's Miracle Network. Stop by a local Bruegger's for details or visit them here.

This is kind of cool - Downtown Chapel Hill now has an app! That's right, you can download the Downtown Chapel Hill App and easily locate your favorite dining and shopping establishments as well as easily find public parking. That's pretty cool. Check it out here.

Don't forget that today is National Breadstix Day today at Hot Box Pizza. From 2-5 p.m. stop by for your free breadstix (and maybe grab a pie and some cold beer while you are there). Hot Box Pizza is located at 2304 Hillsborough Street. Get more details here.

The Raleigh CROP Hunger Walk raises money to help fight hunger both locally and globally and supports several local hunger fighting agencies. The 3.1 mile walk is THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30th at 3pm! (Registration and activities start at 2pm). The walk loops around downtown Raleigh, starting and ending at Marbles Kids Museum. The walk is very kid friendly and a ton of fun, and this year we are featuring a Halloween costume contest where the most creative costumes will win gift certificates to Marbles! People can sign up a team, donate or get more information here.

The Carolina Ale House in Cary is hosting its 4th annual Carolina Brewfest featuring local and regional beers from 4-8 p.m. this Saturday, October 29th. Up to a dozen North Carolina breweries will be on hand providing samples, including Aviator Brewing Company, Red Oak Brewery and Foothills Brewing. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door and include beer samples, free food and live music. You can purchase tickets online here. Ten percent of all door sales will be donated to the North Carolina Brewers Guild. The Carolina Ale House in Cary is located at 2440 Walnut Street.

The Lantern restaurant in Chapel Hill will host a special dinner and conversation with author Michael Ruhlman at 6:30 pm Wednesday, November 2nd, featuring charcuterie and other food that's cured, brined, pickled, fermented and salted. The 10-course family-style meal will include 18-month old whey-fed ham, North Carolina sashimi, crispy rillettes with salted "ume" cherries and moulard duck cured with sake kasu. Cost is $120 per person; that includes wine but not tax and tip. To reserve your place at the table: 919-969-8846. Get more information here.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants will host its 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13. The M&S location at Crabtree Valley Mall will be participating. On this day, U.S. military veterans will be treated to a complimentary entrée from a special McCormick & Schmick's menu. Get more details here.

The annual Triangle Signature Chefs Auction featuring food from more than a dozen restaurants and caterers will be held on the evening of November 13th at the Carolina Club in Chapel Hill. Among the Triangle restaurants serving up tasting-sized portions of their signature dishes will be Winston's Grille, Gravy, The Mint, Solas, Coquette, Il Palio and Revolution. Tickets cost $150. Proceeds benefit the North Carolina March of Dimes. To buy tickets or for more information about the event and the auction items, go here.

Raleigh's Gateway Restaurant is offering a German dinner on Nov. 5. The four-course meal with German beer and wine pairings will cost $50 a person. Appetizers are served at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m. The menu includes a cucumber salad, a beef broth and dumpling soup, rouladen, a thin beef roll-up, served with spaetzle and red cabbage and an apple puff pastry with ice cream for dessert. Seating is limited, so make a reservation by calling Tom or Martina at 832-3020. For more information about the restaurant, go to their web site .

Mark your calendars for the extremely popular Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Jamboree which will take place this year on Monday, November 7th (4-8 p.m.) and Tuesday, November 8th (6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.) in The Durham Armory at 220 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. Kids eat free with adult.

This year, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is not only Election Day, but also the 23rd annual RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 Percent). Eat out or take out all day - breakfast, lunch and/or dinner - at any participating restaurant, and 10% of your tab will be donated to the Inter-Faith Council's hunger-relief programs, the Community Kitchen and the Emergency Food Pantry. To see a full list of participating restaurants, visit their website here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 21, 2011

2011-10-21T05:52:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Mia Francesca's Trattoria, the new restaurant at the entrance to the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel in North Hills, opens for dinner tonight with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. It occupies a space created by a $1-million renovation of the hotel. Francesca's is a Chicago-based concept and this marks their first East coast venture. But keep your eyes open for possibly two additional Triangle area locations. Check them out here.

After months of speculating, we have now confirmed that Charlotte's Cowfish is coming to Cameron Village, and more specifically the former Foster's location. And the name is as interesting as it is accurate - the concept serves up sushi and burgers. Don't believe me? Check them out here.

We got word this week that Wake Forest is getting its very own brewery! That's right, White Street Brewing Co. is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012 in historic downtown Wake Forest at 218 S. White Street. The brewery will offer four different small batch ales and lagers as well as specialty seasonal options. Check them out.

Well this didn't take long. We told you last week that Raleigh's version of Time Out Chicken would soon return to a 24/7 operation and that apparently is the case. Rick DeAngelis is not wasting any time! Time Out is located at 3001 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh.

Eschelon Hospitality is getting closer to opening its newest concept, Zinda. It will be a two-story Asian restaurant located on the ground level of the RBC Plaza building in downtown Raleigh and will open just after the first of the year. Eschelon also operates Mura, Sono, The Oxford, Dapper Style House and Cameron Bar & Grill. Learn about all of their concepts here.

Durham's L'Uva Enoteca (located on the American Tobacco campus) has been wildly successful since its opening and just this week unveiled their new menu. Take a peek here.

Raleigh's Solas restaurant, located in the Glenwood South district, is now offering a permanent meat-free menu every Monday night for vegans and vegetarians. The new menu includes vegetable lasagna, sweet coconut curry vegetables, barbeque kabobs, zucchini noodles, Cuban black beans and stuffed poblano peppers. By request, the menu is available any day of the week. For more information, go to their site or call 755-0755 for a reservation.

Moe's Southwest Grill at Triangle Town Center is brewing up a spooktacular treat this Saturday, October 22, from 3-5 p.m. with a children's pumpkin carving contest judged by the one and only Wool E. Bull. Moe's Triangle Town Center is located at 3721 Sumner Blvd. in Raleigh. For more information call 919-792-2960 or visit their site.

If you're looking for a delicious and unique Sunday brunch option, look no further than the "South Indian Brunch" at Martin's Curry Rice. Martin serves it up every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Get more information on Martin's website.

Rockfish Seafood Grill in Durham is hosting a "Casks for a Cure" fundraiser from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 that may intrigue local beer lovers. The event will feature three brewers who have yet to open, a real treat for beer geeks! Participating will be Hillsborough's Mystery Brewing Company, Saxapahaw's Haw River Farmhouse Ales and Carrboro's Steel String Brewery. For a $10 donation, you will get a t-shirt, food samples and tastes of the three casks. Proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The restaurant is located at 8030 Renaissance Parkway in Durham (Streets at Southpoint). For more information about the event, go to the Facebook page or call 544-9220.

Raleigh's Gateway Restaurant is offering a German dinner on Nov. 5. The four-course meal with German beer and wine pairings will cost $50 a person. Appetizers are served at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m. The menu includes a cucumber salad, a beef broth and dumpling soup, rouladen, a thin beef roll-up, served with spaetzle and red cabbage and an apple puff pastry with ice cream for dessert. Seating is limited, so make a reservation by calling Tom or Martina at 832-3020. For more information about the restaurant, go to their web site .

Mark your calendars for the extremely popular Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Jamboree which will take place this year on Monday, November 7th (4-8 p.m.) and Tuesday, November 8th (6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.) in The Durham Armory at 220 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. Kids eat free with adult.

This year, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is not only Election Day, but also the 23rd annual RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 Percent). Eat out or take out all day - breakfast, lunch and/or dinner - at any participating restaurant, and 10% of your tab will be donated to the Inter-Faith Council's hunger-relief programs, the Community Kitchen and the Emergency Food Pantry. To see a full list of participating restaurants, visit their website here.

The March of Dimes is holding its annual Triangle Signature Chef's Auction on Sunday, November 13th. Local chefs and caterers will present their signature dishes in tasting-size portions during a cocktail reception and silent auction. It will be held in Chapel Hill at the Carolina Club. For more information, visit their site here.

Maybe there is hope yet for the meals served in our schools. Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) did its part by hosting a competition among local chefs. And the winner? Chef Ruby Arthur of PieBird Restaurant was awarded the Iron Carrot at Lunch In, an Iron Chef-style competition held at Hunter Elementary School, for her winning healthy lunch creation featuring carrots.

Looking for a fun, affordable and unique venue for a corporate gathering? Z Pizza is aggressively booking reservations/orders for holiday parties in both their downtown Raleigh and Cary locations. Contact them prior to November 1st and receive additional savings. Call Maria at 919-302-3883 if you are interested.

And I would be remiss without sending out a huge congratulations to Andrea Weigl (the N&O's phenomenal foodie!) on the birth of her daughter! Enjoy your "leave" (not sure why they call it that, because it is anything but...). Congratulations Andrea!

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 14, 2011

2011-10-14T03:22:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Raleigh is getting ready to get a whole lot sweeter. The extremely popular Sugarland Bakery in Chapel Hill has just announced that they will be opening a Raleigh location in Cameron Village. The space will be twice the size of their current location allowing them to explore a "brunch option" as well as hosting private classes, cookie parties and other events. Like Chapel Hill, the store will feature a full bar. Look for them to open this second location toward the end of the first quarter of next year. Start getting familiar with them by checking them out here.

We got word this week that the Triangle's fourth location of La Rancherita has opened in Morrisville (4075 Davis Drive). It takes over the space formerly occupied by Nikos Taverna. Get more information here.

The question of, "Which wich?", will get even more complicated on October 29th. That's the day that the Triangle's third location of the popular Which Wich sandwich shop will open in North Hills in Raleigh.

The Moe's at the corner of Westin Parkway and Harrison Avenue is holding their grand reopening celebration TODAY (Oct. 14) following their recent expansion. The "new and improved" Moe's features the Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine (think 100+ brands of Coke!), seating now for 150, a larger salsa bar, and a private meeting room. Games and prizes will be available TODAY from 11-1 and TONIGHT from 5-7 pm. Wool E. Bull will also make an appearance today around noon. Check them out!

I might be a little slow on this, but happened to notice that the Original NY Pizza has opened on Falls of the Neuse Road across from North Ridge Country Club in the location that used to house Stone Wolf Coffee. Check them out here.
La Carreta Restaurante Mexicano is set to open in the former Amedeo's North location on Falls of the Neuse Road (behind Tribeca Tavern). No word yet on an open date, just a "Coming Soon" banner out front. We'll keep an eye on it for you.
Speaking of Rick DeAngelis (originally of Amedeo's, then Amedeo's North, and then Amedeo's again), the N&O's Andrea Weigl is reporting that Rick has left Amedeo's and is partnering up to expand the offerings of Time Out Chicken on Hillsborough Street, Raleigh's version of Chapel Hill's famous hang-out. Look for new offerings (adding turkey, more vegetable sides, daily specials and desserts from cinnamon buns to banana pudding) and expanded hours (i.e. 24/7) with Rick coming on board.
And speaking of Chapel Hill, Bread and Butter, a new bakery and coffee shop, has opened over on Rosemary Street (503 W. Rosemary Street to be exact) in the former Oriental Garden location. The initial reviews are strong as they get settled into their new surroundings.

The N&O's Andrea Weigl reported this week that Durham's popular bakery, Rue Cler, will expand their retail operations with even more bread and pastry offerings - more breads and pastries is always good news! Look for the expanded offerings by next week. Check them out here.

I've had several of your ask about an opening date for Sir Pizza in Morrisville at the corner of McCrimmon Pkwy. and Davis Dr. I stopped by yesterday and the interior appears to be ready for business, but they are waiting on the green light from the city of Morrisville, as well as the completion of the sidewalks and a few other odds-and-ends. But it appears as if it won't be long now.
Gonza Tacos Y Tequila on Leadmine Road (think former location of Savoy, and before that, Fins) is very close to opening. A couple of more tweaks to satisfy the health inspector and they'll be ready to open their doors. Keep up with their pending announcement on their Facebook page here.
With the cool air moving in, it means leaves changing colors, hockey season kicking off, and a new menu from Chef Dave Alworth over at Guglhupf Café in Durham. Check out the new additions to their menu here.

If you are a food truck junkie, you'll want to mark your calendars for two upcoming food truck rodeos. The N&O has the scoop here.

This is a little cheesy, but worth the inclusion. The Durham Farmers' Market is celebrating the First Annual National Cheese Month throughout October. This Saturday (Oct. 15), Chef Dave Alworth of Guglhupf Café will join Portia McKnight of Chapel Hill Creamery to talk about cheese making and to cook with cheese. You might want to work this into your Saturday morning.

And finally, we close with something fun for those that love to dine in Durham. The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau is conducting its annual survey to see which food spots get the most love. If you have an opinion (and we know you do), weigh in here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 7, 2011

2011-10-07T03:37:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Listen up Moe's fans. Your wait is over! The newly expanded and larger Moe's at the corner of Westin Parkway and Harrison Avenue opened (soft) yesterday! The grand opening is planned for next Friday, October 14th. Congrats to David, Kermit and their team!

There is a new food truck, I mean bike, in Durham! And to make it even better, it is a donut bike! Monuts (I'm guessing it is a meshing of "mobile" and "donuts") has just joined the growing mobile food scene in Durham. Check out their story and find out where they are.

The doors to the former location of The Food Factory in downtown Cary have reopened as Dory's Downtown Deli! They opened this week (soft) and are planning a grand opening celebration for next Monday. Look for some familiarity, as Ray Dory is a cousin of Lisa Schmid, one of the owners of The Food Factory. Welcome to Cary Ray!

There is a new dining option in Chapel Hill. Guru India will have its grand opening tomorrow (October 8) with half-off meals. Chef/owner Narinder Singh had two restaurants in Greensboro before taking over this location, which was the former India Palace. Guru is located at 508 W. Franklin Street. Get more information here.

Not too far over in Pittsboro, a new Greek restaurant has opened at 964 East Street called Greek Kouzina. They also own the Greek Fiesta restaurants in Raleigh and Cary.

We told you last week that Shane Ingram had parted ways with ONE Restaurant in Chapel Hill and G2B in Durham. This week we learned that Sean McCarthy (Magnolia Grill & Giorgio in Cary) has taken over at ONE. And that Carrie Schleiffer (Table in NY) has taken over at G2B. Be sure to check out these young talents!

Looks like things are starting to move forward with The Garland at 14 W. Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. While it is too early to talk about an opening date for Raleigh's next Indian cuisine, we can tell you that the initial phase will feature a walk-up window, with the final phase adding a dining room and outdoor seating. The Garland will be in the former location of Martin Street Pizza.

My buddy Len informed me this week that over in Cary The Stonewood Grill & Tavern (1080 Darrington Drive) has closed their doors after a 10-year run. Cary was Stonewood's only location outside of Florida.

While news came out this week that the contract to reconstruct Pittsboro's infamous courthouse had been awarded, there was also news this week that Red Star Coffee, located just off the circle in downtown Pittsboro, had closed.

And over in Chapel Hill, The Daily Tar Heel confirmed that Chill Bubble Tea has indeed closed their Franklin Street location there in the heart of downtown.

Speaking of Chapel Hill, who else misses Bonne Soiree and chef Chip Smith? Well, he is returning to the Triangle once a month to cook a Sunday supper at The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. The first one is October 16th at 1:30 pm. The meal includes passed hors d'oeurves, an appetizer, entree and dessert. The meal costs $75 with wine pairings and $50 without wine. The next two are scheduled for Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. To make a reservation, call 919-742-5176. For more information, go to their site.

Looking for some free food? Look no further than Hot Box Pizza on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh on October 28th. On that day from 2-5 pm, stop by and celebrate the 6th Annual National Breadstix Day for a free sample of stix. Hot Box is located at 2304 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh.

Speaking of free food, how about a little free cider - especially with the nip in the air that has ushered in the fall season. Take a friend with you this Saturday to the Saturday Market At Rebus Works and you'll both enjoy a complimentary cup of cider. The Market also features tons of other food and drink options. For more details, check it out here.

If you are looking for cooking classes, food tours and more food events, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has put together an amazing list. Check it out here.

The 18th Annual Taste of Chatham will be held on Oct. 16 from 4 to 6 pm at the Carolina Meadows Auditorium in Chatham County, just outside of Chapel Hill. Enjoy food from some of Chapel Hill's finest eateries. Tickets for the event are $50 per person and are limited to 150 seats, so purchase your ticket early by contacting Megan Coggins at 542-4512 or at megan.coggins@chathamcouncilonaging.org.

The first ever RTP Food Truck Rodeo was a huge hit and will now become a monthly event. In fact, the next one is already scheduled for Thursday, October 20th from 11:30-1:30. This week's event featured three food trucks and attracted over 250 people! They are hoping to increase the number of trucks for October's event.

And speaking of food trucks, it didn't take Raleigh long to plan a huge food truck rodeo - Food Truck King - also scheduled for October 20th (but in the evening from 5-9:30 pm). It will be held in City Plaza along with music, circus performers (not sure if that includes some of our Raleigh city councilors that fought the food trucks) and beer. The event is sponsored by The Raleigh Downtowner magazine. The event benefits Meals on Wheels and will conclude with the tapping of "Food Truck King" as voted upon by attendees. Food Truck King is free to attend, but tickets are available for sale to 250 attendees to sample tasty treats from all food trucks plus two free beers and a chance to win $200 worth of gift certificates to local restaurants. Get more information here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 30, 2011

2011-09-30T04:40:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

The shiny, silver, Airstream "food truck" known as DaisyCakes has confirmed that their "brick and mortar" location will be open by the end of October. The new location will be at 401-A Foster Street in downtown Durham (next to the Durham Farmers' Market). DaisyCakes specializes in breakfast pastries, coffee, drinks and some of the best cupcakes you've ever had. Keep up with them here.

The Barking Cow Pub & Eatery in the Lake Boone Shopping Center in Raleigh is now open. Barking Cow takes over the space formerly occupied by Second City. Barking Cow is the newest member of the family that includes Sawmill Tap Room, Macgregor Draft House and Leesville Tap Room.

Pharaoh's is back in downtown Raleigh, now off the Jones Street entrance to the NC Museum of History (think General Assembly side). This marks Pharaoh's second attempt at a downtown location after closing a location last year on Davie Street in the Progress Energy building.

Chapel Hill has a new Italian restaurant and pizzeria - Tedesco's. It is located at 1404 E. Franklin Street, former home to Los Potrillos, and prior to that, El Rodeo. And while the Tedesco name is familiar to this area, this restaurant is owned by a husband and wife team that just located here from southern Florida. Get more information on their website here.

It is official. After a grand opening yesterday, the Triangle is now home to The Chef's Academy, a culinary arts school. The facility is absolutely amazing and is located at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. in Morrisville. Get more information here. This is truly a feather in the Triangle's cap!

And speaking of grand openings, the re-opening of the expanded Moe's Southwest Grill at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Westin Parkway has been put on hold, pending inspection from the city of Cary. Come on Cary, let's get with it! A grand opening will be announced once that inspection is complete. Maybe the mayor will join them to say, "Welcome (back) to Moe's!!!"

Talk about the transformation of one parlor to the next. We got word this week that Mitch's Bar & Grille has opened on Ninth Street over in Durham in the former Dogstar Tattoo location.

In an interesting bit of news this week, the N&O's Andrea Weigl reported that Chef Shane Ingram, who gained local fame with the extremely popular Four Square Restaurant in Durham, has amicably parted ways with the anonymous investor he partnered with to bring ONE to Chapel Hill and G2B to Durham. That can't be good news for those two establishments.

Also, Cary's downtown dining scene took a bit of a blow last week with the closing of Gayla Bonke's Chatham Street Café & Catering. This falls on the heels of the closing of The Food Factory which moved to Duke's campus over in Durham. Still no word yet on the opening of Dory's Downtown which is to fill the space vacated by The Food Factory.

This is a little outside of my "Triangle" area coverage, but I just learned that one of my favorite little restaurants has closed - Yancey House in Yanceyville. I went once with my wife, and am even more grateful now that we went. They don't make restaurants like that anymore...My best to Chef Lucindy who is now offering cooking classes at Terrapin Cove Farm.

Congrats goes out to Daniel Whittaker, owner of Green Planet Catering, for winning the 2011 Green Award presented by the Triangle Business Journal. Read more on his award here. Congrats to Daniel and his team!

Looking for something fun to do this weekend. Look no further than the 4th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival taking place at the Briar Chapel community park in Chapel Hill / Pittsboro. In addition to the great food (from 25 local chefs), good brew (5 local breweries represented) and good music, there will also be lots of kid activities. The event is from 4-7 pm on Sunday, Oct. 2. Tickets are $25 until tomorrow, and $30 at the door. Get all the details here.

Over in Durham, Piedmont Restaurant is now hosting Family Style Sunday Suppers every Sunday night. Choices include fried chicken, vegetarian dumplings, roasted pork loin, and whole fish filet. Main items are $20 and sides are $6, with each easily serving two people. Check them out this, and every, Sunday night. More information here.

The first ever RTP Food Truck Rodeo was a huge hit and will now become a monthly event. In fact, the next one is already scheduled for Thursday, October 20th from 11:30-1:30. This week's event featured three food trucks and attracted over 250 people! They are hoping to increase the number of trucks for October's event.

And speaking of food trucks, it didn't take Raleigh long to plan a huge food truck rodeo - Food Truck King - also scheduled for October 20th (but in the evening from 5-9:30 pm). It will be held in City Plaza along with music, circus performers (not sure if that includes some of our Raleigh city councilors that fought the food trucks) and beer. The event is sponsored by The Raleigh Downtowner magazine. The event benefits Meals on Wheels and will conclude with the tapping of "Food Truck King" as voted upon by attendees. Food Truck King is free to attend, but tickets are available for sale to 250 attendees to sample tasty treats from all food trucks plus two free beers and a chance to win $200 worth of gift certificates to local restaurants. Get more information here.

And finally, Acme restaurant over in Carrboro is holding another one of their wildly successful wine dinners on Monday, October 3rd, this time featuring well-known Argentinean winemaker José Balbo. It's an opportunity to sample some of the hottest wines sold in America with some downright delicious Acme food. And talk to the man whose family is at the very heart of the great Argentine wine renaissance. The dinner will start at 6:30. Price is $60 per person for 5 courses and 5 wines (1 white wine and 4 red). Reservations are required by calling 919-929-2263. What else do you have planned? Dancing with the Stars? Really?

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 23, 2011

2011-09-23T03:03:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Cary is getting mellow...well, more like getting their own Mellow Mushroom! Beginning next Monday, folks over in Cary will be able to enjoy Mellow Mushroom in their new location at the corner of Highhouse Road and Cary Parkway. They expect to be open for lunch and dinner daily, from 11 a.m. until midnight. For more information, go here, or their Facebook page.

New Orleans cajun has arrived in downtown Raleigh. The long-awaited Battistella's has opened in the former Angelo's location at 200 E. Martin Street. Chef Brian Battistella's new digs will be open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays and Sunday brunch. Looks like it will be another month or so before they open for lunch. Battistella's menu isn't just Cajun fare, it's classic New Orleans and upscale Southern cuisine. Be sure to check them out on Facebook here.

Also in downtown Raleigh, Calavera, a new empanada and tequila bar, opened Wednesday night of this week. The establishment is located at 444 S. Blount Street.

It appears as if downtown Raleigh's newest Indian restaurant, Mantra, is open in the building once occupied by Blue Martini and Vintage Bar. While this hasn't been 100% confirmed (I would call first to 919.833.2823), they list an event at the restaurant tonight on their website. They will be open daily at 11 a.m. where executive chef Gamer Rawat, formerly of Saffron, will be serving up authentic Indian cuisine with Western updates. They are located at 116 N. West Street. More information here.

I must have missed this, but back in April a restaurant called Goodness Gracious opened over in Durham serving up Southern-style food. They are located at 1301 N. Alston Avenue. See more on their Facebook page here.

Moe's in Cary at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway is just about done with their massive expansion. Last we heard, they were re-opening either today or Monday. I'd check in before heading over, but the expansion will more than double their dining area and add a room for private events. Welcome to Moe's! Check in with them on Facebook here.

We were over at Target near the Streets at Southpoint and noticed the "coming soon" sign hanging over a new Moonberries Frozen Yogurt. It is located in the retail strip center directly in front of Target (across from Tomato Jake's). We don't have an open date, but we'll keep an eye on it for you.

Speaking of yogurt, Frozen yogurt business Yogen Früz is adding two U-Serve Froyo Stations in North Hills and Triangle Town Center with a third new U-Serve store opening in November at Crabtree Valley Mall. Won't be long now before there is a yogurt option on every corner!

And this is a real gem for our area. The Chef's Academy, a new culinary school in Morrisville, will celebrate its grand opening next Thursday, Sept. 29, with a Triangle chefs' showdown. The event, which is open to the public, is from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Morrisville campus at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. The school is asking folks to RSVP. You can do that online and see more details about the event here.

One of Andrea Weigl's "must go to" foodie events is tomorrow in Chapel Hill. TerraVITA will bring together some of the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known for their devotion to locally-grown organic ingredients. Participants can choose from a variety of workshops and tastings, from a Sustainable Classroom to a Grand Tasting on the Green. The event will be held at the Village Green in Southern Village. For tickets and more information, check out the TerraVITA website.

Prepare yourself for a night of food and beer as Big Boss Brewing Company of Raleigh hosts Casktoberfest on September 29th. To celebrate the Oktoberfest Season, Big Boss is putting together their largest selection of cask conditioned ales ever assembled for a single event with a focus on their very popular fall seasonal release: Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale! To bring the German festival theme full circle they have teamed up with local caterers to offer authentic Bavarian cuisine for the event! Big Boss Brewing Company is located at 1249-A Wicker Dr in Raleigh. Get more information here.

Hurricanes fans will have another shot in the upcoming 2011-2012 season to experience the cheesy goodness of Moe's Southwest Grill's "Caniac Queso Goal." Moe's just announced the return of this incredibly popular promotion in which fans get a free side of queso and hot fresh chips following each regular season home game in which the Hurricanes score five or more goals. Let's go Canes!

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 16, 2011

2011-09-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

We've got to start with some good news out of Chapel Hill (we all know they need some good news). And this is GREAT news...bring on the Greek Grilled Cheese on a Pita! That's right, Hector's is opening their grill this Saturday in time for the UNC v. Virginia football game. Who cares what the NCAA thinks...Hector's is back!

Ashely Christensen's latest restaurant venture, Chuck's is now open. This burger establishment is also downtown and right next door to Beasley's, her chicken joint, which opened just a few weeks ago. And on the menu? Burgers. All made in a very unique way, but the "foundation" of each burger is a half-pound, house-ground, flat top seared, 100% chuck on a potato roll. And fries, shakes and a few other things. But mostly it's about the burger...and great burgers at that. Be sure to add Beasley's and Chuck's to your "must try" list. You won't be disappointed.

Raleigh is getting its third (sixth in the Triangle) Chipotle Mexican Grill this coming Tuesday. This rendition is located at 2316 Hillsborough Street directly across from NC State. It is in that same stretch as Jimmy John's, Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins and I Love NY Pizza.

Somebody got a facelift! Over on Glenwood South, The Diner closed for a few days this past week for an interior renovation, but that wasn't all that was new when it opened back up Thursday morning. They also rolled out a new menu and introduced their new chef, Corey Palakovich. Stop by and check out all the updates at The Diner.

Speaking of new chefs and new menus, fans of Savoy's former chef, Peter Gibson, will be tickled to learn that you can now enjoy Peter's creations at the NOFO at the Pig in Five Points in Raleigh. Peter just rolled out his menu last week. Check him out the next chance you get and welcome this extremely talented chef back!

A new Neopolitian pizzeria, al Dente, opened in the former Wildflour space in Stonehenge Market shopping center in North Raleigh. They have a custom-made, high-temperature coal-fired oven to make their pizzas as well as serving classic and signature pasta dishes. It is located at 7456 Creedmoor Road, near the Bruegger's Bagels. For more information and to see the full menu, click here.

Vin Rouge chef and part owner, Matthew Kelly, is finalizing plans on a new Spanish-inspired tapas bar and restaurant called Restaurant Mateo which will open at 109 W. Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham...soon. He is putting final touches on the financing. The two-story spot is the former Book Exchange location.

Also in Durham, Gregorias Kitchen opened yesterday at 2818 Chapel Hill Road in Durham. Featuring Cuban food, the restaurant is located in a historic 1920s property that once housed The Peddler Steakhouse. Check them out here.

Fans of Al Carter, better known as Big Al's BBQ & Catering, will be happy to know that this November he will open a "brick and mortar" location at the intersection of U.S. 401 and Forestville Road in the Forestville Crossing shopping center in Northeast Raleigh. The restaurant will offer pork, ribs, chicken and beef brisket cooked on hickory wood, plus homemade coleslaw and fresh hush puppies. Carter said he still expects to use the food truck for select big events and catering.

If you live out in Clayton, you've got a new option for lunch and dinner. The Latin Grill has opened off U.S. 70 at 876 Gulley Drive. Opened by brothers Eddy & Galo Andrade, the restaurant serves Portuguese and Argentinean food, including grilled steaks, ribs and chicken.

Café Capistrano in Cary has closed. The Cary location was in Carpenter Village at 2250 Gathering Park Circle. That's the bad news. The good news is that the Raleigh location in Durant Station remains open.

Here are a couple of fun listings we encourage you to check out...although not on the same night. The N&O's Andrea Weigl has put together a list of wine tastings coming up throughout the Triangle, as well as a listing of upcoming church suppers. If you do hit them up on the same night, might we suggest you do the church dinner first!

Perhaps spurred by the new ordinances in Raleigh, the Triangle has a new food truck - Chick_N_Que, featuring, you guessed it, chopped chicken barbecue, Eastern North Carolina style.

Pronto Pasta, located in the former Bear Rock location at the corner of Six Forks & Wake Forest Road, has a new, revamped fall menu. New items include hand-rolled meatballs, rich home-made alfredo sauce and whole-wheat spaghetti. Check them out here.

If you like Greek food, this weekend is your dream come true. The fairgrounds in Raleigh will host the 30th Annual Greek Festival featuring food, pastries, live music, dancing and the marketplace. A portion of the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. Get more information here.

This might be a sight worth seeing. First Flight Venture Center (FFVC), located at 12 Davis Drive in RTP, is hosting the very first RTP Food Truck Rodeo on September 22nd (that's next Thursday). If the turnout is as big as they anticipate, they plan to make this a monthly event. More details here.

The 6th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will be held this weekend (September 17-18) from 1-5 p.m. and will be the biggest Eastern Triangle Farm Tour to date. Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, the tour features 25 sustainable farms located across the Eastern Triangle. Advance tickets are $25 per carload or cycle group. Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday and can be used to visit all of the farms on the tour. Day-of tickets are $30 or $10 per farm. Info and tickets.

On Monday, September 19th, Acme in Carrboro is hosting an Italian wine dinner with Blair Taylor, who's kindly flying into town for the evening. It's going to be great. Think of it as the Piedmont of Italy meeting the Piedmont of the Carolinas. Barolo and Barbaresco from two of Blair's great producers. Veal Cheeks and Duck Confit from Acme. Five courses and six wines. $55 per person. Reservations are required by phone at 919-929-2263. It'll start at 6:30.

Who remembers the N&O's Andrea Weigl's list of "must go" food events? Well, TerraVITA food & wine event in Chapel Hill in just over a week was one of them. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. TerraVITA brings together biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews with some of the very best North Carolina chefs that are committed to using locally-grown organic ingredients!

Listen up Paula Deen fans, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has the skinny on her book signing in Raleigh on October 14th. Check out the details here.

Today, and today only (i.e. September 16) Rocky Top Hospitality is offering ½ off gift cards for The Twisted Fork Grill & Bakery. You can get the $40 gift card for only $20. Only good at Twisted Fork, the gift card must be used by Oct. 31, 2011. Get yours now!

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 9, 2011

2011-09-09T05:44:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

So the hottest new spot in Durham is officially open (as of this past Thursday). Scott Howell (known for Nana's) has taken over the former Fish Shack location on University Drive in Durham (next to Nana's) and opened NanaTacos. And when I say "open" I mean open. The renovated spot is very nice and has a renovated outdoor area and a "very open" feel throughout. Can't wait to try it!

Gonza Salamanca, formerly of Dos Taquitos and Cantina South, is opening Gonza Tacos Y Tequila in the former Restaurant Savoy (and before that Fins) location at 7713 Lead Mine Road in Greystone Village. Look for a November opening. Keep up with it on their Facebook page.

Looks like a Raleigh native (with a pretty cool name) is going to breathe new life into the former Evoo location at the corner of Oberlin and Fairview. Mandolin will boast a casual atmosphere and fresh, contemporary Southern fare brought to you by Sean Fowler, most recently with The Fearrington House in Pittsboro. Sean is shooting for a November opening. Keep up with Mandolin on their webiste here.

Well, it looks like the Renaissance Hotel in North Hills is getting another dining option this fall. We just got word that Mia Francesca Trattoria will be opening in October offering simple, rustic, Italian food. Francesca Restaurants has over 20 locations in the Chicago area, and with a handful of other locations outside of Illinois. This will mark their first venture into North Carolina. Check them out here.

And over in Chapel Hill on Elliott Road we saw a "Coming Soon" sign for Tracy's New York Deli. There is a sign in the window about hiring staff, but no information on an open date. We'll keep an eye on it for you. It is located directly across the street from Red Lotus and Monterrey Mexican restaurants.

Great news for folks looking for more dining options in downtown Durham on Saturdays. Durham's beloved Ninth Street Bakery, located at 136 E. Chapel Hill St. across from the Marriott Hotel, is now open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Stop in tomorrow!

Rocky Top Hospitality unveiled two new menus last week at Draft Carolina Burgers & Beers and Tribeca Tavern (with locations in Raleigh and Cary. I'm still waiting on the Chapel Hill location...). The new menus include DOGS! All natural ½ pound sausages made exclusively for Rocky Top Hospitality by their friends at Top Hog Farms. Options include the Spicy Italian, the Polish Brat, Chorizo, and Andouille. The new Draft menu can be viewed here. The new Tribeca Tavern menu can be viewed here.

After a year-long discussion (although some thought it happened too fast) Raleigh is going to allow food trucks starting October 1st. Hoping to latch onto some of Durham and Carrboro's success, Raleigh's newly passed ordinance is a little more restrictive, but will be reviewed after six months. I don't think there will be a food truck rodeo (the ordinance won't really allow that) on October 1st, but I'm sure you'll see a lot more activity in Raleigh next month. Next city to enter the food truck frey...Chapel Hill. Stay tuned.

And speaking of food truck news, we heard last week that Durham's Local Yogurt, located pretty much at the intersection of 15-501 Business and University Drive, has a truck! Look for them around town (and maybe even in Raleigh now) serving up frozen yogurt.

And if that is not enough yogurt news for you, Raleigh will be home to Moonlight Swirl frozen yogurt this November. They will be located on Falls of the Neuse Road, directly across from North Ridge Country Club in the former Mattress Warehouse location (right next to Moe's). We'll keep you posted once we get an official open date. In the mean time check them out here and here.
We are getting very close to the opening of Mantra Indian Cuisine, located in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh. Their website now features a sneak peek at their menu (yumm!). Check it out here.

The folks at The Thrill at Hectors over in Chapel Hill are apparently still working on their kitchen. Sigh. A post on their Facebook page on August 31st hoped for an opening last week...but apparently not yet. We'll continue to watch this. I'll ask my buddy Gordon to check on this while he is in Chapel Hill this weekend and give me an update.

This could be my favorite time of the year! That's right...Dunkin' Donuts just released their Fall menu! Look for the return of Dunkin' Donuts' famous Pumpkin Coffee and Latte, Pumpkin Donut and Munchkin donut hole treat, a new Pumpkin packaged coffee, hot or iced Apple Cider, a new Caramel Apple Donut, and more.

This Saturday, from noon until 11 p.m., the Wooden Nickel Public House in Hillsborough (105 N. Churton Street) will host the 2nd Annual NC Brewers Cask Fest. The cost is $25 and gets you a souvenir glass and all the brew you can responsibly enjoy (or you can buy individual pints). Participating breweries include: Big Boss, Natty Greenes, Lonerider, Aviator, Olde Hickory, Mother Earth, Foothills, Fullsteam, Duck-Rabbit and a special "mystery" cask. More information is available on their Facebook page here.

Head to the Carrboro Farmers' Market this Saturday to sample dishes from seven local chefs. Those chefs will be whipping up samples of dishes using market ingredients for the 9th Annual Carrboro Farmers' Market Chefs Event starting at 9 a.m. The chefs include Jeff Barney of the Saxapahaw General Store and The Eddy Pub, Kevin Callaghan of Acme, Matt and Sheila Neal of Neal's Deli, Seth Kingsbury of Pazzo!, Adam Rose of Il Palio at the Sienna Hotel and Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery. The market is located adjacent to Carrboro Town Hall at 301 W. Main St. For more information, visit their site here.

And speaking of farmers' markets, the Western Wake Farmers' Market will be hosting the Pig Pickin' Palooza this Saturday from 11-2. The event will feature locally sourced foods from Coon Rock Farm, Redbud Farm, Fickle Creek Farm, Annelores' German Bakery, Muddy Dog Roasting Company, Martin's Curry Rice, and Outta the Park! With live music, a silent auction, a raffle and all this good food, it is sure to please! Proceeds benefit the Western Wake Farmers' Market. Located on Morrisville Carpenter Rd. between Davis Dr. and Hwy. 55 in Carpenter Village. Get more information here. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.

Here's a fun event coming up if you are a "beer and beef" fan! Durham's Bull City Burger and Brewery is reviving the old New York beefsteak tradition with its Beefsteak Octoberfest. It will be from 4 to midnight on Saturday, Sept. 17 (strangely enough, not in October). There will be two seatings; one at 4 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the menu, the $45 ticket ($20 for children...not drinking beer) also gets you two beers and unlimited fries, bread, celery and radishes. Tickets are limited and only available online here. The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Durham.

The 6th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will be held September 17-18, 2011 from 1-5 p.m. and will be the biggest Eastern Triangle Farm Tour to date. Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, the tour features 25 sustainable farms located across the Eastern Triangle. Advance tickets are $25 per carload or cycle group. Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday and can be used to visit all of the farms on the tour. Day-of tickets are $30 or $10 per farm. Info and tickets.

On Monday, September 19th, Acme in Carrboro is hosting an Italian wine dinner with Blair Taylor, who's kindly flying into town for the evening. It's going to be great. Think of it as the Piedmont of Italy meeting the Piedmont of the Carolinas. Barolo and Barbaresco from two of Blair's great producers. Veal Cheeks and Duck Confit from Acme. Five courses and six wines. $55 per person. Reservations are required by phone at 919-929-2263. It'll start at 6:30.

Who remembers the N&O's Andrea Weigl's list of "must go" food events? Well, TerraVITA food & wine event in Chapel Hill in two weeks was one of them. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. TerraVITA brings together biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews with some of the very best North Carolina chefs that are committed to using locally-grown organic ingredients!

Listen up Paula Deen fans, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has the skinny on her book signing in Raleigh on October 14th. Check out the details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 26, 2011

2011-08-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Steve Hunt, who owns The Big Easy in downtown Raleigh, has opened another restaurant over in Cary in the former Marty's All-American Grill and Sunset Grill location. Look for the same Cajun- and creole-inspired dishes as the downtown restaurant. Visit them online here.

According to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, Nikos Taverna, a Greek restaurant in Morrisville, has closed and will open in about a month as the Triangle's fourth La Rancherita. We'll keep you posted.

A couple of big openings this week over in Durham. First, the much anticipated L'Uva Enoteca opened this week in the American Tobacco Campus complex (across from Tyler's) and is the creation of Jim Anile, owner of Revolution in downtown Durham. Take a peek at their Facebook page here.

And The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro on Duke's campus opened this past Wednesday. If you were a fan of The Food Factory (which closed last month in downtown Cary and will re-open soon as a similar establishment), it is worth a drive to Durham. Very cool space/location. Check it out!

Big happenings in downtown Raleigh. Over on Hargett Street the spaces formerly occupied by Two T's and Blue Bar will soon become home to a "Hawaiin café" and a British pub. Nothing else much to report at this point (they are being pretty tight-lipped about it) other than there is a lot of renovation going on, including outdoor seating space. Look for an October/November opening.

Here's one I never thought I'd see in this area. Imagine a place where you can sit around eating chocolate, and enjoying a beer or glass of wine that you brought! Or as someone else described it, "a Willy Wanka Factory for adults!" That's right, it is coming in the form of Videri Chocolate Factory which will take over the former Ess Lounge in downtown Raleigh. Sounds marvelous! Should be open just in time for the holiday season - a great place to take out-of-town guests.

Don't think there are enough dining options on Raleigh's Glenwood South? Sit tight because the latest, Blue Mango, is under construction and on its way. It is located in the 222 condominium building and will serve up Indian cuisine from Chef Sita Khosla. Look for it to open this fall.

A friend asked me the other day about the opening of the Mellow Mushroom over in Cary at the corner of High House and Cary Parkway. It appears as if they now have an "end of September" opening date. Stay tuned as we continue to watch this one.

With growth comes pain, I guess the old saying goes. And so it is as Raleigh's Hillsborough Street continues to "grow up" with plans announced this week that a new hotel/retail complex will sprout up across from NC State's bell tower. With that comes news that Sadlack's, a Raleigh institution, will close. No word yet on whether they will relocate. We'll keep an eye on it.

In an interesting turn of events, the Carino's Italian Restaurant on Fayetteville Road near The Streets at Southpoint in Durham has closed. And now the 6-year-old building is scheduled to be demolished to make way for two retail shops. Apparently building ownership changed hands and the new owners wanted the change to happen, but apparently Carino's did not. But that said, there is still a Carino's in Brier Creek in Raleigh and we are awaiting news to see if they will relocate the Durham location.

Over in Chapel Hill, right on the Chapel Hill/Carrboro line (Chapelboro as some refer to it) on Rosemary Street, brown paper adorns the windows of The Fuse, which has closed. Signs in the window indicate that the Standard Bar & Grill is coming soon. We'll keep an eye on it.

The Great Food Truck Race is on again and there are a handful of Triangle area trucks competing for "most popular" in hopes of securing the $100,000 prize. Local trucks trying to become "America's Favorite" include: Captain Poncho's Tacos, Klausie's Pizza, Pie Pushers, OnlyBurger, Blue Sky Dining, KoKyu, Valentino's, Olde North State BBQ and Slippin' Sliders. Vote daily and vote often. Voting ends September 12.

Here's a fun event coming up if you are a "beer and beef" fan! Durham's Bull City Burger and Brewery is reviving the old New York beefsteak tradition with its Beefsteak Octoberfest. It will be from 4 to midnight on Saturday, Sept. 17 (strangely enough, not in October). There will be two seatings; one at 4 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. The restaurant will not serve burgers on this night and there will be no vegetarian options. The menu includes an assortment of beef, lamb, pork, offal and sausage provided by Farmhand Foods, which specializes in local-raised meat. The $45 ticket also gets you two beers and unlimited fries, bread, celery and radishes. Tickets cost $45 for adults and $20 for a child. Tickets are limited and only available online here. The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Durham.

Listen up Paula Deen fans, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has the skinny on her book signing in Raleigh on October 14th. Check out the details here.

There are a couple of things you need to do to get ready for this year's TerraVITA food & wine event. First, mark your calendar. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. Second, you need to purchase your tickets. Here is where you can purchase tickets. TerraVITA brings together biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews with some of the very best North Carolina chefs that are committed to using locally-grown organic ingredients!

The 6th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will be held September 17-18, 2011 from 1-5 p.m. and will be the biggest Eastern Triangle Farm Tour to date. Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, the tour features 25 sustainable farms located across the Eastern Triangle. Advance tickets are $25 per carload or cycle group. Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday and can be used to visit all of the farms on the tour. Day-of tickets are $30 or $10 per farm. Info and tickets.

And finally, the Angus Barn is hosting another of their complimentary wine tastings this Sunday at 3:30 pm with Certified Sommelier Henk Schuitemaker and his staff. No reservations required and wine cellar tours are available. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 19, 2011

2011-08-19T03:42:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

One open, two to go. Downtown Raleigh's much anticipated Beasely's Chicken + Honey, the creation of Poole's Diner owner Ashley Christensen, opened this week. And there are two more establishments on the way for Christensen - Chuck's, a burger joint next door, will open in about two weeks. And that will be followed by Fox Liquor Bar - aiming to open the 2nd weekend in September. Keep up with all of Ashley's restaurants here.

The Jack Astor's in Cary has closed - it did so at the end of last month. However, on their facebook page, they direct you to pay attention to the October opening of a JD's Tavern in Apex at 800 W Williams St. Apparently there will be some familiar faces from Jack Astor's. We'll keep you posted.

Last week we told you about the "re-opening" of Hectors in Chapel Hill. Well, it is actually The Thrill at Hectors and the "bar side" of it opened this week. But you can't get a Greek Grilled Cheese just yet. The "kitchen side" of the Chapel Hill legend, won't open until the end of this month. Keep up with the latest on their Facebook page.

Speaking of Chapel Hill legends, the rumors are circulating again about the rebirth of The Rathskeller. While it appears that there is more "activity" happening with these latest rumors, there is still a lot that has to happen in order to bring back "The Rat." We'll continue to watch it...and keep our fingers crossed!

And speaking of rumors, here's a good one. It was "tweeted" last week that Jimmy Stubbs, from the Pittsboro "version" of Allen & Son Barbecue, is bringing his operation to Raleigh with the planned opening of Five Points BBQ. While this hasn't been confirmed and there are conflicting stories out of Pittsboro, there is a Twitter feed (@5PointsBBQ), and there is renovation work taking place at the corner of Oberlin and Fairview. We'll continue to watch this.

The original El Rodeo on Hillsborough Street (now 18 years old) is getting a new name and a new feel. With a planned opening of next Tuesday, Chile Bomba will be a "funkier" and "bolder" version of El Rodeo. The restaurant, across the street from NC State at 2400 Hillsborough Street, remains in the Ibarra family. Keep up with the latest here.

We told you about this last week, but Joel Lane's Public House, located in Raleigh's Glenwood South behind The Diner, is now open. The chef is William Thornton, who most recently worked at Gravy. Check out their website here.

According to the N&O, brothers Eddy and Galo Andrade are opening the Latin Grill in Clayton today at 876 Gulley Drive off of Highway 70. The 49-seat restaurant will serve Portuguese and Argentinian food, including grilled steaks, ribs and chicken. It will be open for lunch and dinner every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If you're looking for a new place to enjoy wings (that isn't a sports bar) we've got good news for you. East Coast Wings & Grill has opened in the Cornerstone Village Shopping Center at the corner of Davis and High House Roads in Cary. There are plans to open three to five additional locations here in the Triangle area over the next few years. The restaurant features over 75 flavors of wings. Visit them here.

The Tasty Beverage Company will open its doors this Monday (Aug. 22) at 6 p.m. They are located in the Raleigh Depot district in downtown Raleigh adjacent to the Union Tavern, Tuscan Blu and Jibarra (and across from Spy). At the opening, there will be tons of vendors providing free samples and their shelves will be stocked with over 500 different beers available for purchase.

It is official...the latest version of Raleigh's Q Shack is now open at the food court in Crabtree Valley Mall. They opened to huge crowds this past Saturday. Congratulations to Tom Meyer and his team and partners.

Want to take a tour of Larry's Beans? They have scheduled another of their extremely popular tours on Saturday, September 24th. These fill up quick, so email them soon if you are interested - tours@larrysbeans.com. Let them know how many people are in your group (6 max) and your contact information. This is limited to 150 people.

Congratulations to Martin's Curry Rice on their one-year anniversary. To celebrate, join them this Sunday (Aug. 21) from 12 to 5 p.m. with festivities including live music, games and kids' activities.

The Western Wake Farmers' Market is holding an old-fashioned pig pickin' with live music, kids' entertainment and raffle prizes on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 beginning on Sept. 1. Tickets for kids are just $5. Visit their home page for more information.

Acme restaurant over in Carrboro is hosting another wine dinner this Sunday (Aug. 21). It will feature the spectacular wines of importer Rudi Weist. The cost is $58 per person and will get started at 6:30. Reservations are required by calling 919-929-2263.

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week is next week! Over 30 downtown Raleigh restaurants will be offering special prix fixe menus from Aug. 22-28 offering three-course meals for either $20 or $30. And this year, for the first time, many restaurants will offer beer or wine pairings for an additional $10. To see menus and the complete list of restaurants, go here.

Tickets for the 2011 World Beer Festival in Durham (October 8, 2011) are now on sale to ther general public. If you want to go, better buy them now. They tend to go fast!

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 12, 2011

2011-08-12T04:23:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Well, there is finally some great news coming out of Chapel Hill...Hector's is making a return to the hill! This rendition will be located on Rosemary Street in the same building as Bub O'Malley's (aka Bub's). We'll keep you posted once we get a firm opening date.

I know I talk a lot about food trucks, but this is THE EVENT not to miss if you are a food truck junkie, or if you've been meaning to try out a food truck. They will ALL be at Durham's Central Park (adjacent to Durham's Farmer's Market on Foster Street) this Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This will mark the largest gathering of food trucks in the Triangle's history. Here is who is signed up to date (more to come, I'm certain): Only Burger, Pie Pushers, The Parlour, KoKyu BBQ, The Grilled Cheese Bus, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Farmhand Foods, Slippin' Sliders, Klausie's Pizza, Don's Classic Ices, Sweet n Savory, Kona Ice and Locopops.

Speaking of food trucks, there's a new food truck in town! Hitting the streets is Chirba Chirba Dumpling which will be focused on selling Asian street fare with an emphasis on dumplings. "Chirba Chirba" literally means "Eat eat!" in Mandarin Chinese. Keep up with their locale by visiting their website here.

MinGa, a Korean/Japanese restaurant in Chapel Hill, is now open at 116 Old Durham Road. That's the road that runs behind Hardees as you head out of Chapel Hill into Durham. You can get more information on their Facebook page here.

Over in Durham, Happy China Sushi & Bar on 15-501 Business (just down from Foster's at 2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.) is having their grand opening on Tuesday, August 16th. Happy China Sushi & Bar is an American Chinese bistro that serves both Chinese and Japanese dishes. Check them out on Facebook here.

Also, according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, L'Uva Enoteca over in Durham's American Tobacco Campus (former Café Zen spot across from Tyler's), will open next week. To keep up with the latest, keep checking their Facebook page here.

Qdoba is now open in Brier Creek at 8521 Brier Creek Parkway. For those that remember, that is the former Salsarita's Fresh Cantina location.

With just over three years having past since the chain's last Triangle opening, Starbucks is set to open a new store at Six Forks Station in North Raleigh this October. It will be in the former Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant location.

Jet's Pizza, which opened its first two Triangle locations earlier this year, is getting ready to open another location. Jet's has begun the interior construction of its newest location at 6114 Falls of Neuse Road in the North Ridge shopping center in Raleigh.

Brookside Market & Deli, near Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood, opened last month at 1000 Brookside Drive near downtown Raleigh. Brookside Deli offers a variety of Mediterranean food, including hummus, falafel, baba ghanouj, and beef, chicken and lamb shawarma. Check out their Facebook page here.

If you live in Knightdale and are looking for a new place to get barbecue, check out the new Dickey's Barbecue Pit which opened this week at 2001 Widewaters Parkway.

Rick's Diner & Catering Co. in Durham is growing. Rick's, which recently relocated just down Shannon Road to the Hope Valley Square shopping center, is planning to add another 2,000 square feet to its footprint by expanding into unoccupied space next door.

And over in Garner, The Fuji Japanese Steakhouse at 1571 U.S. 70 next to the Lowe's Home Improvement store is now open for business.

The Italian-style Casalinga restaurant that has been operating in Raleigh's Mini City shopping center since 1995 is turning back the clock. Casalinga founders Manny LoGuidice and his sister-in-law Josephine Cappiello are returning to the restaurant's management after several years' absence with most of the old recipes and a few new ones.

As noted in the Triangle Business Journal, Foster's in Cameron Village has closed their doors. And rumors on the street indicate that the prime location will soon be occupied by Charlotte's Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. Nope, that's not a typo - sushi and burgers. As soon as that is confirmed, we'll be sure to let you know. This would mark Cowfish's second location.

It appears as if Grayson's over in Durham has consolidated all of their operations into their location at the Museum of Life & Science. While I was only able to visually confirm the closing of the Shannon Road location, their website seems to confirm that the museum location is the only remaining operation.

We mentioned this several week's ago, but we've got some firm dates now. The Moe's in Cary at the corner of Weston Parkway and Harrison Avenue will close this Monday, (August 15) as they begin their expansion project to more than double their seating space. They plan to re-open the store on Monday, September 5th.

The Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, a brewery and tavern, is celebrating their one-year anniversary this Saturday. The celebration runs (officially) from 4 to 8 pm, and will involve the closing of Rigsbee Avenue to allow for the following food trucks (to date): Farmhand Foods' Sausage Wagon; Backyard BBQ Pit; Chirba Chirba Dumplings; Klausie's Pizza; The Parlour; and Cocoa Cinnamon/bike coffee. More information here.

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week is just a little more than a week away. Over 30 downtown Raleigh restaurants will be offering special prix fixe menus from Aug. 22-28 offering three-course meals for either $20 or $30. And this year, for the first time, many restaurants will offer beer or wine pairings for an additional $10. To see menus and the complete list of restaurants, go here.

Tickets for the 2011 World Beer Festival in Durham (October 8, 2011) are now on sale to ther general public. If you want to go, better buy them now. They tend to go fast!

Tribeca Tavern is launching their new brunch menu this weekend at their Raleigh and Cary locations. The new menu is designed with an even greater influence on North Carolina farmer partners. The new menu can be seen here (pdf).

For a limited time, all Triangle locations of Moe's are now offering a new menu item - Taco Stacks. They are packed with your choice of steak, beef or chicken and stacked between two crunchy corn shells and wrapped in a crisped flour tortilla. Did we mention Moe's famous queso is also involved?

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 29, 2011

2011-07-29T03:12:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

North Raleigh seems to be the "hot" restaurant location this week. First up is the news that Simply Crepes has opened in LaFayette Village complex of shops and eateries. This is the third location for Simply Crepes and marks the first location outside of New York. Visit them on Facebook here.

Just across the way over on Creedmoor Road, al Dente, an Italian restaurant, has opened in the Stonehenge Shopping Center at 7456 Creedmoor Road. Visit them online here.

Also in North Raleigh, in the Brier Creek shopping complex, there is a new Indian option with the opening of Chakras Fine Indian Cuisine. It is located on the "Wal-Mart" side and you can visit them online here.

A quick update on a couple of announcements we have made in recent weeks/months. It now appears that Nanataco has set an official date of August 16th for their opening. Nanatacos will be in Durham on University Drive in the former Fish Shack location and is owned by Nana's Scott Howell.

And we have a new time frame for another Durham restaurant to be opened by Revolution's Jim Anile. We originally reported that L'Uva, an Italian restaurant and bar, would be open just after the 4th of July. We are now looking at a middle to end of August open date. It will be located on the American Tobacco Campus in the former Café Zen space. Not much going on with their website, but you can keep up with their updates on Facebook here.

Over in Raleigh, The Diner on Glenwood South is set to get a new neighbor in the next month or so. Joel Lane's Public House is working toward a mid- to late-August opening. Located in the Creamery building, and sharing a patio with The Diner, they will serve "tavern classics" and will be open seven days a week.

If you are as big a fan of Cary's Food Factory as I am, you better get over there today or tomorrow (before 3 pm)! Jimmy & Lisa are closing the doors to the downtown institution. That's the bad news. The good news is two-fold. One, they will move over to Durham to open The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro on Duke's campus around the middle to end of August (before the students return). The second bit of good news is that a family member, Ray Dorry, will reopen the Cary location in a matter of weeks as Dorry's Downtown. Expect a very similar menu.

And in a bit of shocking news, the N&O's Andrea Weigl reported this week that Chapel Hill's Cypress on the Hill has closed their doors.

Looking for a good deal? You better move fast! Today and today only you can get a $40 gift card at The Twisted Fork Grill, Market & Bar for just $20. The gift card is for dine-in only. The Twisted Fork is located at Triangle Town Center or visit them here.

Here's a little bit of interesting news that shook my southern foundation a little last week. Our beloved Bojangles concept (founded in Charlotte) has been sold to an interest in Boston. But apparently, we're told, we won't see much change. They better not mess with the fries and the sweet tea!

Where can you find 60 beers, 40 bourbons and tons of barbecue? At the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival being held at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on August 5th and 6th, of course. The event features events on both Friday and Saturday (and some of them have already sold out). Visit their website for additional information and tickets.

And finally, I'll be on vacation next week so there will be no Friday Fun Food Facts Friday, August 5th (unless I get really tired of laying round in the sun, sipping beer and relaxing!).

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 22, 2011

2011-07-22T04:25:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

The Triangle appears to be going more international this week with several announcements "around the globe."

Downtown Raleigh is getting more international flare with the recent opening of Babylon which opened on West Lane Street in a former yarn mill. Samad Hatchby opened Babylon two weeks ago and serves food from his homeland, Morocco, and southern Europe. Visit them online here and to get detailed directions.

Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar, which will be a fine-dining Indian option in Raleigh's Glenwood South district, is set to open the second week in August at 116 N. West Street in the space most recently occupied by Vintage Bar & Grill. They will be open for lunch and dinner. Get more information here.

According to the Carpe Diem website, Salamandra re-opened earlier this summer on Hillsborough Rd. in Durham (2627 Hillsborough Road to be exact), just next door to their former location. If you're looking for authentic, fresh and inexpensive Mexican cuisine, you'll want to add this to your list.

And completing the international "theme," Laziz Biryani Corner has opened at its new location at 3281 Avent Ferry Road, Suite 117. LBC features Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Visit them online here .

If you've got a sweet tooth, listen up - we've got a couple of items of interest. First, the owners of The Cupcake Bar, a delivery cupcake business founded in 2008 and based in Cary, will be opening a retail space in the Five Points area in downtown Durham. Sisters Katie & Anna will begin construction on their brick and mortar location at 102 Morris Street in September. In the meantime, you can continue to get your cupcakes at Coffee & Crepes in Cary's Crossroads or at Tin Roof Teas in Raleigh's Cameron Village.

And we're also hearing (via Andrea Weigl at the N&O and Bull City Rising) that Daisy Cakes, an extremely popular Durham pastry truck, will be opening a storefront location later this fall in downtown Durham. The business will be located at 401-A Foster Street, right next door to the Bull City Arts Collaborative. And don't worry, they'll continue to operate their truck, both at the store and at special events.

If you've been to the Moe's at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway in Cary, you know it is a little limited on seating. Not anymore. That location is currently expanding into the former Sprint location next door and will increase it's seating from about 60 seats to well over 150 and will also have a private room for parties and events. Welcome to (a bigger) Moe's!

And speaking of renovations and additional seating, the small parking area that was out in front of Zely & Ritz, Sushi Blues and Taiphoon Bistro on Glenwood South has been torn out and is being replaced with a very large outdoor seating area. Very cool!

In a quick update for you Mellow Mushroom fanatics, the newest location in Cary is getting closer and closer to reality. The latest update estimates an end of August, first of September opening.

Guess I've been under a rock for this one, but Serena, a Sicilian-inspired restaurant in the heart of RTP (Miami Blvd. next to Randy's), is under new ownership. Stop by and say hello to Giuseppe and Kelly.

Anyone want to buy a Mexican restaurant? Los Potrillos Mexican Restaurant in Chapel Hill (aka Los Po's) near the intersection of East Franklin and Estes Drive, has an "Operating Restaurant For Sale" sign outside their restaurant. The sign on the door also says that they are closed for vacation and encourages folks to visit their other location at 220 W. Rosemary Street. We'll keep an eye on it.

Looking for somewhere to dine next Wednsday (July 27th) night? Head on over to Durham for two special dinners. First, Guglhupf is offering a farm-to-table dinner featuring products from Four Leaf Farm. The five-course meal with wine pairings will cost $45 plus tax and tip. And Dos Perros is offering a five course-meal paired with Durham's Fullsteam Brewery beers. The dinner costs $40 plus tax and tip.

Mark your calendars for the next variation of Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week which will be Aug. 22-28. Almost 30 restaurants have signed up to offer three-course prix fixe meals for $20-$30 per person. Some restaurants will offer three-course beer or wine pairings for an additional $10. For more information, go to their website .

Where can you find 60 beers, 40 bourbons and tons of barbecue? At the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival being held at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on August 5th and 6th, of course. The event features events on both Friday and Saturday (and some of them have already sold out). Visit their website for additional information and tickets.

Piedmont Restaurant is also hosting a Farmer Wine Dinner with Wine Authorities at 7 pm on Thursday, July 28th. The dinner will feature wines made by wineries that are more farm than winery. These producers are focused on the agricultural aspect of the wine world. Make your reservations now by calling 919.683.1213 or visit their site here.

Due to a huge response to their dinner on July 27th, Blu Seafood and Bar on Hillsborough Road in Durham will extend their Lobster Night an extra night to July 28! If you are interested in attending, or need more information, visit their site.

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 15, 2011

2011-07-15T05:27:00.003-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Horowitz's Deli is returning to North Raleigh! Well, not exactly, but as close as we are going to get, and that is a great thing! Brothers Rick and Gary Weinberg are teaming up to resurrect the Horowitz concept (Rick was the original manager at Horowitz's Deli and Neil Horowitz is a consultant on this project) with the opening of Weinberg's - The Delicatessen which is scheduled to open this fall next to the Harris Teeter in the former Bombay Kitchen location on Falls of the Neuse Road. Construction on the space begins this week. Follow their progress on Facebook here.

According to the Duke Chronicle, Cary-based eatery The Food Factory will operate a location out of Duke University's The Devil's Bistro on central campus beginning this fall. The new eatery is tentatively being referred to as The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro, though the name could change slightly. The on-campus restaurant will be open for lunch, dinner and late night. Here's the article in the Duke Chronicle.

Chris Harris (formerly of City Beverage in Durham) and partner Danny Qaddomi have purchased the Tap City saloon at 6675 Falls of Neuse Road in North Raleigh and renamed it Fork and Barrel (new signage to go up soon). Tap City just opened this past fall in the old Stonewood Grill space at Falls Village on Falls of Neuse Road. Expect an overhaul of the menu.

Alvin Cotto, owner of We Cook for You Catering and Raleigh Chocolate Fountains, has announced that he and his wife will open Bistro 155 at the intersection of US 1 and Highway 55 in Apex in the Apex Banquet Hall. The exact location is 1402 E. Williams Street where Fuji Asian Bistro was located. Bistro 155 will initially serve breakfast and lunch and is planning for an August opening. We'll get you an exact open date once we learn of it.

Dulce Café in Durham's Sutton Station on Fayetteville Road is now open. If you're looking for French press, espresso drinks, in-house made pastries, delicious sandwiches and gelato, this spot is worth the visit.

Listen up Q Shack fans. We are inside of two weeks before the opening of The Q Shack in the food court at Crabtree Valley Mall. What's cool about this venture (other than the great Q) is that it is owned by the farmers who provide the product for the Q Shack. Talk about Farm to Table! We'll let you know as soon as we get a firm opening date.

According to the website/blog BBQ Jew and now confirmed from numerous sources on Chowhound, the history-rich A&M Grill in Mebane, has gone out of business.

Only open for a few months, Downtown Raleigh's Fai Thai restaurant has closed. Fai Thai was part of the Empire Eats conglomeration of restaurants and the space will be utilized for private parties and to coordinate catering for all the Empire Eats restaurants. Chef William D'Auvray is still with Empire Eats.

Antonio's Gourmet Market & Patio Bistro in Raleigh is hosting an N.C. Beer Festival tonight (Friday, July 15th) at 6pm! You don't want to miss this event as several local breweries are coming out with brews for every taste bud. The cost is $15 and Antonio's Gourmet Market & Patio Bistro is located at 8460 Honeycutt Road in Raleigh. Visit them online here.

This Saturday the Carrboro Farmers' Market will host its annual Tomato Day celebration. Starting at 8:30 on Saturday, the Tomato Day event includes tomato samples, a display of more than 70 varieties, cooking tips and recipes, as well as live music, face painting for the children and a raffle. For more information about either event, go to their website.

Speaking of tomatoes, Acme restaurant in Carrboro will host its 10th Annual Tomato Festival this weekend (July 15-17) - which basically means the restaurant takes a weekend to offer a menu full of tomato-based dishes. All tomatoes used (and we're talking 600-700 pounds of tomatoes!) come from the Carrboro Farmers' Market.

And if that is not enough tomato action for you, the Piedmont Restaurant over in Durham is having its Coon Rock Farm Tomato Dinner this Saturday night at 7. Be sure to reserve your spot soon as seats are filling up fast. The dinner is $45 per person. Wine pairings are an additional $20. Call for reservations to 919.683.1213 or visit their site here.

The Angus Barn is offering another complimentary wine tasting this Sunday, July 17 from 3:30-5pm. Reservations are not required and complimentary Wine Cellar tours will be available. Get more information at their website.

Capital Club 16 in downtown Raleigh will be hosting a Summer Seafood Bake (a communal style seafood wine dinner) on Monday, July 18th. The event will feature a 3-course dinner with an opening reception, lots of seafood and great wine pairings! Call 919.747.9345 to reserve your spot.

The Carolina Ale House in Cary just completed the installation of a new 72-tap open-air patio bar and is celebrating the grand re-opening with a Pints & Pipers Lawn Party on Wednesday, July 20th. All pints will be $3 each, with the exception of several high gravity beers, and The Magic Pipers, Raleigh's premier cover band, will play live 7p - 11p.

Moe's extremely popular "Free Queso Day" is back and cheesier than ever! On July 20th, Moe's Southwest Grill will be offering a free six ounce cup of queso to every customer, no strings attached. This offer is valid at all Moe's locations from 11 am until 9 pm.

Piedmont Restaurant is also hosting a Farmer Wine Dinner with Wine Authorities at 7 pm on Thursday, July 28th. The dinner will feature wines made by wineries that are more farm than winery. These producers are focused on the agricultural aspect of the wine world. The full menu will be out in a few days. Make your reservations now by calling 919.683.1213 or visit their site here.

Due to a huge response to their dinner on July 27th, Blu Seafood and Bar on Hillsborough Road in Durham will extend their Lobster Night an extra night to July 28! If you are interested in attending, or need more information, visit their site.

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 8, 2011

2011-07-08T04:47:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Cantina South, which took over the former Bogart's location on Glenwood South, is now open! Cantina South serves modern Mexican cuisine with entrees between $13 and $20, specialty margaritas and more than 50 tequilas. Check them out and welcome Kevin Summers back to the Raleigh restaurant scene!

Here's some great news out of Durham. Nana's Scott Howell recently announced that he will take over the former Fish Shack location (2512 University Drive in Durham - aka former Rockwood Filling Station) and will open a Mexican restaurant called Nanataco. Howell is shooting for a late July opening. His newest venture will feature fresh tamales, burritos, and of course, tacos. In addition, he says to expect rotisserie chicken, housemade chorizo and an expanded outdoor seating area.

We reported this many months ago, but it looks like the old Seafood North location (10630 Durant Road in Raleigh) is very close to getting a new tenant. A sign was spotted this week by my buddy John, aka Triangle Explorer, for Munchies Mexican Grill. Stay tuned for any new information we get.

Downtown Raleigh has a new option for Turkish cuisine with the opening of Troy Mezze Lounge. Located on Blake Street in City Market in the former Edelweiss Café location, Troy Mezze is owned by Arif Denk and offers up a large selection of Turkish food.

If you find yourself up in Wake Forest early in the morning, you might want to check out their latest addition - Main Street Grille Café & Bakery. While they are known for their breakfast (and specifically their homemade Apple Cider Donughts), they also serve up sandwiches, burgers and such. Good Southern cooking! Thanks to John (aka Triangle Explorer) for the tip on this. They are located at 1318 South Main Street, or you can visit their website here.

The Triangle is about to get its sixth Applebee's location! The newest location will break ground in Durham's Patterson Place (15-501 and I40) this month and anticipates a November opening.

Somebody in Chapel Hill is looking good, and we're not talking about John Edwards' latest $400 hair cut. No, this is food related and we're talking about a "face-lift" of sorts that was recently completed at Carolina Brewery on West Franklin Street. I've seen pictures and it looks pretty spiffy. Plan a trip over to Chapel Hill and check them out.

Over in Durham, Mad Burrito announced plans to open in Northgate Mall's food court in early September.

And for those counting down the days until the opening of the newest location of Chipotle - you're going to have to wait a little longer. The Hillsborough Street location has moved back their opening date until right around August 31/September 1. As we get closer we'll let you know the exact opening date.

In our last issue, we reported that Johnny's of Carrboro had closed. That is true, but apparently it is a temporary close and will re-open, albeit under a new name. Details are still being worked out, but we will keep you posted.

In related news, former Johnny's of Carrboro partner Brian Plaster, is now over at Frosty's on Jones Ferry Road between Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Pittsboro. The vision there might involve a name change to Johnny's at Frosty's, and will be similar to the venture over in Carrboro.

Just a reminder that the Chick-fil-A on Walnut Street in Cary at Cary Crossroads will be closed (starting tomorrow) for a month-long renovation. But don't fear, you can still hit the Chickf-fil-A at Cary Town Center, just a few miles down the street.

Speaking of Chick-fil-A, today is "Cow Appreciation Day" at all Chick-fil-A locations. Which simply means, dress up like a cow (or give it a good try) and you'll get free food!

Here's an interesting combination - A food truck rodeo (featuring Pie Pushers, The Parlour, Hot Diggity Dogs and Farmhand Foods) and women's arm wrestling! The event is this Saturday, July 9th, at the Casbah in Durham. The food trucks will be set-up and rolling at 7 pm, with the arm wrestling beginning at 9 pm. Let me know if you go!

Somebody at the NY Times has a love affair with Durham - which we think is a great thing! Check out the NY Times' latest article on Durham!

If you are a beer connoisseur, good news is on the horizon. Bottle Revolution, a new specialty beer store, will open Aug. 5 on Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh next to Buffalo Brothers. Check their website for details on their fast-approaching opening.

Wild Ginger Asian Bistro and Sushi, which was located on the first floor of the Progress Energy building in downtown Raleigh, has closed their doors.

Two of the South's most iconic brands, Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme, have announced the re-release of their limited edition Cheerwine Filled Krispy Kreme Doughnut. But get them while they last - the limited edition treats will only be available until the end of July. To find the nearest location carrying Cheerwine Filled Krispy Kreme Doughnuts visit their website.

Antontio's Gourmet Market will host a Mexican Fiesta today (July 8th) and tomorrow. Festivities will begin tonight at 5pm, and will continue on Saturday at 12 noon. Bring your family, friends, and your appetite and enjoy their specially designed hot and spicy menu. Antonio's Gourmet Market is located at 8460 Honeycutt Road in Raleigh in Lafayette Village or visit them online here.

The Saturday Market At Rebus Works this weekend looks especially "foodie"! This weekend you'll find Blue Sky Dining (joining with Locals Seafood), Muddy Dog Roasting Company, Bobby's Ice Water and all the regular vendors featuring garlic, field peas, heirloom tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, corn, lemon tahini, homemade mustard, tomato sauce, butter, cheese and much, much more. The Saturday Market is located at 301-2 Kinsey Street, (next to the Boylan Street Bridge) in Raleigh. Visit them here for more information.

On July 12, Brixx-Raleigh (Brier Creek Shopping Center) is playing host to a five-course beer dinner featuring the amazing beers of Left Hand Brewing! Tickets are $35 each. Click here for a peek at the menu and call 919.246.0640 to reserve tickets!

Next Friday, July 15th, Antonio's will host a Beer Fest. The cost is $15 and includes tasting and all you can eat hors d'oeuvres. Purchase your tickets in advance at the Market! More details here.

Saturday, July 16th will be the Carrboro Farmers' Market annual Tomato Day celebration. Starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16, the Tomato Day event includes tomato samples, a display of more than 70 varieties, cooking tips and recipes, as well as live music, face painting for the children and a raffle.
For more information go here.

Speaking of tomatoes, Piedmont Restaurant is hosting the First Annual Piedmont Tomato Dinner on Saturday, July 16th at 7 p.m. The dinner will be 5 courses and will feature Coon Rock Farm's heirloom tomatoes in every dish. Call 919-683-1213 for reservations. Spots will fill up fast!

Capital Club 16 in downtown Raleigh will be hosting a Summer Seafood Bake (a communal style seafood wine dinner) on Monday, July 18th. The event will feature a 3-course dinner with an opening reception, lots of seafood and great wine pairings! Call 919.747.9345 to reserve your spot.

Moe's extremely popular "Free Queso Day" is back and cheesier than ever! On July 20th, Moe's Southwest Grill will be offering a free six ounce cup of queso to every customer, no strings attached. This offer is valid at all Moe's locations from 11 am until 9 pm.

Due to a huge response to their dinner on July 27th, Blu Seafood and Bar on Hillsborough Road in Durham will extend their Lobster Night an extra night to July 28! If you are interested in attending, or need more information, visit their site.

Don't forget Foster's Market in Chapel Hill every other Thursday at 6:30 pm for a casual, family-style meal made from fresh ingredients from local farms. Reservations are required and are $25 and include a three-course meal, with an option of adding a $12 wine pairing. Get more information here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 24, 2011

2011-06-24T03:34:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Good news Durhamites. The infamous Bread & Kabob that used to be at 1013 W. Main Street just beyond the Brightleaf District across from the Shell station, has re-opened. Check them out!

We're getting some sneak peaks and hints about Ashley Christensen's (of Poole's Diner) new Wilmington Street establishments in downtown Raleigh. This week the signage for the first of three went up - Beasley's Chicken & Honey is now painted on the side of the building and is expected to open this summer. The name obviously gives us some indication that it will feature Christensen's extremely popular honey-crusted chicken.

After Beasley's, it is anticipated that Chuck's will open, and that will be followed by the downstairs bar. Chuck's, as the name suggests, will be a burger joint.

Amante Gourmet Pizza has a new location in Cary! It opened this past week at Cary Park Town Center at 10110 Green Level Church Road. This newest location has a full bar and the same great food you've come to love at Amante's. This marks Amante's sixth Triangle location.

And speaking of Amante, they relocated their North Raleigh store and it has now re-opened at 6325 Falls of Neuse Road in the Sutton Square Shopping Center (think Fresh Market, Performance Bicycles and PetSmart).

And according to the News & Observer, just down the street from Amante Gourmet Pizza, MachuPicchu, a Peruvian restaurant, has opened at 4500 Falls of Neuse Road. That is the shopping center directly behind Carolina Ale House and Pei Wei near the intersection with Falls of Neuse & Old Wake Forest Road.

And out a little ways in Sanford, you can now "Eat More Chicken" thanks to the opening of the latest Chick-Fil-A located at 3224 N.C. 87 South. The store held its grand opening yesterday.

Got an email from an observant reader (thanks Jackie!) who noticed yesterday that the Penang on West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill's Courtyard complex was closed and that the sign was gone.

And not too far away over in Carrboro, according to a sign in the window, it appears as if Johnny's of Carrboro has closed after a four year run. Johnny's, as you'll recall, was a frequent host of the very popular Food Truck Rodeo's, in addition to being a community gathering spot.

And according to Johanna Kramer (aka @DurhamFoodie) you better hurry on over if you want to enjoy Simply Thai & Sushi Bar one more time. Simply Thai, which is located in the shopping center at the intersection of Hwy. 54 & 55 in Durham, is closing next week.

Blu Seafood and Bar in Durham has an interesting theme for its next monthly wine dinner: Up in Smoke. That means they will be serving smoked seafoods, smoked salts and more. On July 13, you will get four courses for $45 plus wine pairings chosen by the folks at Hope Valley Bottle Shop. That will be followed by their annual Lobster night on July 27. The more people who make reservations, the more lobsters they order, the lower the price. For a reservation, call 286-9777 or visit their website.

The Vinnie's Steakhouse in Raleigh is hosting a six-course wine dinner where diners will build their own Bordeaux blend during the meal. Plus they will have a chance to have their blend judged for prizes. The July 29 event costs $100. For a reservation, call 847-7319 or visit their website.

This Sunday, June 26th at 6 pm, Bull City Burger and Brewery will host a special Dinners a l' Art event - Burgers, Brews & Bluegrass - to support the Durham Arts Council! $40 per person includes a burger, fries, 2 freshly brewed beers, great music and a great cause of supporting the arts! Event starts at 6 pm. Grab those tickets before they're gone!

And finally, a big congratulations and "Tip of the Hat" to Capital Club 16 and their celebration of their one-year anniversary! And to celebrate, they will be having an all-day party (starting at 4 p.m.) this Saturday (June 25) with a cask of Foothills beer, spiked fresh watermelon punch, dark beer roasted suckling pig and Berlin street sausages served outside throughout the day. As well, there will be a strongman krug holding competition and a watermelon seed-spitting contest. Get more details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 17, 2011

2011-06-17T05:48:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Which Wich? That's right, you now have a choice here in the Triangle when it comes to which Which Wich you want to visit. Got it? The second Triangle location of Which Wich Superior Sandwiches opened this week in Brier Creek Shopping Center. That said, I'm still partial to the original location on Lake Boone Trail!

OK, forget what I said about Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza last week. It didn't close. Well, it did, but it immediately re-opened with the same operators and became Camos Brothers Pizza. Give them a look-see. And if you want the "full story" on what happened, check it out here.

Hibachi Sushi, a fast Japanese & Thai entrée joint, opened last week in Chapel Hill's Meadowmont. Check 'em out.

Bojangles' opened this week at 1513 N. Arendell Ave. in Zebulon. For franchisee Tri-Arc Food Systems, this will be their 46th location across the Triangle and in southern Virginia.

Over in Durham, chef and part-owner of the Vin Rouge French bistro on Hillsborough Road, Matt Kelly, has plans for a new restaurant in downtown Durham at 107 W. Chapel Hill St. that previously housed The Book Exchange. He said he has plans to open a Spanish tapas restaurant called "Mateo" there, serving small plates of food made with local ingredients. No open date as of yet - but we'll keep you posted.

Also in Durham, Jim Anile, chef and owner of Durham's Revolution, has a new venture planned for the former space of Cafe Zen (410 Blackwell St., Durham) at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham. L'Uva, an Italian restaurant and wine bar, is set to open towards the middle of July. Here is their website (but there isn't much to look at just yet).

Listen up Holly Springs, it appears as if there is a new restaurant headed your way called Little Hen, which will be located at 5160 Sunset Lake Road. They are looking at a mid-July opening, but you can get a sneak preview of their cuisine at the Pints for Pets Beerfest this weekend. You can also view their menu here.

You can now get your cup cake fix from The Cup Cake Bar at Old Havana - but only on Fridays and Saturdays. The Old Havana Sandwich Shop, which is located at 310 East Main Street in Durham, will begin carrying The Cup Cake Bar's special creations. Get more information on these delectables at their website here.

Don a pair of flip flops today and you can enjoy a free 24-ounce strawberry-banana smoothie at either Raleigh location of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. This give-away is in honor of National Flip Flop Day. Tropical Smoothie has locations at 1028 Oberlin Road and 8111 Creedmoor Road - both in Raleigh.

The new Fearrington Granary is now open for lunch! Located on 15-501 between Pittsboro and Chapel Hill, the Old Granary also has a new menu, a new look, new hours and has added a new bar. Make your reservations today!

The Niche Wine Lounge in downtown Holly Springs will host the first annual Pints for Pets Beerfest this Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. $25 includes all tastings, t-shirt and a mug - and supporting a good cause. Get more information here.

Check out the first annual Triangle Tastes and Tunes this Saturday, June 18 from 5 - 11 pm in the 100 block of Fayetteville Street in front of Isaac Hunters Tavern. This event will feature a raffle with prizes, delicious food trucks, and live music. The following food trucks will be appearing at this event: Klausie's, Valentino's Food Truck, Slippin Sliders, Blue Sky Dining and Mama Jean's Bar-B-Q Shack.

This Saturday, June 18, the Piedmont Pepper Pods and friends will once again take over Central Park for the Ninth Annual Bull City Chili Challenge. There will be winners in four categories: Texas Style, Freestyle, Restaurant and Junior. And there will be a salsa competition. The cook-off is open to the public from 11 am until 2 pm (or till the chili runs out). Chili turn-in is at noon, so go early to get the best tastes. Tasting kits consist of a spoon, napkin and 2 oz. cups for sampling chili. Admission is free and it's $4 for a tasting kit. All proceeds benefit the Durham Central Park. More information here.

And if you are there at Central Park, you might as well stick around as there will be a food truck rodeo this Sunday, June 19th, from 5-7pm in Durham Central Park!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 26th at 6 p.m. as Bull City Burger and Brewery will host a special Dinners a l' Art event - Burgers, Brews & Bluegrass - to support the Durham Arts Council! $40 per person includes a burger, fries, 2 freshly brewed beers, great music and a great cause of supporting the arts! Event starts at 6 pm. Grab those tickets before they're gone!

North Raleigh's Antonio's Gourmet Market & Patio Bistro has a couple of events coming up that you'll want to get on your calendar. This Saturday, June 18th, they'll host an Italian Feast from noon until...The patio will be a buzz with sights and sounds of Italy, including amazing Italian fare and wines. And then on Thursday, June 23rd, prepare yourself to enjoy Spanish Night from 6-8 p.m. This night will feature live music, Spanish cuisine and Spanish wine. For more information call 919-887-6310, or check out their website.

Kudos this week to Chef Mario's Catering for snagging a slew of awards recently, including: 2nd Place People's Choice, and Honorable Mention from the judges at the Epicurious Vino Challenge; "Talk of the Town" top 4 star rating in customer satisfaction; and ranked in the Top 100 Small Business in NC and the Top 300 in the Southeast by Business Leader media. Kudos to Chef Mario, Darcy and their entire team!

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 10, 2011

2011-06-10T02:59:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

My wife and I discovered a new restaurant in Morrisville at the intersection of Davis Drive and Morrisville Carpenter Road called Yucatan Mexican Restaurant. This is their first location and was quite good and well worth a visit.

We mentioned it last week, but Panera Bread will open its newest store next Monday in the Market at Colonnade shopping center in North Raleigh and the first 300 customers will receive a free travel mug and free refills for 30 days. That might be worth getting up for.

According to the Triangle Busness Journal, the former Uno Chicago Grill building at Brier Creek will soon be home to Hayashi Japanese Cuisine which will open by this time next week.

Also in Brier Creek, renovations are nearing completion of the former Salsarita's location which will become the Triangle's 7th location of Qdoba restaurant.

The worst kept secret in the Triangle was confirmed this week. Tyler's Taproom will definitely be coming to Raleigh at the Seaboard Station near downtown. They are looking for a fall opening, but we'll keep you posted.

Dickey's Barbecue is opening another Triangle location in Knightdale next month. The newest location will be in the Widewaters Commons shopping center in Knightdale.

Over in Durham, the Reliable Cheese Company is opening next Tuesday at 405 East Chapel Hill Street. They tout themselves as the premier cheese shop in the triangle with friendly and knowledgeable staff, quality products and a selection unavailable anywhere else locally. Be the judge yourself.

Seems like all the restaurant news lately has been about pizza joints opening up. But we just learned from the N&O that the Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza at Six Forks Shopping Center in Raleigh closed last week. The Millpond Village location in Cary remains open, and the owners haven't ruled out opening new locations in the near future.

If you're at the Streets at Southpoint looking to get your chocolate fix, we've got disappointing news on two fronts. The Marble Slab Creamery (next to The Cheesecake Factory) has closed. And if that is not bad enough, the Nestle Toll House cookie joint directly across the way, has also closed.

If you are a breakfast lover over in Durham, this weekend may be your last chance to get a breakfast at Kings Sandwich Shop, at least for a little while. According to a tweet this week, after this weekend, Kings is putting the breakfast menu on hiatus.

The N&O's Andrea Weigl has put up a very good list of upcoming wine and beer events here in the Triangle. Check it out here.

Once concentrated in Raleigh, Beltline Brew Tours (maybe they'll change their name) will now provide brewery tours of Fullsteam Brewery, Triangle Brewing Company, and Bull City Burger and Brewery one Saturday a month in Durham. The next scheduled tour is Saturday, June 11th. On the tour, you will learn about each brewery and enjoy beer samples. For more information, including information on purchasing tickets, check out their website.

Here's a fun sounding event that we happened to stumble upon - the Yum Yum Supper Club. Self-described as "a curated celebration of nearby food, people, and the changing seasons," the supper club hosts community dinners, with the next one being held on June 18th beginning at 4 pm. It will feature a four-course dinner grown and prepared by Boxcarr Farms, with beer pairings by Fullsteam. Tickets are $36.25 and seating is limited. Visit their site for more details.

Looks like Bull City Burger is getting into the "beer dinner" business. They'll host their "premier" beer dinner on Monday, June 20th from 6:30 - 9:30. The cost is $45 per person and includes a five course meal. Check out the full menu and get more information here.

Margaux's Restaurant is holding their annual Lobster Fest on Thursday, June 16th from 5:30 to 9 pm! Three-, five-, and ten-pound lobsters will be steamed and served whole on their lovely patio. Live music will be playing. Reservations are required, so call (919) 846-9846 or visit their site if you'd like to reserve a spot.

Want to own a catering company? Well, you're in luck because Sisters Catering Company over on Millbrook Road in Raleigh is for sale. Sandra Burnett will either be selling the business by year's end, or closing it up. We hear the asking price is just north of $2 million.

If you love Moe's Queso, you are going to have to dance to prove it. Moe's is offering $10,000 to the individual (or individuals) who are willing to dance to show their love. To enter, create a dance video no longer than 30 seconds and upload it to www.ilovequeso.com any time before July 24. All of this excitement surrounding Queso will lead up to Moe's second annual Free Queso Day on Wednesday, July 20.

Here's an event you'll want to get tickets for - and tickets go on sale today! This is a "must attend" event according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl. TerraVITA Food & Wine Event brings together the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world together with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known and celebrated for their outstanding reputations and chosen for their devotion and allegiance to locally-grown organic ingredients! Get your tickets here! The event takes place September 24th in Chapel Hill's Southern Village.

Over in Chapel Hill, The Weathervane in Southern Season will host a Highland Beer Dinner on June 15th at 7 pm. The dinner will feature 5 courses and 5 beers. Call 919.929.9466 to make your reservation.

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 3, 2011

2011-06-03T05:51:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

In a series of events that seems to prove that what goes around comes around...Kevin Summers, who started Rocky Top Hospitality with Dean Ogan (but moved on long ago), is now back in the restaurant scene. Summers announced that he would take over the Glenwood South space formerly occupied by Bogart's (a former Rocky Top Hospitality concept) with a modern Mexican restaurant called Cantina South. No date set yet on an opening, but we'll keep an eye on it.

About a month ago, the original owners of Tookie's Grill, known and loved for their chicken salad, returned to the restaurant business in a location similar to the Texaco station on Six Forks Road where it all started. But this time it is in the Wendell Mart Exxon at 2901 Wendell Blvd., across from the McDonald's.

The Lynnwood Grill, a locally owned bar and grill, located at 4821 Grove Barton Road in Raleigh (right next to the Raleigh Grande Theater at the intersection of Lynn & Glenwood) is opening today at 11 am. They describe themselves as the perfect place to grab a bite before or after the movie. Check them out here.

The Panera Bread in Falls Village in North Raleigh will close this month - but don't fret. It will move into a new location at the Market at Colonnade in front of the new Whole Foods. They are shooting for a June 10th opening.

Opening day for the Which Wich Superior Sandwiches in Brier Creek Commons is June 15. The opening of the North Hills location has been pushed back until this fall.

YoLo Dessert Cafe has opened its first North Carolina location at Cary Park Town Center at 10110 Green Level Church Road, Suite 104. The cafe specializes in self-serve frozen yogurt with a large selection of locally sourced and produced sides and toppings.

It appears as if Subway has found the last two strip malls in the Triangle that don't have a Subway location. You can find the newest two locations in Cary at 10130-300 Green Level Church Road, and the other at 705 Ninth St. in Durham.

Looks like this is the month that we'll get the first peak at Calavera Empanda & Tequilla Bar which we reported many weeks ago was replacing the 101 Lounge at the corner of Blount and Davie in downtown Raleigh. Their twitter feed announces a "June" opening. Stay tuned.

The Dancing Chocolatier, a gourmet bakery specializing in custom-order cakes and desserts as well as cupcakes, has opened at the Shoppes at Bedford in North Raleigh. The address is 3607 Falls River Ave., Suite 115B.

We've got a name for Eschelon Hospitality's newest concept opening this fall on the first floor of the RBC Plaza in downtown Raleigh - Zinda. It will be a pan-Asian restaurant with "a contemporary twist on traditional dishes from China, Thailand and India." Looking like a late October, early November open.

Speaking of Eschelon Hospitality (owners of The Oxford, Sono, Mura, Dapper Style House, and The Borough), it appears they just recently swooped in to take over operations of Cameron Bar & Grill in Raleigh's Cameron Village.

There is another food truck on the scene, this time over in Cary. According to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, the Bavarian Brathaus (6464 Tryon Road in Cary) now has a food truck. Right now, they are parked at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh on Saturdays and Sundays and at the Whole Foods Cary on Mondays and Tuesdays. Follow them on twitter @bavarianbrats.

Listen up Poole's Diner junkies, there is one more night a week that you can get your fix. It was just announced that they are now open on Tuesday nights.

This is pretty lazy...I mean cool. You can now order your food at the Durham Bulls baseball games right from your seat with your smart phone. Check it out here. Now if they can just create an app for the bathroom...

If you love Moe's Queso, you are going to have to dance to prove it. Moe's is offering $10,000 to the individual (or individuals) who are willing to dance to show their love. To enter, create a dance video no longer than 30 seconds and upload it to www.ilovequeso.com any time before July 24. All of this excitement surrounding Queso will lead up to Moe's second annual Free Queso Day on Wednesday, July 20.

Hats off this week to the N&O's incredible Andrea Weigl who was nominated for Best Newspaper Food Coverage by the Association of Food Journalists. Winners will be named at an awards banquet in Charleston, SC, on Oct. 6. Go Andrea!

Here's an event you'll want to get tickets for - and tickets go on sale today! This is a "must attend" event according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl. TerraVITA Food & Wine Event brings together the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world together with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known and celebrated for their outstanding reputations and chosen for their devotion and allegiance to locally-grown organic ingredients! Get your tickets here! The event takes place September 24th in Chapel Hill's Southern Village.

If you're looking for a great Beer Dinner, we've got one for you next Monday, June 6th at 7 pm. It will be at Panzanella in Carrboro and will feature four courses and five beers from Chapel Hill's own Carolina Brewery! Call 929.6626 or visit them online.

Now in its 4th year, Triangle Restaurant Week returns to the area with three-course prix-fixe meals at $15 for lunch and $20 or $30 for dinner. The event will take place during the week of June 6th - 12th, 2011. For more details and a list of participating restaurants, go here.

Cackalacky will celebrate its 10th anniversary tomorrow at The Cackalacky Cookout. It will be held from 11 until 4 p.m. on June 4th in front of A Southern Season (University Mall in Chapel Hill) where Cackalacky secured its first wholesales account 10 years ago. Proceeds will benefit the Diabetes Bus Initiative. In addition, The Guilty Pleasures will play bluegrass and Duck-Rabbit Brewery will sell its brews.

Over in Chapel Hill, The Weathervane in Southern Season will host a Highland Beer Dinner on June 15th at 7 pm. The dinner will feature 5 courses and 5 beers. Call 919.929.9466 to make your reservation.

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 27, 2011

2011-05-27T05:41:00.001-07:00

Triangle Restaurant News

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

There is a lot of "moving and shaking" going on this week in the Triangle restaurant scene, so let's jump right into it with the week's biggest news.

First, pitmaster and living legend Ed Mitchell has left The Pit in downtown Raleigh. He announced that he would be opening his own restaurant "somewhere in the Triangle" and it appears to involve a partnership of sorts with Butterball making turkey bbq. You can follow what Ed is up to here.

Meanwhile, Greg Hatem announced that everything would remain the same at The Pit - and that he has plans to open a second location over in downtown Durham later this year, or early next year. Stay tuned as announcements regarding that shake out in the next month or so.

In other late breaking news, Jonathan Munsell (Jumpin' Jonny's) and Niall Hanley (Hibernian, Solas & The Diner) have announced that they will be bringing all of Jumpin' Jonny's cheese-steaks, full catering lineup and delivery to the already amazing dining options at The Diner. Stay tuned as more announcements come out of this dynamic partnership.

The other big news of the week from the N&O's Andrea Weigl is that Chef Todd Whitney has left J. Betski's in Raleigh and has joined the staff over at Durham's Vin Rouge.

And with that move, came word that Vin Rouge's owner and chef, Matt Kelly, will be opening a new Spanish tapas restaurant in downtown Durham this fall. No set date, nor do we know the location just yet. We'll keep an eye on it.

Also over in Durham, the Triangle's latest rendition of Five Guys opened this past Monday at Patterson Place in Durham. That location is conveniently located at the intersection of 15-501 and I40, next to the new Moe's location.

Over in Morrisville, we're getting close to the grand opening next month of the Triangle's very first Sir Pizza - which will be at the corner of Davis Drive and McCrimmon Parkway. Sir Pizza has quite a following and has locations in High Point, Thomasville, Troy, Siler City, Asheboro, Randleman, Burlington and Aberdeen.

Rumors of Chubby Tacos moving out of their cramped space in the Lake Boone Shopping Center and into the former Second City Grill space were squashed this week with a sign appearing with the announcement that the space would become the Barking Cow Pub.

Perhaps the biggest holiday of the year is just around the corner. Yep, National Doughnut Day is coming up next Friday, June 3rd! And Krispy Kreme will be offering up one FREE doughnut of any variety to those that visit. Go here to find a participating Krispy Kreme location near you. I love this country!

Teaming up with Kathleen Purvis, the N&O has put together a pretty cool list of "food festivals" across North & South Carolina. Check out the interactive map here.

We've got the perfect Father's Day outing for you, although all the details aren't finalized just yet. But, word on the street is that there will be a huge food truck rodeo on June 19th in Durham. So, scrap your plans to buy dad a tie this year, and take him to the food truck rodeo instead! Stay tuned for more details as they unfold.

Now in its 4th year, Triangle Restaurant Week returns to the area with three-course prix-fixe meals at $15 for lunch and $20 or $30 for dinner. The event will take place during the week of June 6th - 12th, 2011. For more details and a list of participating restaurants, go here.

Here's a fun event to put on your calendar. Cackalacky will celebrate its 10th anniversary next week at The Cackalacky Cookout. It will be held from 11 until 4 p.m. on June 4th in front of A Southern Season (University Mall in Chapel Hill) where Cackalacky secured its first wholesales account 10 years ago. Proceeds will benefit the Diabetes Bus Initiative. In addition, The Guilty Pleasures will play bluegrass and Duck-Rabbit Brewery will sell its brews.

This Saturday, The Saturday Market continues at Rebus Works in the Boylan Heights district in downtown Raleigh from 9 am until 2 pm - an event that combines farmers, crafters and food & beverage trucks. This week will feature the Bulkogi Korean BBQ food truck, and a whole slew of food and craft vendors. More information here.

If you love Moe's and the thought of four nights in Aruba, listen up. Stop by any Triangle area location of Moe's to sign-up for the Burrito Lovers Getaway and you could win. Registration ends on June 6th, with a winner chosen on June 9th (I'm going to win, so you are really wasting your time!)

Saffron of Chapel Hill is now hosting wine dinners with their first one scheduled for Wednesday, June 1st. A four-course meal will be paired with wines chosen by Thomas and Drew of Hope Valley Bottle Shop. The cost is $45 per person. Call 919.240.7490 to reserve your spot.

Over in Chapel Hill, The Weathervane in Southern Season will host a Highland Beer Dinner on June 15th at 7 pm. The dinner will feature 5 courses and 5 beers. Call 919.929.9466 to make your reservation.