Friday Fun Food Facts - October 12, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• How can you not begin this week’s edition without talking about the NC State Fair! And I’m proud to say that “food” is usually topic ‘numero uno’ in conversations concerning the fair - Yea Food! So this year things are easier for you with the new Food Finder at the State Fair’s website as well as a complete list of all the new foods. And to make things even better, you can visit the fair for FREE on your lunch hour. Get all the details here.   

• I get asked all the time on the exact dates on openings of restaurants. Here’s a quick update on four of the “most anticipated openings.” In Raleigh, the Yard House opens this Sunday (Oct. 14) in the CapTrust Tower at North Hills. Last night Tobacco Road Sports Café in Chapel Hill’s East 54 held a “sneak peek” event and hinted that they would be open before the end of the month. Further down 54 over in Durham, the newest location of WhichWich is within a week of opening. And we got word that the newest Chipotle, in Morrisville’s Park West Village, will open next Tuesday, October 16th.

• In the rumor file this week we turn to my buddy Dana McCall, creator of the blog GoGoRaleigh, who reported this week that a bird told him George Bakatsias’ restaurant group will be opening a Greek restaurant in Chapel Hill in the former Pyewacket space on W. Franklin Street in The Courtyard (which is now under new ownership). We’ll keep up with Dana and keep an eye on this one as it unfolds. 

• See if you can Top This! That’s right, the Triangle is getting ready to experience what hopes to be the next burger chain to hit America. It looks like we are just days away from the first location of Top This! Roast Beef, Burgers and More, a joint that gives you “8 proteins” to choose from and over 50 different toppings to create your own masterpiece. The first location will be in Raleigh near the intersection of Blue Ridge Road and Lake Boone Trail in the former Artirum Garden/Blue Point Café location. The next location, which will open at the end of October/first of November, will be in the Jack Sprat location (which closed last week) on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street.

• Got word this week that the first of three Triangle locations of Firewurst will open next month in the Shoppes of Kildaire (i.e. Trader Joe’s shopping center) over in Cary (in the former NY Bagel location). The concept features grilled sausages and hot dogs.  Look for two additional Triangle area locations to quickly follow. We’ll keep an eye on it for you. Get all the details here. 

• Thanks to the keen eyes of Kim over at Triangle Localista, we now know that there is a new Indian restaurant coming into Grace Park in Morrisville called 5 Hot Chillies. No word yet on an open date, but renovation is under way. 

• Over in Cary, this week saw the opening of Doherty's Irish Pub, which is located in the Lowes Foods shopping plaza near the intersection of Davis Drive and High House Road (1979 High House Road). It is in the former spot of Connolly's Irish Pub. Thanks to Carissa Johnson for the heads-up on this one. Get more details here.   

• As of last week, Durham has a new pizza option. Pizzeria Toro is now open in downtown Durham's Five Points area at 105 E. Chapel Hill Street. Chef-owner Gray Brooks operates the restaurant with his wife, Cara Stacy, and Jay Owens. Be sure to check them out here.  

• There is soon to be a new seafood option over in Raleigh. We were notified this week that Ocean Reef Seafood is scheduled to open just outside the beltline at 3645 New Bern Avenue. We don’t have too many more details, but here is a link to their website.

• I’m especially excited about this, because it is close to my abode, but Caffe Dolce, a specialty coffee kiosk located in Cole Park Plaza on 15-501 just south of Chapel Hill, is now open. I stopped by this week and it was delicious! Check them out on Facebook here.  

• And if you subscribe, like I do, to Bill Cosby’s belief that cake makes for a perfectly suitable square meal, then you’ll be happy to learn there is a new cake “shop” in Durham called CakeMobile. Quite simply, it is cakes made from scratch to your specifications and then delivered to your door. Does life get any better? Get all the details here.

• Speaking of Durham, they are hosting a food truck rodeo of sorts this Sunday (Oct. 14) from 6-8 pm called “Trucks from the Market.” It is a rodeo with a twist. The first difference is that this event is a fundraiser. The second twist is that it is a “ticketed” event, guaranteeing you a taste from every truck there (only 100 tickets will be sold). So for $50, you get a taste of food from all 13 trucks and 2 Carolina Brewery beers. Participating trucks include Only Burger, Pie Pushers, Triangle Raw Foods, Chick-N-Que, Mama Duke's, Sympathy for the Deli, Porchetta, KoKyu BBQ, American Meltdown, Farmhand Foods, Monuts Donuts, The Parlour and Daisy Cakes. Get all the details here.

• And if your favorite food truck isn’t there, it is likely they are across town at Wheels Fun Park which is hosting a food truck rodeo from 11 a.m. ‘til 4 p.m. featuring: The Humble Pig, Pie Pushers, Porchetta RDU, Big City Sandwiches, The Ice Cream Parlour, Captain Ponchos Taco Truck, American Meltdown, Crossroads Kettle Corn, Fahsyrah's Lemonade, CJ's Street Food Dog Cart, Rising Dragon Sushi, Roll Dogs Express Italian Ice & Pretzels, Quick Lunch Rico Taco...and more! Get all the details here. 

• Not that I catch every thing, but I couldn’t help but notice a new food truck in that line-up - Rising Dragon Sushi. Don’t know much else at this point, but I think it is about time we got sushi on wheels. Might trek on over there just to check that out.

• It is with sadness that I inform you that a notice went out last week that The Reliable Cheese Company will close its doors next Friday, October 19th. Here is the full note on their closing. 

• The area’s largest and most popular foodie event is just a few weeks away! The Terra Vita Food & Wine Event is being held over 3 days and will feature 4 different events culminating with the “headline act” being the Grand Tasting on the Green on Saturday, November 3rd from 1-4:30 p.m. Folks, you don’t want to miss these events (they are selling out!). Here is a great article in Chapel Hill Magazine that has all the details and all the links you need. 

• Tickets for the Competition Dining Series’ Final Fire, Battle of Champions, went on sale last night, and within a matter of minutes, it sold out! That said, there are just a few tickets remaining for the “semi-final” rounds on November 15 & 16 at the Renaissance North Hills Hotel. But don’t sit on your hands (in fact, by the time you read this, those might be sold out). Check it out here.

• Tomorrow (October 13th) is the Glenwood South Global Fare which is taking place from noon to 6 pm. It is a street festival showcasing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Glenwood South, including an Iron Chef cooking competition. Get more information here.

• Dock to Door Seafood and The Wine Feed are proud to host a family-friendly seafood and wine festival - Hook + Vine this Sunday (October 14th) at 4 p.m.  It is a celebration of North Carolina seafood and complementary wines. The event will feature the cooking of Mandolin, PoshNosh, Battistella's, and Sarah Cecilia Good Food Co. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• The 5th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival is from 3-7 pm this Sunday (Oct. 14) at Briar Chapel Community Park. Eight local farms will be providing mild and hot peppers for more than 30 chefs, caterers and other food artisans who will be serving samples. Featured restaurants include 18 Seaboard, Herons and La Residence. Tickets are $30 until Saturday and $35 on the day of the event. Proceeds benefit the Abundance Foundation. To purchase tickets and for more information, go here.

• Looks like Natty Green’s is hosting a Fall Beer Dinner on October 24th. The cost is $40 and includes dinner and tastings of five beers. The other good news is that they have a new and very talented chef who will showcase his “goods” at this event. Get more details here.

• Fuquay-Varina Downtown is hosting their 10th annual Downtown Chili Cook-off on Saturday, October 27th. If you are interested in the cooking challenge and showing the public what kind of Chili you are famous for creating, simply enter the event by downloading the rules and entry form here. The Chili Cook-Off entry deadline is October 19th at 5 pm.  

• During the week of October 29th through November 3rd, you are encouraged to take your taste buds on a tour around the globe, but you only have to go as far as North Hills over in Raleigh. Called Taste of North Hills, 11 restaurants will offer 3 courses at prices ranging from $15 to $30 per person. Get all the details and a complete list of restaurants here.

• Another not-to-miss event is an event put on by the Lucy Daniels Center called Expressions. This event will be hosted by The Umstead Hotel and Spa on November 9, 2012 and will feature the Umstead’s executive chef Scott Crawford, pastry chef Daniel Benjamin, and two guest chefs. Sponsorships and individual tickets for Expressions are available now. Visit here or call 919-677-1400 to learn more.

• And finally, if you’ve been in any retail store lately, you know it is not too early to start getting in the “holiday” mood. An event that will certainly do that is the 10th annual Gingerbread Benefit that will be held on Thursday, November 29th at The Umstead Hotel in Cary. Get your tickets and all the details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 5, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• The area’s largest and most popular foodie event is just over 3 weeks away! The Terra Vita Food & Wine Event is being held over 3 days and will feature 4 different events culminating with the “headline act” being the Grand Tasting on the Green on Saturday, November 3rd from 1-4:30 p.m. Folks, you don’t want to miss these events (they are selling out!). Get ALL the details and your tickets here.   

• If you are a big fan of fondue, they you’ll be excited to learn that Durham’s Brightleaf Square will soon be home to the second location of Little Dipper, which is located in Wilmington, NC. They are looking at an opening date around the end of this year, possibly beginning of next year. Take a peek at their website here. 

• The Herald-Sun noted this week that the space next to the Lantern on W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill (formerly Studio Supply) was purchased by Andrea Reusing and is being upfitted for events, private parties, cooking demonstrations and overflow seating. Check out the Lantern here. 

• Chapel Hill has a new bagel joint. The Bagel Bar has opened in the former Bagels on the Hill location on Weaver Dairy Road. While many of the recipes are the same, they’ve gotten rid of any artificial ingredients and they are looking to expand the bakery’s offerings. Get all the details here. 

• And if that is not enough news out of Chapel Hill, we got word this week from The Daily Tar Heel that the popular cupcake chain, Gigi’s, is coming to the new mixed-use development at 140 W. Franklin Street. Look for a January opening. The cupcake chain already has more than 45 locations, including stores in Raleigh and Cary. More information on Gigi's here.  

• It appears as if Cary’s Waverly Place is getting a little “restaurant life” breathed into the once thriving shopping center. A Mediterranean café concept called Taziki’s will open there. With locations throughout the Southeast, this will be the first location in North Carolina. Get more information here. 

• Also Barberito’s, a southwestern grille & cantina concept out of Athens, Georgia will also make its home in Waverly Place. Likewise, it is also a concept popular throughout the Southeast. This will mark its first North Carolina location, but it appears as if another location will soon follow in Raleigh. We don’t have any information at this point on that location. Get more information here. 

• Got word from one of my favorite tweeters, @burgeoningbaker, that an AI Fuji Japanese Steakhouse is going into the former Blockbuster space in the Kroger Shopping center complex across from Homestead Market in Durham (near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Fayettevile Road). We’ll keep an eye on it for you.

• Thanks to the observant eyes of The Triangle Explorer (aka John Huisman), he noted a "Coming Soon" sign in a vacant space in Lafayette Village in North Raleigh for a place called Sushi One. He noted that it looks to be a Japanese / Sushi establishment that is shooting for a January opening. I’m sure John will keep us updated. Check out their Facebook page here. 

• The popular ice cream truck The Parlour announced last week that they have signed a five-year lease on a building in downtown Durham that they hope to have open sometime this winter. It is located at 117 Market Street, right across from the CCB Plaza. Get more details here.  

• Got word this week that last month Sam’s Grill opened in Durham, taking over the little house that was formerly Luther's near 9th St in Durham. It is located at 1807 West Markham Avenue. See more on their Facebook page here.  

• Over in Chapel Hill, Tracy's New York Deli announced this week that they have expanded their hours to include some great breakfast options, including mouth-watering pancakes for just $3.50! The deli now opens at 7 am. Get all the details here.  

• We found out last Friday just after 2 p.m. that the two remaining Triangle locations of Bear Rock Café had closed their doors. That leaves one remaining location for Bear Rock (in Greensboro), a one-time growing and expanding chain. Very sad to see them go.

• The Herald-Sun is reporting this week that The Mad Burrito location in Northgate Mall’s food court has closed, but a spokeswoman for the mall says a new Mexican food eatery will open in its place in the coming months.

• We also learned this week that Cary’s Tarasco’s Mexican Restaurant at 1383 SE Maynard Road has closed their doors.

• Head out this evening (October 5) for a food truck rodeo in Carrboro to benefit Meals on Wheels. The event will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature: Glutey Tooty, Mama Dukes, Olde North State BBQ, Only Burger, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Pie Pushers, Sympathy for the Deli and Tar Heel Creamery. 10% of all sales go to Meals on Wheels. All the details are here.  

• And speaking of food truck events, the Emily K Center at 904 W. Chapel Hill Street over in Durham will host a food truck rodeo tomorrow (October 6th ) from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature live music and most of the trucks (6) from The Cookery. Get all the details here.  

• Also tomorrow, Neomonde Café & Market in North Raleigh will host a Fall Festival from 10:30 in the morning until 9 p.m. The event will feature events all day, including cooking classes. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.

• And if you can pack in one more event tomorrow, be sure to stop by the Western Wake Farmers' Market which will be hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off. Anyone interested in entering can do so by simply showing up with their concoction by 9 am. The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary. Get more details here.  

• Fans of downtown Raleigh and great food should mark their calendars for this one. Glenwood South Global Fare, taking place on Saturday, October 13th from noon to 6 pm, is a street festival showcasing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Glenwood South, including an Iron Chef cooking competition. Get more information here. 

• Dock to Door Seafood and The Wine Feed are proud to host a family-friendly seafood and wine festival - Hook + Vine on Sunday, October 14th at 4 p.m.  It is a celebration of North Carolina seafood and complementary wines. The event will feature the cooking of Mandolin, PoshNosh, Battistella's, and Sarah Cecilia Good Food Company. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• The 5th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival is from 3-7 pm on Oct. 14 at Briar Chapel Community Park. Eight local farms will be providing mild and hot peppers for more than 30 chefs, caterers and other food artisans who will be serving samples. Featured restaurants include 18 Seaboard, Herons and La Residence. Tickets are $30 until Saturday and $35 on the day of the event. Proceeds benefit the Abundance Foundation. To purchase tickets and for more information, go here.

• Fuquay-Varina Downtown is hosting their 10th annual Downtown Chili Cook-off on Saturday, October 27th. If you are interested in the cooking challenge and showing the public what kind of Chili you are famous for creating, simply enter the event by downloading the rules and entry form here. The Chili Cook-Off entry deadline is October 19th at 5 pm. 

• During the week of October 29th through November 3rd, you are encouraged to take your taste buds on a tour around the globe, but you only have to go as far as North Hills over in Raleigh. Called Taste of North Hills, 11 restaurants will offer 3 courses at prices ranging from $15 to $30 per person. Get all the details and a complete list of restaurants here. 

• Another not-to-miss event is an event put on by the Lucy Daniels Center called Expressions. This event will be hosted by The Umstead Hotel and Spa on November 9, 2012 and will feature the Umstead’s executive chef Scott Crawford, pastry chef Daniel Benjamin, and two guest chefs. Sponsorships and individual tickets for Expressions are available now. Visit here or call 919-677-1400 to learn more. 

• Many of you will undoubtedly remember the Fire in the Triangle chef competition a few months ago. Well, not only was this competition held here in the Triangle, but all over the state. The good news is that the Final Fire, Battle of Champions, featuring all the champions across the state, will take place right here in Raleigh at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel on November 15-17, 2012. Go ahead and mark your calendar. We will let you know as soon as tickets go on sale. Check out their website here.  

• And finally, if you’ve been in any retail store lately, you know it is not too early to start getting in the “holiday” mood. An event that will certainly do that is the 10th annual Gingerbread Benefit that will be held on Thursday, November 29th at The Umstead Hotel in Cary. Get your tickets and all the details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 28, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  Big news coming from the N&O’s Andrea Weigl this morning. Niall Hanley, the man behind Hibernian Pub (with locations in Downtown Raleigh and Cary), will bring the third location of Hibernian to North Raleigh in the former Duffy’s Tavern location at 8021 Falls of Neuse Road. Look for it to open before year’s end. Get more information on Hibernian here. 

• The N&O is also reporting this morning that Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Raleigh opened this week at 6552 Glenwood Ave. This is the second Dickey’s franchise in Raleigh and the 11th in North Carolina. Another Dickey’s is expected to open in Morrisville later this year. Get more information on Dickey's here.

• This past Wednesday, BurgerFi opened up their 9th location, 2nd in the Triangle (they opened in Cary 2 months ago), in North Raleigh in the same shopping center as Trader Joe’s (just inside the beltline on Wake Forest Road). Get all the details on BurgerFi here. 

• It is now confirmed that Charlotte’s popular Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar will be opening a location in the CapTrust Tower in North Hills, sometime in the spring of 2013. It will be next to World of Beer and Yard House. Check them out here. 

• According to a sign in the window, Ashee Ethiopian Cuisine is coming to Cary in the space next to Lucky 7 at 906 NE Maynard Road. We don’t know too much else at this point, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

• I got word this week from Triangle Explorer (aka John Huisman) that another location of Greek Fiesta is coming to North Raleigh, and more specifically to the Falls Point Shopping Center at 9660 Falls of Neuse Road next to Great Clips. We don’t have an exact open date, but it is soon. We’ll keep you posted. Check them out here. 

• Want to see a 100% vegetarian restaurant in downtown Raleigh? If so, now is the time to put your money where your mouth is (or wants to be!). Chefs Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern are planning to open Fiction Kitchen by years end at 428 S. Dawson St., next to Deep South the Bar. They are currently $10k into a $36k kickstarter campaign to purchase the necessary equipment. If you are interested in supporting this endeavor, visit their kickstarter campaign here or you can get their full story here.

• It is with a sad heart that I pass along news from my buddy Dana McCall that Hector’s will close its Crabtree Valley Mall location this Sunday. Hector’s has been an institution in Crabtree since 1969, one of the original tenants. Apparently it will be converted into another location of Greek Fiesta.

• This evening (September 28) Chatham Hill Winery will host their 2nd Annual Food Truck Rodeo from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition to the 8 food trucks (Olde North State BBQ, Baguettaboutit, Hibachi Xpress, Cafe Prost, Porchetta, MaMa Duke’s, and Simply Bliss Cupcakes) there will also be live music. Get all the details here. 

• And speaking of food truck events, the Emily K Center at 904 W. Chapel Hill Street over in Durham will host a food truck rodeo on Saturday, October 6th from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature live music and most of the trucks (6) from The Cookery. Get all the details here.  

• Tomorrow (Sept. 29th) is St. Ann Catholic Church's fifth annual International Food Festival in Clayton from 11:30 to 6:30 pm. Nineteen countries will be represented in the food prepared by the church's parishioners, and at $3 a plate, you simply can’t beat it. There also will be live international music and children's games. The church is located at 4057 U.S. 70 Business West in Clayton. For the menus and music schedule, go here. 

• On Saturday, October 6th, Neomonde Café & Market in North Raleigh will host a Fall Festival from 10:30 in the morning until 9 p.m. The event will feature events all day, including cooking classes. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.

• Also on October 6th, the Western Wake Farmers Market is again hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off . Anyone interested in entering can do so by simply showing up with your concoction by 9 am. The Western Wake Farmers Market is located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary. Get more details here. 

• And speaking of chili cook-offs, Fuquay-Varina Downtown is hosting their 10th annual Downtown Chili Cook-off on Saturday, October 27th. If you are interested in the cooking challenge and showing the public what kind of Chili you are famous for creating, simply enter the event by downloading the rules and entry form here. The Chili Cook-Off entry deadline is October 19th at 5 pm.  

• Dock to Door Seafood and The Wine Feed are proud to host a family-friendly seafood and wine festival - Hook + Vine on Sunday, October 14th at 4 p.m.  It is a celebration of North Carolina seafood and complementary wines. The event will feature the cooking of Mandolin, PoshNosh, Battistella's, and Sarah Cecilia Good Food Co. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here. 

• Ever wanted to see how coffee is made? Raleigh coffee roasting company Larry's Beans has announced the next date for its popular factory tour: Saturday, October 27 from 11:30 to 2:30. On the tour, you'll get to check out the place where the Larry's staff roasts all the beans and also see many of the factory's eco-friendly features. Sign up by e-mailing them with the # of people in group, contact name, and phone number. Don't wait because they're limiting it to the first 100 people! Visit their Facebook page for more information.  

• It is time to get one the area’s largest and most popular foodie events on your calendar. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this. The N&O’s Andrea Weigl has this on her “can’t miss” list and you’ll want it on your list as well. The Terra Vita Food & Wine Event is being held over 3 days and will feature 4 different events culminating with the “headline act” being the Grand Tasting on the Green on Saturday, November 3rd from 1-4:30 p.m. Get ALL the details here. 

• Another not-to-miss event is an event put on by the Lucy Daniels Center called Expressions. This event will be hosted by The Umstead Hotel and Spa on November 9, 2012 and will feature the Umstead’s executive chef Scott Crawford, pastry chef Daniel Benjamin, and two guest chefs. Sponsorships and individual tickets for Expressions are available now. Visit there here or call 919-677-1400 to learn more.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 21, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  What fun we had last Friday. We threw out a random promotion awarding people with a $10 Starbucks gift card for orders placed on Friday for delivery the following week (think Pumpkin Spice Latte!). Well, congratulations to Drew, Liz, Ana-Liza, Meredith, Karen, Paul, Michayla and Nancy! Gift cards are "in the mail!" Who wants to do it again? Let's do it! All orders placed TODAY for next week will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card good for at least 2 Pumpkin Spice Lattes! Order NOW!

• After much delay, Vine Sushi & Thai, next to Whole Foods and Ben & Jerry's over in Bull City Market in Durham, opened this week. It is in the space previously occupied by Cillias. Thanks to the folks over at the Ninth Street Blog for this tip. 

• Popular blog Carpe Durham announced this week that Pizzeria Toro is looking at an early October opening for their pizza concept, which will be located at 101 E. Chapel Hill Street in the Five Points area in downtown Durham. Check them out on Facebook here or their regular website here.   

• Fast on the heels of the announcement that Yard House in North Hills will be opening Sunday, October 14, we are hearing rumors that Charlotte's popular Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar will be opening a location in the CapTrust Tower in North Hills, sometime in the spring of 2013. It will be next to World of Beer and Yard House. We can't 100% confirm this and we've been fooled before (rumors that they were coming to Cameron Village), but what we do know is that they would love to be in Raleigh. We'll keep an eye on it. Check them out here. 

• Durhamites are going to have to wait a couple more weeks for the opening of the next WhichWich Superior Sandwiches location. Speaking with owner Ted Barringer this week, the opening date has been pushed back a couple of weeks to October 12th. We'll continue to keep an eye on it. It will be here before you know it.

• Over in Chapel Hill, The Daily Tar Heel is reporting this week that Eddie Williams, owner of both Time-Out Restaurant and Time-Out Sports Bar, is going mobile. Look for a mobile version of the 35-year-old institution to hit the streets in the next couple of months. Something tells me that is going to be wildly successful!

• And in the category of the most un-exciting restaurant news of the week...the News & Observer is reporting this morning that in downtown Raleigh a Subway is going into the former Port City Java space on Fayetteville Street at the intersection with West Martin Street. Really? What is one of the liveliest intersections in downtown Raleigh, and we get the 23,337th location of Subway. Yawn.

• Downtown Durham's Mateo Bar de Tapas announced this week that they are now open for lunch Tuesday through Friday. The restaurant, owned by Chef Matt Kelly, opened in early August. Get all the details here. 

• We got a tweet this week from Lee Langston notifying us that Asuka Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar in Morrisville is currently closed with "Under Renovation" signs up. We'll take a look into this and see when we can expect them to reopen and what the renovations are. Stay tuned.

• Tomorrow is the Bull City Burger & Brewery's 2nd annual Octoberfest Street Party from 4-11 pm. They are closing down Parrish Street in downtown Durham to host live music, food, beverages and family fun. Get all the details here. 

• The Chef's Academy is hosting its second annual Triangle Chef Showdown - an intense cooking competition between four local and well-known chefs, next Thursday, Sept. 27 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at its Morrisville campus, located at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. The 2012 contestants include Chef Keith Rhodes (Catch in Wilmington), Chef Scott Schabot (Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits), Chef Ryan Payne (The Weathervane at Southern Season) and Chef John Mannino (Mannino's in Virginia Beach). Sign up to attend here.

• Mark your calendar for St. Ann Catholic Church's fifth annual International Food Festival in Clayton on September 29th from 11:30 to 6:30 pm. Nineteen countries will be represented in the food prepared by the church's parishioners, and at $3 a plate, you simply can't beat it.. There also will be live international music and children's games. The church is located at 4057 U.S. 70 Business West in Clayton. For the menus and music schedule, go here.

• The Western Wake Farmers Market is again hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 6th. Anyone interested in entering can do so by simply showing up with your concoction by 9 am. The Western Wake Farmers Market is located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary. Get more details here.

• Apparently October can be loosely translated to mean "special dinners" here in the Triangle. The N&O's Andrea Weigl noted these upcoming dinners: Durham's Rue Cler restaurant is partnering with Green Button Farm to offer a "nose-to-tail" dinner at 5:30 Oct. 7. The six-course meal costs $60. For a reservation, go online here. 

• Raleigh's Mandolin restaurant is offering a dinner with renowned wine importer and author Charles Neal. The seven-course meal with wine pairings costs $79 per person. For a reservation, call 919-322-0365. More details here.

• And Chapel Hill's La Residence restaurant is offering a six-course dinner with Aveniu Brands wine pairings at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24. The meal costs $65 per person. To make a reservation, call 919-967-2506. More details here.

• It is time to get one the area's largest and most popular foodie events on your calendar. Trust me, you don't want to miss this. The N&O's Andrea Weigl has this on her "can't miss" list and you'll want it on your list as well. The Terra Vita Food Wine Event is being held over 3 days and will feature 4 different events culminating with the "headline act" being the Grand Tasting on the Green on Saturday, November 3rd from 1-4:30 p.m. Get ALL the details here. 

• Listen up NC State fans (or just foodies in general). Go ahead and mark your calendar for the Red & White Food & Beverage Festival on Thursday, November 1 from 6-10 p.m. It will be held at The State Club located on NC State's Centennial Campus. The cost is $25 for State Club members; $30 for Alumni Association members and $35 for Carolina and ECU fans, uh, I mean general admission. And use promotional code "trifoodguy" and they'll knock $5 off your ticket!! Get all the details and a full listing of restaurants and beverage companies here as well as order your tickets.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 14, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  We begin with a shameless (but fun) promotion for Triangle Food Guy. Who else can’t stop thinking about Pumpkin Spice Lattes? How do you get one...or two? It’s simple. Anyone that places an order through our site today for delivery next week will get a $10 Starbucks gift card. Pretty simple, huh? Can you say TWO Pumpkin Spice Lattes please!?! Order today and enjoy your Pumpkin Spice Lattes next week! If you’ve never used us, now’s a great time to try. See what others are saying about us.

• According to the Durham Herald-Sun, the Refectory Café is now open: at 2726 Chapel Hill Blvd. Those on Duke’s campus will be familiar with the café, but now that is has moved off campus, more will be able to enjoy their “slow food, fast.” Congrats to Laura Hall on the opening. Get more information here.

• According to the local blog New Raleigh, Raleigh will be home to the first location of Taco Taco Café outside of San Antonio. While an exact location is not known yet, we do know it won’t be their last Triangle area location. They have plans to open additional Triangle locations about every 18 months after the Raleigh location opens in Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham. Get a sneak peek at it here.

• Thanks to a tip from reader Joe Roney, we learned this week that West Raleigh will soon be home to a Latin American grill called Guascaca touted as an arepa and salsa grill. It will be located on Lake Boone Trail in the same development as WhichWich and Buffalo Brothers. We don’t have any further details at this point. We will keep you posted.

• And speaking of WhichWich, we learned this week that the newest location of WhichWich has opened in Cameron Village, just around the corner from The Flying Biscuit in the former Quizno’s location. Also, look for the fifth Triangle location of WhichWich to open in Durham next month.

• If you’ve ever been to a pig pickin’ up in the Rolesville area, there is no doubt you’ve enjoyed JD’s BBQ Catering. Well, last month they opened a storefront grill called JD’s Grill and Backyard BBQ and it is located at 400 Southtown Circle in the heart of Rolesville. Stop by and pay them a visit. Here's a link to their Facebook site.

• We learned this week that The GrEAT Mongolian Grill in Cary has closed. For a while, signs noted that it was closed for renovations, but now all the restaurant signs are down and a “For Lease” sign is now up. It was located at 243 Grande Heights Dr.

• Local blogger Johanna Kramer has published a very cool book on the local dining scene called The Food Lovers' Guide to Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill. She will host a book launch this Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at G2B Gastro Pub in Durham. If you’d like to attend, you can RSVP here. You can also check out other book signing events at her website here. Well done Johanna!

• This Saturday and Sunday is the 7th annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour. The public can visit 23 farms from Moncure to Lewisburg between 1-5 p.m. each day. The farm tour costs $25 per car in advance. For information on getting your tickets, go here.

• Don’t forget that this weekend is the 31st annual Greek Festival in Raleigh. Head on over to the NC State Fairgrounds Exposition Center to enjoy food, pastries, live music, dancing and the marketplace. The event runs 5-10 on Friday, 11 until 10 pm on Saturday and 11 until 6 on Sunday. Get more details here.

• Make plans now for Bull City Burger & Brewery’s 2nd annual Octoberfest Street Party on Saturday, September 22nd from 4-11 pm. They are closing down Parrish Street in downtown Durham to host live music, food, beverages and family fun. Get all the details here.

• The Chef’s Academy is hosting its second annual Triangle Chef Showdown - an intense cooking competition between four local and well-known chefs, on Thursday, September 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on its Morrisville campus, located at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. The 2012 contestants include Chef Keith Rhodes (Catch in Wilmington), Chef Scott Schabot (Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits), Chef Ryan Payne (The Weathervane at Southern Season) and Chef John Mannino (Mannino’s in Virginia Beach). Sign up to attend here.

• Mark your calendar for St. Ann Catholic Church's fifth annual International Food Festival in Clayton on September 29th from 11:30 to 6:30 pm. Nineteen countries will be represented in the food prepared by the church's parishioners, and at $3 a plate, you simply can’t beat it. There also will be live international music and children's games. The church is located at 4057 U.S. 70 Business West in Clayton. For the menus and music schedule, go here.

• The Western Wake Farmers Market is again hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 6th. Anyone interested in entering can do so by simply showing up with your concoction by 9 am. The Western Wake Farmers Market is located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary. Get more details here.

• Listen up NC State fans (or just foodies in general). Go ahead and mark your calendar for the Red & White Food & Beverage Festival on Thursday, November 1 from 6-10 p.m. It will be held at The State Club located on NC State’s Centennial Campus. The cost is $25 for State Club members; $30 for Alumni Association members and $35 for Carolina and ECU fans, uh, I mean general admission. And use promotional code “trifoodguy” and they’ll knock $5 off your ticket!! Get all the details and a full listing of restaurants and beverage companies here as well as order your tickets.

• And we close with a well deserved kudos to Andrea Weigl and everyone down at the News & Observer for being recognized with 2nd place finish by the Association of Food Journalists for Best Food Coverage for a publication with circulation of 135,000 or less. Should have been first in our humble, but correct, opinion! Kudos Andrea! Get all the details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 7, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  I begin with a big shout out to my buddy Gregory Ng, the "frozen food master" at Freezer Burns, for hosting a 24-hour telethon for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina beginning tonight at 6 p.m. and running until 6 p.m. tomorrow. Visit the site to see all the excitement and opportunities for you to support a great cause. Thanks Greg for all you are doing to fight hunger right here in our own back yard.

• It is official, this past Wednesday downtown Raleigh swung open the doors to the much anticipated Bida Monda, a Laotian restaurant and bar. It is located at 222 South Blount Street, which you'll recognize as the former location of the Duck & Dumpling and then Fai Thai. Check out their website here.   

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Greg Hatem’s The Raleigh Times has expanded. The expansion into the former Brass Grill location has added 100 additional seats on both the first and second floors. Additional expansion calls for an enlarged kitchen, a roof-top patio that seats 30 and a pick-up window. Get all the details here.

• The Herald-Sun is reporting that chef Ricky Moore is opening a small seafood “joint” called Saltbox in Durham later this month. The “joint” will more likely resemble a “permanent” food truck stand, as there is no seating (outdoor seating is in the plans). It will be located 608 N. Mangum Street in the former Big Daddy’s Grill location.

• Also in downtown Durham, I stopped by Ninth Street Bakery last week and got an update on the outdoor patio that is in the works there. Owner Frank Ferrell will have the patio open in time for the Durham Arts Council’s Centerfest Arts Festival September 15th and 16th. Look for an expanded café menu and lots of outdoor events in the new space. Check them out here. 

• The News & Observer is reporting a couple of new restaurant openings this morning. Tarbouch, a new Greek and Middle Eastern restaurant, has opened at 5645 Creedmoor Rd., next to Harmony Farms in Raleigh. And Cappallo’s Pizza has opened at 2462 Walnut St., near the PetSmart. It is an Italian fast food restaurant.

• Thanks to reader Jason Klaitman, we learned this week that Camos Brothers Pizza has returned to Chapel Hill, this time on East Franklin Street in the strip mall tucked in behind Staples (in the former Quizno’s location). Excited to have Camos Brothers back in Chapel Hill. Check out their Facebook page here.

• And speaking of Chapel Hill, we learned this week that the third Triangle location of Tobacco Road Sports Café is shooting for an opening during the first week of October. We’ll keep an eye on it and let you know as we get closer. Check them out here. 

• Raleigh has a new food truck according to the N&O. The North Raleigh location of Red, Hot & Blue rolled out a new set of wheels this week, initially serving lunch. Look for them to expand into dinner hours in October. Keep up with the truck on their Facebook page here. 

• Last week we reported that Le Mussell’s in Apex had closed. This week we are excited to let you know that the business was sold to Katherine Ward from The Corner Tavern & Grill in Cary. She will be opening up very soon, hopefully so as to not miss too many more football weekends! We will keep you posted.

• We also learned this week that there are a number of restaurants for sale for anyone interested in getting into the business. The Rose Garden is for sale in North Raleigh on Creedmoor Rd. (same shopping center as Dos Taquitos). Also, Klara’s Restaurant in downtown Cary is for sale, as they are set to open their new location in the former Frazier’s on Hillsborough St any day now. Drop me a note if you are interested.

• Over in Durham, Carolina Brewery will team up with Piedmont to offer a beer dinner on Friday September 14th. This is a great way to sample great food paired with great beer. The cost is $45 for 3 courses and 4 beers. They will also have other beer dinners with Fullsteam Brewery (Sept. 19th) and Foothills Brewery (Sept. 24th). Get more information on all their beer dinners on their website here. 

• The Cookery will host the grand opening of their new event space - the Front Room - on Saturday, September 15th from noon until 3 p.m. The opening will serve as a fundraiser benefiting the DCRC's emergency shelter and will feature cuisine from Rue Cler's Aaron Benjamin as well as many of the food trucks that utilize The Cookery's shared kitchen space (think Chirba Chirba Dumplings, Monuts Donuts, The Parlour, Pie Pushers, Sympathy for the Deli, and Triangle Raw Foods). There will also be wine and beer tastings featuring The Clever Vine, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Fullsteam, Lonerider Brewing Company, and Triangle Brewing Company. Congrats to Rochelle Johnson and Nick Hawthorne-Johnson.

• Go ahead and mark your calendars for the 7th annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour which will be held on September 15 and 16. The public can visit 23 farms from Moncure to Lewisburg between 1-5 p.m. each day. The event happens rain or shine. The farm tour costs $25 per car in advance. Tickets can be purchased online here or at Harmony Farms store in Raleigh or Whole Foods stores throughout the Triangle. 

• Once a year Raleigh goes to Greece for the weekend! Mark you calendars for September 14-16 and head on over to the NC State Fairgrounds Exposition Center for the 31st Annual Greek Festival of Raleigh. Enjoy food, pastries, live music, dancing and the marketplace. The event runs 5-10 on Friday, 11 until 10 pm on Saturday and 11 until 6 on Sunday. Get more details here.  

• Make plans now for Bull City Burger & Brewery's 2nd annual Octoberfest Street Party on Saturday, September 22nd from 4-11 pm. They are closing down Parrish Street in downtown Durham to host live music, food, beverages and family fun. Get all the details here. 

• The Western Wake Farmers Market is again hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 6th. Anyone interested in entering can do so by simply showing up with your concoction by 9 am. The Western Wake Farmers Market is located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary. Get more details here.

• And finally, you NC State fans (or just foodies in general) should mark your calendar for the Red & White Food & Beverage Festival on Thursday, November 1 from 6-10 p.m. It will be held at The State Club located on NC State's Centennial Campus. The cost is $25 for State Club members; $30 for Alumni Association members and $35 for Carolina and ECU fans, uh, I mean general admission. And use promotional code “trifoodguy” and they’ll knock $5 off your ticket!!  Get all the details and a full listing of restaurants and beverage companies here as well as order your tickets.