Friday Fun Food Facts - April 30, 2010

Henry's Gelato, offering fine Italian gelato, is now open in North Hills...Looking for great Mother's Day ideas? Check out the list compiled by the N&O's Greg Cox here...SANDWHICH opened back up for lunch in their new location on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill (407 W. Franklin Street) - next to McDonald's - this past Thursday. All indicators are that it will open for dinner and brunch some time next week...Coupon! Here's a coupon for Uncle Fatty's in Cameron Village - get a free shake with any entrée with this coupon!...The lights are now off at Joe's Place in downtown Raleigh (it closed this past January), but the story continues. The word is that Joe has sold the space and we are "eagerly awaiting" the announcement of the new restaurant concept that will open there...The Food Network star Paula Deen's postponed February show has been rescheduled at the DPAC at 3 pm on June 5, Tickets go on sale at 10 am Monday, May 3. But patrons who still have tickets for the cancelled February show can secure tickets to the new show by contacting customer service at customerservice@dpacnc.com. For other ticket sales, call 919-680-2787 or go online...The Triangle's first FreshBerry frozen yogurt store opened on Thursday in Raleigh at Six Forks Station (the shopping center with the Borders and the Kmart on Six Forks Road)...Patterson Place shopping center (the new/expanded shopping center at the intersection of 15-501/Mt. Moriah Road and I-40) is getting some new tenants. Be on the lookout for Moe's, Five Guys and an Applebee's...The Food Network will pay Chapel Hill's Sugarland a visit on May 10. TV personality Adam Gertler (of Will Work for Food fame) will learn the secrets behind the establishment's authentic artisan Italian gelato and signature frozen martinis for a yet unnamed show that will be similar to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - but for desserts. Sugarland is also featured in the May issue of Southern Living...To many customers' dismay, a popular Asian grocery in Chapel Hill, Eastern Market Oriental Food and Gifts (505 W. Rosemary St., 968-1703), will close in late May...Here's a coupon for $5 off dinner for two at Olive Garden, but hurry as it expires May 7th...The owners of Harmony Farms (Creedmoor & W. Millbrook) are opening a café on May 1st (i.e. tomorrow!) - Café Harmony. The café will be Raleigh's first totally natural organic café. They'll be open everyday from 8 am until 3 pm...A familiar spot on the outskirts of downtown Raleigh is getting a new tenant. The Hook Up space at the corner of St. Mary and Johnson streets will open as Ciago's, a pizza, pasta and ale joint. Let's hope it lasts a bit longer than its previous tenants...If you missed all the hype this past Wednesday as Raleigh's Downtown Farmer's Market opened for the season (it will be open every Wednesday from now until October 27th on City Plaza), don't fret because there is another farmer's market kicking off this Saturday. The first Five Points Farmers' Market will debut this Saturday in the NOFO parking lot. The market runs from 8 to noon. NOFO will serve an early country breakfast (with Bloody Marys) until 10...A popular eatery on Glenwood South has opened a second Triangle location at an equally "hot" location in Durham. This past week, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe opened at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham. Check them out before a Durham Bulls game or a show at the DPAC...Carrboro's popular Southern Rail restaurant will now be open for lunch beginning this coming Monday...Speaking of hot restaurants, downtown Raleigh's Spize Café has new hours - open for lunch Monday through Thursday, and lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday. Also, book private events at night during the week!...We understand that Phil Evans, former executive chef of Herons restaurant in the Umstead Hotel in Cary, has bought Rudy's Pub & Grill in Apex. Definitely add it to your list of places to check out!...And we close with a Happy Birthday shout-out to the Mecca Restaurant in downtown Raleigh that turned 80 years old this past week. Truly a Raleigh institution.

Friday Fun Food Facts - April 16, 2010

Looking for something to do this weekend? Might want to check out the Great Grapes Wine Event in Cary. It features wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and live music from 11 am -7 pm Saturday at Koko Booth Amphitheater. More information here...Today is Free Order Friday at the Chick-fil-A in Cary's Waverly Place Shopping Center (this location only). With your purchase today you will receive a special receipt. Just bring your receipt back and receive the same order for FREE. Check out the store's Web site for more details...Did Tax Day give you the 1040 blues? No worries, the N&O's Greg Cox has put together a list of cheap eats that will keep you smiling. Check it out here...Dos Perros in Durham has some major changes heading your way - including new lunch and dinner menus, expanded vegetarian fare, Monday Taco Night, and, unfortunately, the elimination of breakfast. Check out more here...This weekend, the new Bruegger's at North Hills (next to the CapTrust building) will have giveaways, raffles, and special offers. Also, the first 5 in line when the store opens at 7 am Saturday and Sunday will receive a Bottomless Mug Card, good for free coffee, tea or soda through December 31. More information here...Durham's Revolution is now open for lunch on weekdays from 11:30 - 2 pm. The menu will include meatloaf and mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings as well as soups and salads. More information here...PF Chang's is still offering their Warrior Cards that save you 10% every time you eat there all year long. Get one here (free to sign-up)...I think my plan on losing a few more pounds before the summer is working. I've just learned that Krispy Kreme on Person St. is closed for "about 45 days" to remodel. I love it when a plan comes together...TGI Fridays has a two-for-one entree coupon good through Sunday April 18th. It's online and printable so use multiple times...Dairy Queen is celebrating the 25th birthday of the Blizzard with Customer Appreciation Week April 19-25. During that week, customers can purchase one Blizzard and get the second for only $.25 cents...If you love Quizno's, here are a couple of coupons good through April 25...I just read the other day that the Sonic Drive-In's are bringing back the roller-skating carhops. Must be part of the national trend to return to simpler times...There is a lot going on along 5-501 in Durham. The former On The Border is now the home of Torero's Mexican restaurant. Just a little further down 15-501, Raleigh's owners of Shaba Shabu opened a second location in the former Macaroni Grill space. And the Bavarian Brathaus is opening in the former O'Charley's space...And we'll close with a bit of good news, March sales at restaurants (open for at least a year) were up 1 percent compared with March of last year. While that might not seem like much, it broke a string of 10 months of negative sales. Keep supporting the area's restaurants!

Friday Fun Food Facts - April 9, 2010

A Raleigh institution for 15 years, The Rockford (on Glenwood South) announced this week that it has closed permanently. The Rockford was a leader in revamping Glenwood South into a nighttime district. It will be missed...In the "interesting food website" category, check out this website that helps you find healthy options while eating out...Does this sudden heat have you thinking warm NC beaches and eating seafood? Then be sure to check out the list of Seafood eateries put together by News & Observer's Greg Cox - click here...Need more time to eat at Bear Rock Café? No problem, as they have extended their hours until 9 pm Mon-Sat...Tax Day got you down? Check out these offers that might cheer you up a little - Whole Foods Market will have a tax-free shopping day for all customers on April 15 at its four Triangle-area stores & P.F. Chang's customers will enjoy a 15 percent discount on April 15th in honor of Tax Day. That is a little bit of relief!...And keeping the "tax theme" going, IHOP is running a kids eat free promotion in April inviting parents to let 'your little tax deductions' enjoy a free dinner at IHOP (4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily; check your IHOP for participation)... Are you a fan of Jumpin' Jonny's or BakeHouse Bistro? You get a chance to see owner Jonathan Munsell this Saturday on TLC's "Home Made Simple" at 12 noon. Good luck Jonny!...Mark your calendars, Baskin-Robbins is bringing back its annual 31-cent scoop night on April 28 from 5 to 10 pm. The event is a fundraiser for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. More information here...Orange Leaf Yogurt just opened in Timberlyne Shopping Center in Chapel Hill. Orange Leaf is a specialty frozen yogurt retailer. Get more information here...A new restaurant is under construction in downtown Raleigh called Capital Club 16 that will feature American food. The new restaurant is entering the street level space formerly occupied by the Champa Thai restaurant...Sandwhich in Chapel Hill will remain in its current location through this weekend...Dunkin' Donuts just introduced new Bagel Twists. Check them out at your local Dunkin' Donuts...Listen up meat lovers, beginning on April 12, KFC customers across the country will get to try the fast-food chain's latest masterpiece: a bacon and cheese sandwich with fried chicken as the "bread" - it's called the Double Down...And we close with a reminder, voting in the Independent Weekly's Best of the Triangle 2010 ends next Wednesday - vote now!

Friday Fun Food Facts - April 2, 2010

So it is Easter weekend and you're thinking you'd much rather sit out on a patio and let someone else do the cooking. You're not alone. So here's a guide to Easter Brunch options this weekend thanks to the N&O's Greg Cox...Listen up Dairy Queen fans, arriving just in time for summer the DQ will introduce a new mini-size blizzard, but you'll have to wait until August (we think it will be worth the weight...get it)...Chatham County's hip coffee shop/bar, Bean & Barrel is expanding their kitchen, bringing on a chef and expanding their food offerings. Look for all the "newness" in May...Speaking of new menus, Cameron Village's Uncle Fatty's will be rolling out a new menu in a couple of weeks and we hear it will feature a Blackbean Burger and a Turkey Burger to name a few. We'll be glad to sample them and let you know how they are. Stay tuned...Pop's Restaurant in Durham is moving to the new development - West Village - at 604 W. Morgan St. - but they'll continue to serve out of their current location until April 18. The new Pop's should open by the end of April...And Backdoor South, Pop's take-out pizza joint, will expand to the shopping complex at the corner of Shannon and Old Chapel Hill Roads and will open by April 12...North Hills added a new addition to their line-up today (no, not an April Fools' joke) at lunch with the opening of Zoe's. Zoe's Mediterranean-inspired menu features everything from their original chicken salad to fresh salmon kabobs!...From the "Not Everything that Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" file, Steve Drotts, owner of the two Z Pizza locations here in the Triangle, just returned from Vegas where he was named franchisee of the year! Congrats to Steve and his team. Check out his menu here...Listen up coffee lovers. Smithfield's Chicken N Bar-B-Q restaurants are bringing back an old tradition--free coffee...As if Chapel Hill didn't already have enough great dining options, check out what is coming to Chapel Hill's Meadowmont in July and August - Firehouse Subs will open next to Cafe Carolina; Five Guys Burgers and Fries will open next to Brixx; ONE Restaurant (same group as Four Square in Durham) will open in the old BChrisotpher's space and Sushi Bar will open next to Jesters...Call me slow on the uptake, but I just noticed this week that Stone Wolf Coffee at 6679 Falls of the Neuse Road is completely vacant. I haven't been in there in a while, guess that is how busy I've been...Join 42nd Street Oyster Bar on the first Monday of every month for a complimentary wine tasting in The Lounge from 6-8pm. Light appetizers provided...And if you've decided you simply can't "Eat Mor Chick'n" but would sure love a Peach shake, we'll we've got great news. Starting next Monday, Chick-fil-A is bringing back the Peach Milkshake....And after you finish off that shake, head over to Triangle Town Center's Twisted Fork and enjoy their buy one entree, get one entree free all day on Mondays. The only catch is that you must have this coupon...And finally, from the "What's New" file, a new restaurant and catering company called Healthy Track Cafe has taken over the space formerly occupied by Niro's Gyros on South Salisbury Street. Niro's Gyros has essentially moved upstairs.