Friday Fun Food Facts - October 29, 2010

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

• This created quite a stir this past week, but Dickey's Barbecue Pit opened this past Monday in downtown Raleigh. Normally such an event would get the normal fanfare associated with a new establishment. But what is different about this opening is that it opened right across from a Raleigh barbecue institution - Cooper's Barbecue. People are crazy about their barbecue!
  
  
• And speaking of legendary downtown barbecue joints, The Pit has unveiled a new menu that features items like meatloaf, burgers and BBQ fries. I think it is time to head back down to The Pit and visit with Ed Mitchell!
  
  
• The Upper Crust Pie & Bakery is now open in the relatively new Lafayette Village Shopping Center at 8450 Honeycutt Road, near the intersection with Falls of Neuse Road. In addition to your typical bakery items, they also have a full lunch-time faire (sandwiches, soups, etc.)
  
  
• Jimmy John's opened up their 10th Triangle area location this past Thursday. It is located at 8005 Brier Creek Parkway.
  
  
• Also in Brier Creek, the 5th Triangle location of the popular Noodles & Company will open in just under two weeks on November 11th. I'm pretty sure it is in the former location of Camille's Sidewalk Café, but I will confirm that between now and the opening.
  
  
• Yogurt Mountain will open its first area store Monday, November 1st and will have their grand opening celebration on Tuesday, November 2nd with a portion of proceeds benefiting Learning Together. This will be the chain's fourth location, and their first outside of Alabama. It is located in Brennan Station at 8107 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh.
  
  
• This is kind of exciting news. Chick-fil-A will soon break ground on a new location in Cameron Village (in the parking lot of Rite Aid). Yea, yea, yea, another Chick-fil-A...right? But what is cool about this is that it will be a two-story location, the first for the chain. My kids can't wait to see what the playground is going to look like!
  

• Durham got two new food trucks to add to the growing mix. The first is the Sausage Wagon, the mobile eatery of Farmhand Foods, a new company that connects area pasture-based farmers with local retailers and consumers. Keep up with the location of the Sausage Wagon by visiting their website here. Or follow them on Twitter. And yes, they have a veggie option!
  

• The other truck is Joey D's NY Dogs which plans to serve food in front of the Fullsteam Brewery beginning at 5 pm every Wednesday through Sunday.
  
  
• And speaking of food trucks, we have another Food Truck round-up to tell you about. This one will take place on Saturday, November 6th from 4:30 to 7 pm in the parking lot of Al's Garage - which is located right on the line between Chapel Hill and Carrboro (corner of E. Franklin Street and Merritt Mill Road). Carrboro Raw, Parlez Vous Crepe, and Catain Poncho's Tacos have been confirmed, but others are sure to join in on the fun and music!
  
  
• East 54 in Chapel Hill has become the area's hottest little "restaurant row." Couple that with Glen Lennox and Meadowmont, and you've got a powerful lineup of restaurants in a small area. Want to sample the offerings of 6-8 of those restaurants in one afternoon? Consider signing up for a walking tour of the restaurants in East 54 and Glen Lennox on Saturday, November 6th. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Not many restaurants stick around for 7 years, much less 70! That's a reason to celebrate! Raleigh's Roast Grill is celebrating its 70th birthday this Saturday and will have a "block party" celebration from 11 am to 4 pm. Head downtown tomorrow to celebrate. They are located at 7 S. West St.
  
  
• We saw on their Facebook page that Chapel Hill's newest addition, Kitchen (located on MLK Drive next to Foster's), just rolled out their new fall menu yesterday. We haven't seen it yet, but if it is anything like what they opened with, we are in for a treat.
  
  
• And in Durham, starting Monday, Scratch Bakery will be closed on Mondays, but will now be open on Sundays!
  
  
• We learned this week from one of our clients that Tommy's Deli on Ten Ten Road (near US 1) has closed. That is the bad news. The good news is that there is something new coming into that location. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.
  
  
• If you had planned on attending the Fullsteam Beer Dinner at Café Helios this Saturday, October 30th - it has been postponed. No news on a new date.
  
  
• Here's an interesting fact and a good deal. How many people knew that Bojangle's was founded in Charlotte in 1977? I didn't. That's pretty cool. And here's the deal. Between now and Sunday, you can get their Halloween special - a BOO-berry biscuit for just $0.99. That's anything but scary.
  
  
• We've got a couple of "permanent" discounts to tell you about. The popular Chili's promotion - 2 for $20 deal - has now made its way into the permanent line-up on the Chili's menu.
  
  
• And, Chili's sister restaurant, Maggiano's Little Italy, has now made permanent a popular "Buy One Get One" deal that gives you your entrée that you order as a complimentary take-home serving as well. How is that for two-for-one?

• Don't feel like cooking for Thanksgiving? Well, you better move quickly to make sure you don't find yourself in the kitchen that morning. The Angus Barn is taking reservations for its annual Thanksgiving Day Buffet on November 25 from noon-6pm! Some of the featured items include turkey and gravy, prime rib, roasted pork loin, poached salmon, Walter's macaroni and cheese, assorted vegetables, gourmet mixed green salad, fresh baked rolls and, of course, their homemade desserts! Pricing is: 4 & under- Free; 5-12 -$20; 65 & over-$29; everyone else-$45 (plus tax and 18% gratuity). Call 919-781-2444 for reservations.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 22, 2010

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

• If you live near Ten Ten & Kildaire Farm Road listen up. We've learned that a new frozen yogurt shop, My Berry Frozen Yogurt Café, has leased the space vacated by Fresh Fruit Boquet in Stonebridge Village and is expected to open by February of next year.
  
  
• Thanks to the N&O's Sue Stock, we can report two new restaurants in Cary. Starting Tuesday, you'll have another option to get your "Chicken 'n Biscuits" fix at the newest location of Bojangles, which is located at 3023 Winston Hill Drive.
  
  
• Also in Cary, Bombay Beijing, which specializes in a fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisines, recently opened at 1026 Ryan Road, which is just off Walnut Street near Cary Towne Center.
  
  
• Sue Stock also informed us that the old Hardee's store at the corner of Durant and Capital Boulevard in North Raleigh/Wake Forest will become a Dunkin' Donuts-Baskin Robbins later this year. I'm trying to decide which is worse for the old heart...
  

• If you've gotten tired of chasing the Only Burger truck around the Triangle, relax. This past week Only Burger opened up a brick-and-mortar shop in the recently renovated Hope Valley Square shopping center on Shannon Road in Durham. Same menu as the truck, and they have beer! Keep up with them via their facebook page or follow them on Twitter.
  
  
• Saw a tweet this week from Dickey's Barbecue Pit that the Raleigh location (170 East Davie Street) is nearly open. Remember, this is the location in the first floor of the new Progress Energy building almost directly across from Raleigh institution - Cooper's Barbecue. Looks like downtown Raleigh is getting ready for an old-fashioned "showdown."
  
  
• Fullsteam Brewery will help launch a new Triangle food concept on October 28th at its 726 Rigsbee Avenue location in downtown Durham. Look for the official launch of Farmhand Foods' Sausage Wagon (ok, it's really a truck) at the popular brewery. Sausage Wagon is a concept that connects North Carolina's pasture raised livestock farmers with local food lovers, restaurants and retailers. For more information as well as keeping up with the wagon's whereabouts, visit their website.
  
  
• Morrisville will get a gaggle of new restaurant options by this time next year. Last week the town broke ground on the 100-acre, 375,000-suqre-foot, Target-anchored Park West Village shopping center at the intersection of Cary Parkway and Chapel Hill Road. The food line-up in the center right now includes: Travinia Italian Kitchen, New Japan Express, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Zoe's Kitchen and Ruckus Pizza. The first phase will be completed by this time next year.
  
  
• Hardee's, founded 50 years ago in Greenville, NC, will be giving away 50,000 sausage biscuits this weekend at the ECU v. Marshall football game. The "kicker" is that a selected attendee must nail a 25-yard field goal. If it goes through the uprights, everyone at the game will leave with a coupon for a free sausage biscuit! If not, I'm afraid that poor individual might not make it out of Greenville alive!
  
  
• Scratch, Durham's (becoming more and more) famous bakery has made the headlines again. This time the bakery is featured in Travel & Leisure's list of America's 14 best pies. Congrats to Phoebe! They suggest that her "pie to try" is her Shaker Lemon Pie. See the article here.
  
  
• Raleigh's Bella Monica won Open Table's 2010 Diners' Choice Awards for Best Italian Cuisine - they were one of 50 in the United States. Congratulations! Bella Monica is located on Edwards Mill Road in the Old Raleigh Village shopping center. Visit their site here.
  
  
• Looking for something "foodie" to do this weekend (if you've already been to the State Fair)? Durham Magazine is partnering with 14 downtown businesses and restaurants for a day of food, drink, live music and shopping! Bright Lights, Bull City in the Brightleaf District will be held Saturday from 2-6 pm. Participating restaurants include 604 West Morgan Italian Eatery, Alivia's Durham Bistro and Pop's. Click here for coupons to enjoy while you are there!
  
  
• The Feed Your Brain event is this Saturday from 7-11 pm Saturday in Chapel Hill. The event, which raises money for the American Brain Tumor Association, will feature foods and beverages known to promote brain health from red wine, coffee and green tea to lentils, blueberries and almonds. Beverages will be provided by 3Cups, and food is being provided by Lantern, Sandwhich, Neal's Deli and Crook's Corner. Tickets cost $50. The event will be held on the fifth floor of the Greenbridge in Chapel Hill. For more information and to buy tickets, go to their site.
  
  
• If you've got a wedding/special event coming up and/or you've never been to The General Store Café in historic downtown Pittsboro before, this Sunday might be the time to go. From 4-8 pm, they'll be hosting a Garden Party to showcase both their indoor and outdoor space. They'll have plenty of food available to sample as well as several vendors that will be on hand. The event is free and open to the public.
  
  
• If you've never been to Saxapahaw, this is the reason to go! The little town situated on the Haw River in Alamance County (about 10 miles west of Chapel Hill) will hold it's annual Octoberfest celebration from 4-9 pm tomorrow. There will be live music, a farmer's market, Fullsteam Brewery on hand, as well as food from Vimala's Curryblossom Café and of course, the Saxapahaw General Store. More information here.
  
  
• Mobile cupcake bakery DaisyCakes is trying to expand its operations by opening a brick-and-mortar space - but they need a little help to do so. They've published an "online" drive to help raise the necessary $20k for equipment and the initial upfit - with a cute little video. If you're a fan of DaisyCakes and want to help, check out the video to see how you can!
  
  
• Somebody's turning 1! To celebrate their one-year anniversary, Peppers Market & Sandwich Shop is hosting a final Thursday evening event this Thursday which will feature a wine tasting and live music from 6-9 pm. Peppers is located at 2107 Grace Park Drive in the Grace Park development.
  
  
• North Raleigh's Taylor's Wine Shop is holding a barbecue fundraiser from 11 am -3 pm Saturday (October 23). A plate will set you back $8, but proceeds will benefit Community HOPE, a program that connects volunteer mentors with high-risk students from low-income neighborhoods for weekly mentoring session.
  
  
• The Weathervane in A Southern Season in Chapel Hill is serving up a five-course dinner at 7 pm next Wednesday featuring beers from Duck-Rabbit Brewery (based in Farmville, NC). Tickets cost $45 without tax or tip. For a reservation, call 929-9466.
  
  
• Zely & Ritz four-course dinner featuring Fullsteam Brewery held earlier this week was so successful, they've scheduled a second one for anyone that missed it. It will be held next Thursday. The meal begins at 7 pm and costs $49 per person. To make a reservation, call 828-0018.
  
  
• Don't feel like cooking for Thanksgiving? Well, you better move quickly to make sure you don't find yourself in the kitchen that morning. The Angus Barn is taking reservations for its annual Thanksgiving Day Buffet on November 25 from noon-6pm! Some of the featured items include turkey and gravy, prime rib, roasted pork loin, poached salmon, Walter's macaroni and cheese, assorted vegetables, gourmet mixed green salad, fresh baked rolls and, of course, their homemade desserts! Pricing is: 4 & under- Free; 5-12 -$20; 65 & over-$29; everyone else-$45 (plus tax and 18% gratuity). Call 919-781-2444 for reservations.
  
  
• Lucky 32 restaurant, with locations in Cary and Greensboro, just released their new menu - "Fall For Us Again." It features pork belly, fried quail, Cheerwine Cake and Chili. Definitely worth a visit.
  
  
• If you love Mimi's Café, then you're going to definitely want to click on this link - a month's calendar of discounts at the popular café. Mimi's has two Triangle-area locations - Walnut Street in Cary and Plantations Center Drive in Raleigh.
  

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 15, 2010

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

• I mentioned this a few months back (that the former executive chef at Café Luna, Maurizio Privilegi, was leaving to do his own thing) and now the N&O's Sue Stock has confirmed that he will be opening Blue Tuscan Grille. It is scheduled to open late this year in the Depot Building at 327 Davie Street.
  
  
• In some exciting news out of Durham, former Piedmont restaurant owner/chef Andy Magowan has leased the long-vacant Fletcher's Gulf building at Foster and Geer Streets and plans to open a new restaurant there by February. The focus will be on classic American food with the finest local ingredients available. If you are not familiar with the location, think just outside of center field of the old Durham Athletic Park, across from the recently opened King's Sandwich Shop. Quite a cool little "foodie" area that is becoming.
  
  
• It also looks like Durham is getting its second McAlister's Deli location. The newest rendition will be in the Renaissance Center across the street from The Streetsat Southpoint. It will go in the former S&K Menswear location, which closed at the end of last year. No opening date has been set, but we'll keep our eyes on it for you.
  
  
• Last Friday Downtown Raleigh welcomed its newest addition to the restaurant scene - Sushi O Bistro and Sushi Bar. It is located in the Glenwood South District in the 222 Glenwood building. It is open for lunch and dinner.
  
  
• There is another new food truck on the scene - Valentino's Food Truck. They tout themselves as "da best Italian food on 4 wheels in Raleigh." Be sure to follow them on Twitter (@ValentinoTruck) or follow them on their website so you can keep up with their locations.
  
  
• If you live in Garner, you might want to check out the newly opened TerraFin Station restaurant on Old Drug Store Road. The location has undergone extensive renovations and serves up steak, seafood and pasta. It is definitely worth a visit.
  
  
• Or if you are closer to Wake Forest, you'll be glad to know that there is a now a "fine dining" experience in the Wakefield area - Bruno. Bruno Peros recently relocated from New York and opened the Italian steakhouse. Even if you don't live in Wake Forest, it is worth the drive...I promise.
  
  
• With the sweltering heat behind us, thoughts turn to outdoor dining options. And just in the nick of time, the N&O's Greg Cox has compiled a handy list of outdoor / patio dining options in the Triangle. Check it out here.
  
  
• Speaking of outdoor dining, it might be a good time to head on over to Broad Street Café where they have just added a new outdoor patio area on the side of the building. A nice addition to a great little café.
  
  
• This Saturday is the much anticipated TerraVita Food & Wine event from 1-5 pm on The Green in Southern Village in Chapel Hill. The event features organically-grown wines, microbrews and edibles prepared by some of the area's top chefs. Get more information here.
  
  
• This Saturday from 8 until noon, the South Estest Farmers' Market in Chapel Hill (adjacent to University Mall) will host their annual Fall Festival, featuring fresh fall produce, face painting for the kids as well as veggie printing and paper lantern making. Get more information on their website.
  
  
• If you've never been to Saxapahaw, this is the reason to go! The little town situated on the Haw River in Alamance County (about 10 miles west of Chapel Hill) will hold it's annual Octoberfest celebration from 4-9 pm on October 23. There will be live music, a farmer's market, Fullsteam Brewery on hand, as well as food from Vimala's Curryblossom Café and of course, the Saxapahaw General Store. More information here.
  
  
• Here's a different "dining" experience for you...for $10 for members/$15 for others, the Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham is hosting a Wild Edible Plant Walk and Feast this Sunday from 2-4. The event will conclude with a feast based on what is gathered on the walk by the attendees. Call 489-0900 for more information or go to their site.
  
  
• If you can't make it to the NC State Fair on Thursday for the Food Lion Hunger Relief Day, don't fret. You can still support the effort of the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina by participating in their "virtual" food drive - visit their site here.
  
  
• The Weathervane in A Southern Season in Chapel Hill is serving up a five-course dinner at 7 pm on Wednesday, October 27 featuring beers from Duck-Rabbit Brewery (based in Farmville, NC). Tickets cost $45 without tax or tip. For a reservation, call 929-9466.
  
  
• Zely & Ritz's four-course dinner featuring Fullsteam Brewery held earlier this week was so successful, they've scheduled a second one for anyone that missed it (or wants to do it again!). It will be held one on Thursday, October 28th. The meal begins at 7 pm and costs $49 per person. To make a reservation, call 828-0018.
  
  
• There are just two dates left in Raleigh's first ever Supper Club, a dinner series featuring some of downtown Raleigh's best locally-owned restaurants. Participating chefs will dish up unique three-course dinners, each paired with a glass of hand-selected wine, all for just $40 (tax and gratuity included) with proceeds benefiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at WakeMed. The remaining dates/locations are: Zely & Ritz (Oct. 19) and Sushi Blues Café (Oct. 25). See menus and more details here.
  
  
• North Raleigh's Taylor's Wine Shop is holding a barbecue fundraiser from 11 am -3 pm a week from Saturday (October 23). A plate will set you back $8, but proceeds will benefit Community HOPE, a program that connects volunteer mentors with high-risk students from low-income neighborhoods for weekly mentoring session.
  
  
• And finally, in my effort to keep donuts in every week's column, I'm proud to announce that Halloween donuts are back at area Krispy Kreme stores. There is one that's iced to look like a pumpkin, one with Halloween colored sprinkles and the much anticipated return of the pumpkin spice cake doughnut. And while it hasn't been confirmed here, some locations are introducing a creme-filled spider web themed doughnut.
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  Firehouse Subs Joins Snapfinger Catering Line-up!
  At Firehouse Subs, we cater to appetites, wherever they gather. Whether it's a party, an office lunch or a game-time feast, we've discovered one constant in our 15-year history; people everywhere love hearty subs piled high with the best meats, cheeses, and toppings around.
  
  Firehouse Subs is currently only available in the airport area, RTP, most of Durham and all of Chapel Hill. We're working on a location to serve the Raleigh and Cary markets.
  
  Snapfinger Catering Welcomes Back Elegant Touches Catering
  At Elegant Touches Catering our 'tag line' is - Anything From Simple To Simply Elegant. That really says it all. We've got a little something for everyone - and that's because we've been doing this for so long. You'll find our menu to be VERY customizable so that you get exactly what you want. You'll also find some very unique, as well as budget conscious, options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.We'll look forward to working with you.
  
  Elegant Touches serves the entire Triangle market.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 8, 2010

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

• It is my wife's favorite time of the year - our annual trek to the North Carolina State Fair, which starts next week! So let's kick off this week's news with the items that have made the "much anticipated" list at this year's fair: a Twinkie Log (a frozen Twinkie dipped in chocolate with an option to add coconut shavings); the newest deep-fried option will be the cheesy mashed potato bites; and other artery cloggers include: a Krispy Kreme Burger (a hamburger patty served between sliced doughnut halves) and Joe's Big Dogs offered in ¼ pound, ½ pound and pound sizes!
  
  
• And don't forget that Thursday, October 21 is the annual Food Lion Hunger Relief Day at the NC State Fair - where four cans of Food Lion brand food gets you in for "free" and you've helped the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina. More info here.
  
  
• Just when it seems all we are hearing about are the opening of more donut shops, we learn that the Dunkin' Donuts at Crabtree Valley Mall has closed. Dunkin' Donuts has been in the mall since I was knee-high to a grasshopper...bummer.
  
  
• In a bit of unique news, Chapel Hill's iconic Crook's Corner is opening a second location - Crook's Atrium Café which will be located in the Europa Center in Chapel Hill at 100 Europa Drive. The new location will be open for breakfast and lunch.
  
  
• The Big Food Truck Harvest at Big Boss Brewing in Raleigh has been scheduled for Thursday, October 14th from 5-10:30 pm. Food trucks Klausies Pizza, Moms Delicious Dishes, Only Burger and Valentino's are already scheduled to be there (more are sure to be announced). In addition to 14 taps and 2 casks, Big Boss will have one of the most popular seasonal brews, Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale, on hand. Pumpkin carving contests and live music will also be featured. More details here.

• According to experts enlisted by USA Today, Char-Grill in Raleigh is the best place in North Carolina to savor that classic all-American sandwich - the burger. What began as a single location in 1959 has grown into six locations across the state.
  
  
• Here's a weekly event that will keep your energy level up. Durham's very own Counter Culture Coffee offers free coffee tastings every Friday at 10 am. The "cupping" is immediately followed by a guided tour of the roastery and headquarters. Counter Culture Coffee Roastery and Headquarters is located at 4911 South Alston Avenue in Durham. Call 361.5282 for more information.

• The World Beer Festival is this weekend in Durham and last I heard, there are still some tickets available (which is a huge surprise). But to find out for sure (if you think you might want to go) please visit their site here.
  
  
• This month Chapel Hill's A Southern Season is hosting a month-long food and wine festival. For more information on all the activities and events being held, please visit their site here.
  
  
• Here's to Raleigh's first ever Supper Club, a dinner series featuring some of downtown Raleigh's best locally-owned restaurants. Participating chefs will dish up unique three-course dinners, each paired with a glass of hand-selected wine, all for just $40 (tax and gratuity included) with proceeds benefiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at WakeMed. The participating restaurants are: Market Restaurant (Oct. 11); Zely & Ritz (Oct. 19) and Sushi Blues Café (Oct. 25). See menus and more details here.
  
  
• Listen up ladies, The Wine Merchant in Raleigh (Wade Avenue near Whole Foods) is hosting a Ladies' Masquerade Ball from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28th. There will be wine tastings, a raffle, appetizers, complimentary massages and lots of stuff on sale! While costumes are not required, prizes will be awarded for most horrifying, sexiest, most original, best wine theme and best overall. Please reserve a spot by calling 828-6929.
  
  We've got dinners galore to tell you about, so here we go...
  
  
• Next Wednesday (Oct. 13), Raleigh's Zely & Ritz is offering a four-course dinner featuring Fullsteam Brewery. The meal begins at 7 pm and costs $49 per person. To make a reservation, call 828-0018.
  
  
• On Thursday, Oct. 14th at 7 pm, the Boylan Bridge Brewpub will host a cocktail and menu tasting to debut some new items. Tickets are $25 purchased in advance / $40 at the door. To get tickets in advance, click here.
  
  
• The Inn at Celebrity Dairy near Siler City will host its monthly Sunday dinner on Oct. 17th at 1:30 pm. The dinner will feature Aurora Restaurant's chef Gwen Higgins. It will set you back $75 per person. Make reservations here or call 742-5176.
  
  
• Just down the road in Chapel Hill, Pazzo (located in Southern Village) will have a four-course dinner on Tuesday, October 19th at 6:30 pm. The dinner will feature Vietti wines and winemaker Luca Currado. If you are interested in attending the $85 dinner, call 968-1884.
  
  
• Also in Chapel Hill, the infamous Spanky's on Franklin Street has teamed up with Durham's Fullsteam Brewery and will be holding a beer dinner on Sunday, October 26th with five courses, each paired with one of Fullsteam's beers. The cost is $40 per person. Call 919.967.2678 or e-mail spankys@spankysrestaurant.com to attend.
  

• If you've got a spare $145 sitting around you'll want to attend a guest-chef event being hosted at the newly renovated Herons Restaurant at The Umstead in Cary on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 pm. The guest chefs include Curtis Duffy, Avenues at The Peninsula Chicago and Claudio Aprile of Colborne Lane in Toronto. Call 447-4050 to make a reservation.
  
  
• Durham's Rue Cler is offering a wine dinner at 7 pm on Nov. 1st featuring the wines of Eric Texier of the Rhone and Maconnais regions of France. Dinner costs $65. Check their website or call 682-8844 for more information.
  
  
• And finally, the Angus Barn will host an extraordinary wine dinner on Nov. 12. Arthur Silvente with the Champagne House, Duval Leroy and Hank McCrorie of Napa Valley's Burly Vineyards have teamed up for an "old world meets new world" wine dinner. Chef Walter Royal and staff have expertly prepared a six-course dinner around those wines. Call 919-787-3505 to make reservations.
  
  
• Raleigh is participating this year in Diabetes Restaurant Month which runs Oct. 12 through November 12. Restaurants 518 West, Backyard Bistro, Market Restaurant, Zest Café and Mitch's Tavern will each offer a menu item that meets standards outlined by a registered dietician and an endocrinologist. More information at this site.
  
  
• Dress your little ones up early and take them to your local IHOP on Friday, October 29th, where they'll be serving up Scary Face Pancakes free of charge for children 12 and under (one per child).
  
  
• Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 16th from 1-5 pm as Chapel Hill hosts the TerraVita Food & Wine event on The Green in Southern Village. The event features organically-grown wines, microbrews and edibles prepared by some of the area's top chefs. Get more information here.
  
  
• The World Cask Ale Festival will be held Saturday, October 23rd right here in our own backyard in Durham. It will be held in the Trotter Building on Geer Street and will feature cask ales from around the state and from breweries around the country as well as some great food options from vendors around Durham. Get more information and tickets here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 1, 2010

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

• If you are in North Raleigh, today is the grand opening of the Triangle's newest location of Chubby Taco's. Doors open at 11 am at the 10511 Shadowlawn Drive location in the Falls River Town Center.
  
  
• Capital Creations Pizza in Raleigh has closed their Medlin Drive location. But if you're a huge fan, don't fret because you'll still be able to get your pies from the Wake Forest Road location (the last remaining of what was once four area stores). And if you love it a lot, you might even be able to buy-in to the franchise in the very near future!
  
  
• The Triangle is getting its second location of Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, the self-serve yogurt phenomenon. The second location will open in early 2011 in Cary's Crossroad Plaza, next to Jason's Deli. The other Triangle location is in Timberlyne Shopping Center in Chapel Hill.
  
  
• You no longer have to get out of your car to enjoy a treat from Snoopy's Hot Dogs. Well, at least if you go to their newest location in Garner (82 Glen Road). And not only does it have a drive-up window, but it has inside seating! Now that is moving on up! Snoopy's began in 1978 and now has five Triangle area locations.
  

• K&W Cafeterias will open their third Triangle location next Monday, October 4th in Tower Marketplace on Bastion Lane off of US 64. The other two locations in the Triangle are in Cameron Village and adjacent to Chapel Hill's University Mall.
  
  
• And we have a re-opening to announce! The Wine N Things at 7436 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh is open again! For more information, contact them at 919.847.4986. Plans for a grand re-opening celebration haven't been announced.
  
  
• Here is something I bet you didn't know. October is National Cookie Month. So get the month off to a great start by heading over to the Great American Cookie Company today for a FREE cookie from 10 - 2. There are two Triangle area locations at North Hills and Triangle Town Center.
  
  
• Speaking of sugar-goodies, Dunkin' Donuts has opened its latest Triangle area location at 13240 Stickland Avenue. To celebrate, you can get a 16-ounce iced coffee for just 99 cents between now and Sunday. Better hurry before it gets too cold outside to enjoy this offer!
  
  
• Bruegger's Bagels is renovating all 20 Triangle-area locations (part of a national roll-out) that just so happens to mark the bagel chain's 25th anniversary here in the Triangle. As part of that celebration, Bruegger's will be offering free coffee on October 13th until 2 p.m. as well as offering triangle-shaped bagels!
  
  
• This was kind of neat to see. In the October issue of Cooking Light, our very own hometown food critic from the N&O, Greg Cox, had a very neat article featured - The Best Restaurants in Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill. Read the article here, it is worth the read with lots of good information. Congratulations Greg!
  
  
• If you are heading to the Carolina vs. ECU or NC State vs. Virginia Tech football games this weekend, you just might get a coupon for a free sausage biscuit at Hardee's. Pay attention at half-time as a fan (could be you) will have to hit a 30-yard field goal before the coupons will be distributed by the ushers as you leave. Now that's a lot of pressure on one person!
  

• Things are heating up this weekend in Chatham County for the 3rd Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival. Activities will be held on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at The Plant in Pittsboro. This is your chance to try more than 40 different peppers as well as pepper-inspired dishes prepared by chefs from 12 Triangle-area restaurants. Triangle Brewery also will be serving up a habanero beer. For more information, directions and to purchase tickets, visit here.
  
  
• If you are a fan of lobsters from Maine listen up. This Saturday you'll be able to get your hands (and mouth) on lobsters that are literally swimming in the ocean as we speak. Here's how it works. This Saturday morning a truckload of large Maine lobsters will arrive at the St. Paul's Lobster Fest. They are offered both live and cooked, plus full meals including their special "Quarta Pounda Lobsta Roll!" Get more details at their website. Cary's Lobster Fest takes place at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Union Street in Cary. Visit their site.
  
  
• Like you need a good reason to hit the beach one more time this season. But if you do, this is the reason - the 24th Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival is being held in Morehead City today, Saturday and Sunday. Get more details here.
  
  
• It is October, which means the Bull City Vegan Challenge has begun. Ten restaurants in Durham will compete in the month-long competition where the public will vote online to determine who has the best vegan dish. Participating restaurants are: Alivia's, Beyu Caffe, Dos Perros, The Federal, Nosh, Parker & Otis, Piedmont, Rue Cler, Toast and Vin Rouge.
  
  
• And if it is October, it also means the North Carolina State Fair is just around the corner! So, coat your stomach with Pepto-Bismol and head on over to see what is being deep fried this year! And to help out a great cause at the same time, make plans to attend on Thursday, October 21 for the annual Food Lion Hunger Relief Day. Just bring four cans of Food Lion brand food to the Fair and your admission is covered and you've helped the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina.
  
  
• With the change of seasons also comes the return of a made-from-scratch treat from Bojangles: the smoked sausage biscuit for only 99 cents. Get 'em now!
  

• If you're even thinking about attending the World Beer Festival in Durham on Oct. 9, you better get your tickets ASAP. Spots are filling up for the afternoon session-12 to 4 p.m.-as well as the evening session-6 p.m. until 10 p.m. For more information, click here.
  
  Beer and wine dinners seem to be the "hottest" things at restaurants these days. Works for me! Here are some you might want to check out.
  
  
• Carrboro's Glasshalffull will offer a four-course meal this Sunday. The dinner will feature seafood from Core Sound Seafood and is $85 with wine, $65 without wine. For a reservation, call 967-9784.
  
  
• Downtown Raleigh's Gravy will host an Italian Food Tour wine dinner this Monday (October 4) where Chef Tony will prepare a five-course dinner from the Basilicata region in Italy. The cost of the dinner is $30 per person, $45 paired with wine. More information here.
  
  
• Next Wednesday, October 6, Durham's Four Square Restaurant is offering a five-course dinner featuring the wines of the Stolpman Estate. The dinner costs $85. Call 401-9877 for a reservation. Four Square is located on Chapel Hill Road in Durham.
  

• We told you about this one last week - Zely & Ritz will hold a beer dinner on Wednesday, October 13 featuring brews from Durham's very own Fullsteam Brewery and desserts from Raleigh's Crumb. For reservations, call Zely & Ritz at (919) 828-0018. Zely & Ritz is located Glenwood Avenue in the Glenwood South District.
  
  
• And in Chapel Hill, the infamous Spanky's on Franklin Street has teamed up with Durham's Fullsteam Brewery and will be holding a beer dinner on Sunday, October 26th with five courses, each paired with one of Fullsteam's beers. The cost is $40 per person. Call 919.967.2678 or e-mail spankys@spankysrestaurant.com to attend.
  
  
• Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 16th from 1-5 pm as Chapel Hill hosts the TerraVita Food & Wine event on The Green in Southern Village. The event features organically-grown wines, microbrews and edibles prepared by some of the area's top chefs. Get more information here.
  
  
• The World Cask Ale Festival will be held Saturday, October 23rd right here in our own backyard in Durham. It will be held in the Trotter Building on Geer Street in Durham and will feature cask ales from around the state and from breweries around the country as well as some great food options from vendors around Durham. Get more information and tickets here.
  
  
• Listen up T.G.I. Friday's fans. Here is a coupon for $5 off your purchase of $15 or more good through Thursday, October 9, 2010.
  
  
• Ruby Tuesday is offering up their popular BOGO coupon (buy one, get one). Max of $10. Get it here.
  

• This is the last weekend to hit-up CiCi's Pizza for their popular $3.99 all-you-can-eat buffet deal. More information here.