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.