Friday Fun Food Facts - December 3, 2010

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

• If you are a big fan of Amedeo's Italian Restaurant on Western Boulevard, we have some big news to share. Rick DeAngelis, son of original owner Dick DeAngelis, is back! As some of you know, Rick opened Amedeo's North on Falls of the Neuse Road in North Raleigh, but has "come home" to manage the original store. Stop by and visit Rick!

• Listen up downtown Raleigh. Z Pizza will officially open their third location on the ground floor of the Bank of America building this weekend. Z Pizza will participate in Raleigh's Winterfest Celebration this Saturday, and will "officially" open their doors on Sunday. Congratulations to Steve Drotts on his third store. Interestingly enough, Steve and his wife recently gave birth to their third child! They say things happen in threes...

• Things are "a changing" in downtown Raleigh's City Market. Angelo's Restaurant owner Evangelos Liatos is retiring, and therefore closing. But plans to transition the space into a New Orleans-style eatery are already underway. Brian Battistella will be moving his Battistella's New Orleans Kitchen - which has been located over in the Crabtree Inn near Crabtree Valley Mall - into the space. Look for a January opening.
  

• Raleigh is landing North Carolina's first location of Gigi's Cupcakes. Gigi's announced that it will be opening its newest location a little later this month in The Shops of Oberlin Court, near the intersection of Oberlin Road and Wade Avenue. Find out more about Gigi's here.
  

• Sheilagh Duncan, owner of Pie Bird, has found a permanent location (or nest as she puts it). Pie Bird, which serves pies, soups and salads, will eventually be located at 618 N. Person Street in downtown Raleigh. More information here.

• Brier Creek in Raleigh is experiencing some big changes. First, Noodles & Company opened this week in the former Camille's Sidewalk Café location. This marks the 5th Triangle location of Noodles & Company.

• And the other news from Brier Creek is that Qdoba Mexican Grill is "coming soon" to the former Salsarita's location. This will mark the 7th Triangle location of Qdoba. No news yet on an open date.
  

• Gregory Papadopoulos, formerly of Gregory's in Cary, has just opened up his latest venture. He has brought his talent over to Raleigh and opened Wade Park Café, which is in the Wade Park office development directly across from the RBC Center and next to Cardinal Gibbons High School. The café features salads, croissants, wraps, panninis and soups.

• Sweet Spoons frozen yogurt has opened in Raleigh at on Wakefield Commons Drive near the Marquee Cinemas in the Wakefield Development. More information here.
  

• Over in Durham, Seth Gross announced this week that he has sold his interest in Wine Authorities (2501 University Drive) to his business partner so that he can focus on his new venture, Bull City Burger and Brewery, which is scheduled to open at 107 E. Parrish Street in February. Get more information here.
  

• Also in Durham, Cuban Revolution Restaurant just announced the launching of Cuba Joe - an 8 am - 11 am fare offering local roasted coffee, pastries, muffins, fresh fruit and made-to-order tacos. They are offering coupons on their Facebook page for free items!
  

• Carolina Ale House is getting closer to opening its 9th Triangle area location. The newest one, which is on schedule to open next year, will be in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh at the corner of Glenwood and Tucker Streets - that's across from Sullivan's and Armadillo Grill. Check out the artist rendering here.
  

• Chapel Hill's newest restaurant addition - Streets Restaurant, Market & Deli - is just days away from opening. The last official "announcement" from the owners had hoped for an opening the first week in December. Which means any day now. If you want to keep up with them, visit their Facebook page here.
  

• If you're looking for a big cup of mocha while shopping this holiday season at The Streets at Southpoint, your options are a bit more limited. LaVita Dolce has closed up shop. That's the bad news. The good news is that Nordstrom has a pretty good little coffee shop at their first floor entrance. The other good news is that the Chapel Hill location of LaVita Dolce (in Southern Village) remains open.

• My "Cary food correspondent" Tim Moore shared some sad news this week for DQ fans. The Dairy Queen on Walnut Street has gone out of business (I know, take a moment to gather yourself). All of their equipment was auctioned off yesterday. To make matters worse, I was unable to secure a Blizzard machine for my home.
  

• If lights turned out and a disconnected phone number are any indication, Pittsburgh Pizza & Wing Factory at 13200 News Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh has closed.
  

• Can't get enough "foodie" news? Then tune in to WPTF radio (680 AM) this Saturday at 11 am as Greg Cox of the News & Observer debuts his new radio show - "Dining Out with Greg Cox." You can even get the show online at www.wptf.com.
  

• Looking for gift ideas for the "foodie" on your list? Here are some great gift ideas that are unique to North Carolina. This list was put together by the News & Observer's Andrea Weigl and the Charlotte Observer's Kathleen Purvis.
  

• Alright food truck lovers. Looks like there is a convergence of food trucks at Durham's Rock n' Shop from noon until 6 pm tomorrow. Rock n' Shop is a unique event that features over 50 designers as well as lots of musical entertainment. Word is there will be at least 4 of the area's food trucks on site. Tickets are $5. More information here.
  

• Tribeca Tavern, located in Stone Creek Village at the corner of Highhouse Road and Davis Drive in Cary, announced this week that they have a new menu. They've added new burgers, cheeses, sandwiches, and entrees. Check them out here.
  

• Downtown Carrboro's Acme Restaurant is having a Holiday Wine Dinner on Sunday, December 12th beginning at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will feature wines from France selected by Bruno Arricastres of Wine Without Borders. The price is $55 and reservations can be made by calling 919.929.2263.
  
  And we close with a couple of tidbits that will surely add some padding for the winter.
  

• Krispy Kreme is now serving up some of their old and new holiday favorites: The Snowman Doughnut, The Wreath Doughnut, The Chocolate Iced Glazed Doughnut, The Chocolate Peppermint Bark Doughnut, and the Peppermint Krispy Kreme Chiller! Perfect treats for the holidays.
  

• And finally, Burger King is now offering a buy-one, get-one free on their original chicken sandwiches. They are promoting it on their website and I saw an ad on TV last night. Not sure the length of the promotion, so if this is your thing, you better get into the BK Lounge now!