Friday Fun Food Facts - March 11, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  It appears that the "Tri" in Tribeca Tavern might have more meaning than originally thought. Fast on the heels of the news that Michael Dean's is being converted into the Triangle's second location of Tribeca Tavern (which, by the way, looks to be opening next week) we learned this week that there are plans to open a third location in May - this time in Chapel Hill. While the location hasn't been disclosed, there is speculation that it will be the former Applebee's location on East Franklin Street across from the Siena Hotel. We'll keep an eye on that and keep you updated.

• We told you about this weeks ago, but Fai Thai, a traditional Thai grill, is now open in the former Duck & Dumpling spot at 222 S. Blount Street in downtown Raleigh at Moore Square. Fai Thai features chef William D'Auvray (Fins; bu·ku) and Chef de Cuisine James Boyle (The Duck & Dumpling). The restaurant will have limited hours the first few days, so reservations are encouraged and you can view those hours here.  

• After some initial confusion over the fate of Cherry Bomb Grill in downtown Raleigh, it "reopened" last Friday as Brewmasters Bar & Grill with a new theme and menu. Brewmaster's is in the old Joe's Place location at the corner of West Martin and Dawson. Visit them here. 

• Tasu Asian Bistro, Sushi & Bar, which has a location in Brier Creek in Raleigh, has announced that they will be opening a second location in Cary in the old Bentely's location in Crossroads. No word yet on an open date. Thanks to Dan for that tip!

• If you didn't get enough "pizza news" last week, the N&O's Sue Stock gives us one more this week with the announcement that Hot Box Pizza will be opening its first North Carolina location at 2304 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh in April. Visit their site here. 

• And with warm weather on the way, that can only mean it is the season for ice cream and yogurt shops to start popping up. Such is the case this week, as the N&O's Sue Stock discovered. Here's a quick run-down. In Raleigh, Fresh Ice Cream opened at Five Points (next to Third Place and Hayes Barton Pharmacy). The Skinny Dip, a frozen yogurt bar, has opened at Raleigh's Quail Corners at Millbrook and Falls of Neuse roads. This is their second location in the Triangle - the first Triangle location is by Trader Joe's in Cary on Kildaire Farm Road. And finally, Yopop Frozen Yogurt is open in Crossroads Plaza near Jason's Deli.

• And over in Knightdale, Sue Stock is also reporting this morning that Yamato Japanese Restaurant, Sushi, Seafood and Steak House is now open at 7110 Kinghtdale Blvd.

• Last week we pointed you to Fuquay-Varina, and this week we're going to point you the other way and encourage you to head to Saxapahaw, in Alamance County west of Chapel Hill, where the owners of the Saxapahaw General Store have opened a second restaurant a few doors down called The Eddy. The N&O's Greg Cox has had very favorable things to say about both The Eddy and The General Store Cafe.

• And over in Durham, blogger Bull City Rising is reporting that the building at 102 Morris Street in downtown Durham's Five Points will be sold and the new owners are listing a bakery and a "gourmet pizzeria" as potential tenants. Obviously still very early in the process, but we'll keep an eye on it.

• In the "good news / bad news" category this week, we have learned that the Garner location of Ole Time BBQ has closed. That's the bad news. The good news is that the original location on Hillsborough Street is still alive and kickin' and serving up that good ol' North Carolina 'cue!

• Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? To celebrate their grand opening and introduce themselves to the Raleigh market, Jet's Pizza will give away FREE deep dish pizza slices (one per person) on Saturday, March 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their newest store at 8365 Creedmoor Road south of Strickland Road.

• Starbucks' customers saw something new Tuesday when they sipped their coffee. The Seattle-based company rolled out its new words-free logo Tuesday on all its cups. Signs also changed at a handful of stores, and the new logo will show up on more storefronts in the future. This is in conjunction with their 40th anniversary this month.

• Speaking of Starbucks, stop by between 2 and 5 p.m. today and tomorrow (Friday & Saturday), and get a free selection of the new petite dessert menu when you buy a hand-crafted beverage.

• If you are missing your Sunday brunch at either Michael Deans or Bogarts, we've got good news for you. Starting this Sunday, The Red Room (same building as Bogart's) will begin offering Sunday Brunch. The menu will resemble the brunch menus from Bogart's and Michael Dean's.  

• Fullsteam's first-ever Southern Fried Brewery Tour is this Sunday. It appears as if the 4 p.m. tour and tasting is sold out, but a few tickets remain for the tour and dinner at 5 p.m. Get more information here.  

• Looking for something fun to do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Here's one that I will be at. Through the end of business on March 16, Big Boss Brewing Company (1249-A Wicker Drive, Raleigh, bigbossbrewing.com, 834-0045) will accept entries for a potato-carving contest at its taproom. Original seasonal or beer-inspired spuds are encouraged. The three best-dressed and most clever-cut potatoes will claim prizes at 7 p.m. on March 17 during Big Boss' "Who's Your Paddy?" event. The fun begins at 3 with music, beer, and food from a slew of food trucks, including OnlyBurger, Slippin Sliders, Ko Kyu, Klausie's and Giovanni's.

• The N&O's Andrea Weigl reported this week about a very rare opportunity over at Durham's Magnolia Grill. They will be offering a wine dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 3 featuring wines from the St. Innocent Winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The owner/winemaker Mark Vlossak will be on hand to talk about the wines. The six-course meal and wine pairings, including some prized 2008 Pinot Noirs, will cost $95 plus tip and tax. Reservations are required, as well as a credit card deposit. To make a reservation, call Tammy at 286-3609 between 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

• Listen up beer lovers. It was just announced that the 2011 World Beer Festrival will make its annual trek to the area on Saturday, April 9th in Moore Square. There will be two afternoon sessions; one at noon and the second at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 ($75 for VIP). Tickets and more information can be found here.

• And finally, mark you calendars for Rita's 19th Annual First Day of Spring Promotion on March 20th when you can enjoy a free regular size cup of Rita's Italian Ice from noon until 9 pm. There are eight locations here in the Triangle. Find the location closest to you here.