Friday Fun Food Facts - April 15, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Openings

• Hillsborough Street has a hot new pizza joint aptly named HotBox Pizza. Hailing from the Midwest, HotBox is sure to be a huge hit. Welcome to Jamie and his team! Visit their site here or "Like Them" on Facebook here. 

• Speaking of pizza, Pizza Inn has made its return to Durham in a building at 3906 N. Duke Street that was a pizzeria in the '60's, then a Pizza Inn and then vacant. It has been gutted and completely rebuilt by Troy Harrington and Mike Cotton (former operator of Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q).

• Relish Café and Bar, a new neighborhood café and bar specializing in comfort foods with a "new southern" twist, opened a week ago last Tuesday at 5625 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh. Visit them on Facebook.

• The long anticipated Ruben's on Person Street in downtown Raleigh is expected to open this week. Ruben's will specialize in turkey nuggets, turkey burgers, wings & eventually beer in the evening.

• Moe's Southwest Grill just opened its newest location in Durham yesterday and will open another location next Thursday. Yesterday, Moe's opened its newest location inside the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. And the other location will be in Patterson Place in Durham, across from New Hope Commons near the intersection of 15-501 and Interstate 40.

• If you are a fan of King's Sandwhich Shop over in Durham, we've got great news that is worth getting up early for. T.J. McDermott, owner of King's (701 Foster St.) expanded the shop's hours and menu this past Thursday to add breakfast. King's will be open from 7 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday. The breakfast menu will include biscuits, country ham, sausage, bacon, grits and fatback. Check it out.  

• We reported several weeks ago about Tribeca Café going into The Hue in downtown Raleigh. We also noted the name they shared with Tribeca Tavern (although completely unaffiliated). It has since changed their name to The Astoria Cafe & Lounge and is shooting for a late May, early June opening.

• We reported several weeks back about the opening of Bull City Burger & Beer (which we hear is well worth the visit). Well, things just got better yesterday as Durham Mayor Bell poured the first pint of their own beer! So, get on over to Bull City and try their newly flowing livations!

• A reminder that Geer Street Garden restaurant has slightly modified their anticipated open date. Their site now shows "around the weekend of April 22nd" as when they will open. It is located at 644 Foster Street in the old gas station on the corner of Foster and Geer streets in Durham.  Visit their page on Facebook here, to get the official word on when they swing their doors open.  

Closings 

• We got word this week from a reader that Bellini Italian Restaurant, located at the corner of Fairview Road and Oberlin Road in Raleigh, has closed. 

• A peek in the window (and locked doors) makes it appear as if Chocalaterie Stam over in Chapel Hill's East 54 has closed their doors. They have also been removed from the chain's website.  

Food Truck News

• There will be a food truck gathering in conjunction with Durham's Full Frame Documentary Film Festival at Durham Central Park tomorrow (4/16). The food trucks will begin serving food at 6:30 pm under the park pavilion. Food trucks in attendance include: Farmhand Foods Sausage Wagon, Daisy Cakes, Joey D' NY Dogs, Only Burger, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Klausie's Pizza, Slippin' Sliders, and The Grilled Cheese Bus.

• Rebus Works will also begin hosting The Saturday Market which will bring together farmers, crafters, food trucks, brewers and more every Saturday from 9am-2pm beginning April 23rd through November 19th. The website is coming soon, so in the meantime, you can visit their Facebook page.   

Events

• The extremely popular Farm to Fork Family Style Dinners have returned to Foster's Market in Chapel Hill & Durham. The dinners, which feature a different local farmer each week,  returned to Foster's Market of Chapel Hill this past Thursday and will return to the Durham location next Thursday (Apr 21st). Reservations are recommended. More information here.  

• You won't want to miss the 'Cuegrass Festival this Saturday at The Pit in the warehouse district in downtown Raleigh. The event runs from 11 am until 4 pm and will feature a day full of great 'cue, local brews and toe-tappin' bluegrass music. And the $5 charge goes to the North Carolina Farmers. More information here.

• Midtown Farmers' Market, located in the heart of North Hills in the Commons, opens its 4th season this Saturday (4/16). They are open from 8 am until noon and will have lots going on including an Omelet Extravaganza and live music. Get more information here.   

• Get a fresh start to the season at the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market's Spring Fling KIckoff on Wednesday, April 27 from 10am-2pm in City Plaza on Fayetteville Street. This opening day celebration offers a complete sensory experience to cure spring fever! Taste the freshest strawberries, smell the basil starts, see your friends, and listen to live bluegrass. More information here.  

• If you are planning on eating out on Easter Sunday, you won't be the only one. Thirty-three million Americans are expected to celebrate the Easter holiday by dining out, according to new research from the National Restaurant Association. So, word to the wise - make reservations now!

• As part of Herbfest in Cary on May 5th, award-winning Chef Lucindy Willis of the Yancey House Restaurant will conduct a special cooking demonstration and discuss culinary uses of herbs. The $25 ticket gets you into a reception where you'll be able to sample Chef Lucindy's creations, accompanied by specially selected wines. Tickets may be purchased here.

• Larry's Beans has announced their next public tour will be on Saturday, May 7th. This is your chance to get a "behind the scenes look" at how it all happens. Hurry, because it is limited to the first 150 people! Of course there is lots of coffee to consume, and goodies from Neomonde. Visit their Facebook page now - or visit their website here. Did I mention it is free?

• Here' s a great dinner you won't want to miss. On Thursday April 21st at 6 pm, Herons Restaurant (Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary) will be offering a winemaker dinner featuring Tommy and Amie Baudoin of Morgan Ridge Vineyards in Gold Hill, N.C. The four-course meal will cost $85. Call 447-4200 for reservations.

• And finally, the Eno River Farmers' Market will have their Harvest Dinner on Saturday, April 30! If you've never been, this is a real treat as the meal is sourced from the local farms, prepared by the vendors, and presented elegantly in the market house along with live music. Tickets go on sale at the market house on April 2nd and are $60. More information on their website. 

Freebies

• Subway will have their annual customer appreciation day on Saturday, April 16th where they will have a "buy one get one" free special on their subs. More information here.

• Maggie Moo's stores will offer free mini-sundaes as part of the chain's Sundae Stimulus from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, April 18th. Both the Brier Creek and Cary stores are participating.

• Participating Cinnabon shops will give away two free Cinnabon bites from 6 until 8 pm on Monday, April 18th.

• On April 22, Evos restaurants will be handing out free organic milkshakes. The only Triangle area location is at 1800 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill (Eastgate Shopping Center).

• Starbucks will offer a free cup of coffee or tea to anyone who brings a reusable mug to a store April 22 as part of Earth Day.

Tip of the Hat! 

• Our "Tip of the Hat" this week goes to Green Planet Catering for winning the Raleigh Chamber's Pinnacle Business Award for Small Business Sustainability Award. Congrats to Daniel and his team.

• Our second "Tip of the Hat" this week goes to Lou & Joy Moshakos, owners of locally owned and operated LM Restaurants, Inc., who donated $23,000 to Carolina Hurricanes' Kids 'N Community Foundation. LM Restaurants is the parent company of Carolina Ale House as well as many other restaurants in Eastern North Carolina and the Southeast including Taverna Agora in Raleigh.