Friday Fun Food Facts - May 20, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  Do you love the Q? Who doesn't? The Q Shack (located in Raleigh's North Hills) will be opening a new location in June in the food court at Crabtree Valley Mall. What is unique about this location is that this new Q Shack (which sources its meat from local Carolina farms) will be owned by one of the Q's hog and cattle farmers - talk about vertically integrating the 'farm to table' concept! Kudos to Tom Meyer and his team.

• Coffee or beer? It won't matter at downtown Raleigh's newest spot - Spy Raleigh Cafe which officially opens tomorrow (Saturday, May 21). This new venue, located at 330 West Davie Street beside The Pit BBQ, will offer two distinct businesses: a club in the evenings and a coffee shop in the daytime. Check them out here.  

• Chef Cliff Vogelsberg has moved from Solas in Glenwood South to Winston's Grille in North Raleigh. Before opening Solas, Vogelsberg previously worked at Sullivan's Steakhouse.  

• According to the N&O's Sue Stock, the former Pao Lim restaurant at 2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. in Durham is under new ownership and will become a sushi bar and restaurant called Happy China. This is the same family that owns The Asia Cafe on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. They are targeting mid-June for their opening.

• Shane Ingram's latest venture, G2B, has a set opening date of May 26th (that's next Thursday). To get more information on his latest venture, check out their website (pretty cool website by the way). Ingram also owns the Four Square restaurant in Durham, and ONE in Chapel Hill.

• Over in Chapel Hill, University Mall has a new dining option with last week's opening of Red Bowl Asian Bistro. It is located in the former Bear Rock Café location directly across from Spice Street.

• Five Guys Burgers and Fries is days away from opening its newest location - this time in Durham at Patterson Place near the intersection of 15-501 and Interstate 40 - where the new Moe's is. No information on an exact date, but they have been inspected and their site lists them as "coming soon." Stay tuned.

• The Raleigh Wine Shop will be having a grand opening celebration from 11 am -7 pm this Saturday, May 21. The wine shop is opening at 126 Glenwood Ave., across from 518 West. The owners are familiar faces for those who shopped at Raleigh's Seaboard Wine - Seth Hoffman was a manager at Seaboard for seven years and Jeff Bramwell was a manager there for two years. They have teamed up with Ryan Fulkerson, who used to work on the wholesale side of the wine business. Visit them here.  

• Speaking of drinking/drinks in downtown Raleigh, Tasty Beverage Co. is coming to downtown Raleigh's warehouse district this summer. The store will open in the Raleigh Depot between Jibarra and Tuscan Blu. The store will be modeled after Bruisin' Ales in Asheville but with a larger tasting bar with 4 to 6 draft beers and will offer local meats and cheeses from such producers as Chapel Hill Creamery and Giacomo's Italian Market. We'll keep an eye on it for you.

• Cinelli's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, formerly located on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary, has reopened at a new, larger location in MacGregor Village Shopping Center at 107-119 Edinburgh Drive also in Cary. That's the space formerly occupied by Rio Churrascaria. Visit them here.  

• This isn't exactly a closing, but the closing of a "chapter." Sue Stock, the N&O's couponing and retail guru, is leaving the N&O today. A lot of Sue's work will continue (so they say), but I'll be the first to say it simply won't be the same. Sue, you are the best and will be missed! Best to you. (By the way, it looks like I owe you a lunch so next time you are in town...) 

• The food truck scene in the Triangle will get a lot "cooler" this weekend as the much anticipated The Parlour will debut. It is looking like the mobile ice cream parlour will make its first appearance in the parking lot at Accent Hardwood, adjacent to the Durham Farmer's Market on Saturday. Keep up with the latest on their Facebook page or by following them on Twitter.

• If you are in downtown Durham today, here is something cool to take in. Ninth Street Bakery will have a farm stand from noon until 4 pm including veggies, artisan bread and a Ninth Street Bakery special for lunch. Check them out here.  

• Bring an empty stomach to Hillsborough Hog Day - pig cooking teams come from all over the state will compete in a barbecue cooking contest, andt there will be plenty of extra barbecue for festival-goers. Games, vendors, music and the area's largest auto show will also take place, and admission is free. Friday (6-10pm) and Sautday (9am - 6pm). Visit their site for more information.  

• On Saturday from noon until 2pm, Chef Sara Foster of Foster's Market will be signing copies of her new cookbook, Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen, at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill.

• The Angus Barn will host a complimentary Argentinian Wine Tasting this Sunday, May 22nd from 3:30 until 5 pm. Reservations are not required and complimentary wine cellar tours will be given as part of the event. Please call 919.787.3505 or visit their events page.  

• The Pit Restaurant in Raleigh will be hosting a series of heritage barbecue dinners starting in July which will feature guest barbecue pit masters for a special dinner. The first one will feature barbecue historian Bob Garner and the Pit's chef, Darrell Brown, on July 12. The next two dinners will be the second Tuesdays in July and August featuring Wayne Monk of Lexington Barbecue and Bum Dennis of Bum's Restaurant in Ayden, N.C. Reservations will be available starting June 1. Call 890-4500.

• Apex's Peak City Grill is getting in on the "Farm to Table" movement with a Market Dinner every Thursday. Chef Brendan will put together a three to four course meal prepared completely from locally sourced meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. For more information, visit their site.   

• If you are missing Durham's Dillard's Bar-B-Q (which closed back in March), there is a glimmer of hope for you. Host an event. Apparently they will "re-open" the Durham institution for special occasions. If interested, give them a ring at 919.544.1587.

• Over in Chapel Hill, The Weathervane in Southern Season will host a Highland Beer Dinner on June 15th at 7 pm. The dinner will feature 5 courses and 5 beers. Call 919.929.9466 to make your reservation.