Friday Fun Food Facts - June 24, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Good news Durhamites. The infamous Bread & Kabob that used to be at 1013 W. Main Street just beyond the Brightleaf District across from the Shell station, has re-opened. Check them out!

• We're getting some sneak peaks and hints about Ashley Christensen's (of Poole's Diner) new Wilmington Street establishments in downtown Raleigh. This week the signage for the first of three went up - Beasley's Chicken & Honey is now painted on the side of the building and is expected to open this summer. The name obviously gives us some indication that it will feature Christensen's extremely popular honey-crusted chicken.

• After Beasley's, it is anticipated that Chuck's will open, and that will be followed by the downstairs bar. Chuck's, as the name suggests, will be a burger joint.

• Amante Gourmet Pizza has a new location in Cary! It opened this past week at Cary Park Town Center at 10110 Green Level Church Road. This newest location has a full bar and the same great food you've come to love at Amante's. This marks Amante's sixth Triangle location.

• And speaking of Amante, they relocated their North Raleigh store and it has now re-opened at 6325 Falls of Neuse Road in the Sutton Square Shopping Center (think Fresh Market, Performance Bicycles and PetSmart).

• And according to the News & Observer, just down the street from Amante Gourmet Pizza, MachuPicchu, a Peruvian restaurant, has opened at 4500 Falls of Neuse Road. That is the shopping center directly behind Carolina Ale House and Pei Wei near the intersection with Falls of Neuse & Old Wake Forest Road.

• And out a little ways in Sanford, you can now "Eat More Chicken" thanks to the opening of the latest Chick-Fil-A located at 3224 N.C. 87 South. The store held its grand opening yesterday.

• Got an email from an observant reader (thanks Jackie!) who noticed yesterday that the Penang on West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill's Courtyard complex was closed and that the sign was gone.  

• And not too far away over in Carrboro, according to a sign in the window, it appears as if Johnny's of Carrboro has closed after a four year run. Johnny's, as you'll recall, was a frequent host of the very popular Food Truck Rodeo's, in addition to being a community gathering spot.

• And according to Johanna Kramer (aka @DurhamFoodie) you better hurry on over if you want to enjoy Simply Thai & Sushi Bar one more time. Simply Thai, which is located in the shopping center at the intersection of Hwy. 54 & 55 in Durham, is closing next week.

• Blu Seafood and Bar in Durham has an interesting theme for its next monthly wine dinner: Up in Smoke. That means they will be serving smoked seafoods, smoked salts and more. On July 13, you will get four courses for $45 plus wine pairings chosen by the folks at Hope Valley Bottle Shop. That will be followed by their annual Lobster night on July 27. The more people who make reservations, the more lobsters they order, the lower the price. For a reservation, call 286-9777 or visit their website.   

• The Vinnie's Steakhouse in Raleigh is hosting a six-course wine dinner where diners will build their own Bordeaux blend during the meal. Plus they will have a chance to have their blend judged for prizes. The July 29 event costs $100. For a reservation, call 847-7319 or visit their website. 

• This Sunday, June 26th at 6 pm, Bull City Burger and Brewery will host a special Dinners a l' Art event - Burgers, Brews & Bluegrass - to support the Durham Arts Council! $40 per person includes a burger, fries, 2 freshly brewed beers, great music and a great cause of supporting the arts! Event starts at 6 pm. Grab those tickets before they're gone!

• And finally, a big congratulations and "Tip of the Hat" to Capital Club 16 and their celebration of their one-year anniversary! And to celebrate, they will be having an all-day party (starting at 4 p.m.) this Saturday (June 25) with a cask of Foothills beer, spiked fresh watermelon punch, dark beer roasted suckling pig and Berlin street sausages served outside throughout the day. As well, there will be a strongman krug holding competition and a watermelon seed-spitting contest. Get more details here.  

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 17, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Which Wich? That's right, you now have a choice here in the Triangle when it comes to which Which Wich you want to visit. Got it? The second Triangle location of Which Wich Superior Sandwiches opened this week in Brier Creek Shopping Center. That said, I'm still partial to the original location on Lake Boone Trail!

• OK, forget what I said about Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza last week. It didn't close. Well, it did, but it immediately re-opened with the same operators and became Camos Brothers Pizza. Give them a look-see. And if you want the "full story" on what happened, check it out here. 

• Hibachi Sushi, a fast Japanese & Thai entrée joint, opened last week in Chapel Hill's Meadowmont. Check 'em out. 

• Bojangles' opened this week at 1513 N. Arendell Ave. in Zebulon. For franchisee Tri-Arc Food Systems, this will be their 46th location across the Triangle and in southern Virginia.

• Over in Durham, chef and part-owner of the Vin Rouge French bistro on Hillsborough Road, Matt Kelly, has plans for a new restaurant in downtown Durham at 107 W. Chapel Hill St. that previously housed The Book Exchange. He said he has plans to open a Spanish tapas restaurant called "Mateo" there, serving small plates of food made with local ingredients. No open date as of yet - but we'll keep you posted. 

• Also in Durham, Jim Anile, chef and owner of Durham's Revolution, has a new venture planned for the former space of Cafe Zen (410 Blackwell St., Durham) at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham. L'Uva, an Italian restaurant and wine bar, is set to open towards the middle of July. Here is their website (but there isn't much to look at just yet).   

• Listen up Holly Springs, it appears as if there is a new restaurant headed your way called Little Hen, which will be located at 5160 Sunset Lake Road. They are looking at a mid-July opening, but you can get a sneak preview of their cuisine at the Pints for Pets Beerfest this weekend. You can also view their menu here.   

• You can now get your cup cake fix from The Cup Cake Bar at Old Havana - but only on Fridays and Saturdays. The Old Havana Sandwich Shop, which is located at 310 East Main Street in Durham, will begin carrying The Cup Cake Bar's special creations. Get more information on these delectables at their website here.   

• Don a pair of flip flops today and you can enjoy a free 24-ounce strawberry-banana smoothie at either Raleigh location of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. This give-away is in honor of National Flip Flop Day. Tropical Smoothie has locations at  1028 Oberlin Road and 8111 Creedmoor Road - both in Raleigh. 

• The new Fearrington Granary is now open for lunch! Located on 15-501 between Pittsboro and Chapel Hill, the Old Granary also has a new menu, a new look, new hours and has added a new bar. Make your reservations today!   

• The Niche Wine Lounge in downtown Holly Springs will host the first annual Pints for Pets Beerfest this Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. $25 includes all tastings, t-shirt and a mug - and supporting a good cause. Get more information here.  

• Check out the first annual Triangle Tastes and Tunes this Saturday, June 18 from 5 - 11 pm in the 100 block of Fayetteville Street in front of Isaac Hunters Tavern. This event will feature a raffle with prizes, delicious food trucks, and live music. The following food trucks will be appearing at this event: Klausie's, Valentino's Food Truck, Slippin Sliders, Blue Sky Dining and Mama Jean's Bar-B-Q Shack.

• This Saturday, June 18, the Piedmont Pepper Pods and friends will once again take over Central Park for the Ninth Annual Bull City Chili Challenge. There will be winners in four categories: Texas Style, Freestyle, Restaurant and Junior. And there will be a salsa competition. The cook-off is open to the public from 11 am until 2 pm (or till the chili runs out). Chili turn-in is at noon, so go early to get the best tastes. Tasting kits consist of a spoon, napkin and 2 oz. cups for sampling chili. Admission is free and it's $4 for a tasting kit. All proceeds benefit the Durham Central Park. More information here.  

• And if you are there at Central Park, you might as well stick around as there will be a food truck rodeo this Sunday, June 19th, from 5-7pm in Durham Central Park!

• Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 26th at 6 p.m. as Bull City Burger and Brewery will host a special Dinners a l' Art event - Burgers, Brews & Bluegrass - to support the Durham Arts Council! $40 per person includes a burger, fries, 2 freshly brewed beers, great music and a great cause of supporting the arts! Event starts at 6 pm. Grab those tickets before they're gone!  

• North Raleigh's Antonio's Gourmet Market & Patio Bistro has a couple of events coming up that you'll want to get on your calendar. This Saturday, June 18th, they'll host an Italian Feast from noon until...The patio will be a buzz with sights and sounds of Italy, including amazing Italian fare and wines. And then on Thursday, June 23rd, prepare yourself to enjoy Spanish Night from 6-8 p.m. This night will feature live music, Spanish cuisine and Spanish wine. For more information call 919-887-6310, or check out their website.  

• Kudos this week to Chef Mario's Catering for snagging a slew of awards recently, including: 2nd Place People's Choice, and Honorable Mention from the judges at the Epicurious Vino Challenge; "Talk of the Town" top 4 star rating in customer satisfaction; and ranked in the Top 100 Small Business in NC and the Top 300 in the Southeast by Business Leader media. Kudos to Chef Mario, Darcy and their entire team!

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 10, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• My wife and I discovered a new restaurant in Morrisville at the intersection of Davis Drive and Morrisville Carpenter Road called Yucatan Mexican Restaurant. This is their first location and was quite good and well worth a visit.

• We mentioned it last week, but Panera Bread will open its newest store next Monday in the Market at Colonnade shopping center in North Raleigh and the first 300 customers will receive a free travel mug and free refills for 30 days. That might be worth getting up for.

• According to the Triangle Busness Journal, the former Uno Chicago Grill building at Brier Creek will soon be home to Hayashi Japanese Cuisine which will open by this time next week.

• Also in Brier Creek, renovations are nearing completion of the former Salsarita's location which will become the Triangle's 7th location of Qdoba restaurant.  

• The worst kept secret in the Triangle was confirmed this week. Tyler's Taproom will definitely be coming to Raleigh at the Seaboard Station near downtown. They are looking for a fall opening, but we'll keep you posted.

• Dickey's Barbecue is opening another Triangle location in Knightdale next month. The newest location will be in the Widewaters Commons shopping center in Knightdale.

• Over in Durham, the Reliable Cheese Company is opening next Tuesday at 405 East Chapel Hill Street. They tout themselves as the premier cheese shop in the triangle with friendly and knowledgeable staff, quality products and a selection unavailable anywhere else locally. Be the judge yourself. 

• Seems like all the restaurant news lately has been about pizza joints opening up. But we just learned from the N&O that the Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza at Six Forks Shopping Center in Raleigh closed last week. The Millpond Village location in Cary remains open, and the owners haven't ruled out opening new locations in the near future.

• If you're at the Streets at Southpoint looking to get your chocolate fix, we've got disappointing news on two fronts. The Marble Slab Creamery (next to The Cheesecake Factory) has closed. And if that is not bad enough, the Nestle Toll House cookie joint directly across the way, has also closed.

• If you are a breakfast lover over in Durham, this weekend may be your last chance to get a breakfast at Kings Sandwich Shop, at least for a little while. According to a tweet this week, after this weekend, Kings is putting the breakfast menu on hiatus.

• The N&O's Andrea Weigl has put up a very good list of upcoming wine and beer events here in the Triangle. Check it out here.

• Once concentrated in Raleigh, Beltline Brew Tours (maybe they'll change their name) will now provide brewery tours of Fullsteam Brewery, Triangle Brewing Company, and Bull City Burger and Brewery one Saturday a month in Durham. The next scheduled tour is Saturday, June 11th. On the tour, you will learn about each brewery and enjoy beer samples. For more information, including information on purchasing tickets, check out their website.   

• Here's a fun sounding event that we happened to stumble upon - the Yum Yum Supper Club. Self-described as "a curated celebration of nearby food, people, and the changing seasons," the supper club hosts community dinners, with the next one being held on June 18th beginning at 4 pm. It will feature a four-course dinner grown and prepared by Boxcarr Farms, with beer pairings by Fullsteam. Tickets are $36.25 and seating is limited. Visit their site for more details.

• Looks like Bull City Burger is getting into the "beer dinner" business. They'll host their "premier" beer dinner on Monday, June 20th from 6:30 - 9:30. The cost is $45 per person and includes a five course meal. Check out the full menu and get more information here. 

• Margaux's Restaurant is holding their annual Lobster Fest on Thursday, June 16th from 5:30 to 9 pm! Three-, five-, and ten-pound lobsters will be steamed and served whole on their lovely patio. Live music will be playing. Reservations are required, so call (919) 846-9846 or visit their site if you'd like to reserve a spot.   

• Want to own a catering company? Well, you're in luck because Sisters Catering Company over on Millbrook Road in Raleigh is for sale. Sandra Burnett will either be selling the business by year's end, or closing it up. We hear the asking price is just north of $2 million. 

• If you love Moe's Queso, you are going to have to dance to prove it. Moe's is offering $10,000 to the individual (or individuals) who are willing to dance to show their love. To enter, create a dance video no longer than 30 seconds and upload it to www.ilovequeso.com any time before July 24. All of this excitement surrounding Queso will lead up to Moe's second annual Free Queso Day on Wednesday, July 20.

• Here's an event you'll want to get tickets for - and tickets go on sale today! This is a "must attend" event according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl. TerraVITA Food & Wine Event brings together the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world together with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known and celebrated for their outstanding reputations and chosen for their devotion and allegiance to locally-grown organic ingredients! Get your tickets here!  The event takes place September 24th in Chapel Hill's Southern Village.

• 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.

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 3, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  In a series of events that seems to prove that what goes around comes around...Kevin Summers, who started Rocky Top Hospitality with Dean Ogan (but moved on long ago), is now back in the restaurant scene. Summers announced that he would take over the Glenwood South space formerly occupied by Bogart's (a former Rocky Top Hospitality concept) with a modern Mexican restaurant called Cantina South.  No date set yet on an opening, but we'll keep an eye on it.

• About a month ago, the original owners of Tookie's Grill, known and loved for their chicken salad, returned to the restaurant business in a location similar to the Texaco station on Six Forks Road where it all started. But this time it is in the Wendell Mart Exxon at 2901 Wendell Blvd., across from the McDonald's. 

• The Lynnwood Grill, a locally owned bar and grill, located at 4821 Grove Barton Road in Raleigh (right next to the Raleigh Grande Theater at the intersection of Lynn & Glenwood) is opening today at 11 am. They describe themselves as the perfect place to grab a bite before or after the movie. Check them out here.   

• The Panera Bread in Falls Village in North Raleigh will close this month - but don't fret. It will move into a new location at the Market at Colonnade in front of the new Whole Foods. They are shooting for a June 10th opening.

• Opening day for the Which Wich Superior Sandwiches in Brier Creek Commons is June 15. The opening of the North Hills location has been pushed back until this fall. 

• YoLo Dessert Cafe has opened its first North Carolina location at Cary Park Town Center at 10110 Green Level Church Road, Suite 104. The cafe specializes in self-serve frozen yogurt with a large selection of locally sourced and produced sides and toppings.

• It appears as if Subway has found the last two strip malls in the Triangle that don't have a Subway location. You can find the newest two locations in Cary at 10130-300 Green Level Church Road, and the other at 705 Ninth St. in Durham.

• Looks like this is the month that we'll get the first peak at Calavera Empanda & Tequilla Bar which we reported many weeks ago was replacing the 101 Lounge at the corner of Blount and Davie in downtown Raleigh. Their twitter feed announces a "June" opening. Stay tuned.

• The Dancing Chocolatier, a gourmet bakery specializing in custom-order cakes and desserts as well as cupcakes, has opened at the Shoppes at Bedford in North Raleigh. The address is 3607 Falls River Ave., Suite 115B.  

• We've got a name for Eschelon Hospitality's newest concept opening this fall on the first floor of the RBC Plaza in downtown Raleigh - Zinda. It will be a pan-Asian restaurant with "a contemporary twist on traditional dishes from China, Thailand and India." Looking like a late October, early November open.

• Speaking of Eschelon Hospitality (owners of The Oxford, Sono, Mura, Dapper Style House, and The Borough), it appears they just recently swooped in to take over operations of Cameron Bar  & Grill in Raleigh's Cameron Village.

• There is another food truck on the scene, this time over in Cary. According to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, the Bavarian Brathaus (6464 Tryon Road in Cary) now has a food truck. Right now, they are parked at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh on Saturdays and Sundays and at the Whole Foods Cary on Mondays and Tuesdays. Follow them on twitter @bavarianbrats.

• Listen up Poole's Diner junkies, there is one more night a week that you can get your fix. It was just announced that they are now open on Tuesday nights.

• This is pretty lazy...I mean cool. You can now order your food at the Durham Bulls baseball games right from your seat with your smart phone. Check it out here. Now if they can just create an app for the bathroom...

• If you love Moe's Queso, you are going to have to dance to prove it. Moe's is offering $10,000 to the individual (or individuals) who are willing to dance to show their love. To enter, create a dance video no longer than 30 seconds and upload it to www.ilovequeso.com any time before July 24. All of this excitement surrounding Queso will lead up to Moe's second annual Free Queso Day on Wednesday, July 20.

• Hats off this week to the N&O's incredible Andrea Weigl who was nominated for Best Newspaper Food Coverage by the Association of Food Journalists. Winners will be named at an awards banquet in Charleston, SC, on Oct. 6. Go Andrea! 

• Here's an event you'll want to get tickets for - and tickets go on sale today! This is a "must attend" event according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl. TerraVITA Food & Wine Event brings together the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world together with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known and celebrated for their outstanding reputations and chosen for their devotion and allegiance to locally-grown organic ingredients! Get your tickets here!  The event takes place September 24th in Chapel Hill's Southern Village.

• If you're looking for a great Beer Dinner, we've got one for you next Monday, June 6th at 7 pm. It will be at Panzanella in Carrboro and will feature four courses and five beers from Chapel Hill's own Carolina Brewery! Call 929.6626 or visit them online.   

• Now in its 4th year, Triangle Restaurant Week returns to the area with three-course prix-fixe meals at $15 for lunch and $20 or $30 for dinner. The event will take place during the week of June 6th - 12th, 2011. For more details and a list of participating restaurants, go here.   

• Cackalacky will celebrate its 10th anniversary tomorrow at The Cackalacky Cookout. It will be held from 11 until 4 p.m. on June 4th in front of A Southern Season (University Mall in Chapel Hill) where Cackalacky secured its first wholesales account 10 years ago. Proceeds will benefit the Diabetes Bus Initiative. In addition, The Guilty Pleasures will play bluegrass and Duck-Rabbit Brewery will sell its brews.

• 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.