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.