Friday Fun Food Facts - September 23, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Cary is getting mellow...well, more like getting their own Mellow Mushroom! Beginning next Monday, folks over in Cary will be able to enjoy Mellow Mushroom in their new location at the corner of Highhouse Road and Cary Parkway. They expect to be open for lunch and dinner daily, from 11 a.m. until midnight. For more information, go here, or their Facebook page. 

• New Orleans cajun has arrived in downtown Raleigh. The long-awaited Battistella's has opened in the former Angelo's location at 200 E. Martin Street. Chef Brian Battistella's new digs will be open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays and Sunday brunch. Looks like it will be another month or so before they open for lunch. Battistella's menu isn't just Cajun fare, it's classic New Orleans and upscale Southern cuisine. Be sure to check them out on Facebook here.    

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Calavera, a new empanada and tequila bar, opened Wednesday night of this week. The establishment is located at 444 S. Blount Street.  

• It appears as if downtown Raleigh's newest Indian restaurant, Mantra, is open in the building once occupied by Blue Martini and Vintage Bar. While this hasn't been 100% confirmed (I would call first to 919.833.2823), they list an event at the restaurant tonight on their website. They will be open daily at 11 a.m. where executive chef Gamer Rawat, formerly of Saffron, will be serving up authentic Indian cuisine with Western updates. They are located at 116 N. West Street. More information here.   

• I must have missed this, but back in April a restaurant called Goodness Gracious opened over in Durham serving up Southern-style food. They are located at 1301 N. Alston Avenue. See more on their Facebook page here.    

• Moe's in Cary at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway is just about done with their massive expansion. Last we heard, they were re-opening either today or Monday. I'd check in before heading over, but the expansion will more than double their dining area and add a room for private events. Welcome to Moe's! Check in with them on Facebook here.    

• We were over at Target near the Streets at Southpoint and noticed the "coming soon" sign hanging over a new Moonberries Frozen Yogurt. It is located in the retail strip center directly in front of Target (across from Tomato Jake's). We don't have an open date, but we'll keep an eye on it for you.   

• Speaking of yogurt, Frozen yogurt business Yogen Früz is adding two U-Serve Froyo Stations in North Hills and Triangle Town Center with a third new U-Serve store opening in November at Crabtree Valley Mall. Won't be long now before there is a yogurt option on every corner!   

• And this is a real gem for our area. The Chef's Academy, a new culinary school in Morrisville, will celebrate its grand opening next Thursday, Sept. 29, with a Triangle chefs' showdown. The event, which is open to the public, is from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Morrisville campus at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. The school is asking folks to RSVP. You can do that online and see more details about the event here.

• One of Andrea Weigl's "must go to" foodie events is tomorrow in Chapel Hill. TerraVITA will bring together some of the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known for their devotion to locally-grown organic ingredients. Participants can choose from a variety of workshops and tastings, from a Sustainable Classroom to a Grand Tasting on the Green. The event will be held at the Village Green in Southern Village. For tickets and more information, check out the TerraVITA website.    

• Prepare yourself for a night of food and beer as Big Boss Brewing Company of Raleigh hosts Casktoberfest on September 29th. To celebrate the Oktoberfest Season, Big Boss is putting together their largest selection of cask conditioned ales ever assembled for a single event with a focus on their very popular fall seasonal release: Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale! To bring the German festival theme full circle they have teamed up with local caterers to offer authentic Bavarian cuisine for the event! Big Boss Brewing Company is located at 1249-A Wicker Dr in Raleigh. Get more information here.

• Hurricanes fans will have another shot in the upcoming 2011-2012 season to experience the cheesy goodness of Moe's Southwest Grill's "Caniac Queso Goal." Moe's just announced the return of this incredibly popular promotion in which fans get a free side of queso and hot fresh chips following each regular season home game in which the Hurricanes score five or more goals. Let's go Canes!