Friday Fun Food Facts - September 9, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• So the hottest new spot in Durham is officially open (as of this past Thursday). Scott Howell (known for Nana's) has taken over the former Fish Shack location on University Drive in Durham (next to Nana's) and opened NanaTacos. And when I say "open" I mean open. The renovated spot is very nice and has a renovated outdoor area and a "very open" feel throughout. Can't wait to try it!

• Gonza Salamanca, formerly of Dos Taquitos and Cantina South, is opening Gonza Tacos Y Tequila in the former Restaurant Savoy (and before that Fins) location at 7713 Lead Mine Road in Greystone Village. Look for a November opening. Keep up with it on their Facebook page.  

• Looks like a Raleigh native (with a pretty cool name) is going to breathe new life into the former Evoo location at the corner of Oberlin and Fairview. Mandolin will boast a casual atmosphere and fresh, contemporary Southern fare brought to you by Sean Fowler, most recently with The Fearrington House in Pittsboro. Sean is shooting for a November opening. Keep up with Mandolin on their webiste here.   

• Well, it looks like the Renaissance Hotel in North Hills is getting another dining option this fall. We just got word that Mia Francesca Trattoria will be opening in October offering simple, rustic, Italian food. Francesca Restaurants has over 20 locations in the Chicago area, and with a handful of other locations outside of Illinois. This will mark their first venture into North Carolina. Check them out here.    

• And over in Chapel Hill on Elliott Road we saw a "Coming Soon" sign for Tracy's New York Deli. There is a sign in the window about hiring staff, but no information on an open date. We'll keep an eye on it for you. It is located directly across the street from Red Lotus and Monterrey Mexican restaurants. 

• Great news for folks looking for more dining options in downtown Durham on Saturdays. Durham's beloved Ninth Street Bakery, located at 136 E. Chapel Hill St. across from the Marriott Hotel, is now open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Stop in tomorrow! 

• Rocky Top Hospitality unveiled two new menus last week at Draft Carolina Burgers & Beers and Tribeca Tavern (with locations in Raleigh and Cary. I'm still waiting on the Chapel Hill location...). The new menus include DOGS! All natural ½ pound sausages made exclusively for Rocky Top Hospitality by their friends at Top Hog Farms. Options include the Spicy Italian, the Polish Brat, Chorizo, and Andouille. The new Draft menu can be viewed here. The new Tribeca Tavern menu can be viewed here. 

• After a year-long discussion (although some thought it happened too fast) Raleigh is going to allow food trucks starting October 1st. Hoping to latch onto some of Durham and Carrboro's success, Raleigh's newly passed ordinance is a little more restrictive, but will be reviewed after six months. I don't think there will be a food truck rodeo (the ordinance won't really allow that) on October 1st, but I'm sure you'll see a lot more activity in Raleigh next month. Next city to enter the food truck frey...Chapel Hill. Stay tuned. 

• And speaking of food truck news, we heard last week that Durham's Local Yogurt, located pretty much at the intersection of 15-501 Business and University Drive, has a truck! Look for them around town (and maybe even in Raleigh now) serving up frozen yogurt.   

• And if that is not enough yogurt news for you, Raleigh will be home to Moonlight Swirl frozen yogurt this November. They will be located on Falls of the Neuse Road, directly across from North Ridge Country Club in the former Mattress Warehouse location (right next to Moe's). We'll keep you posted once we get an official open date. In the mean time check them out here and here.   
• We are getting very close to the opening of Mantra Indian Cuisine, located in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh. Their website now features a sneak peek at their menu (yumm!). Check it out here.     

• The folks at The Thrill at Hectors over in Chapel Hill are apparently still working on their kitchen. Sigh. A post on their Facebook page on August 31st hoped for an opening last week...but apparently not yet. We'll continue to watch this. I'll ask my buddy Gordon to check on this while he is in Chapel Hill this weekend and give me an update. 

• This could be my favorite time of the year! That's right...Dunkin' Donuts just released their Fall menu! Look for the  return of Dunkin' Donuts' famous Pumpkin Coffee and Latte, Pumpkin Donut and Munchkin donut hole treat, a new Pumpkin packaged coffee, hot or iced Apple Cider, a new Caramel Apple Donut, and more.

• This Saturday, from noon until 11 p.m., the Wooden Nickel Public House in Hillsborough (105 N. Churton Street) will host the 2nd Annual NC Brewers Cask Fest. The cost is $25 and gets you a souvenir glass and all the brew you can responsibly enjoy (or you can buy individual pints). Participating breweries include: Big Boss, Natty Greenes, Lonerider, Aviator, Olde Hickory, Mother Earth, Foothills, Fullsteam, Duck-Rabbit and a special "mystery" cask. More information is available on their Facebook page here.    

• Head to the Carrboro Farmers' Market this Saturday to sample dishes from seven local chefs. Those chefs will be whipping up samples of dishes using market ingredients for the 9th Annual Carrboro Farmers' Market Chefs Event starting at 9 a.m. The chefs include Jeff Barney of the Saxapahaw General Store and The Eddy Pub, Kevin Callaghan of Acme, Matt and Sheila Neal of Neal's Deli, Seth Kingsbury of Pazzo!, Adam Rose of Il Palio at the Sienna Hotel and Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery. The market is located adjacent to Carrboro Town Hall at 301 W. Main St. For more information, visit their site here.  

• And speaking of farmers' markets, the Western Wake Farmers' Market will be hosting the Pig Pickin' Palooza this Saturday from 11-2. The event will feature locally sourced foods from Coon Rock Farm, Redbud Farm, Fickle Creek Farm, Annelores' German Bakery, Muddy Dog Roasting Company, Martin's Curry Rice, and Outta the Park! With live music, a silent auction, a raffle and all this good food, it is sure to please!  Proceeds benefit the Western Wake Farmers' Market. Located on Morrisville Carpenter Rd. between Davis Dr. and Hwy. 55 in Carpenter Village. Get more information here. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. 

• Here's a fun event coming up if you are a "beer and beef" fan! Durham's Bull City Burger and Brewery is reviving the old New York beefsteak tradition with its Beefsteak Octoberfest. It will be from 4 to midnight on Saturday, Sept. 17 (strangely enough, not in October). There will be two seatings; one at 4 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the menu, the $45 ticket ($20 for children...not drinking beer) also gets you two beers and unlimited fries, bread, celery and radishes. Tickets are limited and only available online here. The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Durham.  

• The 6th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will be held September 17-18, 2011 from 1-5 p.m. and will be the biggest Eastern Triangle Farm Tour to date. Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, the tour features 25 sustainable farms located across the Eastern Triangle.  Advance tickets are $25 per carload or cycle group.  Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday and can be used to visit all of the farms on the tour. Day-of tickets are $30 or $10 per farm. Info and tickets.   

• On Monday, September 19th, Acme in Carrboro is hosting an Italian wine dinner with Blair Taylor, who's kindly flying into town for the evening. It's going to be great. Think of it as the Piedmont of Italy meeting the Piedmont of the Carolinas. Barolo and Barbaresco from two of Blair's great producers. Veal Cheeks and Duck Confit from Acme. Five courses and six wines. $55 per person. Reservations are required by phone at 919-929-2263. It'll start at 6:30.  

• Who remembers the N&O's Andrea Weigl's list of "must go" food events? Well, TerraVITA food & wine event in Chapel Hill in two weeks was one of them. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. TerraVITA brings together biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews with some of the very best North Carolina chefs that are committed to using locally-grown organic ingredients!   

• Listen up Paula Deen fans, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has the skinny on her book signing in Raleigh on October 14th. Check out the details here.