Friday Fun Food Facts - October 21, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Mia Francesca's Trattoria, the new restaurant at the entrance to the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel in North Hills, opens for dinner tonight with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. It occupies a space created by a $1-million renovation of the hotel. Francesca's is a Chicago-based concept and this marks their first East coast venture. But keep your eyes open for possibly two additional Triangle area locations. Check them out here.  

• After months of speculating, we have now confirmed that Charlotte's Cowfish is coming to Cameron Village, and more specifically the former Foster's location. And the name is as interesting as it is accurate - the concept serves up sushi and burgers. Don't believe me? Check them out here.  

• We got word this week that Wake Forest is getting its very own brewery! That's right, White Street Brewing Co. is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012 in historic downtown Wake Forest at 218 S. White Street. The brewery will offer four different small batch ales and lagers as well as specialty seasonal options. Check them out.   

• Well this didn't take long. We told you last week that Raleigh's version of Time Out Chicken would soon return to a 24/7 operation and that apparently is the case. Rick DeAngelis is not wasting any time! Time Out is located at 3001 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh.

• Eschelon Hospitality is getting closer to opening its newest concept, Zinda. It will be a two-story Asian restaurant located on the ground level of the RBC Plaza building in downtown Raleigh and will open just after the first of the year. Eschelon also operates Mura, Sono, The Oxford, Dapper Style House and Cameron Bar & Grill. Learn about all of their concepts here.  

• Durham's L'Uva Enoteca (located on the American Tobacco campus) has been wildly successful since its opening and just this week unveiled their new menu. Take a peek here. 

• Raleigh's Solas restaurant, located in the Glenwood South district, is now offering a permanent meat-free menu every Monday night for vegans and vegetarians. The new menu includes vegetable lasagna, sweet coconut curry vegetables, barbeque kabobs, zucchini noodles, Cuban black beans and stuffed poblano peppers. By request, the menu is available any day of the week. For more information, go to their site or call 755-0755 for a reservation.

• Moe's Southwest Grill at Triangle Town Center is brewing up a spooktacular treat this Saturday, October 22, from 3-5 p.m. with a children's pumpkin carving contest judged by the one and only Wool E. Bull. Moe's Triangle Town Center is located at 3721 Sumner Blvd. in Raleigh. For more information call 919-792-2960 or visit their site.

• If you're looking for a delicious and unique Sunday brunch option, look no further than the "South Indian Brunch" at Martin's Curry Rice. Martin serves it up every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Get more information on Martin's website. 

• Rockfish Seafood Grill in Durham is hosting a "Casks for a Cure" fundraiser from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 that may intrigue local beer lovers. The event will feature three brewers who have yet to open, a real treat for beer geeks! Participating will be Hillsborough's Mystery Brewing Company, Saxapahaw's Haw River Farmhouse Ales and Carrboro's Steel String Brewery. For a $10 donation, you will get a t-shirt, food samples and tastes of the three casks. Proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The restaurant is located at 8030 Renaissance Parkway in Durham (Streets at Southpoint). For more information about the event, go to the Facebook page or call 544-9220. 

• Raleigh's Gateway Restaurant is offering a German dinner on Nov. 5. The four-course meal with German beer and wine pairings will cost $50 a person. Appetizers are served at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m. The menu includes a cucumber salad, a beef broth and dumpling soup, rouladen, a thin beef roll-up, served with spaetzle and red cabbage and an apple puff pastry with ice cream for dessert. Seating is limited, so make a reservation by calling Tom or Martina at 832-3020. For more information about the restaurant, go to their web site .

• Mark your calendars for the extremely popular Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Jamboree which will take place this year on Monday, November 7th (4-8 p.m.) and Tuesday, November 8th (6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.) in The Durham Armory at 220 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. Kids eat free with adult.

• This year, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is not only Election Day, but also the 23rd annual RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 Percent). Eat out or take out all day - breakfast, lunch and/or dinner - at any participating restaurant, and 10% of your tab will be donated to the Inter-Faith Council's hunger-relief programs, the Community Kitchen and the Emergency Food Pantry. To see a full list of participating restaurants, visit their website here.

• The March of Dimes is holding its annual Triangle Signature Chef's Auction on Sunday, November 13th.  Local chefs and caterers will present their signature dishes in tasting-size portions during a cocktail reception and silent auction. It will be held in Chapel Hill at the Carolina Club. For more information, visit their site here.

• Maybe there is hope yet for the meals served in our schools. Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) did its part by hosting a competition among local chefs. And the winner? Chef Ruby Arthur of PieBird Restaurant was awarded the Iron Carrot at Lunch In, an Iron Chef-style competition held at Hunter Elementary School, for her winning healthy lunch creation featuring carrots. 

• Looking for a fun, affordable and unique venue for a corporate gathering? Z Pizza is aggressively booking reservations/orders for holiday parties in both their downtown Raleigh and Cary locations. Contact them prior to November 1st and receive additional savings. Call Maria at 919-302-3883 if you are interested.

• And I would be remiss without sending out a huge congratulations to Andrea Weigl (the N&O's phenomenal foodie!) on the birth of her daughter! Enjoy your "leave" (not sure why they call it that, because it is anything but...). Congratulations Andrea!