Friday Fun Food Facts - October 28, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  OK, this one is pretty easy. Largest food truck rodeo...ever. This weekend - Sunday, October 30 from 4-8 p.m. at Durham's Central Park. 27 food trucks. Yes, 27 food trucks! I would list all the participating trucks, but it would simply take way too much time. Instead, visit here to see the latest and greatest including additional vendors, activities and directions.  

• This one flew under our radar screen, but we have confirmed that Tracy's New York Deli & Coffee Shop has opened in Chapel Hill. Tracy's is located over on Elliott Road across from Monterrey Mexican.

•  Durham got a new restaurant this week. Bella's Cuisine opened in the dome-shaped restaurant space at 3128 Guess Road in Durham which formerly housed the 2nd location of Backyard BBQ Pit. Visit their website here.  

• Speaking of Durham, the worst kept secret in the Triangle is starting to come to light. The long anticipated opening of the Triangle's second location of The Pit is starting to pick up momentum. It now appears as if The Pit will open in the ground floor of the building at 309 E. Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham in the old Bargain Furniture space. We'll keep an eye on this and give you updates as we receive them.

• Apparently Ashley Christensen's half-pound burgers at Chuck's were a little too much and a little too pricey for some. No problem. Chuck's now offers a "Little Chuck" that is a 5 oz. burger for $6.75. Check it out here.  

• According to Duke's student newspaper, The Chronicle, The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro is struggling a little bit with some of the restrictions of its new space. But if anybody can make that space work - it is Jimmy and Lisa Schmid. They have cut out their weekday lunch service, but have added on a new delivery service and remain open for dinner, as well as lunch on weekends. If you are a big fan of The Food Factory, and you are over in Durham, make plans to stop by and show your support! Here is a link to their site.  

• Also, apparently Streets Deli in Chapel Hill is struggling to stay afloat. Their facebook page and webite have posted pleas this week entitled, "Save the Deli Week" (October 24-November 6th) and asked for their fans to step up and show some love to the New York-style deli by helping to spread the word. If you haven't been yet, it is well worth the visit. Get more information here. 

• Bruegger's began selling their 2012 Bottomless Mug this week. Guests who purchase the mug receive free fill ups of coffee (hot or iced, in season), tea or soft drinks for the remainder of the year after purchase and throughout 2012 - a total of 14 months for first time purchasers! The cost is $170, but that could be huge savings if you are a big coffee drinker. A percentage of sales also goes to the Children's Miracle Network. Stop by a local Bruegger's for details or visit them here.  

• This is kind of cool - Downtown Chapel Hill now has an app! That's right, you can download the Downtown Chapel Hill App and easily locate your favorite dining and shopping establishments as well as easily find public parking. That's pretty cool. Check it out here.

• Don't forget that today is National Breadstix Day today at Hot Box Pizza. From 2-5 p.m. stop by for your free breadstix (and maybe grab a pie and some cold beer while you are there). Hot Box Pizza is located at 2304 Hillsborough Street. Get more details here.  

• The Raleigh CROP Hunger Walk raises money to help fight hunger both locally and globally and supports several local hunger fighting agencies. The 3.1 mile walk is THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30th at 3pm! (Registration and activities start at 2pm).  The walk loops around downtown Raleigh, starting and ending at Marbles Kids Museum.  The walk is very kid friendly and a ton of fun, and this year we are featuring a Halloween costume contest where the most creative costumes will win gift certificates to Marbles!  People can sign up a team, donate or get more information here.

• The Carolina Ale House in Cary is hosting its 4th annual Carolina Brewfest featuring local and regional beers from 4-8 p.m. this Saturday, October 29th. Up to a dozen North Carolina breweries will be on hand providing samples, including Aviator Brewing Company, Red Oak Brewery and Foothills Brewing. Tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door and include beer samples, free food and live music. You can purchase tickets online here. Ten percent of all door sales will be donated to the North Carolina Brewers Guild. The Carolina Ale House in Cary is located at 2440 Walnut Street.

• The Lantern restaurant in Chapel Hill will host a special dinner and conversation with author Michael Ruhlman at 6:30 pm Wednesday, November 2nd, featuring charcuterie and other food that's cured, brined, pickled, fermented and salted. The 10-course family-style meal will include 18-month old whey-fed ham, North Carolina sashimi, crispy rillettes with salted "ume" cherries and moulard duck cured with sake kasu. Cost is $120 per person; that includes wine but not tax and tip. To reserve your place at the table: 919-969-8846. Get more information here.  

• McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants will host its 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13. The M&S location at Crabtree Valley Mall will be participating. On this day, U.S. military veterans will be treated to a complimentary entrée from a special McCormick & Schmick's menu. Get more details here. 

• The annual Triangle Signature Chefs Auction featuring food from more than a dozen restaurants and caterers will be held on the evening of November 13th at the Carolina Club in Chapel Hill. Among the Triangle restaurants serving up tasting-sized portions of their signature dishes will be Winston's Grille, Gravy, The Mint, Solas, Coquette, Il Palio and Revolution. Tickets cost $150.  Proceeds benefit the North Carolina March of Dimes. To buy tickets or for more information about the event and the auction items, go here. 

• 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.