Friday Fun Food Facts - November 4, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Word emerged this week that there will be a second restaurant on the ground floor of the RBC Plaza in downtown Raleigh, and this will also be from a restaurateur familiar with the downtown market. Cara and Chris Hylton will open a Spanish-style tapas restaurant called Oro at the corner of Wilmington and Martin Streets. The Hyltons are the couple behind The Mint restaurant.  

• Downtown Raleigh is getting ready to get another Indian option - Blue Mango (which follows the recent opening of Mantra a few blocks away). While it is not open yet, word on the street is that it is very close to opening (the website notes a "Fall 2011" opening). Blue Mango will be located 222 Glenwood South in downtown Raleigh. Not much on their website, but feel free to check it out here.

• And speaking of 222 Glenwood South, earlier this week a sign on the door at the Triangle's second location of Tutti Frutti indicated that it would open this week - but I haven't been able to get by to confirm. Tutti Frutti's only other Triangle location is on Shanon Road in Durham.

• And if that is not enough yogurt news for you, Durham got another yogurt shop last month with the opening of Moonberries Frozen Yogurt which is located in the expansive Streets at Southpoint complex in the strip center right in front of Target. And according to their website, this won't be the only Triangle location. The site indicates they will be opening locations in Raleigh, Cary, Durham (a 2nd) and Chapel Hill.

• The long anticipated opening of the Triangle's third Which Wich Superior Sandwiches occurred this past weekend. The store is located in the "food court" area of North Hills "sandwiched" between Five Guys and The Q Shack. Which Wich's other two Triangle locations are on Lake Boone Trail (just down from Rex) and in Brier Creek.

• And speaking of waiting forever, the wait is over for Sir Pizza fans. The latest North Carolina location will open in Morrisville on Tuesday, November 8th. If you are not familiar with Sir Pizza, you'll want to check out their "Endless Lunch Buffet" which runs 11-2 Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sunday. The Morrisville location is located at the intersection of Davis Drive and McCrimmon Parkway. Check out their Facebook page here.  

• We told you about this several weeks ago, but the doors have swung open again at the former location of Amedeo's North on Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh (behind Tribeca Tavern). LaCarreta Mexican Restaurant is now open.

• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, located in Crabtree Valley Mall, has launched a new small plates menu with seven new dishes (narrowed from 100!) that blend Asian influences with European flavors. Get more information here. 

• Things are heating up at Geer Street Garden over in Durham. Well, if you count their new heated patio space! So don't let the cooler weather keep you from heading on over. Geer Street Garden is located in the former Fletcher's Gulf Station on the corner of Foster and Geer Streets in downtown Durham. Visit their site here.  

• Today is the day most of you have probably been waiting all year for. It is Colossal Collard Day at the NC Farmers' Market in Raleigh! Festivities begin at 11 am, just in time for lunch. Fresh N.C. collards, hushpuppies and chow-chows are all part of the event and can be found at the State Farmers Market Restaurant. You'll be able to enjoy free collard samples as well as a variety of chow-chows and pickled relishes from market vendors. Locally produced collards also will be available for purchase from area farmers. Mmmmmm!

• Elaine's On Franklin in downtown Chapel Hill will celebrate its 12th anniversary this Sunday (November 6) with a dinner that pairs food by chef/owner Bret Jennings with wines chosen by importer Danny Haas. There will be a variety of pairings to choose from. It's $100 per person and starts at 6 pm. Reservations can be made by calling 919-960-2770. Get more details here. 

• The Saturday Market will be hopping this weekend with "foodie" related activity. The highlight this weekend will be Durham's Cookery, which will be talking about their community kitchen as well as selling Monuts Donuts. In addition, Aviator Brewing Company will be there (11 - 2), Slippin' Sliders Food Truck and 10 other "food related" vendors ranging from Muddy Dog Roasting Company to Locals Seafood - just to name a few. Get more details on the weekly gathering that takes place at Rebus Works every Saturday from 9-2 in downtown Raleigh. 

• Outback Steakhouse will be honoring our veterans and active military with a free Bloomin' Onion and Coke all next week (Nov. 7-11). Get all the details 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.

• Mark your calendars for the extremely popular Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Jamboree which will take place next 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.
   
• Free coffee day is coming to Bruegger's on Wednesday, November 9th. Guests will be treated to a cup of coffee from opening until 2 pm. Donations to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals will be encouraged. More details and to find a location convenient to you, check out their website. 

• Want to sample local beer and support a deserving charity? (You had me at beer...) Come to the inaugural Homebrew for Hunger Festival on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the new West End public event space at462 W. Franklin St. in downtown Chapel Hill. From noon-5 pm, you can learn about and taste beer from more than 30 local home brewers and craft breweries. The event kicks off with "Homebrew U," a series of demonstrations on home brewing basics and tips for novice and experienced brewers alike from a panel of craft brewers including Erik Lars Myers of Mystery Brewing Company, Sean Lilly Wilson and Chris Davis of Fullsteam Brewery and Luke Studer of Bull City Burger & Brewery. The event benefits the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Get all the 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.

• Chick-fil-A has a couple of things you might be interested in. First, their annual "Cow Calendars" are now out and available while supplies last. They are $6, but note that there are great coupons for each month of the year. And probably more importantly, the "limited time only" Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake has returned.  Get more details here.  

• With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and you find yourself with even less time on your hands, why not turn to Raleigh's Q Shack to help you with your turkey and/or meal this year. The Q Shack is offering locally raised, all-natural fresh turkeys that feed up to 20 people for just $44.95! You can also order your entire Thanksgiving meal - it simply doesn't get any easier, or better, than that. Check out more details here. 

• There is something truly special about both great music and great food. What if the two were combined? Does it get any better? Check this out - members of the NC Symphony will put on an eclectic and intimate performance in some of the area's hottest restaurants in 2012. So, mark your calendars now and get your tickets soon for these dates/locations (they will sell out): February 12 - Humble Pie; April 16 - Bu*ku; and May 20 - Humble Pie. Tickets are $65 per person and includes a multi-course meal and musical performance. Dinner is at 6, followed by music at 8. Get tickets and more information here.