Friday Fun Food Facts - January 13, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Lots of grand openings today (Friday the 13th)! We start with Videri Chocolate Factory in downtown Raleigh. Their festivities run from 11 -7 pm today and tomorrow. They will be offering tours of the chocolate factory, free tastings and a "buy four bars, get one free" special for all those who visit. The factory and retail store are located at 327 W. Davie St. For more information about their chocolate made with fair trade cacao beans, check them out here.   

• Also in Raleigh, World of Beer Raleigh is celebrating its grand opening starting at noon today (let the boss know you'll be taking a long lunch!). The celebration includes live music, free food, giveaways and raffle items. The store is located at 4208-150 Six Forks Road in the Cap Trust Building, across from North Hills Plaza. For more information, go here. 

• Yogurt fans delight - a new yogurt shop opens today in North Raleigh. Moonlight Swirl is located in the Falls Village Shopping Center next to NY Pizza. Lots of giveaways, buy-one-get-one deals and an iPad giveaway! Check them out here.   

• Also, we told you about this last month, but Joe Van Loco, the joint venture between Joe Van Gogh Coffee and Locopops, has opened its store in North Raleigh. It features a menu of freshly roasted coffee and classic espresso drinks, along with the signature flavor combinations of Locopops handcrafted ice pops and pints. Swing by the Towne North Shopping Center at 8369 Creedmoor Rd, for those wanting a morning cappuccino or afternoon frozen treat!

• So last week we talked briefly about Village Burger opening up soon in University Mall in Chapel Hill. After snooping around, we found out a little bit more. Also in that location will be Scout & Molly's (their grand opening is February 4th). Turns out Village Burger is the latest concept from GHG Restaurant Group (think Spice Street, Parizade, Vin Rouge, Bin 54, Nasher Cafe, etc.). So, what happens to Spice Street? Will it remain? Will it become a new concept? We will find out in February. Stay tuned.    

• Ben & Jerry's in Chapel Hill just "re-opened" after renovations since this fall to accommodate the installation of an Auntie Anne's Pretzels within the space. Free ice cream and pretzels were certainly attractions, as was an appearance by Ben and Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield. He and Ben Cohen launched the business in Burlington, Vt., in 1978.   

• Durham is about to get a little bit perkier. A specialty coffee and tea shop, Respite Café, is moving closer to reality and will soon open on Duke Street. Courtney Brown, owner of the future new business, hopes to open very soon after completing renovations at 115 N. Duke St. Brown is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law. She plans to offer loose-leaf teas, coffee from the Carrboro Coffee Co. as well as pastries, soups and possibly small sandwiches. Keep up with her progress on their Facebook page here.      

• Weinberg Deli in North Raleigh just announced new extended hours and that they will begin this Monday serving breakfast all day long! That is great news. Get more information on Facebook here or on their home page.      

• Four local food trucks are joining forces for Durham's first "Food Truck Mash-Up" at 6 pm Saturday, Jan. 21 at Motorco in Durham. The trucks include Chirba Chirba, Pie Pushers, Farmhand Foods and KoKyu BBQ. The "mash-up" angle means each truck will make dishes using ingredients from the other trucks. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. (Tickets will go fast.) To buy tickets, go here.  

• Friday's will be a little different at Ashley Christensen's  Beasley's Chicken + Honey. On Friday's, Beasley's will expand their menu of fried chicken and an assortment of vegetable sides to include fish. Christensen says the particular fish featured will change each week. But for $9.50, each Friday plate will include a six-ounce portion of fish dredged in buttermilk and flour and accompanied by fries and roasted tomato malt vinegar slaw. Expect specials each day of the week before long to make it more of a Southern blue plate feature. The Friday fish fry is just the beginning. Get more information here.

• Over in Cary, executive chef at An restaurant, Michael Choung, sent an email out earlier this week that he was no longer associated with An. Choung started An with the backing of Ann Goodnight (whose husband is the CEO of SAS in Cary). No word yet on who will take over the grill there, but Michael did allude to "his next venture" in his email, but nothing confirmed as of yet. We'll keep you posted.   

• It appears as if Ballymore Irish Pub in North Raleigh has closed. We got word from a friend that they went by and it was locked up and appeared closed. We attempted to reach Ballymore on numerous occasions during "normal" dining hours - but never got an answer. 

• On Saturday, the LiveWell Network will showcase Durham's Chirba Chirba dumpling food truck on "My Family Recipe Rocks." The episode designates Durham as one of the "top food truck destinations in America." Duh!

• Triangle Restaurant Week returns to the Triangle January 23-29. TRW gives restaurants the opportunity to feature a special fixed price, 3-course meal each and every day they are open during the event. Get all the details here.

• In Chapel Hill, Spanky's Restaurant & Bar is making room for new offerings. Beginning at 5 pm on Jan. 20, the restaurant will host a cellar-clearing event in collaboration with NC Brewing featuring 12 North Carolina draft beers. The cellar clearing is open to the public and is "for beer geeks and regular folks alike." The cost is simply the cost of featured beers purchased. Get more information here.    

• And if you can't make that beer dinner, check out the one over in Durham at G2B Gastropub on February 2 where they will be featuring a four-course meal paired with four Lonerider brews all for $32. There are only 40 seats so call (919) 251-9451 now for your reservation! See the menu and get more details here.

• The folks over at Triangle Food Tour just released some new dates for Durham (as well as Cary, Raleigh and Chapel Hill/Carrboro). But if you are interested, you better go ahead and sign-up. These popular tours allow you to walk, talk, taste and sip from some of the area's best dining options. The tours are typically limited to 10 people and cost $35 plus a service fee. If you are looking for a very cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon, check them out here.   

• And kudos this week goes to Chick-fil-A for making strides toward making "kid's meals" healthier by adding Grilled Chicken Nuggets. The move marks the first time a national fast food chain has offered a grilled entrée as part of a children's menu. Additionally, the chain is enhancing its side choices, adding Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go applesauce, and its drink choices, by featuring one percent milk, 100 percent apple juice, its signature freshly squeezed lemonade, and water as drink choices. Hats off to Chick-fil-A. Now maybe the other boneheads will follow suit.