Friday Fun Food Facts - February 3, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  Every year the N&O's Greg Cox puts together his "Best Restaurants of the Year" list. It is kind of like the Oscars for foodies throughout the Triangle. He also announces his "Restaurant of the Year" as part of this list. It truly is a remarkable list of restaurants and fun to scroll through. I won't steal any of Greg's thunder with his list, so you'll have to check it out here. Well done.

• There is no rest for the folks over at Rocky Top Hospitality. Fast on the heels of the huge opening of Rockwell's over in Cary, they announced this week that they are now operating the cafe located on the 4th floor of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. And if that is not enough, as part of the adjoining Nature Research Center, which will open April 20th, Rocky Top will also operate their cafe which will have sidewalk tables. And it is possible that this concept will open prior to the Center's opening. Anyone want to "try" and guess what concept Rocky Top will introduce there?   

• And speaking of downtown Raleigh, according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, Oro Restaurant and Lounge, a new tapas restaurant, should open this spring at the corner of Martin and Wilmington streets on the ground floor of the RBC Plaza. Read Andrea's article here. Visit Oro's website here.     

• For those that loved the Flying Burrito over in Chapel Hill, we have good news for you. We have confirmed that they will re-open over in Raleigh in the former location of Lynwood Grill at 4821 Grove Barton Rd - adjacent to the Raleigh Grande movie theatre. No word yet on an open date, but we'll keep you posted.    

• Over in Carrboro, the former Johnny's in Carrboro has reopened as Johnny's Gone Fishing, and they are returning to their roots as a gathering spot in this "edition" of Johnny's. While they officially opened back in December, it wasn't until January that they started to hit full stride. Johnny's Gone Fishing is again becoming a social hub and gathering spot. Check in with them on their Facebook page here. 

• Also, next door in Chapel Hill, the Daily Tar Heel has updated us on a couple of restaurant tidbits. Front Porch Bar & Grill closed its Franklin Street doors on Wednesday, but it won't be gone for long. According to initial information, they will be simply moving the establishment from 143 E. Franklin Street to a retail strip or mall location almost immediately. Town permitting is the only hold up at this point. We'll keep an eye on it.   

• And the Daily Tar Heel has confirmed that after a seven-year hiatus, the Mellow Mushroom is in fact making a return to Chapel Hill - this time in the former Ham's location (something we reported a couple of weeks ago). The Chapel Hill location is co-owned by Karen Halsey, who is also a co-owner of the Raleigh location. They hope to be open by the time the students return in the fall.    

• Full Street Wings Cafe, a wings catering concept, will hold its its official launch on February 8th from 12-2 p.m. at The Cotton Room at 807 E. Main Street in Durham's Golden Belt. Get more details on the event here.  

• Over in Raleigh, according to the News & Observer, Baskin-Robbins is re-opening its store in Cameron Village. To celebrate, they are hosting a grand re-opening from noon to 4 p.m.  this Saturday (February 4). Be sure to stop by.   

• And speaking of grand openings, Weinberg's The Delicatessen will be holding their grand opening celebration February 10, 11 & 12 over in Raleigh. Weinberg's is located in the Northridge Shopping Center at 6016 Falls of the Neuse Road. Get all the grand opening details here.   

• Got word this week that Captain Poncho's Tacos of Carrboro is selling their food truck business. That's the bad news. The good news is that they will continue to operate their Tienda Don Poncho over on Mt. Carmel Church Road in Chapel Hill. Visit their Facebook page here.    

• Following our posting last week about the pending opening of Camos Brothers Pizza in Chapel Hill, one of our readers informed us that Camos Brothers Pizza also opened another location on Capital Blvd, next to Best Buy & Triangle Town Center. The address is 6087 Capital Blvd. Check them out on Facebook here.

• In the "rumor of the week" file, we'll go ahead and throw this one out there because we think it has legs, but we'll keep an eye on it for you. This week's rumor is that there will be a Bonefish Grill opening close to The Streets at Southpoint in Durham. It will be located in the same shopping center as the new Aldi grocery store. We'll continue to watch this. Bonefish already has locations in Cary and Raleigh. Check them out here.    

• A congratulations goes out to the folks at Carolina Brewery as they celebrate their 17th year in business. Sadly, I'm old enough to remember their opening on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. And they operate a second location in Pittsboro. The will be celebrating all next week beginning on Sunday with a slew of events including the release of a limited edition Anniversary Ale on Tuesday. The best detail of all the celebrations is in the Chapel Hill Magazine blog here.     

• Food trucks are about to start rolling into Chapel Hill...providing they follow a few rules (its Chapel Hill, right?). Anyway, the N&O has the latest on the newest Triangle community to open its streets to the food truck craze. Read the article here.

• As  a follow-up to keep the rumors flowing around the pending return of Chip Smith (formerly with Bonne Soiree), we have an update. Approached at his cooking class last Sunday about his return to the area, one of my Twitter friends, Matthew, inquired and found out that there is a "partnership" possibly forming with Celebrity Dairy where Chip has been returning to do special dinners. We will continue to watch during this 'dating phase.' Stay tuned.    

• If you are looking for a place to grab lunch today while supporting a good cause, you might want to trek over to our friends in downtown Durham's Ninth Street Bakery. They will be hosting their first 10% day of the year to benefit Earth Share of North Carolina. To find out more information on Earth Share, visit their Facebook page here. To find out more on Ninth Street Bakery, visit them here.  

• Looking to make your Valentine's dining plans in Durham (and why not?), then look no futher than a great guide put together by the folks over at Carpe Durham. 

• And speaking of Valentines, if you don't have plans yet for Valentine's Day, Taste Carolina has you covered. They will be holding two food tours that will include dinner, drinks, dessert and chocolate boxes! The tours will take place on February 14th from 5:15 until 8 p.m. in both Raleigh and Durham. Here are some of the restaurants that you'll be visiting on this tour - Raleigh: 18 Seaboard, Market, Escazu, Piebird, Tyler's Taproom, Calavera, Sitti, Chuck's, Beasley's, Jibarra, C Grace, Foundation, Draft, Natty Greene's, Raleigh Wine Shop. Durham: Revolution, L'Uva, Tyler's Taproom, Toast, Bull City Burger & Brewery, Piedmont, Dos Perros, Beyu. Sign-up and get more information here.

• Raleigh's Mandolin Restaurant is hosting their first wine dinner on February 22nd. The dinner will feature world renowned wine importer Peter Weygandt and the cost is $140 per person + tax & gratuity. Space is limited, so call 919.322.0368 or email them. Get more information here.  

• Cafe Helios, located in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh, will host a brunch titled Blend on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 10 am. Chef Justin Johnson will prepare a five-course brunch, including crab and sweet corn chowder, and roasted heirloom beets with Raleigh's Videri brand chocolate served with homemade ricotta and micro greens. Five Counter Culture coffees will be brewed using five methods (they'll go into detail on each method and be available to answer any questions). Tickets to Helios' Blend brunch are $30 and available at the restaurant.

• If you or someone you love requires a gluten-free diet, you might want to sign up for this. Lucky 32 in Cary will be hosting a Gluten Free Cooking Class (over lunch) on Saturday, February 4 from 11 to 1. You'll learn 5 great recipes that you'd never know are gluten free. He'll also talk about good ways to convert existing recipes to gluten-free alternatives. And in addition to lunch and a cocktail, you'll receive souvenir recipe cards and chances at give away door prizes. The cost is $39 per person (includes tax and gratuity). For reservations, please call Lara Yerges at Lucky 32 in Cary at 919.233.1632 or email her.  Get more information here.  

• Mark your calendar for an event that will feature seven local star chefs from renowned restaurants that will compete for the title and bragging rights of Shrimp and Grits Champion in the inaugural Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chefs' Throwdown on Saturday, February 25 from 1-4 pm at The Carolina Inn. The competing chefs (as of now) feature Jeremy Blankenship, chef at Tyler's Tap Room; Trey Cleveland, executive chef of Top of the Hill; Adam Cobb, executive chef of Glasshalfull; Bret Jennings, executive chef and owner of Elaine's on Franklin; Vimala Rajendran, executive chef and owner of Vimala's Curry Blossom Cafe; Jimmy Reale, executive chef of Carolina Crossroads Restaurant and Bar; and Adam Rose, executive chef of Il Palio.Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online here.

• And we close with another goody to add to your calendar. As part of National Pancake Day IHOP will host its seventh annual National Pancake Day free pancake giveaway on Tuesday, February 28th from 7 - 10 a.m. at restaurants nationwide. Each guest can enjoy a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes and make an optional contribution to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. Learn more here.   

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Two Big Announcements

I want to pause for a second and thank all of my clients and all of my readers. My business - Triangle Food Guy - celebrates its one year anniversary tomorrow - February 4. It was one year ago that I launched this crazy business and it has been amazing. I have some of the most loyal clients that make it a blast to work with every day. I love all of you! Thanks!

And, this blog has become a beast of its own and is off the charts as far as readership. And to be honest, there is not any reason everyone in the entire Triangle shouldn't be reading this blog. To that end, we are "officially" giving it its own identity and name - Friday Fun Food Facts. Thanks to Seamus, Jeff and the team over at Liaison Design Group (who do all my work) we've created the following logo that you'll see starting next week. Thanks to all my readers and followers both on this blog, on Twitter and on Facebook. Thanks for all your support!