Friday Fun Food Facts - April 13, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

We start with a little housekeeping. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Well, it is a little more than a chicken dinner. We held the drawing for our March contest and drew the name of Stacey Godfrey with Teradata in Raleigh. What did she win? A night at the luxurious Umstead Hotel along with dinner at Heron's and a spa treatment while she is there. What did she do to win? She simply uses Triangle Food Guy for all her catering needs. So, if you are not already using Triangle Food Guy for all your catering needs, start today! Congratulations to Stacey! 

• It is official, Catering By Design's Greg Lewis has purchased The General Store in historic downtown Pittsboro. This is phenomenal news for the area and for downtown Pittsboro. With a little bit of remodeling and restructuring to do, Chef Greg is looking to open this summer. Look for a lot of similarities including their continued support of local farmers and artists and music on the weekends and possibly Thursday nights. Our best to Greg and his team!

• Over in Chapel Hill, the folks at Tobacco Road Sports Café will complete "the triangle" with its newest location taking over the former Streets Deli location in Chapel Hill's East 54 complex. Tobacco Road has a Raleigh location on Glenwood Avenue, a Durham location in the outfield of the Durham Bulls stadium, and now Chapel Hill. Look for a fall opening. 

• We first told you about this back in July, but according to the N&O, Lilly's Pizza is set to open its second location in downtown Durham early next month. It will be located at 810 W. Peabody St. right next to Morgan Imports and adjacent to Brightleaf Square. Check them out here.  

• The Original Flying Burrito, slated to open in the former Lynwood Grill location in Raleigh, posted on their Facebook page yesterday that their final inspection is next Monday and that they are tentatively scheduled to open next Wednesday, April 18th. 
  
  
• Downtown Durham is slated to get another restaurant in June, brought to you by the team over at Vin Rouge. Called Mateo Tapas, we don't know too much more other than they tout themselves as Spanish heart, Southern soul. We like that! Here is their website, but it is just a "holder" at this point. 
  
  
• The "official" opening of City Kitchen in Chapel Hill's University Mall has been delayed...well, sort of. It has remained open through the transition from Spice Street to City Kitchen, with an ever-evolving decor and menu. So, what may be on the menu today might not make it to the final menu. So, now is a good time to get in and offer your input/feedback. We expect a full "grand opening" toward the end of this month, first of May. You can also visit their "developing" website here.  
  
  
• We got a tip on a new restaurant coming into downtown Raleigh that very well could be one of the most unique concepts I've seen in sometime. Let's just say I'm pretty excited about the opening of Bida Monda, which will be a Laotian restaurant and bar. It will be located at 222 South Blount Street, which you'll recognize as the former location of the Duck & Dumpling and then Fai Thai. Only opening "date" we have is sometime this summer. We'll continue to monitor it, but here is their website.  

• The folks over at Chapel Hill Restaurant Group are up to it again. Their newest concept Mez, which opened on Page Road in RTP, will get a new neighbor this summer. The lot next door has been cleared and Page Road Grill is starting to come out of the ground. Apparently they are looking to open late this summer. We'll keep an eye on it, but if it is anything like the other concepts with CHRG, it too will be wildly successful. Look at all their concepts here. 

• And speaking of RTP, folks out that way have a new Mexican concept they can frequent. El Agave Mexican Grill is now open near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. 55 in the former O'Brien's BBQ location.

• According to the Triangle Business Journal, the owners of The Mint restaurant in downtown Raleigh is shutting down with plans to reopen under a new name and concept. Many will remember the restaurant opening in early 2008, with a million dollar investment from the city. Will keep an eye on it as we learn what the new concept will be (and if the city will plunk down any more money...).

• Also, the end of March marked the end for a very cute and quaint wine bar located in Chapel Hill's Glen Lennox shopping center. Studio 91 closed their doors on Friday, March 30th. Thankfully I was able to join some friends on their last night. Sorry to see it go.

• And speaking of closings, the Doc Green's located in the sprawling Streets at Southpoint complex, has closed. Not sure of the circumstances surrounding the closing and it came pretty quickly. We'll watch that space to see what comes in next.

• The Full Frame Documentary Festival begins this week in Durham, which is kind of cool all by itself. But it gets my attention even more when they tell me there will be a food truck rodeo on both Friday and Saturday nights. They'll start serving up the goodies around 6, with movies starting around 8:30 (dusk). Get more details on the Carpe Durham website here.  

• The Pit's 4th Annual 'Cuegrass Festival returns to the warehouse district of downtown Raleigh Saturday, April 21, with a jam-packed day full of great 'cue, local brews and toe-tappin' bluegrass music! Proceeds to benefit the North Carolina 4H Club. More details here. 
  
  
• Join the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market on Wednesday, April 25, from 10 am-2 pm in City Plaza, for their Pig Pickin' Kickoff, featuring barbeque sandwiches from The Pit. This celebration launches the opening of the market's third season at the plaza. Enjoy music by Big Head Dog, a chef demonstration by southern food expert Bob Garner, gardening activities for kids, and much more! Visit them on Facebook here or their website here.  

• You'll also want to mark your calendar for the "Got To Be NC Festival" which will be held at the NC State Fairgrounds May 18-20, 2012. The Food & Wine Expo will showcase about 100 NC food companies during the three days of the festival and will feature a six-author book signing on the first day. Get all the details here.