Friday Fun Food Facts - June 29, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  Downtown Durham has a new tapas dining option with the opening this week of Taberna Tapas Diner. Featuring Spanish tapas, they are located at 325 W. Main Street between Beyu Caffee and Dame's Chicken & Waffles, just down from Toast. Check them out here.   

• It was just over a year ago that we first told you about Uncle Vito's New York Pizza that was slated to open in Chapel Hill's Timberlyne Shopping Center. Well, then in January of this year, the news changed that Pizza Vito would be opening soon. Well, we can now report that Pizza Vito has in fact opened. Thanks to reader Jacqueline Atlas for the tip on this. Visit their site here. 

• It was announced this week that a cornerstone of downtown Pittsboro will re-open sometime in August. That's right, The General Store Café, after undergoing renovations and much needed changes, will re-open under the ownership of Chef Greg Lewis, who also owns Catering By Design. Greg and his wife, who were regular patrons of the café, will hold on to many of the things people loved about the GSC, but bring many of the changes that were needed. We'll keep close tabs on Greg and keep you updated.

• Speaking of opening dates, we got word this week that the Tobacco Road Sports Café will open its latest location sometime in September. This will mark the third Triangle location and will take over the former Streets Deli location in Chapel Hill's East 54. We will continue to keep an eye on it.

• The blog Ninth Street Watch and Durham Magazine are reporting this week that Durham is on the verge of getting a butchery called Rose's Meat Market and Sweet Shop. While they don't have an exact location just yet, they are actively looking. Justin and Katie Meddis both bring extensive culinary backgrounds and will be holding a number of private dinners this summer as a way to introduce themselves and their concept. We'll keep an eye on it. Check out their Facebook page here.   

• Looks like Monuts Donuts is trading in their wheels for a more permanent "brick and mortar" location in downtown Durham. While the exact location is being closely guarded, they will be releasing clues leading up to the big announcement in July. To keep up, visit their Facebook page here or their regular website here. Congrats to Lindsay Moriarty and Rob Gillespie.

• And speaking of going from wheels to brick and mortar, the N&O's Andrea Weigl is reporting that Bulkogi Korean BBQ truck will be opening a restaurant in Wake Forest at 927 Durham Road by the end of next month. But don't worry, the truck will still be making its usual rounds, and the restaurant will feature the same menu as the truck, with a few more surprises. Keep up with it all on their Facebook page here.  

• And one more food truck on the verge of opening a permanent location. Durham's ice cream truck, The Parlour, is just a few hundred dollars away in their Kickstarter Campaign to raise the $20k necessary for kitchen equipment. The location will be in downtown Durham. Congrats to Yoni and Vanesssa Mazuz. Contribute to their Kickstarter campaign here or visit their regular site here.  

• Just in time for the pending 100 degrees plus days, Sweet Water Ices is the latest food cart to hit the streets of downtown Raleigh. They are typically set up outside the First Citizens building and they don't use syrup or artificial flavoring in any of their 30+ flavors. Be sure to hit them up with all this crazy heat. Visit their Facebook page here.

• And speaking of mobile goodies, pork fans will be excited to learn that there is another pork option out there for you now. Porchetta is a new truck featuring Italian-style slow roasted pork sandwiches. Owners Nicholas Crosson and Matthew Hayden used to work together at Raleigh's 18 Seaboard. Check them out here.

• And in one final "food truck" bit of news, the Independent Weekly is reporting that Gus Megaloudis, known to Duke's students as The Greek Devil, is taking his stand on the road with a truck called Gussy's, which will feature Greek street food. Get all the details here.    

• Here is a fun little "wager" where you get to win! Friends Ray Dorry, owner of Dorry's Downtown Deli & Catering and Niall Hanley, owner of Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant, are holding a month-long competition - The Great Cary Reuben Challenge - to see who has the best Reuben in town. Visit both restaurants to record your vote. Good luck to Ray and Niall, and may the best Reuben win!

• Guess who just turned 52? Shame on everyone that just guessed me! No, the legendary Angus Barn just celebrated its 52nd anniversary this week. Kudos to Van Eure and the entire Eure family for carrying on the vision that was started by Thad Eure, Jr. and Charles Winston back in June, 1960.

• And not quite that old, but kudos to the folks at Capital Club 16 Restaurant & Bar as they celebrate their 2nd anniversary with a party on this Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Stop by for all the festivities. Check out their website for all the details.  

• The Hillsborough Street dining scene took a big hit this week with the N&O's Greg Cox and Andrea Weigl reporting that Urban Food Group's Frazier's had closed after 14 years. Frazier's was UFG's first restaurant in Raleigh, which has grown to now include Porter's Tavern, Coquette, Chow and two locations of Vivace, one in Charlotte and the other in Raleigh. The good news is that Klara's, a Czech restaurant in Cary, has purchased the business. UFG also announced that they would be opening another location of Vivace in Durham! We will keep an eye on that.

• And we are sad to report that Joe Van Loco, a joint effort of Joe Van Gogh Coffee and Locopops, will close their doors tomorrow in North Raleigh in the Towne North Shopping Center on Creedmoor Road. Thanks to Carole Walker for this tip.

• The folks over at Chatham Hill Winery will be hosting a food truck rodeo today (June 29th) from 4-9 pm at their location at 3800 Gateway Centre Drive in Morrisville. Confirmed trucks are American Meltdown, Chick-N-Que, Klausie's Pizza, Dang Good Dogs, Chirba Chirba, Ole North State BBQ and Baguettaboutit. Get all the details here.    

• While we are back on the topic of food trucks, the 2nd annual Food Truck Mash Up will take place on Saturday, July 14th beginning at 2:00 p.m. If you'll recall, this event has each truck "mashing up" ingredients with the other trucks present. And this year, they will feature two sessions - 3-6 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Get all the details here.  

• And this is kind of fun. GQ's Brett Martin set on an adventure across America to find the best food in the most unusual spots. And where did that land him...of all places, Raleigh's own Rex Hospital. Now dubbed the "Rex Carlton," Martin lavished praises on chef Jim McGrody. Check out the article here.   

• And if that is not enough, a team of Rex Healthcare chefs proved their culinary prowess by taking home the top prize at the Association for Healthcare Foodservice 2012 Culinary Competition, held in Miami. Kudos again to Rex!

• And finally, I hope everyone finds creative ways to survive the heat wave that is upon us and enjoys the Fourth of July holiday. For me, my family and I are heading to sunny (and cooler) Florida to visit family. Therefore, there will be no Friday Fun Food Facts next week. Happy 4th and stay cool!

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 22, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  According to the Triangle Business Journal, WhichWich is again flexing its muscle and popularity with the upcoming opening of its 4th Triangle area location in Raleigh's Cameron Village. WhichWich will open this summer in the former Quizno's location located next to the ABC store. 

• Also in Cameron Village, the Triangle Business Journal is reporting that Uncle Fatty's, which closed recently, will be replaced by a new restaurant concept called Sushi Gami which will serve a combination of sushi and burgers. They plan to open late this summer. 

• And a bit of bad news for those Mellow Mushroom lovers anxiously awaiting the restaurant's return to Chapel Hill...You are going to have to wait a little bit longer. Four more months, according to an article in The Daily Tar Heel. An unanticipated sewer line that runs directly under the outdoor patio is in need of relocation. Assuming there are no other delays, look for an opening toward the end of this year.

• Thanks to another tip from my buddy John, aka Triangle Explorer (you really need to subscribe to his blog), it looks like the old house that was home to The Well on Main Street in downtown Wake Forest, will become The Fig Café & Wine Bar very soon. We don't have an exact date, but we'll (I mean, John) will keep an eye on it for you.

• According to the N&O, the modern-day "gold rush", which appears to be opening a yogurt shop in the Triangle, continues. Over in Durham, Graffiti Frozen Yogurt has opened in the Hope Valley Commons Shopping Center at the corner of 751 and Hwy. 54. Also, Orange Leaf is in the process of opening three more Triangle locations in Raleigh on Lake Boone Trail, in Cary on Wrenn Drive and in Holly Springs on New Hill Road.

• Hibernian Pub has a new executive chef in Dan Yeager. Yeager comes to the Triangle via Chicago, San Antonio and Las Vegas, albeit he is originally from North Carolina. Look for slight changes that will maintain the core menu, but add local ingredients and adding an eclectic twist to the classics. Hibernian has two locations here in the Triangle. Get all the details here. 

• And speaking of beer, if you dig craft breweries do we have good news for you. Well, actually, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has great news for you. She's put together a list of seven (yes, seven) new craft breweries that are in the works and rolling toward opening here in the Triangle. Check it out here. Thanks Andrea!  

• If cooking yourself is your thing, you've got to check out the new summer cooking school calendar that was just released by Southern Season over in Chapel Hill's University Mall. Lots of talented chefs offering some really cool classes. Get all the details here. 

• And then there was one. We are sad to report that the Triangle lost another location of Schlotzsky's this week with the closing of the location out near the airport. My best to father and son team, Walt and Chad Dunn. The sole remaining location of Schlotzsky's is on Hwy. 64 in Apex.

• And in downtown Raleigh's Glenwood South district, Cantina South, which just opened in July of 2011, has closed. However, a visit to their site suggests that it will re-open later this summer under new ownership. We will keep an eye on it for you.

• We also pass along from my buddy Dana McCall with GoGoRaleigh, that the Salsarita's Fresh Cantina in Cary's Crossroads, has closed.

• If you smell a little pig cooking going on this weekend, follow your nose on over to downtown Apex today and tomorrow (most of the events are on Saturday) as the Apex Sunrise Rotary hosts a KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) sanctioned BBQ festival called Peak City Pig Fest! The contest will pit cook teams from all over the country against each other for $15,000 in prize money. Get all the details here.

• The Chapel Hill Farmer's Market will hold its Fresh Chef Competition this Saturday that will feature five chosen contestants who will be given a protein, $20 to spend at the market, and 30 minutes to prepare their items - with the cooking to begin at 10 a.m. The judges will announce the winner at 11:30 a.m. An article in The Chapel Hill Magazine has all the details.   

• And speaking of Chapel Hill, the folks over at The Weathervane in Chapel Hill's Southern Season are kicking off a summer event called Tuesdays on the Patio which features a local band, goodies from the Chapel Hill Farmers' Market, signature cocktail specials and NC beers. The event is scheduled every Tuesday through the summer from 5:30 to 9. Get all the details here. 

• Winston's Grille in North Raleigh will be hosting a wine dinner next Thursday, June 28th at 6:30 featuring the wines of Wild Horse Winery & Vineyard. The four-course meal with wine pairings will set you back about $50 with proceeds going to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Check out the menu on Facebook here. Call 919.790.0700 for reservations. 

• The folks over at Chatham Hill Winery will be hosting a food truck rodeo on Friday, June 29th from 4-9 pm at their location at 3800 Gateway Centre Drive in Morrisville. Confirmed trucks are American Meltdown, Chick-N-Que, Klausie's Pizza, Dang Good Dogs, Chirba Chirba, Ole North State BBQ and Baguettaboutit. Get all the details and updates here. 

• While we are on the topic of food trucks, the 2nd annual Food Truck Mash Up will take place on Saturday, July 14th at Motorco Music Hall beginning at 2:00 p.m. If you'll recall, this event has each truck "mashing up" ingredients with the other trucks present. And this year, they will feature two sessions - 3-6 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Get all the details here. 

• Also on July 14 from 11 am until 9 pm, enjoy everything French as the folks over at Lafayette Village in North Raleigh celebrate Bastille Day with food, entertainment and activities for the whole family. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.

• Can we interest you in dinner and a show? That is what is on tap for the next Dine With The Chef event being put on by Triangle Food Tours. On July 12 beginning at 5:30 you'll enjoy a special, prix-fixe dinner at Posta Tuscan Grille plus a ticket to Hot Summer Nights musical comedy "Dames at Sea." The $60 tickets, which include the dinner, tax, gratuities and the show, must be purchased by July 5. Get all the details here. 

• Raleigh's own Ashley Christensen of Poole's Diner (among others) will host and head up a "who's who" of chefs from across the country to benefit Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger. Other local celebrity chefs include Anthony Guerra of Bella Mia in Cary and Andrea Reusing of the Lantern in Chapel Hill. The event will take place at 6 pm on July 23rd. Diners can pay $3k for a table of 10, $1k for a table of four or $175 for an individual reservation. Purchase tickets here.

• Kudos this week goes to the Carolina Ale House that recently held an "Eat to Defeat Cancer" event which raised a total of $8,230 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of NC. I love it when I see local restaurants doing so much good for the community!

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 15, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• So last week's biggest "rumor" has been confirmed by the Durham's Herald Sun. Amy Tornquist is in fact in the process of opening a bakery called Hummingbird at 721 Broad Street in Durham. Kudos to Ninth Street Watch for breaking this story. Best of luck to Amy (not like she needs it!)  

• Thanks to a tip from my buddy John, aka Triangle Explorer, the building that was home to the Woody's BBQ at 6176 Falls of Neuse Rd in Raleigh is being transformed into a Jersey Mikes Subs and Starbucks, complete with drive-thru. I know John will keep me posted as we get closer to openings. Thanks John!  

• The Triangle Business Journal is reporting this morning that the downtown Raleigh space that formerly housed The Mint is close to having a new tenant. David Sadeghi, who helped bring the Ruth's Chris Steak House concept to the Triangle, and business partner Adalius Thomas, a NFL linebacker, are ready to tackle the new space. We'll continue to keep an eye on this as it unfolds.

• We are about a month away from getting our fourth Triangle area location of Penn Station East Coast Subs. The newest location will open in early July at 6301 Falls of the Neuse Road, near the intersection with Spring Forest Road. Get all the details here.   

• If you are a big fan of Benelux Café in downtown Raleigh's Historic City Market, we've got good news for you. They are opening a second location in the Alexander Family YMCA located on Hillsborough Street. The date is not set in stone, but it is slated for an opening this summer. Check out the article here and Benelux's Facebook page here. Thanks to my buddy John Kerr for this tip!

• If you find yourself in downtown Raleigh and craving a hot dog, there is a new option at lunchtime - Pavlov's Dogs. The stand, which is typically located around the Wells Fargo building, features Nathan's All-Beef dogs along with gourmet toppings (a lot more than just ketchup, mustard, chili and relish). And they've even got options for veggies, gluten-free and low calorie. Follow them on Facebook here.   

• Speaking of pigs, there is a new food truck that will begin rolling the streets of the Triangle on June 30th. Called The Humble Pig, it will feature smoked, local bar-b-que. Get updates on the hour at their website here.   

• And speaking of food trucks, Chatham Hill Winery will be hosting a food truck rodeo on Friday, June 29th from 4-9 pm at their location at 3800 Gateway Centre Drive in Morrisville. Confirmed trucks are American Meltdown, Chick-N-Que, Klausie's Pizza, Dang Good Dogs, Chirba Chirba, Ole North State BBQ and Baguettaboutit. Get all the details and updates here.  

• If you are a big fan of [B]Ski's located on East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, we have good news. There may be one heading your way...or you could own your very own. That's right, the popular Chapel Hill eatery is now franchising. Get all the details here.   

• The news on the other end of Franklin Street is not so good. We saw in The Daily Tar Heel this week that a local legend, Gumby's, has closed their doors on West Franklin Street. It had an 18-year run in its current location. Looks like putting on the "freshman 15" will be a little bit more of a challenge for next year's freshman class.

• Don't say we didn't tell you so, but all the events for the Fire in the Triangle are sold out! What a testament to the volume of foodies here in the Triangle. And what an exciting first three rounds we have had so far, and 12 more to go. If you aren't following this, you are truly missing out. Check out their website and follow the local bloggers that are giving you blow-by-blow details of each competition. See it all here.    

• With Father's Day this weekend, we would be remiss if we didn't give you a couple of "foodie" options for your Father's Day plans. First up is Durham's Food Truck Rodeo which will be held on Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 at Durham Central Park. Look for 30-35 food trucks, carts and vendors. Visit their site for more information.   

• And if food trucks aren't your father's thing, Carolina Brewery will be holding a Father's Day Beer Dinner at 6 p.m. at the brewery in Chapel Hill on Franklin Street. The dinner will include five courses paired with Carolina Brewery beers. Part of the $40 cost will be donated to the N.C. Brewers' Cup, a nonprofit that promotes local breweries and home brewers. For reservations, call 919-942-1800.

• Here's an interesting menu - a four-course meal prepared with conchs, insect skewers, giant sago worms and more. Sound yummy? Well, it is the menu for next Wednesday evening's event at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham - Summer Solstice. Chefs at the Museum's new Sprout Café will serve-up the "museum appropriate" menu. But if you're looking for something a little more mainstream, take note that food trucks will also be on hand. Get all the details here.  

• So you think you can cook? Then step right up. The Chapel Hill Farmer's Market is holding a Fresh Chef Competition on Saturday, June 23rd (must enter by June 19th). Five chosen contestants will be given a protein, $20 to spend at the market, and 30 minutes to prepare their items - with the cooking to begin at 10 a.m. The judges will announce the winner at 11:30 a.m. An article in The Chapel Hill Magazine has all the details.   

• And we close with another fun contest. Think you have the best BBQ sauce on the planet? Here is your chance to prove it. Chapel Hill's Southern Season is hosting a Carolina-style BBQ sauce recipe challenge. To enter, submit your recipe to sauce@southernseason.com by this Sunday. The top three recipes will participate in a "sauce-off" on Saturday, June 30th. In addition to bragging rights, the winner's recipe will be featured in the deli for a month! More details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 8, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• So the big news of the last two weeks is truly this week's biggest news...Lilly's Pizza in Durham opened this week (Wednesday at 4, to be exact)! After much anticipation and even more patience, Durham can now partake of all that Raleigh has been bragging about. Check them out here and get down there soon. They are in the old Pop's location next to Morgan Imports in downtown Durham.

• So did they get it right? This past Wednesday was also the release of the Independent Weekly's annual ranking of all things in the Triangle. Obviously we're a little bit biased toward the food aspects of their annual survey, but take a peek and let us know what you think. 

• Just in time for summer, the N&O reported this morning that there is a new yogurt shop opening later this month in Knightdale. 32 Degrees A Yogurt Bar will hold a grand opening on June 29th from noon to 6 p.m. Get the skinny here. 

• And speaking of frozen goodness, the good folks over at The Parlour (i.e. the coolest mobile ice cream truck in Durham) is looking to scoop out their goodies in a more permanent location. So if you love ice cream (ok, that is everybody) and you love Durham (who doesn't?), consider helping them out with their KickStarter campaign to secure a brick-and-mortar location. Get the details here.  

• We told you about Krave Restaurant and Lounge many moths ago, but they are holding their grand opening at 5 p.m. this Saturday. Krave is located at 510 Glenwood Avenue in the former Red Room location. Get more details here.  

• According to the Durham blog Ninth Street Watch (which we love!), the renovations currently taking place at 721 Broad Street adjacent to Duke's campus will house a number of entities, but most notably a new bakery concept that is the brainchild of Amy Tornquist of Watts Street Grocery. The blog "alleges" that the bakery will be called Hummingbird. We'll keep an eye on it. Read for yourself here.  

• The Herald-Sun is reporting that Durham is going to get another watering hole from the owners of Carrboro's Peccadillo (located on Brewer Lane...of course). The new digs will be located at 117 E. Main Street, next to Main Street Shoe Repair. It will be called Bar Lusconi and will be an intimate wine and beer bar with food and beverage programs showcasing eclectic items from all over the world. We'll keep an eye on it as they make their renovations.

• And speaking of Durham, the Herald-Sun is also reporting that Tom Ferguson (Durham Catering Company; Only Burger) has signed a letter of intent to open his newest concept, Rise Biscuit and Donuts, in the former Entrée Vous location in the Renaissance Village shopping center next to Moonberries and near the Super Target. We'll keep an eye on it and let you know when they plan to open.

• Also in Durham, the Bear Rock Café located off of University Drive (former Rick's Diner location) has a new owner. Lisa Bence has plans to completely change up the menu as well as introduce a new name for the establishment. Look for great things to come out of her creativity. We'll keep you posted as we know things.

• Over in Chapel Hill there is a new place on Franklin Street to get a hot dog and a beer with the opening of Hotdogs & Brew (what else does a college kid need?). They are located a couple of doors down from Ye Olde Waffle Shop on East Franklin Street.

• And just down the road in Carrboro, a new sports saloon and eatery catering to local sports clubs, teams and active sports enthusiasts called 2nd Wind has opened their doors. It is located at 118 E. Main Street near Armadillo Grill. Check them out here.   

• Looking for a little live music and BBQ? Look no further than the Western Wake Farmers' Market this Saturday, June 9th (3-6 p.m.) as they host the 3rd annual Beer & BBQ Bash in conjunction with Whole Foods in Waverly Place. And if beer and BBQ aren't enough to get you out there this weekend, they'll also have Chef Scott Crawford (Heron's at the Umstead Hotel) on hand giving out samples and recipes. Get all the details here.   

• And if distance is not an issue for you meat lovers, you might want to trek over to Winston-Salem this weekend for their Twin City Rib Fest. I won't tout it too much (b/c I'd rather keep you here in my beloved Triangle), but it might be worth the drive this weekend. Check it out here.

• Next Thursday, June 14th, Chapel Hill Creamery will hold a Farm Dinner at Foster's Market in Chapel Hill (750 MLK, Jr. Blvd.). Hand-crafted artisan cheeses and whey-fed pork will be featured as you enjoy hors d'oeuvres followed by a 3-course menu and wine pairings served family style. The cost is $25 per person (plus $12 with wine pairings). Reservations at 919.967.3663. Get more information on the creamery here and Foster's Market here.   

• And speaking of great dinners for a great cause, Vin Rouge and chef Matt Kelly will host a benefit dinner on June 20th for an organization called Vittles. The five-course meal is $100 (includes wine) and begins at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Do so here.  

• And here's another not-to-miss benefit brunch coming up on June 23rd at 1:30 p.m. to benefit the Goathouse Refuge. The dinner, which costs $100 (cheaper if you purchase a table for 4 or 6), will feature Garden Gourmands' Siglinda Scarpa alongside Chip Smith and Tina Vaughn with Celebrity Dairy (former owners of Chapel Hill's Bonne Soiree). Get all the details here. Tickets must be purchased by June 19th. 

• Don't forget Father's Day coming up and especially don't forget Durham's next Food Truck Rodeo which will be held on June 17 from 12:30 to 4:30 at Durham Central Park. Look for 30-35 food trucks, carts and vendors. Visit their site for more information.   

• We've told you the last few weeks about one of the coolest dining events we've seen in some time, and we're here to tell you that they are selling out fast. Called Fire in the Triangle, the contest pits two restaurants/chefs (16 total in the "iron-chef style competition) against each other working around a unique North Carolina ingredient. Register today and you'll help decide who advances to the next round. The two-month long competition (15 total events) runs through June and July and will feature a star-studded cast of chefs from across the Triangle. Get all the details here.

• The Triangle is getting quite a bit of ink in national publications. Most recently an article in the New York Post referred to the Triangle as North Carolina's "coolest region" and touted a handful of local establishments. Read it here. Also, Southern Living Magazine listed the Triangle's best burgers. Check it out here.  And finally, Monuts Donuts got a mention in Country Living as the thing to do in NC this summer.   

• Kudos to Margaux's in North Raleigh which celebrated its 20th anniversary last night! Now that is starting to make me feel old! Pay them a visit and congratulate them.  

• And we close with a huge kudos to Sean Fowler and Elizabeth (Lizzy) Fisher, owners of Mandolin in Raleigh, as they tied the knot this week. What a year it has been for those two! Congratulations!

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 1, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• So last week's big news remains this week's big news...when will Lilly's in Durham open? At this point, we are hearing they are simply waiting on ABC permits to come through. Their Twitter account, Facebook page and website give indications of a pending opening, but no official word. We'll continue to hold our "Lilly's Vigil" until we know of an exact opening.

• And speaking of big news, don't forget that next week, June 4 through June 10th, is Triangle Restaurant Week. What is it? Basically it is a great excuse to get out and try some new restaurants. Over 80 restaurants will feature special menus at special prices all week. So, jump on over to their site and check out all the details.  

• We told you back on May 11th about another Tropical Smoothie Café coming to the Triangle...Well, it is here and has opened at 5311 S. Miami Blvd. next to Randy's Pizza. This marks the third Triangle location and is just in time for their Annual Flip Flop Day on June 15th where anyone walking into one of their stores wearing flip-flops from 2-7 p.m. will be treated to a 24 oz. Jetty Punch smoothie! Get all the details!   

• Over in Wake Forest, the News & Observer is reporting this morning that the folks behind Buffalo Brothers have purchased the former Texas Steakhouse location at 11735 Retail Drive. Their Facebook page has renderings of what will be the Triangle's third location. No word yet on an open date. 

• My buddy Dana McCall, the force behind GoGoRaleigh, reported this week that Hector's, one of Crabtree Valley Mall's original tenants, is closing its doors. That is the bad news. The good news is you have a little less than two weeks to get over to Crabtree's food court to get one more Greek grilled cheese before it is gone. Read Dana's entire article here.  

• The rumor mill continues to churn regarding a second location of Dame's Chicken & Waffles. After last week's posting, I heard from two separate sources (both asked not to be identified) that the 2nd location is rumored to be going to Greensboro, and not the Triangle. While a bit of a bummer, we still have the "original" Dame's at 317 W. Main Street in downtown Durham. Visit them online here.  

• Today is the day for the Food Truck Friday hosted by the News & Observer and Triangle.com. Head over to the N&O headquarters at 215 S. McDowell Street from 11:30 until 1 and hit up Chirba Chirba Dumpling, KoKyuBBQ and Sympathy for the Deli.  

• And now that it is summer and it is the first Friday of the month, it means that Foster's in Durham has resumed their extremely popular "Grill-outs on the Porch." So make plans to swing by every first Friday (i.e. as in today!) to enjoy a great cookout! Get the menu for today's grill-out and all the events at Foster's here.  

• And now that it is June and everyone's attention turns to Father's Day plans, don't forget the option of taking your old man over to Durham for the next Food Truck Rodeo which will be held on June 17 from 12:30 to 4:30 at Durham Central Park. Look for 30-35 food trucks, carts and vendors. Visit their site for more information.

• We first told you about this last week, and we are learning that these events are selling out fast (in fact, the finale has already sold out). Called Fire in the Triangle (there are also 3 others going on simultaneously in North Carolina), the contest pits two restaurants/chefs (16 total in the "iron-chef style" competition) against each other working around a unique North Carolina ingredient. And here's the best part, you can attend any of the dinners/competitions and be one of the judges (well, you and 99 others)! The two-month long competition (15 total events) runs through June and July and will feature a star-studded cast of chefs from across the Triangle. Get all the details here.

• And we conclude this week with a huge kudos to Chef Greg Lewis and his team over at Catering By Design, that just racked up not one, but two Pinnacle Business Awards from the Raleigh Chamber. They received the First Citizens Customer Service award as well as the Steady Growth and Profitability award. Kudos to the entire team at Catering By Design. Have them cater your next office luncheon or breakfast. Order from them today here.