Friday Fun Food Facts - October 5, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• The area’s largest and most popular foodie event is just over 3 weeks away! The Terra Vita Food & Wine Event is being held over 3 days and will feature 4 different events culminating with the “headline act” being the Grand Tasting on the Green on Saturday, November 3rd from 1-4:30 p.m. Folks, you don’t want to miss these events (they are selling out!). Get ALL the details and your tickets here.   

• If you are a big fan of fondue, they you’ll be excited to learn that Durham’s Brightleaf Square will soon be home to the second location of Little Dipper, which is located in Wilmington, NC. They are looking at an opening date around the end of this year, possibly beginning of next year. Take a peek at their website here. 

• The Herald-Sun noted this week that the space next to the Lantern on W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill (formerly Studio Supply) was purchased by Andrea Reusing and is being upfitted for events, private parties, cooking demonstrations and overflow seating. Check out the Lantern here. 

• Chapel Hill has a new bagel joint. The Bagel Bar has opened in the former Bagels on the Hill location on Weaver Dairy Road. While many of the recipes are the same, they’ve gotten rid of any artificial ingredients and they are looking to expand the bakery’s offerings. Get all the details here. 

• And if that is not enough news out of Chapel Hill, we got word this week from The Daily Tar Heel that the popular cupcake chain, Gigi’s, is coming to the new mixed-use development at 140 W. Franklin Street. Look for a January opening. The cupcake chain already has more than 45 locations, including stores in Raleigh and Cary. More information on Gigi's here.  

• It appears as if Cary’s Waverly Place is getting a little “restaurant life” breathed into the once thriving shopping center. A Mediterranean café concept called Taziki’s will open there. With locations throughout the Southeast, this will be the first location in North Carolina. Get more information here. 

• Also Barberito’s, a southwestern grille & cantina concept out of Athens, Georgia will also make its home in Waverly Place. Likewise, it is also a concept popular throughout the Southeast. This will mark its first North Carolina location, but it appears as if another location will soon follow in Raleigh. We don’t have any information at this point on that location. Get more information here. 

• Got word from one of my favorite tweeters, @burgeoningbaker, that an AI Fuji Japanese Steakhouse is going into the former Blockbuster space in the Kroger Shopping center complex across from Homestead Market in Durham (near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Fayettevile Road). We’ll keep an eye on it for you.

• Thanks to the observant eyes of The Triangle Explorer (aka John Huisman), he noted a "Coming Soon" sign in a vacant space in Lafayette Village in North Raleigh for a place called Sushi One. He noted that it looks to be a Japanese / Sushi establishment that is shooting for a January opening. I’m sure John will keep us updated. Check out their Facebook page here. 

• The popular ice cream truck The Parlour announced last week that they have signed a five-year lease on a building in downtown Durham that they hope to have open sometime this winter. It is located at 117 Market Street, right across from the CCB Plaza. Get more details here.  

• Got word this week that last month Sam’s Grill opened in Durham, taking over the little house that was formerly Luther's near 9th St in Durham. It is located at 1807 West Markham Avenue. See more on their Facebook page here.  

• Over in Chapel Hill, Tracy's New York Deli announced this week that they have expanded their hours to include some great breakfast options, including mouth-watering pancakes for just $3.50! The deli now opens at 7 am. Get all the details here.  

• We found out last Friday just after 2 p.m. that the two remaining Triangle locations of Bear Rock Café had closed their doors. That leaves one remaining location for Bear Rock (in Greensboro), a one-time growing and expanding chain. Very sad to see them go.

• The Herald-Sun is reporting this week that The Mad Burrito location in Northgate Mall’s food court has closed, but a spokeswoman for the mall says a new Mexican food eatery will open in its place in the coming months.

• We also learned this week that Cary’s Tarasco’s Mexican Restaurant at 1383 SE Maynard Road has closed their doors.

• Head out this evening (October 5) for a food truck rodeo in Carrboro to benefit Meals on Wheels. The event will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature: Glutey Tooty, Mama Dukes, Olde North State BBQ, Only Burger, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Pie Pushers, Sympathy for the Deli and Tar Heel Creamery. 10% of all sales go to Meals on Wheels. All the details are here.  

• And speaking of food truck events, the Emily K Center at 904 W. Chapel Hill Street over in Durham will host a food truck rodeo tomorrow (October 6th ) from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature live music and most of the trucks (6) from The Cookery. Get all the details here.  

• Also tomorrow, Neomonde Café & Market in North Raleigh will host a Fall Festival from 10:30 in the morning until 9 p.m. The event will feature events all day, including cooking classes. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.

• And if you can pack in one more event tomorrow, be sure to stop by the Western Wake Farmers' Market which will be hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off. Anyone interested in entering can do so by simply showing up with their concoction by 9 am. The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is located at 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Road in Cary. Get more details here.  

• Fans of downtown Raleigh and great food should mark their calendars for this one. Glenwood South Global Fare, taking place on Saturday, October 13th from noon to 6 pm, is a street festival showcasing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Glenwood South, including an Iron Chef cooking competition. Get more information here. 

• Dock to Door Seafood and The Wine Feed are proud to host a family-friendly seafood and wine festival - Hook + Vine on Sunday, October 14th at 4 p.m.  It is a celebration of North Carolina seafood and complementary wines. The event will feature the cooking of Mandolin, PoshNosh, Battistella's, and Sarah Cecilia Good Food Company. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• The 5th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival is from 3-7 pm on Oct. 14 at Briar Chapel Community Park. Eight local farms will be providing mild and hot peppers for more than 30 chefs, caterers and other food artisans who will be serving samples. Featured restaurants include 18 Seaboard, Herons and La Residence. Tickets are $30 until Saturday and $35 on the day of the event. Proceeds benefit the Abundance Foundation. To purchase tickets and for more information, go here.

• Fuquay-Varina Downtown is hosting their 10th annual Downtown Chili Cook-off on Saturday, October 27th. If you are interested in the cooking challenge and showing the public what kind of Chili you are famous for creating, simply enter the event by downloading the rules and entry form here. The Chili Cook-Off entry deadline is October 19th at 5 pm. 

• During the week of October 29th through November 3rd, you are encouraged to take your taste buds on a tour around the globe, but you only have to go as far as North Hills over in Raleigh. Called Taste of North Hills, 11 restaurants will offer 3 courses at prices ranging from $15 to $30 per person. Get all the details and a complete list of restaurants here. 

• Another not-to-miss event is an event put on by the Lucy Daniels Center called Expressions. This event will be hosted by The Umstead Hotel and Spa on November 9, 2012 and will feature the Umstead’s executive chef Scott Crawford, pastry chef Daniel Benjamin, and two guest chefs. Sponsorships and individual tickets for Expressions are available now. Visit here or call 919-677-1400 to learn more. 

• Many of you will undoubtedly remember the Fire in the Triangle chef competition a few months ago. Well, not only was this competition held here in the Triangle, but all over the state. The good news is that the Final Fire, Battle of Champions, featuring all the champions across the state, will take place right here in Raleigh at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel on November 15-17, 2012. Go ahead and mark your calendar. We will let you know as soon as tickets go on sale. Check out their website here.  

• And finally, if you’ve been in any retail store lately, you know it is not too early to start getting in the “holiday” mood. An event that will certainly do that is the 10th annual Gingerbread Benefit that will be held on Thursday, November 29th at The Umstead Hotel in Cary. Get your tickets and all the details here.