Friday, December 20, 2013

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 20, 2013

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

Holiday Edition - Final Edition of 2013     

So, you are reading the last edition of 2013 (sniff, sniff). And we're going to do things a little differently today, for three reasons. One, there isn't as much restaurant news this time of year. Two, I need to do a little shameless plug. And finally, we need to announce the winner of our Holiday Promotion and the winner of our $250 Target gift card (you'll have to scroll down for that).

First, the shameless plug. As you may know, my primary "job" is operating a corporate catering business - Triangle Food Guy. Put simply, we offer about 60 Triangle area restaurants and caterers for all your corporate catering needs. The cool thing is, all the ordering is done online - making your catering easy and giving you great variety - and at no extra cost to you. Check us out here and consider us for all your corporate catering in 2014!

As part of that, we reward our clients in lots of ways. One of those is our rewards program. And another is the awarding of a $250 Target gift card to one of our clients. That person has been selected, but first a little restaurant news:
  • According to the N&O, Glenwood South's Hibernian Irish Pub is expected to reopen in mid-January.
  • The N&O is also reporting that over in Durham just off Ninth Street, Panera Bread is having a grand opening this Saturday.  
  • New Raleigh noted on Facebook that downtown Raleigh's Gringo A Go Go won't fully open until January.
  • And Mike DePersia filled me in on the following: Over in Apex, Johnny's Pizza was sold to Ryan Dudek who closed it and reopened it as The Pizza Dude; In Holly Springs, Rich Moore bought the Rudino's, remodeled it and reopened as Ricci's Pizzeria; and in Cary, the Camos Brothers Pizza in Cary was sold to Paul Mirikaj and reopened as Brothers of New York Pizza.
  • And finally, please consider donating to the annual Holiday Food Drive being conducted by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

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And now, the moment you all have been waiting for. The winner of this year's Triangle Food Guy Holiday promotion - a $250 gift card to Target which will be delivered this morning (a picture will be posted on our Facebook page later today) - can be found here!

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And I close with a huge thank you to each of you for reading my blog and using us for your catering needs. This year has been an amazing experience, and I want to thank each and every one of you. Here is to an even more amazing 2014!!!
  
Drop me a line and let me know how we can better serve you or what we can do to improve our blog and provide you with the information you are looking for.  
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Friday, December 13, 2013

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 13, 2013

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

Featured Restaurant News
  •  We got a tip from the folks over at New Raleigh and confirmed that the Garland opened this past Wednesday! Located at 14 W. Martin Street in downtown Raleigh, the Garland has been working since the end of October on completing the transformation from window service to dining room service. Check them out here.    
Wake County Restaurant News 
  • The News & Observer reported this morning that an American cuisine restaurant called The Oakz is coming to the 510 Glenwood South building in downtown Raleigh in mid-January. Ira Freedman and his daughter, Jaclyn Starritt, are behind the venture. The menu will have a variety of American dishes, including brick chicken, jambalaya pasta, shrimp and grits and bison burgers, along with stuffed pork and salmon. Check them out on Facebook here.
  • We are still awaiting the opening of the much-anticipated Gringo A Go-Go over on Person Street. After rumors swirled that it might have opened this past weekend, we still wait on a few last minute details. Any day now... Keep up with the latest here.
  • Our friends over at New Raleigh tweeted out this week that Indian Cuisine Kabab and Curry will replace Klara's (old Frazier's space) on Hillsborough Street. No other details are available at this point.
  • If you were a fan of the Bavarian Brathaus over in Durham, you will be glad to know they will be opening a new German restaurant over in Cary called the German Grille. It will be located at 243 Grande Heights Dr. in the Harrison Pointe Shopping Center where the Great Mongolian Grill used to be. No final open date yet. Thanks to my friend Wendy Ransbury for this tip! 
  • So the Caribou location over in Raleigh on Duraleigh Road (Olde Raleigh Shopping Center) is re-opening next week (December 20) and will now be a combined Bruegger's Bagels and Caribou Coffee spot.
  • WRAL reported that Kiwi Café and Smoothies opened in the Wakefield area of north Raleigh. Offering breakfast and lunch along with their coffee, smoothies and fresh squeezed juices, Kiwi is located in a strip near Bruno's restaurant at 11211 Galleria Avenue. Check them out here.
  • The North Hills area continues to roll out new dining options. This week WRAL reported that Another Broken Egg, with locations in Durham & Morrisville, will open near the Hyatt House area early next year. Check them out here. 
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  • Two Durham powerhouses are joining forces to bring Japanese cuisine and beverages to the downtown Durham area in the summer of 2014. Billy and Kelli Cotter from Toast along with Nick Hawthorne-Johnson and Rochelle Johnson from The Cookery will open Dashi, serving lunch, dinner and late night with a menu that will center on ramen noodle bowls and small plates. You can read a little more about it on The Cookery's Facebook page here. 
  • Up in Hillsborough, downtown's Gulf Rim Café will close in January and will reopen the third week of January under the new name of La Place Louisiana Cookery. The Wooden Nickel's Matt Fox and Gulf Rim Café's Joe Tullos are teaming up on the new venture. They will continue to serve Louisiana and regional cuisine, and Tullos, who comes from La Place, La., also plans to add charcuterie and house-made sausages to the menu. In the meantime, pay a visit to Gulf Rim Cafe. 
  • Over in Chapel Hill, Andrea Reusing announced the opening of the Lantern restaurant's Lantern Table -- a community kitchen / private party space adjacent to the restaurant that offers cooking classes as well as being available for private functions. Learn more here. 
  • A little further down Franklin Street, it looks like the former location of Pepper's Pizza (may it rest in peace...amen) will have a new occupant come early 2014 according to the Daily Tar Heel. Sup Dogs, a staple on ECU's campus, will bring their 23 exotic Sup Dogs, 15 specialty Sup Burgers and a full bar stocked with draft and bottled beer, liquor and signature drinks to Chapel Hill's Franklin Street. Check them out here. 
  • WRAL suggested that Bull City Burger and Brewery's sister-restaurant Pompieri Pizza might open before year's end. Pompieri, which will be located in the historic Fire Station # 1 across from Durham's city hall on Mangum Street, will serve wood-fired pizzas. Check them out here. 
Closings 
  •  None! Keeping eating local, folks!   
Food Trucks 
  • There will be a new truck rolling around the streets of the Triangle come next April - assuming they get a little help from you! Dump Pho King Truck is targeting an April launch, but they are still in the middle of a kickstarter campaign (through January 18). As you can guess from their name, they are Asian inspired and their staples will be dumplings and pho. Check them out here. 
Events 
  • This Saturday (December 14th), the folks over at Guglhuph will host their 5th Annual German Christmas Market from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Enjoy great German treats and drinks while listening to local bands and viewing the work of 12 NC based artists. Kids activities as well. Admission is free. Get more information here.
  • Congratulations to Neomonde Café & Market in North Raleigh as they celebrate their 2-year anniversary on Saturday, December 14th. As part of the celebration, they will have wine, bread and food sampling, live Christmas music and Middle Eastern music and will donate 5% of their proceeds to Note in the Pocket. They will also give out a FREE piece of walnut baklava to every customer with their purchase! Get all the latest here.
  • And the Angus Barn is cooking up two very unique and special dining experiences this holiday season - a Christmas Dinner featuring the wines of the Biltmore House on December 23rd and a New Year's Eve celebration on December 31st. Get information on the Christmas Dinner here and the New Year's Eve Celebration here (early seating) and here (late seating).
  • Looking for someone else to do the cooking (and it is great! I can vouch), the Raleigh Q Shack is offering locally raised, all natural fresh turkeys, sugar cured hams, chile rubbed beef brisket and meals ready to serve or packed for reheating. Complete meals start at $69.99 and include a choice of three sides, plus Q Shack hush puppy dressing with gravy, homemade cranberry sauce. Only need the bird? Smoked turkeys are $49.95 and chile rubbed briskets are only $59.95. Get all the details here.
  • Or if you'd rather just head out to eat for Christmas, take a look at the list the News & Observer put together here.
  • Here is an event you are definitely going to want to get on your calendar for 2014. Two words: Beer. Bacon. That's right, a Beer and Bacon Festival is coming to Cary's Booth Amphitheater featuring at least 75 craft beers and 10 varieties of bacon (did you know there were 10 varieties?). The event will be held on March 29 from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.   
Food Bank Corner   
  • If you are looking for a truly meaningful way to make a direct impact on someone's life this holiday season, consider donating to the annual Holiday Food Drive being conducted by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Their goal is $350,000, or 1.7 million meals before December 31st. Get all the details on how you can help here. 
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Friday, December 6, 2013

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 6, 2013

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

Featured Restaurant News
  •  Here is an event you are definitely going to want to get on your calendar for 2014. Two words: Beer. Bacon. That’s right, a Beer and Bacon Festival is coming to Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheater featuring at least 75 craft beers and 10 varieties of bacon (who knew?). The event will be held on March 29 from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.  
Wake County Restaurant News 
  •  The N&O’s Andrea Weigl reported that Vincent Barresi (Vincent’s in North Raleigh and Cucina di Milano in Morrisville), has signed a lease for the old Bogart’s space on Glenwood South. While the chef hasn’t been announced, Barresi is targeting a February opening for the speakeasy-style bar and restaurant with a menu centered around steaks and seafood. We’ll keep an eye on it.
  • I’m not sure when this guy sleeps (or stops), but downtown Raleigh restaurant and bar owner Niall Hanley is switching from Irish to German in his latest venture in the Glenwood South district according to the Triangle Business Journal. Hanley will convert the space, which is an office building located at 614 Glenwood Avenue next to Harry’s Guitar Shop, into a two-story restaurant and bar, or Bier Garten. We will continue to keep an eye on this one.
  • While we cannot confirm this at this point, but New Raleigh suggested this week that the much-anticipated Gringo A Go-Go may be opening this weekend. Gringo is the creation of Ben Shelton, the chef who started Lilly’s Pizza in Raleigh. It is located in the former Ruben’s Downtown Diner spot at 100 N. Person Street. Keep up with the latest here.  
  • Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar has opened in Morrisivlle in the Park West Village Shopping Center according to their website. This marks their 7th location and the second in the Triangle (the other is in Seaboard Station in downtown Raleigh). Check them out here.
  • Right after our last post just before Thanksgiving reporting that Cameron Village’s Café Caturra was closing, we were able to confirm that Tazza Kitchen, a wood-fired cooking concept out of Henrico, Virginia was moving in. Check them out here.
  • The News & Observer reported that Happy + Hale, a fresh juice and salad delivery service and cart in downtown Raleigh, is opening a quick-service restaurant in early March. It will be located at 443 Fayetteville St., in one of those free-standing “pods” which was the former Collectors Gallery space in front of Bank of America. Check them out here.
  • Also just before the holidays we got tipped off to the fact that a place called Despina’s Café, which offers homemade baked pastries, sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts with a European influence, will open in early January at 8369 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh. Check out their Facebook page here.
  • In our last issue, we reported that City Barbeque, a chain based out of Ohio, has begun renovation of the former Cinelli’s Ristorante building at 1305 Kildaire Farm Road in Cary. Turns out they completely tore down the Cinellis’s building and are starting from scratch. Thank goodness!
  • The News & Observer is reporting that another location of Denny’s has opened in the former O’Charley’s spot at 4380 Fayetteville Road in Raleigh. Also on Fayetteville Raod (4205 Fayetteville Road), a Chinese restaurant called Hibachi Buffet has opened in the former Mayflower Seafood building.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  •  Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar, which took over the Rockfish Seafood Grill space, is opening at The Streets at Southpoint on Dec. 10. Zinburger is an upscale burger restaurant that sells gourmet burgers paired with wine selections. With locations up and down the east coast, this is the first North Carolina location. Get a sneak peek at them here.
  • Things are taking shape over in Durham at Straw Valley Café. They are closed through December 9th to undergo renovations. According to their Facebook page they will be installing a new design, food, coffee and juice menu by day w/ fresh juice cocktails and wines! Follow them on Twitter to get the latest updates.
  • The Triangle Business Journal is reporting that the burger joint Smashburger will be opening early next year across from Duke University’s campus in the Pavilion East at Lakeview complex on Erwin Road. This will be the chain’s second North Carolina location, and the first in the Triangle. Check them out here. 
Closings 
  •  None! Keeping eating local, folks!   
Food Trucks 
  • As the temperatures drop, so do your chances of a food truck rodeo - unless you are the folks over at Rebus Works in Raleigh’s Boylan Heights. This Sunday from noon to 5 they will have their Artwalk (over 100 artists on display). To keep you warm, they will have American Meltdown, Captain Poncho's Tacos, Sarge's Chef on Wheels, Chick-N-Que, King Creole and Muddy Dog Roasting Company there. Get all the details (and latest weather developments) here.  
Events 
  • Mark your calendar for 6 p.m. on December 11th when Chapel Hill’s Il Palio restaurant at The Siena Hotel offers up a five-course dinner with beer pairings from Durham’s Fullsteam brewery. The cost is $55 per person. For a reservation, call 919-918-2545. Get more information here. 
  • And next Thursday, December 12th, Cary’s An Cuisines will host a Winter Wine Social where you can enjoy a variety of wines paired with sushi and hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Steven Greene beginning at 5:30 p.m. With an opportunity to taste over 20 wines (which will be available for sale), the cost is just $25. To reserve a spot, call 919.677.9229.
  • Congratulations to Neomonde Café & Market in North Raleigh as they celebrate their 2-year anniversary on Saturday, December 14th. As part of the celebration, they will have wine, bread and food sampling, live Christmas music and Middle Eastern music and will donate 5% of their proceeds to Note in the Pocket. They will also give out a FREE piece of walnut baklava to every customer with their purchase! Get all the latest here.
  • And the Angus Barn is cooking up two very unique and special dining experiences this holiday season - a Christmas Dinner featuring the wines of the Biltmore House on December 23rd and a New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31st. Get information on the Christmas Dinner here and the New Year’s Eve Celebration here (early seating) and here (late seating).
Food Bank Corner   
  • If you are looking for a truly meaningful way to make a direct impact on someone’s life this holiday season, consider donating to the annual Holiday Food Drive being conducted by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Their goal is $350,000, or 1.7 million meals before December 31st. Get all the details on how you can help here. 
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Friday, November 22, 2013

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 22, 2013

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

Featured Restaurant News
  •  This is exciting news. I was reading a national food blog this week called Eater and learned that Andrea Reusing, owner of Chapel Hill's Lantern restaurant, has plans to open a second establishment in downtown Durham. With nothing set in stone just yet, she did suggest that it is about a year out and will be completely different than the Lantern. We will keep you posted. 
Wake County Restaurant News 
  •  The much-anticipated addition to the North Hill's dining scene, Chuy's Raleigh, will open this Tuesday, November 26. Check out their Facebook page here.
  • Exciting news for downtown diners this week as Niall Hanley opened The Station Restaurant and Bar yesterday in the old Rosie's Plate location on North Person Street. Check them out here.
  • In a pretty quick turn of events, Raleigh's Brookside Market & Deli (1000 Brookside Drive) changed ownership over the past week and has re-opened as Brookside Pizzeria. 
  • The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that City Barbeque, a chain based out of Ohio, has begun renovation of the former Cinelli's Ristorante building at 1305 Kildaire Farm Road (think Trader Joe's) in Cary. They plan to open next April. We'll keep an eye on it.
  • We saw this week on the Chowhound blog that Café Soo (on Hillsborough Street across from the Bell tower) has found a new home. They will be moving into the old Fortune Palace location in Capital Boulevard's Stonybrook Shopping Center. Look for them to open there in December. Until then, stop by for a little Korean Fried Chicken at their current location.
  • Got word from John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) that Dickey's BBQ has opened another location in North Raleigh in the former Spinners Grill location at 14460 New Falls of Neuse Road next to the Wakefield movie theater. Check out Dickey's here.  
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  • The News & Observer is reporting today that The Pit, Durham's version of the popular Raleigh restaurant, will open next Tuesday - at least partially. Located at the corner of West Geer Street and Rigsbee Avenue (next to Fullsteam Brewery), you'll only get access to the ground floor of the restaurant. The upstairs, which features a rooftop patio, won't be accessible for another month. Check them out here.
  • The News & Observer is also reporting that across the street from The Pit, Motorco Music Hall has started serving food from its kitchen space, Parts & Labor. Chris Holloway, a local chef and entrepreneur involved in two other restaurant ventures in Durham County, has set an initial menu with global street food offerings. Check them out here.
  • The folks behind Triangle Brewing Company will swing open the doors to Pint & Plate today (Nov. 22) at 4 p.m...minus the plate. Several unexpected delays will keep it a beverage stop for a couple more months, with an anticipated January completion of the dining end of the establishment. They are located at 802 W. Main Street where The Roxy used to be. Get more details here.
  • The News & Observer also reported that 118 Got Soul recently opened their doors in downtown Durham. Look for barbecue turkey ribs, fried, smothered or roasted chicken, smothered pork chops and the like.
  • We continue to keep an eye on the mobile coffee bar called Caffe Bellezza over in Durham. They announced this week that very soon you'll be able to enjoy their goodness at Sam's Quick Shop in the mornings. Sam's is located at 1605 Erwin Road in Durham. In the meantime, check them out there. 
Closings 
  • We learned this week that last Saturday, Cameron Village's Café Caturra closed their doors. There are some early rumors swirling around about what the space will become, but it is too early to comment at this point. Suffice it to say, that is too hot of a location to remain closed for long. We will keep an eye on it.
Events 
  • On November 23rd from 5-8 p.m. the folks behind Chirba Chirba Food Truck and the folks over at Aviator Brewing Company are teaming up for a one-night pop-up dining experience at the Belt Line Station in Durham. The cost is $28. Reserve your tickets and get all the details here. 
  • Triangle Family Services' will hold their annual Gingerbread Benefit on Thursday, December 5 at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. Attendees will have a chance to view beautiful gingerbread houses designed by nearly 30 local chefs and support Triangle Family Services' mission to help families in crisis. Get more details here.   
  • Mark your calendar for 6 p.m. on December 11th when Chapel Hill's Il Palio restaurant at The Siena Hotel offers up a five-course dinner with beer pairings from Durham's Fullsteam brewery. The cost is $55 per person. For a reservation, call 919-918-2545. Get more information here.
Holiday Menus, Turkeys & Holiday Gifts!   
  • Don't want to cook on Thanksgiving? Here are some options for you. Both The Q Shack in North Hills and Neomonde in North Raleigh will have your turkey and all the fixings ready for you to pick up. For The Q Shack click here and for Neomonde just email Noelle here. 
  • Also, if you are so lazy that you don't want to even do that (I get it), Andrea Weigl over at the News & Observer has put together a list of restaurants that will be open on turkey day. However, we recommend you get your reservation in early. Here's the list.
  • If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has created the perfect option - a Shop Downtown gift card that, among other retail options, gives you access to over 37 downtown restaurants. Get your gift card(s) here. 
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Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 15, 2013

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

Featured Restaurant News
  •  Just before Valentine's Day 2014, the Triangle's diverse dining scene will add a new culinary option called Café LOVE, from the folks behind Triangle Raw Foods. It will feature a raw foods menu and will be located at 3219 Old Chapel Hill Blvd. next to Piper's Deli and between University Drive and MLK Boulevard in Durham. The eatery, whose name signifies Live Organic Vegan Eats, will be operated by chef Matthew Daniels and business partner Jane Howard Crutchfield. Learn more about them here.
Wake County Restaurant News 
  •  Listen up Chuy's fans, you are going to have to be a little bit more patient. Got the following note this week: Due to unforeseeable delays Chuy's Raleigh will now be opening on Tuesday, November 26. Check out their Facebook page here. 
  • Looks like Hillsborough Street just got another coffee option. Located at the new student-housing complex at 2604 Hillsborough Street, Saxby's (not to be confused with Zaxby's) has opened. Following that, they will open a second Raleigh location this winter over at North Hills near Harris Teeter where Henry's Gelato used to be. Check them out here.
  • And over in Cary, the Triangle's third location of Firewurst is now open. The newest in the lineup is on Harrison Avenue in the same shopping center where Bass Pro Shop is going in (right across from The Umstead Hotel). Check them out here. Thanks to Kristen Baughman for the heads up on that.
  • And there is a new dog in town called The Double. Serving up gourmet all-beef hot dogs and fresh-cut fries, they are located at 962-A Airport Blvd in RTP and they are open 10:30-3:30 on weekdays. Check them out here. 
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  • While all the buzz in Chapel Hill this week was about a new swanky movie theater going in at University Mall (and that is great news), I was more excited to hear that Plaza Azteca, a full-service restaurant serving contemporary Mexican cuisine, will open in the mall in 2014.   
  • Insomnia Cookies opened a new bakery in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, November 11. The store is at 145 East Franklin Street, across from the University of North Carolina. They are open until 3 a.m. and they will deliver! Check them out here. 
  • Also over in Chapel Hill we got word from a Chowhound post that a "Indi-Chinese" place (interesting, right?) called Rasa has opened in the old Ming Garden space in Chapel Hill North. I couldn't find a web page for it, but here is the Yelp listing for it.
  • I got an invitation this week to an opening reception for The Pit in downtown Durham. Based on the date of the opening reception, it looks like they will swing open their doors prior to the end of this month. Get ready Durham! Nothing much on their website yet.  
Closings (None!) 
  • Keep eating local, folks!  
Food Trucks 
  • Well the last Durham Food Truck Rodeo of 2014 is upon us and will take place this Sunday, November 17th from 12:30 to 4:30 at Durham's Central Park. Over 60 trucks, 15 local crafters as well as Fullsteam and Triangle Brewery will all be on hand. Get all the details here.
Events 
  • On Sunday, November 17th (from 1-4 pm) the good folks over at Sola Coffee Café in North Raleigh are throwing a "Thank You Raleigh Party" where they will be giving a free drink of choice to all their customers. (Proceeds for those who choose to donate will go to Friends of Wake County Guardian ad Litem, a program for abused and neglected children in Wake County. Check out Sola here. 
  • Here is another great foodie event to get on your calendar - the March of Dimes Triangle Signature Chefs Auction on November 17 at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. Attendees will be able to sample signature dishes from top chefs from around the Triangle while bidding on great auction items/packages during our silent and live auctions.  Get all the details here. 
  • On Wednesday, November 20 at 7 p.m., "Bacon Mania" hits Watts Grocery. Executive Chef, Amy Tornquist has partnered with Hope Valley Bottle Shop for a dinner highlighting every Southerners favorite food - bacon.  For $55 (excluding tax and gratuity), guests will enjoy five-courses including pairings specifically chosen to complement each dish. Get more details and register here. 
  • Urban Ministries of Wake County is hosting its ninth annual Stone Soup Supper from 5-7 p.m. on November 20th. The soup is being prepared by Scott Crawford of Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary; Eddie Wilson and Andrea Pettifer of Margaux's Restaurant in North Raleigh; Scott Rowe of Prestonwood Country Club in Cary; and Ben Holt of Raleigh's Capital City Club. Dinner costs $8 for adults and $4 for children. The handcrafted pottery bowls can be taken home for a suggested donation of $25. Tickets can be ordered ahead of time here.
  • On November 23rd from 5-8 p.m. the folks behind Chirba Chirba Food Truck and the folks over at Aviator Brewing Company are teaming up for a one-night pop-up dining experience at the Belt Line Station in Durham. The cost is $28. Reserve your tickets and get all the details here.
  • Triangle Family Services' will hold their annual Gingerbread Benefit on Thursday, December 5 at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. Attendees will have a chance to view beautiful gingerbread houses designed by nearly 30 local chefs and support Triangle Family Services' mission to help families in crisis. Get more details here.
  • Mark your calendar for 6 p.m. on December 11th when Chapel Hill's Il Palio restaurant at The Siena Hotel offers up a five-course dinner with beer pairings from Durham's Fullsteam brewery. The cost is $55 per person. For a reservation, call 919-918-2545. Get more information here. 
Holiday Menus, Turkeys & Holiday Gifts!  
  • Don't want to cook on Thanksgiving? Here are some options for you. Both The Q Shack in North Hills and Neomonde in North Raleigh will have your turkey and all the fixings ready for you to pick up. For The Q Shack click here and for Neomonde just email Noelle here.
  • Also, if you are so lazy that you don't want to even do that (I get it), Andrea Weigl over at the News & Observer has put together a list of restaurants that will be open on turkey day. However, we recommend you get your reservation in early. Here's the list.
  • If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has created the perfect option - a Shop Downtown gift card that, among other retail options, gives you access to over 37 downtown restaurants. Get your gift card(s) here.  
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Friday, November 8, 2013

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 8, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news...that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
 
Featured Restaurant News
  •  If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance has created the perfect option - a Shop Downtown gift card that, among other retail options, gives you access to over 37 downtown restaurants. Get your gift card(s) here.
Wake County Restaurant News 
  • Downtown Raleigh’s newest watering hole opened this week - Paddy O’Beers is located at 121 Fayetteville Street, directly across from Isaac Hunter's Oak City Tavern. Check them out here.
  • And in other alcohol related news in downtown Raleigh, the Triangle Business Journal reported this week the bizarre scenario of Napper Tandy’s closing on West Street, but opening the next day in the former Murphy’s Law restaurant location at 410 Glenwood Avenue (Murphy’s Law was owned by the same folks that own Napper Tandy’s).
  • North Carolina’s newest Dave & Buster’s location opened in Cary two days ago. Dave & Buster’s is located in Cary Towne Center. Get familiar with this newest fun and interactive dining experience by visiting them here. 
  • Also in Cary, we got word from a comment on the Chowhound blog that Cary is now home to a Cantonese restaurant called Banana Leaf. It is located off of Cary Towne Boulevard and Walnut Street at 1026 Ryan Road in the former Bombay Beijing space. I couldn’t find a web page for it, but here are a few Yelp reviews of it.
  • And in the Cary rumor file, I have received word from David McCreary (aka Lunchboy Says...) that he has a very reliable source that informed him that Chubby Taco’s will open their 6th Triangle area location in Cary next spring. We are going to hold David to this! We’ll keep you posted. 
  • Up in Wake Forest, WRAL turned us onto the fact that Tlaquepaque Mexican has opened in the location that used to be O'Charley's at 11206 Capital Boulevard. Check them out here.
  • Keeping things in Wake Forest, WRAL also reported last week that another restaurant is in the early stages. Next to Tlaquepaque, in the old Steak ‘n Shake location, will be a place called Britino’s. No other information is available at this time.
  • And out in Fuquay Varina (aka the Quay) Hosana Brewery and Pub opened last month with 12 beers on tap. Need we say more? Check them out here. 
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  • Got word from John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) that later this month Durham will become home to a mobile, solar powered coffee bar called Caffe Bellezza. The “truck” is the brainchild of Tim Morris and his wife Julie. We’ll keep an eye on it and let you know when it hits the streets. In the meantime, check them out here.
  • The Herald-Sun is reporting that Durham is getting ready to get a new burger joint when Smashburger opens in the Pavilion East complex on Erwin Road near Duke University Hospital. They are expected to be open next spring. Get a peek at them here. 
  • The Herald-Sun is also reporting that the Durham version of The Pit, part of the Empire Eats family, is slated to open in the next two to three weeks. The restaurant is planned to open in a former soda bottling plant at the corner of West Geer Street and Rigsbee Avenue, across from Motorco Music Hall. It’s in the same building as Fullsteam Brewery. Here is a peek at their Raleigh location, if you haven't been.
  • The owners of Triangle Raw Foods, who will soon be opening Café LOVE over in Durham, announced this week that they have secured a location. While they haven’t told us exactly where it will be, we do know it is in the South Square area near Piper’s Deli. We will keep you posted.
  • The Herald-Sun reports that Don Martelo’s has opened in the Erwin Terrace shopping center off Erwin Road. It’s in the second-floor space that fronts on Erwin Road that previously housed Sandella’s Flatbread Café. The development is also home to Nosh and Six Plates Wine Bar.
  • And over in Carrboro, if you find yourself in the market to purchase a successful restaurant, you’ll want to take a look at The Spotted Dog, located between Main Street and Weaver Street right in the heart of downtown Carrboro. Drop me a line if you are interested. Check them out here. 
Closings (but just temporary) 
  • Two closings to report this week, but thankfully they are only temporary. This week the building that houses Pizzeria Toro and The Cupcake Bar in downtown Durham caught fire leading to the temporary closing of these two establishments. We’ll keep an eye on them as they work towards reopening soon.
Food Trucks 
  • Cary is jumping on the food wagon trend tonight (November 8) from 5-9 p.m. as they host the first-ever Cary Food Truck Rally & Local Craft Beer Expo. It will be held outside Rally Point Sport Grill, in the parking lot of Harrison Square Shopping Center. Get more information and a listing of the trucks, beer vendors and other entertainment here. 
  • Can I get an amen? (especially when there are so few food truck events). St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cary is hosting its annual Big Bazaar from 10 - 4 on November 16th. The church’s Big Bazaar features 20 juried local artists and crafts people selling their wares, a bake sale, two food trucks (Big Mike’s BBQ and Will and Pop’s). Get more details here.   
Events 
  • Whole Foods in Raleigh is turning 21! And you are invited to free food from The Humble Pig Food Truck as well as beer (you have to purchase) from Big Boss Brewing tonight (November 8th) from 5-7 p.m. (or until the food runs out). Check them out on Facebook here. 
  • Ray Price Harley-Davidson will host its popular BBQ Cook-Off (featuring 12 chefs) and Veterans Day Celebration this Saturday, November 9. The public is invited to the Ray Price dealership for all-you-can-eat barbecue (beginning at 12 noon). The cost is $5 with all proceeds benefiting the U.S. Veterans Corps. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.  
  • If you are over in Orange County on Tuesday, November 12th, the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) encourages you to eat out for the 25th annual RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing 10 Percent) Day. This all-day fundraiser supports the IFC’s hunger-relief efforts in Orange County. For a complete listing of participating restaurants, click here. 
  • On Sunday, November 17th (from 1-4 pm) the good folks over at Sola Coffee Café in North Raleigh are throwing a “Thank You Raleigh Party” where they will be giving a free drink of choice to all their customers. (Proceeds for those who choose to donate will go to Friends of Wake County Guardian ad Litem, a program for abused and neglected children in Wake County. Check out Sola here. 
  • Here is another great foodie event to get on your calendar - the March of Dimes Triangle Signature Chefs Auction on November 17 at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. Attendees will be able to sample signature dishes from top chefs from around the Triangle while bidding on great auction items/packages during our silent and live auctions.  Get all the details here. 
  • On Wednesday, November 20 at 7 p.m., “Bacon Mania” hits Watts Grocery. Executive Chef, Amy Tornquist has partnered with Hope Valley Bottle Shop for a dinner highlighting every Southerners favorite food - bacon.  For $55 (excluding tax and gratuity), guests will enjoy five-courses including pairings specifically chosen to complement each dish. Get more details and register here. 
  • Urban Ministries of Wake County is hosting its ninth annual Stone Soup Supper from 5-7 p.m. on November 20th. The soup is being prepared by Scott Crawford of Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary; Eddie Wilson and Andrea Pettifer of Margaux’s Restaurant in North Raleigh; Scott Rowe of Prestonwood Country Club in Cary; and Ben Holt of Raleigh’s Capital City Club. Dinner costs $8 for adults and $4 for children. The handcrafted pottery bowls can be taken home for a suggested donation of $25. Tickets can be ordered ahead of time here. 
  • Mark your calendar for 6 p.m. on December 11th when Chapel Hill’s Il Palio restaurant at The Siena Hotel offers up a five-course dinner with beer pairings from Durham’s Fullsteam brewery. The cost is $55 per person. For a reservation, call 919-918-2545. Get more information here. 
Holiday Menus Through Triangle Food Guy! 
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