Friday Fun Food Facts - November 1, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  Thanks to a tip from New Raleigh, we confirmed via their Facebook page that Plates opens today on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. As you’ll remember, Plates took over the former Zely & Ritz location at 301 Glenwood Avenue. They had their soft opening last night. You can check them out on Facebook here.  

Wake County Restaurant News 

• Staying with downtown Raleigh news, the Garland on Martin Street is getting ever closer to the opening of their dining room. It was reported by New Raleigh that their walk-up window has ceased operations, a clear indicator that we are that much closer to the opening of their dining room. We’ll continue to keep an eye on it. The best place to stay current is their Facebook page here.

• TerraFin Station will open next Monday (November 4) in place of Falls Tap Room which closed earlier this year. The restaurant will serve American fare with locally-sourced ingredients, including steak and seafood entrées. TerraFin Station currently has a location open in Garner. Check them out here.

• This week we got a confirmed opening date on the new Chuy’s location over at North Hills in Raleigh. From company officials, we now know that they are opening on Tuesday, November 19th. I can almost taste it now! Check them out here. 

• We also got word this week that North Carolina’s newest Dave & Buster’s location will open its doors to the public next week on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Dave & Buster’s will be located in Cary Towne Center. Get familiar with this newest fun and interactive dining experience by visiting them here.

• Another location of Pizza Hut / Wing Street has opened - this time in Morrisville at 11010 Lake Grove Boulevard. What was originally supposed to be just a delivery location, it has opened with a small dining room. They are located just off Davis Drive next to the UPS store.

• And 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. 

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• Baguettaboutit, the food truck that sells a variety of sausage-stuffed baked French baguettes, is holding a grand opening celebration today (November 1) from 5-8 p.m. just prior to their brick and mortar location opening next Monday, Nov. 4. Today’s grand opening celebration will be a food truck rodeo including Baguettaboutit, Sweet Traditions, Captain Poncho and American Meltdown. Baguettaboutit Cafe will be at 2945 S. Miami Blvd., behind Sheetz and Waffle House in the former Worth It Café location. Get more details here. 

• We just got word that Café LOVE, from the folks over at Triangle Raw Foods, has found a new home, but they are not disclosing the exact location until they sign the lease. Check out Triangle Raw Foods here. 

• And over in Chapel Hill, I happened to stumble upon a new restaurant that has just opened in the Gateway Commons Shopping Center on East Franklin (think Staples and Blockbuster, in the former Quizno’s, then Camos Brothers location). It is called Café 35, but I didn’t have a chance to investigate any further, but I will do so this week. Perhaps it is affiliated with Chinese 35 which will have to move from its current University Square location. I will know more next week.

Closings 

• Downtown Raleigh's Pop Up Ice Cream Parlour confirmed this week on their Facebook page that this Sunday (November 3rd) will be their last day of operations. No word yet on whether they will "pop up" somewhere else. We'll keep an eye on it.

• And in even more terrible news, “For Rent” signs went up in the former LocoPops location in Raleigh (and we assume in Chapel Hill as well). Thankfully the Durham location remains!

Food Trucks 

• It is happening again. From one truck to two trucks and now to a permanent brick and mortar location. That is right, just after midnight, KoKyu was able to pass their $46,000 kickstarter goal with the support of 458 people who wanted a permanent location in downtown Durham. So, I guess that will be the next big announcement - the actual location of KoKyu. Congrats! Check them out here.    

Events 

• The Taste of North Hills week concludes this weekend with great specials at 8 great restaurants in the North Hills area. Each restaurant has special three-course menus for $15 at lunch and $30 at dinner. Get all the details here. 

• If there is one way to bring Duke and Carolina together this time of year, it is beer. And the Washington Duke Inn is doing just that with a fun beer dinner planned with Carolina Brewery on November 6th. Executive Chef Jason Cunningham and Chef de Cuisine Murray Healy will present a four-course prix-fixe menu paired with limited-edition Carolina Brewery beers. Carolina Brewery will also unveil a brand new beer at this dinner. Get all the details and ticket information here.

• 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 on 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 on 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 as 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. 

• 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.

Food Bank Corner 

• The folks over at West 94th Street Pub in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in Durham are hosting their Oktoberfest this Saturday (November 2nd) from 2-6 p.m with German-style food and beer samples. Bring 5 canned goods for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and sample all beer stations for just $10! Get all the details here.