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.
  Check them out here. 

• 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!   

• Ordering a "Holiday Lunch" for your office? We've made it simple for you. Check out these great holiday menus from A Catered Affair, The Picnic Basket, Catering By Design, We Cook For You Catering, Neomonde Cafe and Green Planet Catering. As an added bonus, all orders off any of these Holiday menus (now through the end of the year) will earn you double points!! Order away and happy holidays!

• 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.