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.

• We got word last week that Gregoria’s Kitchen will be re-opening in their new location - 2701 Hillsborough Road in Durham - in early 2014. Keep up with the latest developments 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.