Friday Fun Food Facts - January 7, 2011

Welcome to 2011! I trust everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. Let's just say things have been busy in the Triangle restaurant scene these last few weeks, so let's jump right into it...

• Bear Rock Café is making some changes here in the Triangle. First, the Bear Rock Café in University Mall has ended their lease there. That's the bad news. The good news is that they will be re-opening in a matter of weeks over in Durham in the former Rick's Diner location (which moved down the street a few months back) on University Drive behind Sam's & Target.

• Which means there is a vacancy at Chapel Hill's University Mall. And word on the street, albeit not 100% confirmed, is that a Red Bowl Asian Bistro will be moving into that location. Which is interesting in that it is directly across from Spice Street. We'll keep you posted.

• In other Bear Rock news, the Raleigh location on Lake Boone Trail and the Morrisville location at the corner of Cary Parkway and Chapel Hill Road have changed ownership. Bart Carmichael and Arthur Page, who own another Bear Rock Café in Greensboro, have purchased those two stores. Look for new and fresh ideas coming out of those stores, including bakery-fresh desserts! Welcome to the Triangle Bart & Arthur!
  

• The N&O's Sue Stock is reporting that Wake Forest has landed Matt Naugle's first Triangle-area restaurant - Sambuca Chop House at 11216 Capital Blvd., near U.S. 1 and U.S. 1-A. If you frequent Lake Gaston, you'll be familiar with Naugle's other restaurant, the WatersView.
  

• You may remember back in July we told you about the opening of Mangia and Eat on Oberlin Road in the former EVOO spot. Well, if you didn't get by there, too late. After 6 short months, that dual-restaurant concept has closed and a new concept called Bellini is now open there. (And for the bonus points round, here is a list of the most recent tenants in that space - Johnson's Drug Store, The Bulldog, The Raven, Maccini's, Riptide's, EVOO, Mangia Bistro and Eat Kitchen & Bar...and now, Bellini.)
  

• Speaking of revolving doors, we've got an update to last month's news that Giorgio's was closing its doors at the corner of High House and Cary Parkway. Turns out former Blue Cross Blue Shield big dog Bob Greczyn is bringing the extremely popular Mellow Mushroom concept to Cary! Expect an opening toward the end of the 2nd quarter. It will be the Triangle's fourth Mellow Mushroom location.

• The Raleigh blog GoGoRaleigh reported last week that Crabtree Valley Mall will soon be home to a new restaurant called Red Monkey. It looks like it will occupy space on two levels, just to the left of the Belk entrance. Not much else is known about this concept at this time.

• Speaking of Crabtree, the renovations at Kanki Japanese House of Steaks & Sushi are complete. Check out their new bar and sushi area!
  

• The much-anticipated location of Tijuana Flats in Cary has announced that they will open on January 17 and will have a week of "grand opening" events. This location is at the corner of Cary Parkway and Kildaire, in the old Camille's Sidewalk Café location next to Trader Joe's.
  

• RDU's Terminal 2 south concourse will open at the end of this month, on January 23rd to be exact. The dining options that will be opening there include - Five Guys (although they might be delayed - no airport pun intended), Flavours, Jason's Deli, Carolina Vintages wine bar and Starbucks (with the new logo, we presume). Plan your flight schedule accordingly.
  

• The TBJ is reporting that North Raleigh will be getting a new McDonald's. The newest location will be in the Falls Pointe Shopping Center where the Kohl's store is.

• Here are a few more openings and renovations thanks to Sue Stock over at the N&O - Fuego Loco Mexican Buffet has opened at 4614 Capital Blvd. in Raleigh. The Dunkin' Donuts on Wilmington Street is undergoing renovations ('bout time). And if we didn't' have enough donut places, another Dunkin' Donuts has opened at 8401 Capital Blvd. in North Raleigh. And over in Durham, Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet has opened in the Oak Creek Shopping Center.
  

• Triangle Town Center's Twisted Fork has put a new twist on their dining experience. They have unveiled a 32-foot salad bar that features 24 pre-made healthy salads as well as 48 fresh items to build your own. A new 40-item menu has also been unveiled. Looks like those New Year's resolutions will be a little easier to keep.
  

• But maybe not. Here's one that is NOT good for those New Year's resolutions. IHOP has brought back their all-you-can-eat pancakes for $4.99 - available now through February 27th. There is just something cruel about the timing of this.
  

• OK, forget what I just told you about IHOP, let's get back to more healthy options. If you're over in Durham, you'll notice something a little different. The former Green Tango, located across Erwin Road from campus, is now Chopped Greens. And to mark their new opening, our friends at Chopped Greens will be offering all their salads and wraps for just $4.99 next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Be sure to drop in next week! Visit them online here.
  

• In case you missed it. Downtown Raleigh's Duck & Dumpling closed on the last day of 2010. But don't expect that space to sit empty long. Empire Eats restaurant group will open a new concept in that location this spring. While not officially announced yet, it is anticipated that the new concept will have a "south of the border" influence.
  

• For those that traverse 15-501 between Chapel Hill and Fearrington Village / Pittsboro, you'll have to look for a new spot to get your java fix. The little coffee hut Local Latte is all but empty now. It was located in the Cole Park Plaza shopping center near Torero's.
  

• Also over in Chapel Hill on Elliott Road, Café Parvaneh, which had been preparing the unique dishes of Persian (Iranian) cuisine for the past 15 years, has closed their doors.
  

• Sue Stock is also reporting that the OCharley's restaurant is Wake Forest has now closed. This is part of chain-wide closings that last month closed the Garner location. That leaves just the Cary location here in the Triangle.
  

• If you can't get enough of downtown Raleigh's The Mecca, we've got good news for you. They've obtained their liquor license and are now staying open until 11 pm on weeknights, and "late night" on weekends (they used to do this way back when). This also comes with a new late-night appetizer menu.

• With the new year comes new things and that is no exception for The Diner over in Raleigh. Not only have they introduced a new menu, but they've lowered their prices - including a $4.95 burger!

• Margaux's Restaurant and Taylor's Wine Shop, both in North Raleigh, are putting on a three-course dinner featuring the wines of Barnett Vineyards. Winemaker David Tate will attend the Jan. 27 dinner. For $75, you get three courses and samples of six wines. For a reservation, call 847-3069.
  

• Fearrington House has announced the dates in 2011 for their special dinners. These fill up fast, so you'll want to move quickly with the first one coming up on Sunday, January 16th. Each evening begins with a reception at 6, followed by dinner at 7 pm. The cost is $125 per person. Call 542-2121 to make a reservation. See the year's schedule on Andrea Weigl's blog here.
  

• The fourth annual Triangle Restaurant Week is taking place the week of January 24th this year. If you are not familiar with this event, participating restaurants offer special menu offerings and pricing during the entire week. It is a great opportunity to try out places you haven't been to yet. So, squirrel away your dining budget until the last week of the month and have fun! Here is a complete list of participating restaurants and their menus.

• Chick-fil-A is rolling out a new product...in typical Chick-fil-A fashion. Beginning next Monday, if you have a reservation, you'll be one of the first to try their new Spicy Chicken Biscuit. To "reserve" your biscuit, go here.
  

• And finally, with the new year comes nutty calendar happenings - like January 11, 2011 (1/11/11). So to commemorate that, Papa John's has a special offer-a large one-topping pizza for $11 and a second large one-topping for 11 cents more. That's two pizzas for $11.11 that is good for that one day for delivery and carryout customers.

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 17, 2010

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

But First...A Note To Our Readers...YOU!

Welcome to the "holiday edition" of Friday Fun Food Facts - my 40th edition and the last for 2010. As you will see, things slow down this time of year...and in my opinion, that is a good thing.

I do have a little bit of restaurant news to share with you (below), but I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and readership of this little newsletter that I put together every week. The response has blown me away and I am amazed at the readership and following that has exploded since launching in February of this year.

So while I've got your attention, I'd like to get on my little soapbox, if only for a minute. Thank you in advance for your patience, but this is important to me.

Being in the "food" business, I see a lot of food every day. And in my line of work, that is a good thing. And I am blessed to be here in one of the most vibrant communities in our country. But that said, our community also has a "food hardship" rating that is nearly double the national average. What does that mean? That means there are people right down the street from us that have to experience a feeling that many of us don't know anything about - hunger. And to put it bluntly, that sucks.

So please take a moment right now to consider helping either of these organizations that are out in those streets every single day combating hunger. Here are links to the websites for The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Thanks to both organizations for all they do.

One last thing - have an amazingly wonderful holiday season and enjoy this time with friends, family and loved ones. That is what matters most. And I'll see you again in what is sure to be an incredible 2011!

Sean

aka Triangle Food Guy

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• How can we not begin this "holiday edition" of Friday Fun Food Facts without first talking about an opportunity to dine with the great St. Nick. That's right, this Sunday you can enjoy breakfast/brunch with Santa at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The cost is $25 for adults, and $20 for children (includes a Holiday Beanie Baby). Reservations are required, so call 919.933.2001 or visit their site here.
  

• Congratulations to Raleigh's Saint Jacques French Cuisine and Pittsboro's Fearrington House Restaurant for making Open Table's top 50 list of Best Overall Restaurants in America. See the entire list here.

• O'Charley's is shutting down two of it's four Triangle area locations. The operations in Wake Forest and Garner are closing, but the locations in Cary and Raleigh will remain open. The Cary location is on Ashville Avenue, and the Raleigh location is in Brier Creek.

• Also in North Raleigh, in the Stonehenge Shopping Center (7432 Creedmoor Road), Orchid Japanese Restaurant is now open.

• Looking for a spot to "slow down" during the holiday rush? Well, just up the hill from Crabtree Valley Mall, in the Oak Park Shopping Center (across from Peddlers Steakhouse) is a little coffee shop that just started serving sandwiches, salads, soups and more - Loco Lu's Coffeehouse. Check them out while you are "out and about" this holiday season.

• Speaking of being out and about during the holidays. If you are looking for a place to dine after tearing open all your gifts under the tree on Christmas Day, the News & Observer's Greg Cox has put together a list of Christmas Day dining options available to you. Lest you think you are the only one not interested in cooking on Christmas, reservations are highly encouraged. Here is the list.
  

• And I can't wrap up the abbreviated "holiday edition" of Friday Fun Food Facts without at least giving you the opportunity to win a gift. The N&O's Andrea Weigl is passing along two coupons for free sandwiches at downtown Raleigh's newest restaurant addition - Dickey's Barbecue Pit. All you have to do is leave a comment here, and she'll randomly choose the winner on Wednesday, December 22nd. You can't win it if you don't enter! So why not!?!
  

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 10, 2010

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

• This is huge news for downtown Raleigh! Over in the warehouse district the Italian restaurant Blue has opened in The Depot (327 W Davie St.). Blue is the creation of Maurizio Privilegi, the former long-time chef at Café Luna, and his wife Patricia. If you are looking for truly authentic Italian cuisine from the countryside of Tuscany, this is a must! Here is a link to their website.
  
  
• Also in downtown Raleigh, you've now got a new pizza option. Located on the ground floor, plaza side of the Bank of America Building, ZPizza has opened their third Triangle location. Be sure to stop in and say hello to Steve!
  
  
• Can't afford to go to Europe? Well, the folks over at Lafayette Village in North Raleigh just brought "Europe" a little closer - this place is cool. Located on Falls of the Neuse Road (at the intersection with Honeycutt Road), not far from the 540 Interchange, this European-style shopping village has an amazing list of new "foodie" destinations: Henry's Gelato, Paparazzi Italian Restaurant, Simply Crepes, Antonio's Gourmet Market, Jubala Village Coffee, Upper Crust Bakery, Vinos Finos y Picadadas and Village Grill. Here's a link to the village website. Well worth the visit!
  
  
• Also in North Raleigh, a new sports pub has opened up called Tap City. Dubbed as an American saloon, they feature 32 beers on tap, and another 32 in bottles (that's 64 for those keeping score at home). While the menu is "classic American," they are quickly gaining a reputation for their hand-patted burgers. Visit them at 6675 Falls of Neuse Road or online here.
  
  
• There is a new bistro opening next Monday, December 13th in North Hills. It just happens to be in a bowling alley! The Bistro at Sparians is a full-scale restaurant serving American favorites with an upscale twist. Trust me, this isn't your "typical bowling alley food"!
  
  
• We have a quick update on Chapel Hill's newest restaurant addition - Streets Restaurant, Market & Deli. It is looking like a soft opening at some point after December 17th (inspection), with a grand opening likely the first of January. Hang in there! If you want to keep up with them, visit their Facebook page here.
  
  
• The News & Observer's Sue Stock noted this morning a couple of new dining options in Raleigh: Ichiban Grill Buffet opened at 2105 E. Millbrook Road offering a Japanese buffet, sushi and hibachi. And in the Brierdale Shopping Center, Fiasco's restaurant is open at 107 Moncreiffe Road, serving food like sliders, flat breads and salads.
  
  
• And not far down the road in Johnston County, the legendary Holt Lake Bar-B-Que & Seafood re-opened this week after a fire back in April. Let's just say this place will be packed for quite a while so you better get there early!
  
  
• Weathervane, the restaurant at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill, is hosting a beer dinner featuring brews from LoneRider Brewing Company on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 7 pm. The five-course meal with beer pairings costs $45. To make a reservation, call 929-9466.

• Downtown Carrboro's Acme Restaurant is having a Holiday Wine Dinner on Sunday, December 12th beginning at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will feature wines from France selected by Bruno Arricastres of Wine Without Borders. The price is $55 and reservations can be made by calling 919.929.2263.
  
  
• Kudos to the Angus Barn for being recognized in the latest copy of Our State magazine as one of the state's premier steak houses. There is no doubt about that! Read the article here.
  
  
• Sammi's Pizzeria is now open again for lunch. They held their grand "reopening for lunch" event last Monday. Sammi's is located in the Shoppes at Bedford, at 3607 Falls River Avenue in Raleigh.
  
  
• Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill in Wake Forest (3309 Rogers Rd) has launched a new menu. The menu now features all of your old favorites with lots of new items that will be sure to please your taste buds! Take a peek here.
  
  
• Guglhupf Bakery (2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. in Durham) will hold the 2nd Annual German Christmas Market this Saturday (Dec. 11) from 10-5. Do your holiday shopping while you take in live music, great German food and beverages, crafts, art and more. Visit their events' site here.
  
  
• Looking for the perfect gift for the food lover on your list? How about cooking classes? And how about cooking classes at our brand new culinary school - The Chef's Academy. See the full list of classes open to the general public.
  
  
• And if not cooking classes, how about some "foodie" gift ideas unique to North Carolina. Here are some great gift ideas that are unique to North Carolina. This list was put together by the News & Observer's Andrea Weigl and the Charlotte Observer's Kathleen Purvis.
  
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  And finally, during this season it is especially important to remember those who are struggling in our community. During this season of celebration, we need to remember those that are less fortunate, even in a community as vibrant as the Triangle.
  
  It was brought to my attention this week by blogger Mary Choe that the Raleigh area food hardship rate is 16.7, almost twice the national average. People are counted as food hardship cases when there have been times during the year that they didn't have enough money to buy enough food for themselves or their family.
  
  To that end, I'd encourage you to consider some sort of donation this holiday season to two of the hardest working organizations in our community that help those that are simply hungry.
  
  Please consider a donation to either the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle or the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina.

Friday Fun Food Facts - December 3, 2010

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

• If you are a big fan of Amedeo's Italian Restaurant on Western Boulevard, we have some big news to share. Rick DeAngelis, son of original owner Dick DeAngelis, is back! As some of you know, Rick opened Amedeo's North on Falls of the Neuse Road in North Raleigh, but has "come home" to manage the original store. Stop by and visit Rick!

• Listen up downtown Raleigh. Z Pizza will officially open their third location on the ground floor of the Bank of America building this weekend. Z Pizza will participate in Raleigh's Winterfest Celebration this Saturday, and will "officially" open their doors on Sunday. Congratulations to Steve Drotts on his third store. Interestingly enough, Steve and his wife recently gave birth to their third child! They say things happen in threes...

• Things are "a changing" in downtown Raleigh's City Market. Angelo's Restaurant owner Evangelos Liatos is retiring, and therefore closing. But plans to transition the space into a New Orleans-style eatery are already underway. Brian Battistella will be moving his Battistella's New Orleans Kitchen - which has been located over in the Crabtree Inn near Crabtree Valley Mall - into the space. Look for a January opening.
  

• Raleigh is landing North Carolina's first location of Gigi's Cupcakes. Gigi's announced that it will be opening its newest location a little later this month in The Shops of Oberlin Court, near the intersection of Oberlin Road and Wade Avenue. Find out more about Gigi's here.
  

• Sheilagh Duncan, owner of Pie Bird, has found a permanent location (or nest as she puts it). Pie Bird, which serves pies, soups and salads, will eventually be located at 618 N. Person Street in downtown Raleigh. More information here.

• Brier Creek in Raleigh is experiencing some big changes. First, Noodles & Company opened this week in the former Camille's Sidewalk Café location. This marks the 5th Triangle location of Noodles & Company.

• And the other news from Brier Creek is that Qdoba Mexican Grill is "coming soon" to the former Salsarita's location. This will mark the 7th Triangle location of Qdoba. No news yet on an open date.
  

• Gregory Papadopoulos, formerly of Gregory's in Cary, has just opened up his latest venture. He has brought his talent over to Raleigh and opened Wade Park Café, which is in the Wade Park office development directly across from the RBC Center and next to Cardinal Gibbons High School. The café features salads, croissants, wraps, panninis and soups.

• Sweet Spoons frozen yogurt has opened in Raleigh at on Wakefield Commons Drive near the Marquee Cinemas in the Wakefield Development. More information here.
  

• Over in Durham, Seth Gross announced this week that he has sold his interest in Wine Authorities (2501 University Drive) to his business partner so that he can focus on his new venture, Bull City Burger and Brewery, which is scheduled to open at 107 E. Parrish Street in February. Get more information here.
  

• Also in Durham, Cuban Revolution Restaurant just announced the launching of Cuba Joe - an 8 am - 11 am fare offering local roasted coffee, pastries, muffins, fresh fruit and made-to-order tacos. They are offering coupons on their Facebook page for free items!
  

• Carolina Ale House is getting closer to opening its 9th Triangle area location. The newest one, which is on schedule to open next year, will be in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh at the corner of Glenwood and Tucker Streets - that's across from Sullivan's and Armadillo Grill. Check out the artist rendering here.
  

• Chapel Hill's newest restaurant addition - Streets Restaurant, Market & Deli - is just days away from opening. The last official "announcement" from the owners had hoped for an opening the first week in December. Which means any day now. If you want to keep up with them, visit their Facebook page here.
  

• If you're looking for a big cup of mocha while shopping this holiday season at The Streets at Southpoint, your options are a bit more limited. LaVita Dolce has closed up shop. That's the bad news. The good news is that Nordstrom has a pretty good little coffee shop at their first floor entrance. The other good news is that the Chapel Hill location of LaVita Dolce (in Southern Village) remains open.

• My "Cary food correspondent" Tim Moore shared some sad news this week for DQ fans. The Dairy Queen on Walnut Street has gone out of business (I know, take a moment to gather yourself). All of their equipment was auctioned off yesterday. To make matters worse, I was unable to secure a Blizzard machine for my home.
  

• If lights turned out and a disconnected phone number are any indication, Pittsburgh Pizza & Wing Factory at 13200 News Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh has closed.
  

• Can't get enough "foodie" news? Then tune in to WPTF radio (680 AM) this Saturday at 11 am as Greg Cox of the News & Observer debuts his new radio show - "Dining Out with Greg Cox." You can even get the show online at www.wptf.com.
  

• Looking for gift ideas for the "foodie" on your list? Here are some great gift ideas that are unique to North Carolina. This list was put together by the News & Observer's Andrea Weigl and the Charlotte Observer's Kathleen Purvis.
  

• Alright food truck lovers. Looks like there is a convergence of food trucks at Durham's Rock n' Shop from noon until 6 pm tomorrow. Rock n' Shop is a unique event that features over 50 designers as well as lots of musical entertainment. Word is there will be at least 4 of the area's food trucks on site. Tickets are $5. More information here.
  

• Tribeca Tavern, located in Stone Creek Village at the corner of Highhouse Road and Davis Drive in Cary, announced this week that they have a new menu. They've added new burgers, cheeses, sandwiches, and entrees. Check them out here.
  

• Downtown Carrboro's Acme Restaurant is having a Holiday Wine Dinner on Sunday, December 12th beginning at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will feature wines from France selected by Bruno Arricastres of Wine Without Borders. The price is $55 and reservations can be made by calling 919.929.2263.
  
  And we close with a couple of tidbits that will surely add some padding for the winter.
  

• Krispy Kreme is now serving up some of their old and new holiday favorites: The Snowman Doughnut, The Wreath Doughnut, The Chocolate Iced Glazed Doughnut, The Chocolate Peppermint Bark Doughnut, and the Peppermint Krispy Kreme Chiller! Perfect treats for the holidays.
  

• And finally, Burger King is now offering a buy-one, get-one free on their original chicken sandwiches. They are promoting it on their website and I saw an ad on TV last night. Not sure the length of the promotion, so if this is your thing, you better get into the BK Lounge now!

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 19, 2010

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

There have been quite a few openings here in the Triangle this month, so let's get started with a quick tour. I'll provide websites so you can spend a little more time finding out about each.

• We'll begin up in Hillsborough where there is a new steakhouse in town! Russell's Steakhouse opened this month in the old Occoneechee Steakhouse location (after an extensive renovation) on Churton Street. Appears to be your typical "steakhouse" menu featuring 21-day-aged steaks. Visit their website here.
  
  
• Up in Rolesville, you can enjoy a little Calabash-style seafood with the opening of Fitzgerald's Seafood Restaurant which is located at 308 South Town Circle. Visit them online here.
  
  
• Our journey next takes us over to Apex where Fuji Asian Bistro opened in the former Ocean Stars Seafood and Oyster Bar location on Williams Street, near the US1 and Hwy. 55 exit. I was unable to locate a web address, so you're just going to have to plan a night out in Apex!
  
  
• Wingstop, the self-named "Wing Experts" out of Texas, has recently opened their third Triangle location in Paddington Station at 1721 New Hope Church Road in Raleigh. The other two Triangle locations are in Durham on Martin Luther King Parkway and at 202 NC Highway 54 (near Fayetteville Road). Visit them online here.
  
  
• Speaking of Durham, the Hope Valley Shopping Center continues to unveil new dining options. You'll recall this is the same location as Only Burger, Rick's and Pop's Backdoor. Well, it looks like they are going to add a yogurt shop into the mix as there is a Tutti Fruitti sign hanging in one of the windows now. That little corner of Durham is becoming a dining hot spot.
  
  
• And back over in Raleigh, a new pizza bar called Chow has opened in the former Gianni & Gaitano's location on Creedmoor Road (near the intersection with Strickland) in the Towne North Shopping Center. Chow is owned by the same group that owns Porter's, Frazier's, Vivace and Croquette. Chow does not appear to have a website up yet, but here is a link to their sister restaurants.
  

• There is a new pizza joint in town...well, sort of. WhichWich Gourmet Sandwiches is now serving up "pizzawich creations" that look delicious. Pepperoni Pizzawich, Hawaiin Pizzawich, Veggie Supreme Pizzawich and Baco-roni Pizzawich. WhichWich is located at 4025 Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh.
  
  
• The Raleigh location of Ted's Montana Grill fell victim to the company's decision to close nine of their under-performing stores. But the good news is that you only have to travel to Durham to get your Bison fix, as the Durham store (across from the Streets at Southpoint) remains open.
  
  
• Triangle restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias has closed Café Giorgio in Cary (it was located at the corner of Highhouse Road and Cary Parkway) where it opened almost exactly one year ago. Apparently the location has been sold to a new owner, and Bakatsias is looking for a new location. Stay tuned on that as well as what will next occupy that location.
  
  
• Kudos to Beyu Caffe in downtown Durham. They were recognized this week by Downtown Durham Inc. as one of the 2009-2010 Outstanding Downtown Retail businesses. Congratulations!
  
  
• In a breath of fresh air, Ruby Tuesday's announced this week that all of their nearly 700 locations will be smoke free.
  
  
  And we can't finish off this week's information without a quick nod to everyone's favorite dining holiday... Thanksgiving. Here is some fun Thanksgiving information primarily pulled together by the staff over at the News & Observer.
  
  
• Looking for fresh options for your Turkey Day spread? Fresh as in, it was in the field yesterday, fresh? Well, all five Triangle Area Farmers' Markets will be ready for you next Tuesday. Here are their hours on Tuesday - Carrboro from 3-6 p.m.; Durham from 2-5 p.m.; Hillsborough from 4-7 p.m.; Chapel Hill from 3-6 p.m. and Cary from 3-6 p.m. Recipes are also available at the Triangle Farmers' Markets site.
  

• For those looking for the perfect wine to serve at their Thanksgiving day feast, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has put together a nice list of wine tastings at local wine shops. Check out here list here.
  

• And for those looking for dining out options on Thanksgiving day, the N&O's Greg Cox has put together a great list of restaurants taking reservations for Thanksgiving. Take a peek here.
  
  
• And we close with a deal. And it is a great deal for you coffee lovers that have in-laws that are in town. From now through this Sunday, Starbucks will be offering their holiday beverages for free, with the purchase of another holiday drink. Think Peppermint Mocha. So you can treat your in-laws to coffee, without having to spend any money on them! Bonus!
  

• Don't want to wait until Friday for the area's latest restaurant news? Follow me on Twitter.
  

Here is wishing you and your family a very enjoyable Thanksgiving.

And speaking of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no "Friday Fun Food Facts" next Friday. It is widely anticipated that I will be in a food coma and will be unable to pull this together! Gobble gobble!

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 12, 2010

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

• If shopping makes you hungry, there is good news if you find yourself at Crabtree Valley Mall. Andy's Burgers, Shakes & Fries has just opened in the old Dunderbak's location (boy, do I miss Dunderbak's!).
  
  
• What's with all the yogurt places opening up right when it is getting cold? Anyway, FreshBerry Frozen Yogurt has opened its second Raleigh location at 2526 Hillsborough Street. The other Raleigh location is at Six Forks Station in North Raleigh.
  
  
• Originally slated to open in September, it looks as if Streets Deli in Chapel Hill has a more firm date of December for their much-anticipated opening in East 54. Their website now posts the December "opening" date and photos on their Facebook page show significant progress. Hold on all you relocated Yankees, it won't be long before you can try out a new joint where their motto is - A real New York deli served with a Southern accent, in a New York minute!
  
  
• If you were anywhere near Centennial Campus this past Wednesday, you probably ran into a little traffic. Well, it looks like it is going to be that way every Wednesday from 11:30 to 2 as Durham's incredibly popular (and famous) food truck Only Burger will be setting up shop weekly on Varsity Drive. If you live in Raleigh, and haven't had an Only Burger, you should make plans for an upcoming Wednesday. It is a must! Follow Only Burger on Twitter!
  
  
• Now this is interesting. A new restaurant called Bull Street Gourmet & Market is making plans to open at Hope Valley Square in Durham. That is the same strip mall that is home to Pop's Backdoor, Only Burger and Rick's Diner - located on Shannon Road. The interesting thing is, Bull Street, while it may appear to be playing off the "Bull City" theme of Durham, is actually a concept out of Charleston, South Carolina (located on Bull Street, nonetheless).
  
  
• Xios Authentic Greek Cuisine in Apex closed its doors this past Monday after 7 years in the business. Their website noted a variety of factors including the slowing economy and the increasing cost of food imports.
  
  
• Sue Stock reported this morning that C&H Cafeteria on Forum Drive in Raleigh has closed. The Durham location, at 1720 Guess Road near Northgate Mall, remains open, as well as the original location in Kernersville.
  
  
• And for all you food truck fans, it appears as if Mom's Delicious Dishes Food Truck has ceased its mobile operations. No word yet on whether they will continue the catering arm of their business.
  

• If you are a veteran and missed all the restaurant specials yesterday, take heart that Golden Corral will hold their 10th Annual Military Appreciation Monday, next Monday. All active-duty and retired U.S. military personnel will get a free dinner buffet and beverage on Nov. 15.

• T.G.I. Friday's is also continuing the celebration of our current and former military personnel (with ID) with a buy-one-get-one offer on entrees. Also, they will be given a $5 coupon for their next visit. This special runs through Sunday.
  
  
• If you'd rather not cook, clean and make the annual effort to figure out how the electric knife works this Thanksgiving, we've got good news for you. Or should I say, the News & Observer has good news for you. Greg Cox has put together a list of restaurants that will be serving up the turkey day offerings. But get your reservations in now! He'll be updating the list all next week.
  
  
• Or, if you just want someone else to cook the turkey and all the sides, and you bring it home, then The Q Shack at North Hills has you covered with Thanksgiving meal options that are all homemade and packaged ready to serve or to reheat as you wish. And the other cool thing is that Tom uses both free-range and local turkeys. Get your order in by November 22 and pick up by 5 pm on November 24th. More information and online ordering here.
  
  
• In case you were following it, the winners of the Bull City Vegan Challenge were announced earlier this week. Find out all the details at their website.
  
  
• Durham's Blu Seafood and Bar is offering their popular oysters and bubbles four-course dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 17th at 7 pm. The cost is $45 and reservations can be made by calling 919.286.9777 or by visiting their website.

• Most of us sip wine and don't think much of it, but next Thursday (Nov. 18th) a group of women want you to do that, but they want you to do so realizing that nearly one billion people on our globe lack access to clean water. The wine tasting, which will also feature appetizers and a raffle with really cool prizes, will be held at The Vintage Bar and Lounge located at 116 N. West Street in downtown Raleigh. 100% of the proceeds will go to Wine to Water Projects, a non-profit focused on providing clean water and sanitation to countries around the world. More information about the event can be found here and more information on Water to Wine can be found here.
  
  
• In the "Mark Your Calendar" file, make note that the dates have been set for the third annual Triangle Restaurant Week. Next year's "winter" edition will be held January 24th through the 30th. During this week tons of restaurants offer specials and really showcase their establishments. Be on the lookout for more details as they become available.

• Listen up Red Lobster fans...Do you think Red Lobster needs a fresh look and some new menu options? If you do, you're in luck. All 700 stores will receive make-overs to reflect the look and feel of Bar Harbor, Maine. 1/3 of the stores will be remodeled by June of next year, with the remainder by 2014.
  

• Speaking of makeovers, all six Triangle locations of Boston Market have recently been remodeled, both externally and internally (with a new decor that provides a warm and inviting feel) as well as with new menu items that are being tested solely in the Triangle market. Boston Market has another 364 locations outside of the Triangle.
  
  
• We are in day two of Pizza Hut's latest promotion. It is a 10-day promotion (Nov. 11-20) where you can get two medium pizzas with up to three toppings for just $6 each. This offer is available for delivery, carryout or dine-in orders.
  
  
• Quizno's has new coupons available for $1 off a regular sub and $2 off a large sub. The coupons are good through November 19th. Click here for the coupons.

• Don't want to wait until Friday for the area's latest restaurant news? Follow me on Twitter.
  

Friday Fun Food Facts - November 5, 2010

• Firehouse Subs is now available for online catering orders throughout all of Raleigh, Garner, Chapel Hill and most of Durham. Visit their menu here. At Firehouse Subs, they cater to appetites, wherever they gather. Whether it's a party, an office lunch or a game-time feast - hearty subs piled high with the best meats, cheeses, and toppings around.
  
  
• I was in Wake Forest yesterday and saw the "Grand Opening" signs outside Newmoon Café at 2101 S. Main Street, across from the Wal-Mart. Turns out this is the "reincarnation" of Joe Leli, the original founder of Babymoon Café in Morrisville. Definitely worth a visit. Visit Joe online here.
  
  
• Sandella's Flatbread Café is having their grand opening today at noon at 2816 Erwin Road in Durham. Sandella's will be serving up soups, salads, paninis, quesadillas, grilled flatbreads, wraps, rice bowls and more! Click here (and scroll down) to get 50% off all food items.
  
  
• Last month, The Restaurant Group of Raleigh opened Tap City, a restaurant and tavern in the former Stonewood Grill space on Falls of the Neuse Road in Raleigh across from North Ridge Country Club (between Moe's and Chick-fil-A). It has a steakhouse inspired menu with 32 beers on tap. These are the folks behind Village Draft House, Sawmill Tap Room, Falls Tap Room and Leesville Tap Room.
  
  
• In Cary, Marilyn's Pizza, known for baking your own customized pizza in stone ovens, recently opened. They also offer calzones, salads and homemade desserts! Visit Marilyn's Pizza at 2131 Kildaire Farm Road in the Saltbox Village complex.
  
  
• Here's a very cool new dining experience. The District at 410, the restaurant at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, is open for lunch Thursdays and Fridays through Dec. 17. The restaurant, located at 410 Blackwell Street in Durham's American Tobacco Warehouse District, is run by student chefs, so you are likely to get an amazing meal, relatively cheap, and all in the name of education! Reservations can be made from 11:30 -1:30 pm either online or by calling 919.317.3200.
  
  
• Last week we reported that Tommy's Deli on Ten Ten Road in Apex had closed and that something else was opening up. Well, turns out Tommy's Deli just changed ownership and will be retaining the name and the menu.
  
  
• There's a new food truck in the Triangle. Slippin Sliders features gourmet sliders made from fresh, local ingredients served all over the Triangle via a bright blue truck. Visit their website or follow them on Twitter.
  
  
• Rumor on the street is that the Old Havana Sandwich Shop is VERY close to opening. It will be located at 310 E. Main Street in downtown Durham. Their slogan is "putting the Cuban back in Cuban sandwiches" and the website confirms a November opening. Stay tuned!
  
  
• Looking for fresh, local produce for your Thanksgiving? You are in luck! All 5 Triangle farmers markets will be having special markets on Tuesday, November 23rd. And all the information is on one website.
  
  
• Who wants free coffee? Or should I say, who doesn't want free coffee!?! Well, mark your calendar for next Wednesday, November 10th as all Triangle locations of Bruegger's will be giving away free cups of coffee. Bruegger's is combining this event with an effort to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network, with monies raised locally going to Duke Children's Hospital. So, get a free cup of coffee and help a great cause. Sounds like a great idea to me!
  
  
• Speaking of coffee. I'll take a Grande Mocha with no whip...and a Budweiser. What? Apparently Starbucks is introducing beer and wine in one test location, with potential plans to roll it out to thousands of locations. Great, that's all I need, some guy spilling his beer on my laptop...
  
  
• Dewey's Bakery, known for their Moravian cookies and custom cakes, is in the process of opening their seasonal stores in the Triangle. The Cameron Village location (next to The Fresh Market) and the Crabtree location (near Macy's) have already opened. The Cary Towne Center location (in front of Macy's) and the Triangle Town Center location (lower level in front of Macy's) will open November 15th.
  
  
• Another local bakery is getting some national exposure. Apex's Sweet Memories Bakery will appear on the Food Network Challenge on Sunday, November 7th at 8 p.m. where they competed in the giant wedding cake challenge. They created a six-foot-tall cake with the hopes of taking home the $10,000 purse! Tune in this Sunday to find out if they won!
  
  
• This Sunday, you can dine on some delicious barbecue while helping a good cause. Stop by Poole's Diner between 5:30 and 8:30 this Sunday and enjoy a heaping pile of barbecue with all the sides, dessert and Fullsteam Brewery craft beer. All proceeds benefit the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood. Tickets are $75 for adults; $35 for children. Tickets are limited. Phone orders can be made at 919.459.1611 or you can order tickets here.
  
  
• If you love Chipotle Mexican Grill, listen up. They are developing an Asian restaurant concept modeled after the Chipotle concept. Now here's the catch - they will open a single Asian-inspired restaurant next year but they haven't disclosed a location. Let's all hit them up here, and let them know we want it in the Triangle. Who's with me?
  
  
• The Stonecreek Village Shopping Center Fall Festival is this Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be lots of free food and drink as well as activities for your children. Stonecreek Village is located at the corner of High House Road and Davis Drive in Cary. For more information, click here.
  
  
• The 22nd annual RSVVP Day (Restaurants Sharing Ten Percent) in Orange County will be Tuesday, November 9th. On that day, eating breakfast, lunch, dinner or just popping in for a drink of snack will send 10% of your order to the Inter-Faith Council food programs. Click here for more information and a full list of participating restaurants.
  
  
• Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake. Need I say more? Hit up your nearest Chick-fil-A for this holiday gem! My kids and I knocked down one of these earlier this week and all I can say is, it is so worth it!
  
  
• Next Thursday, November 11th (Veterans Day), Chili's is paying tribute to our veterans and active military men and women by offering them a free entree (none of which are served in vacuum-sealed plastic bags, nor do they require hydration!).
  
  
• Downtown Durham's Revolution restaurant is offering a Gruet wine tasting this Monday, November 8th at 6:30 pm. The dinner will feature four small courses for $40. Reservations can be made by calling 919.956.9999 or visiting their website here.
  
  
• Café Helios' first beer dinner (featuring Fullsteam Brewery) has been rescheduled and it will be next Thursday, November 11th starting at 6:30 p.m. This is limited to 30 people, so get on the list early. Call 919.838.5177 to sign up for the $40 experience (plus tip and tax). More information here.
  
  
• Durham's Blu Seafood and Bar is offering their popular oysters and bubbles four-course dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 17th at 7 pm. The cost is $45 and reservations can be made by calling 919.286.9777 or by visiting their website.
  
  
• Alright folks, here is an amazing opportunity to try one of my favorite Triangle restaurants - Acme in downtown Carrboro. They'll be doing their Thanksgiving dinner (or supper) from noon until 8 pm. The three courses are only $27.95 per person ($12.95 per child). Think about it - would you rather cook, remember how to use the electric knife and wash a gazillion dishes? Or enjoy a true gem in the Triangle? Reservations at 919.929.2263.