Friday Fun Food Facts - October 21, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Mia Francesca's Trattoria, the new restaurant at the entrance to the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel in North Hills, opens for dinner tonight with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. It occupies a space created by a $1-million renovation of the hotel. Francesca's is a Chicago-based concept and this marks their first East coast venture. But keep your eyes open for possibly two additional Triangle area locations. Check them out here.  

• After months of speculating, we have now confirmed that Charlotte's Cowfish is coming to Cameron Village, and more specifically the former Foster's location. And the name is as interesting as it is accurate - the concept serves up sushi and burgers. Don't believe me? Check them out here.  

• We got word this week that Wake Forest is getting its very own brewery! That's right, White Street Brewing Co. is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012 in historic downtown Wake Forest at 218 S. White Street. The brewery will offer four different small batch ales and lagers as well as specialty seasonal options. Check them out.   

• Well this didn't take long. We told you last week that Raleigh's version of Time Out Chicken would soon return to a 24/7 operation and that apparently is the case. Rick DeAngelis is not wasting any time! Time Out is located at 3001 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh.

• Eschelon Hospitality is getting closer to opening its newest concept, Zinda. It will be a two-story Asian restaurant located on the ground level of the RBC Plaza building in downtown Raleigh and will open just after the first of the year. Eschelon also operates Mura, Sono, The Oxford, Dapper Style House and Cameron Bar & Grill. Learn about all of their concepts here.  

• Durham's L'Uva Enoteca (located on the American Tobacco campus) has been wildly successful since its opening and just this week unveiled their new menu. Take a peek here. 

• Raleigh's Solas restaurant, located in the Glenwood South district, is now offering a permanent meat-free menu every Monday night for vegans and vegetarians. The new menu includes vegetable lasagna, sweet coconut curry vegetables, barbeque kabobs, zucchini noodles, Cuban black beans and stuffed poblano peppers. By request, the menu is available any day of the week. For more information, go to their site or call 755-0755 for a reservation.

• Moe's Southwest Grill at Triangle Town Center is brewing up a spooktacular treat this Saturday, October 22, from 3-5 p.m. with a children's pumpkin carving contest judged by the one and only Wool E. Bull. Moe's Triangle Town Center is located at 3721 Sumner Blvd. in Raleigh. For more information call 919-792-2960 or visit their site.

• If you're looking for a delicious and unique Sunday brunch option, look no further than the "South Indian Brunch" at Martin's Curry Rice. Martin serves it up every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Get more information on Martin's website. 

• Rockfish Seafood Grill in Durham is hosting a "Casks for a Cure" fundraiser from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 that may intrigue local beer lovers. The event will feature three brewers who have yet to open, a real treat for beer geeks! Participating will be Hillsborough's Mystery Brewing Company, Saxapahaw's Haw River Farmhouse Ales and Carrboro's Steel String Brewery. For a $10 donation, you will get a t-shirt, food samples and tastes of the three casks. Proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The restaurant is located at 8030 Renaissance Parkway in Durham (Streets at Southpoint). For more information about the event, go to the Facebook page or call 544-9220. 

• Raleigh's Gateway Restaurant is offering a German dinner on Nov. 5. The four-course meal with German beer and wine pairings will cost $50 a person. Appetizers are served at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m. The menu includes a cucumber salad, a beef broth and dumpling soup, rouladen, a thin beef roll-up, served with spaetzle and red cabbage and an apple puff pastry with ice cream for dessert. Seating is limited, so make a reservation by calling Tom or Martina at 832-3020. For more information about the restaurant, go to their web site .

• Mark your calendars for the extremely popular Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Jamboree which will take place this year on Monday, November 7th (4-8 p.m.) and Tuesday, November 8th (6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.) in The Durham Armory at 220 Foster Street in downtown Durham. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. Kids eat free with adult.

• This year, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is not only Election Day, but also the 23rd annual RSVVP (Restaurants Sharing V/5 & V/5 Percent). Eat out or take out all day - breakfast, lunch and/or dinner - at any participating restaurant, and 10% of your tab will be donated to the Inter-Faith Council's hunger-relief programs, the Community Kitchen and the Emergency Food Pantry. To see a full list of participating restaurants, visit their website here.

• The March of Dimes is holding its annual Triangle Signature Chef's Auction on Sunday, November 13th.  Local chefs and caterers will present their signature dishes in tasting-size portions during a cocktail reception and silent auction. It will be held in Chapel Hill at the Carolina Club. For more information, visit their site here.

• Maybe there is hope yet for the meals served in our schools. Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) did its part by hosting a competition among local chefs. And the winner? Chef Ruby Arthur of PieBird Restaurant was awarded the Iron Carrot at Lunch In, an Iron Chef-style competition held at Hunter Elementary School, for her winning healthy lunch creation featuring carrots. 

• Looking for a fun, affordable and unique venue for a corporate gathering? Z Pizza is aggressively booking reservations/orders for holiday parties in both their downtown Raleigh and Cary locations. Contact them prior to November 1st and receive additional savings. Call Maria at 919-302-3883 if you are interested.

• And I would be remiss without sending out a huge congratulations to Andrea Weigl (the N&O's phenomenal foodie!) on the birth of her daughter! Enjoy your "leave" (not sure why they call it that, because it is anything but...). Congratulations Andrea!

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 14, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Raleigh is getting ready to get a whole lot sweeter. The extremely popular Sugarland Bakery in Chapel Hill has just announced that they will be opening a Raleigh location in Cameron Village. The space will be twice the size of their current location allowing them to explore a "brunch option" as well as hosting private classes, cookie parties and other events. Like Chapel Hill, the store will feature a full bar. Look for them to open this second location toward the end of the first quarter of next year. Start getting familiar with them by checking them out here. 

• We got word this week that the Triangle's fourth location of La Rancherita has opened in Morrisville (4075 Davis Drive). It takes over the space formerly occupied by Nikos Taverna. Get more information here.  

• The question of, "Which wich?", will get even more complicated on October 29th. That's the day that the Triangle's third location of the popular Which Wich sandwich shop will open in North Hills in Raleigh.

• The Moe's at the corner of Westin Parkway and Harrison Avenue is holding their grand reopening celebration TODAY (Oct. 14) following their recent expansion. The "new and improved" Moe's features the Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine (think 100+ brands of Coke!), seating now for 150, a larger salsa bar, and a private meeting room. Games and prizes will be available TODAY from 11-1 and TONIGHT from 5-7 pm. Wool E. Bull will also make an appearance today around noon. Check them out!

• I might be a little slow on this, but happened to notice that the Original NY Pizza has opened on Falls of the Neuse Road across from North Ridge Country Club in the location that used to house Stone Wolf Coffee. Check them out here.  
  
  
• La Carreta Restaurante Mexicano is set to open in the former Amedeo's North location on Falls of the Neuse Road (behind Tribeca Tavern). No word yet on an open date, just a "Coming Soon" banner out front. We'll keep an eye on it for you.
  
  
• Speaking of Rick DeAngelis (originally of Amedeo's, then Amedeo's North, and then Amedeo's again), the N&O's Andrea Weigl is reporting that Rick has left Amedeo's and is partnering up to expand the offerings of Time Out Chicken on Hillsborough Street, Raleigh's version of Chapel Hill's famous hang-out. Look for new offerings (adding turkey, more vegetable sides, daily specials and desserts from cinnamon buns to banana pudding) and expanded hours (i.e. 24/7) with Rick coming on board.
  
  
• And speaking of Chapel Hill, Bread and Butter, a new bakery and coffee shop, has opened over on Rosemary Street (503 W. Rosemary Street to be exact) in the former Oriental Garden location. The initial reviews are strong as they get settled into their new surroundings.

• The N&O's Andrea Weigl reported this week that Durham's popular bakery, Rue Cler, will expand their retail operations with even more bread and pastry offerings - more breads and pastries is always good news! Look for the expanded offerings by next week. Check them out here.  

• I've had several of your ask about an opening date for Sir Pizza in Morrisville at the corner of McCrimmon Pkwy. and Davis Dr. I stopped by yesterday and the interior appears to be ready for business, but they are waiting on the green light from the city of Morrisville, as well as the completion of the sidewalks and a few other odds-and-ends. But it appears as if it won't be long now.
  
  
• Gonza Tacos Y Tequila on Leadmine Road (think former location of Savoy, and before that, Fins) is very close to opening. A couple of more tweaks to satisfy the health inspector and they'll be ready to open their doors. Keep up with their pending announcement on their Facebook page here.  
  
  
• With the cool air moving in, it means leaves changing colors, hockey season kicking off, and a new menu from Chef Dave Alworth over at Guglhupf Café in Durham. Check out the new additions to their menu here.  

• If you are a food truck junkie, you'll want to mark your calendars for two upcoming food truck rodeos. The N&O has the scoop here.  

• This is a little cheesy, but worth the inclusion. The Durham Farmers' Market is celebrating the First Annual National Cheese Month throughout October.  This Saturday (Oct. 15), Chef Dave Alworth of Guglhupf Café will join Portia McKnight of Chapel Hill Creamery to talk about cheese making and to cook with cheese.  You might want to work this into your Saturday morning. 

• And finally, we close with something fun for those that love to dine in Durham. The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau is conducting its annual survey to see which food spots get the most love. If you have an opinion (and we know you do), weigh in here. 

Friday Fun Food Facts - October 7, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Listen up Moe's fans. Your wait is over! The newly expanded and larger Moe's at the corner of Westin Parkway and Harrison Avenue opened (soft) yesterday! The grand opening is planned for next Friday, October 14th. Congrats to David, Kermit and their team!

• There is a new food truck, I mean bike, in Durham! And to make it even better, it is a donut bike! Monuts (I'm guessing it is a meshing of "mobile" and "donuts") has just joined the growing mobile food scene in Durham. Check out their story and find out where they are. 

• The doors to the former location of The Food Factory in downtown Cary have reopened as Dory's Downtown Deli! They opened this week (soft) and are planning a grand opening celebration for next Monday. Look for some familiarity, as Ray Dory is a cousin of Lisa Schmid, one of the owners of The Food Factory. Welcome to Cary Ray! 

• There is a new dining option in Chapel Hill. Guru India will have its grand opening tomorrow (October 8) with half-off meals. Chef/owner Narinder Singh had two restaurants in Greensboro before taking over this location, which was the former India Palace. Guru is located at 508 W. Franklin Street. Get more information here.   

• Not too far over in Pittsboro, a new Greek restaurant has opened at 964 East Street called Greek Kouzina. They also own the Greek Fiesta restaurants in Raleigh and Cary.

• We told you last week that Shane Ingram had parted ways with ONE Restaurant in Chapel Hill and G2B in Durham. This week we learned that Sean McCarthy (Magnolia Grill & Giorgio in Cary) has taken over at ONE. And that Carrie Schleiffer (Table in NY) has taken over at G2B. Be sure to check out these young talents!

• Looks like things are starting to move forward with The Garland at 14 W. Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. While it is too early to talk about an opening date for Raleigh's next Indian cuisine, we can tell you that the initial phase will feature a walk-up window, with the final phase adding a dining room and outdoor seating. The Garland will be in the former location of Martin Street Pizza.

• My buddy Len informed me this week that over in Cary The Stonewood Grill & Tavern (1080 Darrington Drive) has closed their doors after a 10-year run. Cary was Stonewood's only location outside of Florida.  

• While news came out this week that the contract to reconstruct Pittsboro's infamous courthouse had been awarded, there was also news this week that Red Star Coffee, located just off the circle in downtown Pittsboro, had closed.

• And over in Chapel Hill, The Daily Tar Heel confirmed that Chill Bubble Tea has indeed closed their Franklin Street location there in the heart of downtown.  

• Speaking of Chapel Hill, who else misses Bonne Soiree and chef Chip Smith? Well, he is returning to the Triangle once a month to cook a Sunday supper at The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. The first one is October 16th at 1:30 pm. The meal includes passed hors d'oeurves, an appetizer, entree and dessert. The meal costs $75 with wine pairings and $50 without wine. The next two are scheduled for Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. To make a reservation, call 919-742-5176. For more information, go to their site. 

• Looking for some free food? Look no further than Hot Box Pizza on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh on October 28th. On that day from 2-5 pm, stop by and celebrate the 6th Annual National Breadstix Day for a free sample of stix. Hot Box is located at 2304 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. 

• Speaking of free food, how about a little free cider - especially with the nip in the air that has ushered in the fall season. Take a friend with you this Saturday to the Saturday Market At Rebus Works and you'll both enjoy a complimentary cup of cider. The Market also features tons of other food and drink options. For more details, check it out here.  

• If you are looking for cooking classes, food tours and more food events, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has put together an amazing list. Check it out here.

• The 18th Annual Taste of Chatham will be held on Oct. 16 from 4 to 6 pm at the Carolina Meadows Auditorium in Chatham County, just outside of Chapel Hill. Enjoy food from some of Chapel Hill's finest eateries. Tickets for the event are $50 per person and are limited to 150 seats, so purchase your ticket early by contacting Megan Coggins at 542-4512 or at megan.coggins@chathamcouncilonaging.org.

• The first ever RTP Food Truck Rodeo was a huge hit and will now become a monthly event. In fact, the next one is already scheduled for Thursday, October 20th from 11:30-1:30. This week's event featured three food trucks and attracted over 250 people! They are hoping to increase the number of trucks for October's event.

• And speaking of food trucks, it didn't take Raleigh long to plan a huge food truck rodeo - Food Truck King - also scheduled for October 20th (but in the evening from 5-9:30 pm). It will be held in City Plaza along with music, circus performers (not sure if that includes some of our Raleigh city councilors that fought the food trucks) and beer. The event is sponsored by The Raleigh Downtowner magazine. The event benefits Meals on Wheels and will conclude with the tapping of "Food Truck King" as voted upon by attendees. Food Truck King is free to attend, but tickets are available for sale to 250 attendees to sample tasty treats from all food trucks plus two free beers and a chance to win $200 worth of gift certificates to local restaurants. Get more information here. 

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 30, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• The shiny, silver, Airstream "food truck" known as DaisyCakes has confirmed that their "brick and mortar" location will be open by the end of October. The new location will be at 401-A Foster Street in downtown Durham (next to the Durham Farmers' Market). DaisyCakes specializes in breakfast pastries, coffee, drinks and some of the best cupcakes you've ever had.  Keep up with them here.  

• The Barking Cow Pub & Eatery in the Lake Boone Shopping Center in Raleigh is now open. Barking Cow takes over the space formerly occupied by Second City. Barking Cow is the newest member of the family that includes Sawmill Tap Room, Macgregor Draft House and Leesville Tap Room.  

• Pharaoh's is back in downtown Raleigh, now off the Jones Street entrance to the NC Museum of History (think General Assembly side). This marks Pharaoh's second attempt at a downtown location after closing a location last year on Davie Street in the Progress Energy building.  

• Chapel Hill has a new Italian restaurant and pizzeria - Tedesco's. It is located at 1404 E. Franklin Street, former home to Los Potrillos, and prior to that, El Rodeo. And while the Tedesco name is familiar to this area, this restaurant is owned by a husband and wife team that just located here from southern Florida. Get more information on their website here.  

• It is official. After a grand opening yesterday, the Triangle is now home to The Chef's Academy, a culinary arts school. The facility is absolutely amazing and is located at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. in Morrisville. Get more information here. This is truly a feather in the Triangle's cap! 

• And speaking of grand openings, the re-opening of the expanded Moe's Southwest Grill at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Westin Parkway has been put on hold, pending inspection from the city of Cary. Come on Cary, let's get with it! A grand opening will be announced once that inspection is complete. Maybe the mayor will join them to say, "Welcome (back) to Moe's!!!"

• Talk about the transformation of one parlor to the next. We got word this week that Mitch's Bar & Grille has opened on Ninth Street over in Durham in the former Dogstar Tattoo location.  

• In an interesting bit of news this week, the N&O's Andrea Weigl reported that Chef Shane Ingram, who gained local fame with the extremely popular Four Square Restaurant in Durham, has amicably parted ways with the anonymous investor he partnered with to bring ONE to Chapel Hill and G2B to Durham. That can't be good news for those two establishments.  

• Also, Cary's downtown dining scene took a bit of a blow last week with the closing of Gayla Bonke's Chatham Street Café & Catering. This falls on the heels of the closing of The Food Factory which moved to Duke's campus over in Durham. Still no word yet on the opening of Dory's Downtown which is to fill the space vacated by The Food Factory. 

• This is a little outside of my "Triangle" area coverage, but I just learned that one of my favorite little restaurants has closed - Yancey House in Yanceyville. I went once with my wife, and am even more grateful now that we went. They don't make restaurants like that anymore...My best to Chef Lucindy who is now offering cooking classes at Terrapin Cove Farm.     

• Congrats goes out to Daniel Whittaker, owner of Green Planet Catering, for winning the 2011 Green Award presented by the Triangle Business Journal. Read more on his award here. Congrats to Daniel and his team! 

• Looking for something fun to do this weekend. Look no further than the 4th Annual Pittsboro Pepper Festival taking place at the Briar Chapel community park in Chapel Hill / Pittsboro. In addition to the great food (from 25 local chefs), good brew (5 local breweries represented) and good music, there will also be lots of kid activities. The event is from 4-7 pm on Sunday, Oct. 2. Tickets are $25 until tomorrow, and $30 at the door. Get all the details here.   

• Over in Durham, Piedmont Restaurant is now hosting Family Style Sunday Suppers every Sunday night. Choices include fried chicken, vegetarian dumplings, roasted pork loin, and whole fish filet. Main items are $20 and sides are $6, with each easily serving two people. Check them out this, and every, Sunday night. More information here.   

• The first ever RTP Food Truck Rodeo was a huge hit and will now become a monthly event. In fact, the next one is already scheduled for Thursday, October 20th from 11:30-1:30. This week's event featured three food trucks and attracted over 250 people! They are hoping to increase the number of trucks for October's event.

• And speaking of food trucks, it didn't take Raleigh long to plan a huge food truck rodeo - Food Truck King - also scheduled for October 20th (but in the evening from 5-9:30 pm). It will be held in City Plaza along with music, circus performers (not sure if that includes some of our Raleigh city councilors that fought the food trucks) and beer. The event is sponsored by The Raleigh Downtowner magazine. The event benefits Meals on Wheels and will conclude with the tapping of "Food Truck King" as voted upon by attendees. Food Truck King is free to attend, but tickets are available for sale to 250 attendees to sample tasty treats from all food trucks plus two free beers and a chance to win $200 worth of gift certificates to local restaurants. Get more information here.   

• And finally, Acme restaurant over in Carrboro is holding another one of their wildly successful wine dinners on Monday, October 3rd, this time featuring well-known Argentinean winemaker José Balbo. It's an opportunity to sample some of the hottest wines sold in America with some downright delicious Acme food. And talk to the man whose family is at the very heart of the great Argentine wine renaissance. The dinner will start at 6:30. Price is $60 per person for 5 courses and 5 wines (1 white wine and 4 red). Reservations are required by calling 919-929-2263. What else do you have planned? Dancing with the Stars? Really?

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 23, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Cary is getting mellow...well, more like getting their own Mellow Mushroom! Beginning next Monday, folks over in Cary will be able to enjoy Mellow Mushroom in their new location at the corner of Highhouse Road and Cary Parkway. They expect to be open for lunch and dinner daily, from 11 a.m. until midnight. For more information, go here, or their Facebook page. 

• New Orleans cajun has arrived in downtown Raleigh. The long-awaited Battistella's has opened in the former Angelo's location at 200 E. Martin Street. Chef Brian Battistella's new digs will be open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays and Sunday brunch. Looks like it will be another month or so before they open for lunch. Battistella's menu isn't just Cajun fare, it's classic New Orleans and upscale Southern cuisine. Be sure to check them out on Facebook here.    

• Also in downtown Raleigh, Calavera, a new empanada and tequila bar, opened Wednesday night of this week. The establishment is located at 444 S. Blount Street.  

• It appears as if downtown Raleigh's newest Indian restaurant, Mantra, is open in the building once occupied by Blue Martini and Vintage Bar. While this hasn't been 100% confirmed (I would call first to 919.833.2823), they list an event at the restaurant tonight on their website. They will be open daily at 11 a.m. where executive chef Gamer Rawat, formerly of Saffron, will be serving up authentic Indian cuisine with Western updates. They are located at 116 N. West Street. More information here.   

• I must have missed this, but back in April a restaurant called Goodness Gracious opened over in Durham serving up Southern-style food. They are located at 1301 N. Alston Avenue. See more on their Facebook page here.    

• Moe's in Cary at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway is just about done with their massive expansion. Last we heard, they were re-opening either today or Monday. I'd check in before heading over, but the expansion will more than double their dining area and add a room for private events. Welcome to Moe's! Check in with them on Facebook here.    

• We were over at Target near the Streets at Southpoint and noticed the "coming soon" sign hanging over a new Moonberries Frozen Yogurt. It is located in the retail strip center directly in front of Target (across from Tomato Jake's). We don't have an open date, but we'll keep an eye on it for you.   

• Speaking of yogurt, Frozen yogurt business Yogen Früz is adding two U-Serve Froyo Stations in North Hills and Triangle Town Center with a third new U-Serve store opening in November at Crabtree Valley Mall. Won't be long now before there is a yogurt option on every corner!   

• And this is a real gem for our area. The Chef's Academy, a new culinary school in Morrisville, will celebrate its grand opening next Thursday, Sept. 29, with a Triangle chefs' showdown. The event, which is open to the public, is from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Morrisville campus at 2001 Carrington Mill Blvd. The school is asking folks to RSVP. You can do that online and see more details about the event here.

• One of Andrea Weigl's "must go to" foodie events is tomorrow in Chapel Hill. TerraVITA will bring together some of the finest biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews in the world with some of the very best North Carolina chefs, known for their devotion to locally-grown organic ingredients. Participants can choose from a variety of workshops and tastings, from a Sustainable Classroom to a Grand Tasting on the Green. The event will be held at the Village Green in Southern Village. For tickets and more information, check out the TerraVITA website.    

• Prepare yourself for a night of food and beer as Big Boss Brewing Company of Raleigh hosts Casktoberfest on September 29th. To celebrate the Oktoberfest Season, Big Boss is putting together their largest selection of cask conditioned ales ever assembled for a single event with a focus on their very popular fall seasonal release: Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale! To bring the German festival theme full circle they have teamed up with local caterers to offer authentic Bavarian cuisine for the event! Big Boss Brewing Company is located at 1249-A Wicker Dr in Raleigh. Get more information here.

• Hurricanes fans will have another shot in the upcoming 2011-2012 season to experience the cheesy goodness of Moe's Southwest Grill's "Caniac Queso Goal." Moe's just announced the return of this incredibly popular promotion in which fans get a free side of queso and hot fresh chips following each regular season home game in which the Hurricanes score five or more goals. Let's go Canes!

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 16, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• We've got to start with some good news out of Chapel Hill (we all know they need some good news). And this is GREAT news...bring on the Greek Grilled Cheese on a Pita! That's right, Hector's is opening their grill this Saturday in time for the UNC v. Virginia football game. Who cares what the NCAA thinks...Hector's is back!   

• Ashely Christensen's latest restaurant venture, Chuck's is now open. This burger establishment is also downtown and right next door to Beasley's, her chicken joint, which opened just a few weeks ago. And on the menu? Burgers. All made in a very unique way, but the "foundation" of each burger is a half-pound, house-ground, flat top seared, 100% chuck on a potato roll. And fries, shakes and a few other things. But mostly it's about the burger...and great burgers at that. Be sure to add Beasley's and Chuck's to your "must try" list. You won't be disappointed.    

• Raleigh is getting its third (sixth in the Triangle) Chipotle Mexican Grill this coming Tuesday. This rendition is located at 2316 Hillsborough Street directly across from NC State. It is in that same stretch as Jimmy John's, Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins and I Love NY Pizza. 

• Somebody got a facelift! Over on Glenwood South, The Diner closed for a few days this past week for an interior renovation, but that wasn't all that was new when it opened back up Thursday morning. They also rolled out a new menu and introduced their new chef, Corey Palakovich. Stop by and check out all the updates at The Diner.  

• Speaking of new chefs and new menus, fans of Savoy's former chef, Peter Gibson, will be tickled to learn that you can now enjoy Peter's creations at the NOFO at the Pig in Five Points in Raleigh. Peter just rolled out his menu last week. Check him out the next chance you get and welcome this extremely talented chef back! 

• A new Neopolitian pizzeria, al Dente, opened in the former Wildflour space in Stonehenge Market shopping center in North Raleigh. They have a custom-made, high-temperature coal-fired oven to make their pizzas as well as serving classic and signature pasta dishes. It is located at 7456 Creedmoor Road, near the Bruegger's Bagels. For more information and to see the full menu, click here.  

• Vin Rouge chef and part owner, Matthew Kelly, is finalizing plans on a new Spanish-inspired tapas bar and restaurant called Restaurant Mateo which will open at 109 W. Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham...soon. He is putting final touches on the financing. The two-story spot is the former Book Exchange location. 

• Also in Durham, Gregorias Kitchen opened yesterday at 2818 Chapel Hill Road in Durham. Featuring Cuban food, the restaurant is located in a historic 1920s property that once housed The Peddler Steakhouse. Check them out here.  

• Fans of Al Carter, better known as Big Al's BBQ & Catering, will be happy to know that this November he will open a "brick and mortar" location at the intersection of U.S. 401 and Forestville Road in the Forestville Crossing shopping center in Northeast Raleigh. The restaurant will offer pork, ribs, chicken and beef brisket cooked on hickory wood, plus homemade coleslaw and fresh hush puppies. Carter said he still expects to use the food truck for select big events and catering. 

• If you live out in Clayton, you've got a new option for lunch and dinner. The Latin Grill has opened off U.S. 70 at 876 Gulley Drive. Opened by brothers Eddy & Galo Andrade, the restaurant serves Portuguese and Argentinean food, including grilled steaks, ribs and chicken.  

• Café Capistrano in Cary has closed. The Cary location was in Carpenter Village at 2250 Gathering Park Circle. That's the bad news. The good news is that the Raleigh location in Durant Station remains open. 

• Here are a couple of fun listings we encourage you to check out...although not on the same night. The N&O's Andrea Weigl has put together a list of wine tastings coming up throughout the Triangle, as well as a listing of upcoming church suppers. If you do hit them up on the same night, might we suggest you do the church dinner first!

• Perhaps spurred by the new ordinances in Raleigh, the Triangle has a new food truck - Chick_N_Que, featuring, you guessed it, chopped chicken barbecue, Eastern North Carolina style.    

• Pronto Pasta, located in the former Bear Rock location at the corner of Six Forks & Wake Forest Road, has a new, revamped fall menu. New items include hand-rolled meatballs, rich home-made alfredo sauce and whole-wheat spaghetti. Check them out here.   

• If you like Greek food, this weekend is your dream come true. The fairgrounds in Raleigh will host the 30th Annual Greek Festival featuring food, pastries, live music, dancing and the marketplace. A portion of the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. Get more information here.  

• This might be a sight worth seeing. First Flight Venture Center (FFVC), located at 12 Davis Drive in RTP, is hosting the very first RTP Food Truck Rodeo on September 22nd (that's next Thursday). If the turnout is as big as they anticipate, they plan to make this a monthly event. More details here.  

• The 6th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will be held this weekend (September 17-18) from 1-5 p.m. and will be the biggest Eastern Triangle Farm Tour to date. Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, the tour features 25 sustainable farms located across the Eastern Triangle.  Advance tickets are $25 per carload or cycle group.  Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday and can be used to visit all of the farms on the tour. Day-of tickets are $30 or $10 per farm. Info and tickets.  

• On Monday, September 19th, Acme in Carrboro is hosting an Italian wine dinner with Blair Taylor, who's kindly flying into town for the evening. It's going to be great. Think of it as the Piedmont of Italy meeting the Piedmont of the Carolinas. Barolo and Barbaresco from two of Blair's great producers. Veal Cheeks and Duck Confit from Acme. Five courses and six wines. $55 per person. Reservations are required by phone at 919-929-2263. It'll start at 6:30.   

• Who remembers the N&O's Andrea Weigl's list of "must go" food events? Well, TerraVITA food & wine event in Chapel Hill in just over a week was one of them. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. TerraVITA brings together biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews with some of the very best North Carolina chefs that are committed to using locally-grown organic ingredients!    

• Listen up Paula Deen fans, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has the skinny on her book signing in Raleigh on October 14th. Check out the details here.    

• Today, and today only (i.e. September 16) Rocky Top Hospitality is offering ½ off gift cards for The Twisted Fork Grill & Bakery. You can get the $40 gift card for only $20. Only good at Twisted Fork, the gift card must be used by Oct. 31, 2011. Get yours now!

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 9, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• So the hottest new spot in Durham is officially open (as of this past Thursday). Scott Howell (known for Nana's) has taken over the former Fish Shack location on University Drive in Durham (next to Nana's) and opened NanaTacos. And when I say "open" I mean open. The renovated spot is very nice and has a renovated outdoor area and a "very open" feel throughout. Can't wait to try it!

• Gonza Salamanca, formerly of Dos Taquitos and Cantina South, is opening Gonza Tacos Y Tequila in the former Restaurant Savoy (and before that Fins) location at 7713 Lead Mine Road in Greystone Village. Look for a November opening. Keep up with it on their Facebook page.  

• Looks like a Raleigh native (with a pretty cool name) is going to breathe new life into the former Evoo location at the corner of Oberlin and Fairview. Mandolin will boast a casual atmosphere and fresh, contemporary Southern fare brought to you by Sean Fowler, most recently with The Fearrington House in Pittsboro. Sean is shooting for a November opening. Keep up with Mandolin on their webiste here.   

• Well, it looks like the Renaissance Hotel in North Hills is getting another dining option this fall. We just got word that Mia Francesca Trattoria will be opening in October offering simple, rustic, Italian food. Francesca Restaurants has over 20 locations in the Chicago area, and with a handful of other locations outside of Illinois. This will mark their first venture into North Carolina. Check them out here.    

• And over in Chapel Hill on Elliott Road we saw a "Coming Soon" sign for Tracy's New York Deli. There is a sign in the window about hiring staff, but no information on an open date. We'll keep an eye on it for you. It is located directly across the street from Red Lotus and Monterrey Mexican restaurants. 

• Great news for folks looking for more dining options in downtown Durham on Saturdays. Durham's beloved Ninth Street Bakery, located at 136 E. Chapel Hill St. across from the Marriott Hotel, is now open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Stop in tomorrow! 

• Rocky Top Hospitality unveiled two new menus last week at Draft Carolina Burgers & Beers and Tribeca Tavern (with locations in Raleigh and Cary. I'm still waiting on the Chapel Hill location...). The new menus include DOGS! All natural ½ pound sausages made exclusively for Rocky Top Hospitality by their friends at Top Hog Farms. Options include the Spicy Italian, the Polish Brat, Chorizo, and Andouille. The new Draft menu can be viewed here. The new Tribeca Tavern menu can be viewed here. 

• After a year-long discussion (although some thought it happened too fast) Raleigh is going to allow food trucks starting October 1st. Hoping to latch onto some of Durham and Carrboro's success, Raleigh's newly passed ordinance is a little more restrictive, but will be reviewed after six months. I don't think there will be a food truck rodeo (the ordinance won't really allow that) on October 1st, but I'm sure you'll see a lot more activity in Raleigh next month. Next city to enter the food truck frey...Chapel Hill. Stay tuned. 

• And speaking of food truck news, we heard last week that Durham's Local Yogurt, located pretty much at the intersection of 15-501 Business and University Drive, has a truck! Look for them around town (and maybe even in Raleigh now) serving up frozen yogurt.   

• And if that is not enough yogurt news for you, Raleigh will be home to Moonlight Swirl frozen yogurt this November. They will be located on Falls of the Neuse Road, directly across from North Ridge Country Club in the former Mattress Warehouse location (right next to Moe's). We'll keep you posted once we get an official open date. In the mean time check them out here and here.   
• We are getting very close to the opening of Mantra Indian Cuisine, located in the Glenwood South District in Raleigh. Their website now features a sneak peek at their menu (yumm!). Check it out here.     

• The folks at The Thrill at Hectors over in Chapel Hill are apparently still working on their kitchen. Sigh. A post on their Facebook page on August 31st hoped for an opening last week...but apparently not yet. We'll continue to watch this. I'll ask my buddy Gordon to check on this while he is in Chapel Hill this weekend and give me an update. 

• This could be my favorite time of the year! That's right...Dunkin' Donuts just released their Fall menu! Look for the  return of Dunkin' Donuts' famous Pumpkin Coffee and Latte, Pumpkin Donut and Munchkin donut hole treat, a new Pumpkin packaged coffee, hot or iced Apple Cider, a new Caramel Apple Donut, and more.

• This Saturday, from noon until 11 p.m., the Wooden Nickel Public House in Hillsborough (105 N. Churton Street) will host the 2nd Annual NC Brewers Cask Fest. The cost is $25 and gets you a souvenir glass and all the brew you can responsibly enjoy (or you can buy individual pints). Participating breweries include: Big Boss, Natty Greenes, Lonerider, Aviator, Olde Hickory, Mother Earth, Foothills, Fullsteam, Duck-Rabbit and a special "mystery" cask. More information is available on their Facebook page here.    

• Head to the Carrboro Farmers' Market this Saturday to sample dishes from seven local chefs. Those chefs will be whipping up samples of dishes using market ingredients for the 9th Annual Carrboro Farmers' Market Chefs Event starting at 9 a.m. The chefs include Jeff Barney of the Saxapahaw General Store and The Eddy Pub, Kevin Callaghan of Acme, Matt and Sheila Neal of Neal's Deli, Seth Kingsbury of Pazzo!, Adam Rose of Il Palio at the Sienna Hotel and Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery. The market is located adjacent to Carrboro Town Hall at 301 W. Main St. For more information, visit their site here.  

• And speaking of farmers' markets, the Western Wake Farmers' Market will be hosting the Pig Pickin' Palooza this Saturday from 11-2. The event will feature locally sourced foods from Coon Rock Farm, Redbud Farm, Fickle Creek Farm, Annelores' German Bakery, Muddy Dog Roasting Company, Martin's Curry Rice, and Outta the Park! With live music, a silent auction, a raffle and all this good food, it is sure to please!  Proceeds benefit the Western Wake Farmers' Market. Located on Morrisville Carpenter Rd. between Davis Dr. and Hwy. 55 in Carpenter Village. Get more information here. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. 

• Here's a fun event coming up if you are a "beer and beef" fan! Durham's Bull City Burger and Brewery is reviving the old New York beefsteak tradition with its Beefsteak Octoberfest. It will be from 4 to midnight on Saturday, Sept. 17 (strangely enough, not in October). There will be two seatings; one at 4 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the menu, the $45 ticket ($20 for children...not drinking beer) also gets you two beers and unlimited fries, bread, celery and radishes. Tickets are limited and only available online here. The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Durham.  

• The 6th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will be held September 17-18, 2011 from 1-5 p.m. and will be the biggest Eastern Triangle Farm Tour to date. Co-sponsored by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Whole Foods Market, the tour features 25 sustainable farms located across the Eastern Triangle.  Advance tickets are $25 per carload or cycle group.  Tickets are good for both Saturday and Sunday and can be used to visit all of the farms on the tour. Day-of tickets are $30 or $10 per farm. Info and tickets.   

• On Monday, September 19th, Acme in Carrboro is hosting an Italian wine dinner with Blair Taylor, who's kindly flying into town for the evening. It's going to be great. Think of it as the Piedmont of Italy meeting the Piedmont of the Carolinas. Barolo and Barbaresco from two of Blair's great producers. Veal Cheeks and Duck Confit from Acme. Five courses and six wines. $55 per person. Reservations are required by phone at 919-929-2263. It'll start at 6:30.  

• Who remembers the N&O's Andrea Weigl's list of "must go" food events? Well, TerraVITA food & wine event in Chapel Hill in two weeks was one of them. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. TerraVITA brings together biodynamic and organically-grown wines and microbrews with some of the very best North Carolina chefs that are committed to using locally-grown organic ingredients!   

• Listen up Paula Deen fans, the N&O's Andrea Weigl has the skinny on her book signing in Raleigh on October 14th. Check out the details here.