Friday Fun Food Facts - May 18, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Downtown Raleigh is ushering in casual chic, global cuisine this Sunday night with the opening of Oro Restaurant and Lounge, a new tapas place in the PNC Plaza building. Oro is owned by Chris and Cara Zalcberg Hylton. Chris worked most recently at The Mint restaurant and is joined in the kitchen by Lauren Smaxwell, who most recently worked at The Pit. Check it out here.   

• But that's not the only downtown Raleigh restaurant news this week. Tonight begins a "soft launch" for a new restaurant called Krave, which takes over the former Red Room location at 510 Glenwood Avenue. According to Michael Rattenni, chairman of the management group behind this concept, the restaurant will feature the technology of iPads as menus. After the soft launch, look for a grand opening on June 2.  

• And according to the Triangle Business Journal, Rattenni is teaming up with Dave Lovenheim to open a brewpub across the street called Cornerstone. It will feature a huge outdoor patio and will serve beers from all around the globe. They are looking at a June/July opening. We'll keep an eye on it.  

•  It is official. Oakleaf, a new upscale restaurant housed in the historic Chatham Mill in Pittsboro, will open its doors on May 21. Oakleaf is a progressive American restaurant with a focus on locally-sourced and sustainably raised/harvested ingredients. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.

• According to the N&O, Sun D Ko and Unah Bae, a mother and daughter team, have opened Wings Cafe in Cary's South Hills Mall Plaza serving American and Korean dishes. They make their own sauce for all 11 wing flavors, and serve two traditional Korean dishes. Also, the restaurant will offer smoothies and a specialty dessert called "bingsoo" (shaved ice).  

• While they actually opened back in March (just in time for St. Patrick's Day), Doolin's Irish Pub and Café over in Durham will celebrate their grand opening this Saturday with festivities planned throughout the day. If you haven't stopped by already, this would be the time to do it with the entire family. Get all the details here.   

• Chapel Hillians now have another option for their java fix thanks to the recent addition of a Coffee & Tea Bar at A Southern Season in University Mall. It features over 25 different coffees and teas where you can experience everything from a perfectly poured latté to a handcrafted coffee made from locally roasted coffee beans. The bar opens at 8 am Monday through Saturday, and 10 am on Sunday. Get all the details here.   

• The biggest news this week in the catering world, was that Empire Eats (think Sitti, Gravy, The Pit, The Raleigh Times Bar, The Morning Times), owned by Greg Hatem, purchased the former Baxley's catering kitchen on Hillsborough Street across from Meredith College. The kitchen will serve as the hub for all Empire Eats' catering operations. 

• And while we are talking about Hatem, according to the N&O he is planning renovations to The Raleigh Times Bar that will add to their kitchen and expand their seating area by taking over the space formerly occupied by The Brass Grill. He also plans a rooftop bar atop the adjacent retail store Stitch. Kudos to Hatem for all he has done, and continues to do, for downtown Raleigh. 

• And speaking of renovations, we got word this week that the Mellow Mushroom at the corner of Peace & Glenwood in downtown Raleigh is currently undergoing some renovations. In typical "mellow" fashion, they are a little slow with the details, but there was a hint at a new bar as well as some other new features. Stop by for a slice, beer and a peek and what they are up to. Keep up with it here.  

• Back in early March, we told you about the first Triangle location of BurgerFi coming to Cary's Arboretum at Westin. But now we have learned that there is a second Triangle location "coming soon" which will be in Raleigh on Wake Forest Road near Trader Joe's. Neither location has opened yet, but we'll keep an eye on them. Check them out here.  

• Just after midnight this past Tuesday, Raleigh's Bahama Breeze on Wake Forest Road suffered a small fire (mostly contained on the roof). We are pleased to announce that the restaurant reopened this past Wednesday. Kudos to Bahama Breeze for turning things around so quickly.  

• And sadly, after a 44-year run, the Circus Restaurant on Chatham Street in Cary has announced that they are closing. There is a little discrepancy on the exact last day, but it is widely believed to be this weekend - whether it is today or tomorrow, we are not certain. 

• This is a great weekend for outdoor festivals featuring food! The first is the Got To Be NC Festival taking place this weekend over at the fairgrounds in Raleigh. The event, which begins today at noon, features music, entertainment, rides and of course...lots of North Carolina food and beverages. Well worth the visit. Get all the details here. 

• And if that is not enough outdoor entertainment, fun and food for you, head on over to Hillsborough this weekend for the 30th Annual Hillsborough Hog Day. The fun begins on Friday night (6-10 pm) and runs all day on Saturday (9 am - 6 pm) in the River Park behind the courthouse. Get all the skinny here. 

• And kudos to downtown Raleigh's The Wine Feed that will be celebrating its one year anniversary this Saturday with a block party in the parking lot adjacent to its location at 18 Glenwood Avenue. The event is scheduled for 3-9 pm and will feature wine tastings, music, food, chocolate and more. Get all the details here.

• Beginning next week, the Wake Forest Farmer's Market will begin offering a midweek market on Wednesdays. It will be open from 4-7 pm and will be in the same location as the Saturday market -150 N. White Street. Check them out here. 

• And speaking of Farmers' markets in the area, we now have over 30! And thanks to Andrea Weigl down at the N&O, we have a comprehensive list of the area's markets. Thanks N&O! Check it out here.  

• Triangle Food Tour announced their next "Dine with Chef" event coming up on May 29th at 6:30 with Chef Subash at Chapel Hill's Cholanad. The event is $35 and includes a 3 course dinner (wine is extra). Reservations are required and can be made here (please do so by May 22). 

• Another fun event is Triangle Restaurant Week which is just a few weeks away now. Scheduled for June 4-10, the week showcases restaurants that offer special menus all week and special prices. A great opportunity to get out and try some new eats. Get all the details here. 

• And finally, today is National Pizza Party Day (wait, isn't that every day!?!). Anyway, we're going to celebrate it all summer. To do so, every order placed between now and the end of July from Hot Box Pizza through Triangle Food Guy, will receive a $10 Target gift card for the person that placed the order. Order away here! 

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 11, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• If you are a Tropical Smoothie Café fan, we've got great news for you. The Triangle's third location is very close to opening. It will be located at 5311 S. Miami Blvd., in the same shopping center as Randy's Pizza. We don't have an exact date, but it could be any day now. Check our their other locations in Raleigh on Oberlin Road and Creedmoor Road. More details here.  

• I noticed a "Now Open" sign outside Vesuvio's, a casual Italian restaurant in North Raleigh's Peachtree Market in the space formerly occupied by Bear Rock Café (and before that, Atlanta Bread Co.) Get all the details on their website here.   

• I was also on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh this week and saw a "Coming Soon" sign for Oishii Restaurant and Sushi Bar in the former Hannah's location (and before that Charley's). I haven't been able to confirm if it is the same concept as Oishii in Chapel Hill's Timberlyne Shopping Center, but we'll see what I can find out. Stay tuned.

• Just when you thought Wake Forest couldn't get any sweeter...I learned this week thanks to John over at Triangle Explorer, that the Wake Forest Dairy Depot will be opening soon at 3433 Rogers Road (where Coffee Cargo used to be). Get all the details here. 

• Here's a rumor we heard from a very reliable source that you'll want to keep an eye on. We "heard" this week that the spot on Raleigh's Glenwood South that housed The Diner, will soon become the third North Carolina location for Big Daddy's Burger Bar, a concept out of Charlotte. Again, this is not 100% confirmed and we'll keep an eye on it for you. Here's more information on Big Daddy's. 

• The popular Saturday Market hosted by Rebus Works in downtown Raleigh is back in full swing for another season. The market opens every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm and is located at 301 Kinsey Street in Boylan Heights next to the Boylan bridge. This week's market features the following food trucks - Captain Poncho's Tacos and The Parlour. Stop by for breakfast, or lunch, or both! Get more details here. 

• Looking for something else fun to do this weekend? Look no further than North Raleigh's Lafayette Village as they host their Italian Fest. This little taste of Italy will include a day of food, fashion, music, bocce ball, pony rides and fun for the whole family. Lafayette Village is located at 8450 Honeycutt Road (at the intersection with Falls of the Neuse Road). Get more details on their Facebook page here.  

• We are less than 10 days away from the popular annual outing - Farm to Fork - which will be held on Sunday, May 20th from 4-7 pm. The event is a "must see" event that celebrates local food and local farms. For more details and a full listing of participating restaurants and farms, visit their website here.  

• Durham's Watts Grocery is hosting a Venge wine dinner on May 23. The cost is $65 and includes snazzy wine and food. The event is very limited, so if you are interested, either call  at 919-416-5040 or email them. Visit their website here. 

• Triangle Food Tours announced their next "Dine with Chef" event coming up on May 29th at 6:30 pm with Chef Subash at Chapel Hill's Cholanad. The event is $35 and includes a 3 course dinner (wine is extra). Reservations are required and can be made here (please do so by May 22).

• Another fun event is Triangle Restaurant Week which is just under a month away now. Scheduled for June 4-10, 2012, the week showcases restaurants that offer special menus all week and special prices. A great opportunity to get out and try some new eats. Get all the details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 4, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• So, unless you've been under a rock all week, the biggest news of the week was the sudden announcement that Magnolia Grill over on Durham's Ninth Street is closing on May 31. As I said in one of my tweets - sad for us, great for them. Thanks to Karen and Ben Barker and ALL they have done for the Triangle culinary scene. Here is a must read article by the N&O's Andrea Weigl highlighting the impact and reach the Barker's have had on our local dining scene. 

• According to the N&Os Andrea Weigl, Fresca Cafe and Gelato has opened in Waverly Place in Cary. It is owned by Jim O'Neill and Alen Subasic and serves 18 flavors of gelato, sweet and savory crepes, Belgian waffles, sandwiches, coffee and assorted pastries. Get more details here.

• The Tilted Kilt in Raleigh opened their doors this past Thursday in North Raleigh. Please note that I have confirmed this, but not with an official visit (I hope my wife is reading this). I have also confirmed that they are a bit skimpy on the outfits for their servers; but I haven't confirmed if there is a kids' menu (somehow I don't think there is...hint, hint). Anyway, it is open. Visit the website here.

• I may be a little late on this one, but earlier this month, the former Fratellos at 8531 Brier Creek Parkway reopened as San Gennaro, an Italian bistro. It opened on April 9 across from Greek Fiesta. 

• Over in Chapel Hill on East Franklin Street, Mei Asian restaurant is heading our way, right next to what was formerly the Chill Bubble Tea location. They are a little way away from opening and no other information (not even a Facebook page or website) is available at this time. We'll continue to keep an eye on it.

• And this is pretty cool. The Cookery, a culinary incubator and commercial kitchen for rent by the hour located on West Chapel Hill Street in Durham, announced this week that they will be opening up an events space in the front of their building called the Front Room. The space, adjacent to their kitchen facilities, can accommodate up to 200 people and includes a mezzanine and outdoor patio, a full bar with local NC beers on tap and audio/visual equipment. Look for a summer opening of this space. More details here. 

• A big congratulations to LoMo Market as they held their first stop last night over at Trinity Park on Watts Street in Durham. Their calendar is now up on their website and you still have an opportunity to lobby the "rolling farmers' market" to come to your neighborhood. Get all the details here. 

• Also in Chapel Hill things got interesting this week as The Chapel Hill Magazine reported that The Carolina Inn's executive chef since 1999, Jimmy Reale, is leaving and heading "down the street" to the Chapel Hill Country Club to serve as their executive chef. The move takes place at the end of this month.

• We got word this week that the Taste of Morrisville event that was scheduled for May 12th has been cancelled this year due to a lack of vendor participation. That is the bad news. The good news is that Jess Fowler, Peppers Market and Sandwich Shop in Morrisville, is taking an active role in seeing what can be done to revive the event for next year. Triangle Food Guy, The Triangle Explorer and others will get involved in the effort and we'll keep you posted. Thanks Jess!

• Raleigh lost a catering company recently as Premier Catering and Events in Raleigh closed their doors. And according to WRAL's Five On Your Side, it left quite a few people in a pinch. That is not good. Read the full article here.  

• Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Look no further than the little town of Saxapahaw just 15 miles west of Carrboro in Alamance County for their popular Haw River Festival this Saturday. The event features music, arts, crafts, a silent auction, activities on the river, a farmers' market and the ever-popular food trucks. For more information on the festival, including directions to Saxapahaw, click here. 

• I can't get by this issue without listing at least one Cinco de Mayo event. The 15 Triangle area Moe's locations will be hosting their seventh annual event offering free kids' meals with the purchase of an entrée $5 or more. They'll also have games, coloring sheets and piñatas for the kids. Stop by any of the 15 area locations to take part. 

• Think you know your barbecue sauce. Voting is now open in the Great N.C. Barbecue Sauce contest being held by the News & Observer. You can review the recipes of the 10 finalists and cast one voter per day until May 9. Vote early and vote often.

• And finally, if you like Quizno's, are on Facebook and like free food, you'll want to "click on over" to obtain your coupon for a free sub (when you purchase another sub and drink). Click here. 

Friday Fun Food Facts - April 27, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

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We'd like to welcome our newest members of our catering line-up. And note that all three are locally-owned and operated! Welcome to Dorry's Downtown Cafe & Catering, Worth It Cafe and Fork & Barrel Restaurant. Order from these great additions for your meetings next week!

And if you are not ordering all your catering through Triangle Food Guy, ask yourself what else are you missing out on? Have you "Liked Us" on Facebook? Do so now!
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• Spring has definitely sprung at Park West Village shopping center at the intersection of Cary Parkway and Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville. Recent openings include Buffalo Wild Wings, Hibachi Blue, Ruckus Pizza and Zoe's Kitchen. And Travinia Italian Kitchen will be opening next Tuesday, May 1. 

• If you want to dine in Clyde Cooper's BBQ as you currently know it, you better plan a visit soon. It's not going away, but we got word this week that the restaurant will relocate at some point toward the end of this summer to make way for the pending construction of a six-story mixed-use retail and residential building in downtown Raleigh. The good news is, the restaurant will remain "in the neighborhood." We'll keep an eye on this for you. Learn more about Clyde Cooper's BBQ here.

• Shhhh. I'll let you in on something if you promise not to tell my kids. Tutti Frutti in Chapel Hill's quaint little Southern Village opened this week and will have their grand opening celebration this Saturday. As part of their grand opening celebration, they will have yogurt in 12 ounce cups for $1 between 4 and 7 p.m. Get all the details here on their regular website or on their Facebook page here.

• And the much-anticipated move from Chapel Hill to Raleigh is complete and The Original Flying Burrito has opened in Raleigh in the former Lynwood Grill location on Grove Barton Road. Get more details here.

• Thanks for a tip from my buddy Chuck Hackney, Hibachi 88 has opened on Poole Road over in Raleigh. It is located at 3416 Poole Road in the Walnut Creek Shopping Center. Get more information on their website here.

• We told you about Oakleaf a couple of weeks ago, but thanks to Andrea Weigl at the N&O, we now know an opening date of May 16th. Oakleaf is a new farm-to-table restaurant located in Pittsboro's Chatham Mills complex. Keep up with them on their Facebook page here.

• Thanks to a tip from John over at The Triangle Explorer, we have a new pizza joint in North Raleigh. Touting themselves as the best New York pizza in NC, Sergio's NY Pizza is located next to the Food Lion at 13200 New Falls of Neuse at the intersection of Wakefield Pines. Get more details here on their Facebook page or their regular website.

• With the weather warming up, you may find yourself looking for a cool place to dine outside in downtown Cary. Look no further than Dorry's Downtown Café. Owner Ray Dorry announced this week on his Facebook page that they have completed the outdoor dining patio. Stop by and enjoy a beautiful afternoon in downtown Cary. Or a nice breakfast on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Get all the details here.

• Look out food truck junkies, there's another one to add to your list. MaMa Duke's is a new gourmet food truck run by father-and-son team Michael and Mike Alexakis. They will be serving a Southern-inspired Mediterranean menu featuring deep-fried shrimp skewered as souvlaki (Greek-style kebabs), falafel tater tots, homemade tzatziki sauce and MaMa Duke's famous baked beans. Keep up with the truck here.

• And if that is not enough, here is yet another food truck that just started rolling this month - Big City Sandwiches. They are bringing famous sandwiches from big cities across the US directly to the streets of the Triangle and they pride themselves on featuring fresh local produce, homemade condiments, artisan breads and wholesome cold cuts from Applegate Farms. Check them out here.

• And keeping in the "food truck" realm, we told you a while back about LoMo Market - the mobile farmers' market concept (one of the coolest concepts we've covered in a while). Well, they are hitting the road starting next week - May 2nd to be exact. Want them to come to your office or neighborhood? Go to their website to make it happen.

• Looking for something really cool to do this weekend? Well, load up the family this Saturday and/or Sunday and take in the country's largest sustainable farm tour in America - right here in our own backyard. Tickets for the 17th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour are sold per carload and are $25 in advance or $30 the weekend of the tour for all farms, or $10 per farm. You can get all the details here.

• Speaking of something else cool, lovers of North Carolina craft beer should head to downtown Raleigh from 3-9 p.m. Saturday for Brewgaloo, a craft beer event with live music and food trucks - Klausie's Pizza, Cafe Prost, Big Al's BBQ, Chirba Chirba Dumpling and Baguettaboutit. Get more details here.

• This is the week for the 4th Annual Taste of the Triangle - next Wednesday, May 2nd beginning at 5:15 pm - just prior to the Railhawks home game. Your $10 ticket gives you access to dozens of area restaurants and breweries offering up samples of their fares and goodies. More details here.

• Tickets for the annual Farm to Fork Picnic went on sale this week, and you'll want to grab them up quickly as this event sells out every year. If you have never been, the Farm to Fork Picnic pairs local farmers with local chefs; the farmers provide the ingredients and the chefs create the dishes. Get all the details here.

• So, last week we told you about the new location (Greenwood Commons Shopping Center) of the South Durham Farmers' Market, and this week we can confirm that they will have their opening this weekend - April 28th. Keep up with them here.

• Go ahead and mark your calendars for the Taste of Morrisville event which will be held Saturday, May 12th from 12 to 7 p.m. on Town Hall Drive in Morrisville (rain or shine). Taste of Morrisville is an opportunity to experience all the wonderful diverse food offerings from Morrisville restaurants! Get more details here.

• And kudos go out to a handful of local restaurants that made the final list in the "Best Dish in North Carolina" competition sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Our State Magazine. The finalist located here in the Triangle are: Gravy Italian-American Kitchen of Raleigh; Sitti Restaurant of Raleigh; Market Restaurant of Raleigh; Bull Street Gourmet & Market of Durham; Angelina's Kitchen of Pittsboro; and Tonali of Durham. See the full press release here. 

Friday Fun Food Facts - April 20, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

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Quick bit of housekeeping. Want to see who won our March contest? You remember, the night at The Umstead, dinner at Heron's and a spa treatment at The Umstead Spa? Check out our winner on our Facebook page here. While you're there, give us a LIKE!

And ask yourself, why is it that I'm not ordering all my catering through Triangle Food Guy? 

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•  It is a restaurant with a museum, or a museum with a restaurant? You’ll have to go and let me know. What I do know is that this is a pretty cool venture for both Rocky Top Hospitality and Dean Ogan as well as the Museum of Natural Sciences. And it is great for downtown Raleigh with a new option for dining, both inside and out on the sidewalk. The Daily Planet Café will reflect North Carolina as much as the museum does - think produce, beef, cheese, honey, beer, wine, bread and even ice cream sandwiches all from North Carolina! The museum and the Café open tonight at 5 pm with a 24-hour opening extravaganza. More details here.  

• We told you about this back in March (thanks to our friends at Cranky Dinners) but on Monday, the latest location of the Another Broken Egg Cafe restaurant chain will open in Durham at 2608 Erwin Road in Pavilion East. The restaurant serves an upscale breakfast, brunch and lunch menu. The restaurant will be open 7 am-2 pm daily. A second Triangle location will open later this summer in Morrisville. For more information or to see the menu, go here. 

• Favor Desserts Bakery and Coffee Shop is celebrating its grand opening from noon-7 pm this Saturday. The bakery is the work of Keijuane Hester who spent the last decade building his baking business. Saturday’s celebration will include coffee and cake tastings, live music by a jazz/neo soul band, children’s activities and giveaways. The bakery is at 5607 N.C. 55, Suite 105, in the Bentley Ridge shopping center. For more information go here. 

• Vine Sushi & Thai is set to open in Bull City Market by early June. Vine will be in the space previously occupied by Cillias, which is just between Ninth Street and Duke’s East campus - adjacent to Ben & Jerry’s and Whole Foods. Thanks to the folks over at the Ninth Street Blog for this tip. 

• The Lilly’s “watch” continues over in Durham as we are now within a month of the opening of the second location of Lilly’s Pizza. According to the N&O’s Andrea Weigl, the opening date is now just three weeks out. The second location of Lilly’s will be in downtown Durham in the former Pop’s location adjacent to Morgan Imports. We’ll continue to maintain our “watch” for you (can you tell we are excited about this???). You can join me in my vigil by following Lilly’s Facebook page here.    

• Last week Raleigh’s Cameron Village got its second grand opening in as many weeks with the opening of the Triangle’s second location of Sugarland Bakery & Café. The original location is over in Chapel Hill on Franklin Street. In addition to their fresh, made-from-scratch desserts, they also offer coffee and will be adding a full bar featuring their signature frozen gelato martinis. They are in the former Lavender & Lace location at 2031 Cameron Avenue. Check them out on Facebook here. 
  
  
• And in the food truck world, there is a new kid on the block. American Meltdown officially began rolling on March 11. The truck serves gourmet melts & grilled cheese sandwiches from the truck they affectionately call 'The Big Cheese.' Get more details on their website here or their Facebook page here.  

• This Saturday, April 21st is the annual Cuegrass Festival outside The Pit restaurant in downtown Raleigh. It goes from noon until 6 pm and is just $5. More details here.    
  
  
• On Sunday, Chatham County’s Briar Chapel (located off 15-501 between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro) is hosting an Earth Day celebration with children’s activities and a food truck rodeo! Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Baguettaboutit, Will & Pop’s and The Parlour will be there. Get more details here.    
  
  
• And SEEDS’ Annual Pie Social and skills share auction is also on Sunday afternoon from 1-5 pm. This unique event allows you to taste and vote on your favorite pie from nearly 30 restaurants in and around Durham. The event will be held at 706 Gilbert Street. Get more details here.
  
  
• Listen up foodies. On April 24, the much-anticipated annual Culinary Arts Showcase will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center with doors opening at 4 pm. This Triangle tradition displays the talents of culinary students from across the state and industry professionals from throughout the Southeast. With over 100 competitors, this is one of the largest competitions of its kind in the country. There will be a live showpiece challenge, ice carving exhibition, food demos-fruit carving, fondant & more, food tastings from local restaurants & hands on fun for the kids. General admission is $10, $5 for students w/ ID & kids under 5 are free. Get more info here.  

• Thanks to a reminder from John Huisman over at Triangle Explorer, don't forget to sign up for the May 5th tour of Larry’s Beans Roasting Plant in Raleigh. The tour is awesome! Details are here. 

• There is great news coming out of the South Durham Farmers' Market - they now have a “home.” They will be located at Greenwood Commons Shopping Center in South Durham and shooting for either an April 28th or May 5th opening date. Keep an eye on it here.  

• And speaking of farmers’ markets, the Midtown Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday on the North Hills Commons over in Raleigh. Now in 5th season, this is something you’ll want to work into your Saturday morning routine. Get more details here. 

• And if you like food and soccer (who doesn’t?) you’ll want to mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Taste of the Triangle coming up on Wednesday, May 2nd. Beginning at 5:15 pm, your $10 ticket gives you access to dozens of area restaurants and breweries offering up samples of their fares and goodies. And you’ll want to stick around for the Railhawks game (who are currently undefeated) which kicks-off at 7 pm. More details here.  
  
  
• They just announced the dates for the Farm to Fork Picnic - May 20th from 4-7 pm. It will be held at the Breeze Farm in Hurdle Mills just north of Hillsborough. The event pairs the area’s wonderful chefs and farmers in a local foods extravaganza. Tickets, which include drinks this year, will go on sale later this month for $100 each. Get more details here.
  
  And now a few wine dinners to tell you about, thanks to Andrea Weigl at the N&O.

• First up, downtown Raleigh’s Beasley's Chicken + Honey is doing a soft shell crab dinner on Monday, April 23rd. You get soft shell crabs, family-style sides and three glasses of spring wine for $35. They are doing seatings at 6 and 8 pm. To make a reservation, call (919) 322-0127. Get more information on Beasley's here. 

• Also, over in Chapel Hill, Jujube’s has two wine dinners: The one on April 26 at 7 pm will be a five-course dinner featuring Argentinian wines and costs $45 per person. And the one on May 8th is also at 7 pm and will feature a five-course dinner with Austrian wine pairings and costs $50 per person. To see the full menus, go here. To make a reservation, call (919) 960-0555.

Friday Fun Food Facts - April 13, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News

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

We start with a little housekeeping. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Well, it is a little more than a chicken dinner. We held the drawing for our March contest and drew the name of Stacey Godfrey with Teradata in Raleigh. What did she win? A night at the luxurious Umstead Hotel along with dinner at Heron's and a spa treatment while she is there. What did she do to win? She simply uses Triangle Food Guy for all her catering needs. So, if you are not already using Triangle Food Guy for all your catering needs, start today! Congratulations to Stacey! 

• It is official, Catering By Design's Greg Lewis has purchased The General Store in historic downtown Pittsboro. This is phenomenal news for the area and for downtown Pittsboro. With a little bit of remodeling and restructuring to do, Chef Greg is looking to open this summer. Look for a lot of similarities including their continued support of local farmers and artists and music on the weekends and possibly Thursday nights. Our best to Greg and his team!

• Over in Chapel Hill, the folks at Tobacco Road Sports Café will complete "the triangle" with its newest location taking over the former Streets Deli location in Chapel Hill's East 54 complex. Tobacco Road has a Raleigh location on Glenwood Avenue, a Durham location in the outfield of the Durham Bulls stadium, and now Chapel Hill. Look for a fall opening. 

• We first told you about this back in July, but according to the N&O, Lilly's Pizza is set to open its second location in downtown Durham early next month. It will be located at 810 W. Peabody St. right next to Morgan Imports and adjacent to Brightleaf Square. Check them out here.  

• The Original Flying Burrito, slated to open in the former Lynwood Grill location in Raleigh, posted on their Facebook page yesterday that their final inspection is next Monday and that they are tentatively scheduled to open next Wednesday, April 18th. 
  
  
• Downtown Durham is slated to get another restaurant in June, brought to you by the team over at Vin Rouge. Called Mateo Tapas, we don't know too much more other than they tout themselves as Spanish heart, Southern soul. We like that! Here is their website, but it is just a "holder" at this point. 
  
  
• The "official" opening of City Kitchen in Chapel Hill's University Mall has been delayed...well, sort of. It has remained open through the transition from Spice Street to City Kitchen, with an ever-evolving decor and menu. So, what may be on the menu today might not make it to the final menu. So, now is a good time to get in and offer your input/feedback. We expect a full "grand opening" toward the end of this month, first of May. You can also visit their "developing" website here.  
  
  
• We got a tip on a new restaurant coming into downtown Raleigh that very well could be one of the most unique concepts I've seen in sometime. Let's just say I'm pretty excited about the opening of Bida Monda, which will be a Laotian restaurant and bar. It will be located at 222 South Blount Street, which you'll recognize as the former location of the Duck & Dumpling and then Fai Thai. Only opening "date" we have is sometime this summer. We'll continue to monitor it, but here is their website.  

• The folks over at Chapel Hill Restaurant Group are up to it again. Their newest concept Mez, which opened on Page Road in RTP, will get a new neighbor this summer. The lot next door has been cleared and Page Road Grill is starting to come out of the ground. Apparently they are looking to open late this summer. We'll keep an eye on it, but if it is anything like the other concepts with CHRG, it too will be wildly successful. Look at all their concepts here. 

• And speaking of RTP, folks out that way have a new Mexican concept they can frequent. El Agave Mexican Grill is now open near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. 55 in the former O'Brien's BBQ location.

• According to the Triangle Business Journal, the owners of The Mint restaurant in downtown Raleigh is shutting down with plans to reopen under a new name and concept. Many will remember the restaurant opening in early 2008, with a million dollar investment from the city. Will keep an eye on it as we learn what the new concept will be (and if the city will plunk down any more money...).

• Also, the end of March marked the end for a very cute and quaint wine bar located in Chapel Hill's Glen Lennox shopping center. Studio 91 closed their doors on Friday, March 30th. Thankfully I was able to join some friends on their last night. Sorry to see it go.

• And speaking of closings, the Doc Green's located in the sprawling Streets at Southpoint complex, has closed. Not sure of the circumstances surrounding the closing and it came pretty quickly. We'll watch that space to see what comes in next.

• The Full Frame Documentary Festival begins this week in Durham, which is kind of cool all by itself. But it gets my attention even more when they tell me there will be a food truck rodeo on both Friday and Saturday nights. They'll start serving up the goodies around 6, with movies starting around 8:30 (dusk). Get more details on the Carpe Durham website here.  

• The Pit's 4th Annual 'Cuegrass Festival returns to the warehouse district of downtown Raleigh Saturday, April 21, with a jam-packed day full of great 'cue, local brews and toe-tappin' bluegrass music! Proceeds to benefit the North Carolina 4H Club. More details here. 
  
  
• Join the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market on Wednesday, April 25, from 10 am-2 pm in City Plaza, for their Pig Pickin' Kickoff, featuring barbeque sandwiches from The Pit. This celebration launches the opening of the market's third season at the plaza. Enjoy music by Big Head Dog, a chef demonstration by southern food expert Bob Garner, gardening activities for kids, and much more! Visit them on Facebook here or their website here.  

• You'll also want to mark your calendar for the "Got To Be NC Festival" which will be held at the NC State Fairgrounds May 18-20, 2012. The Food & Wine Expo will showcase about 100 NC food companies during the three days of the festival and will feature a six-author book signing on the first day. Get all the details here. 

Good Friday Fun Food Facts - April 6, 2012

There will be no Friday Fun Food Facts this Friday. Instead, feel free to follow me on Twitter @TriangleFoodGuy or Like Me on Facebook.

Interestingly, on one of a few Fridays that I take off a year, there was a TON of restaurant news this week. So look for an issue chock-full of good information next Friday...Friday the 13th!

Happy Eats!

Sean