Friday Fun Food Facts - September 24, 2010

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

• It appears as if Noodles & Company will be opening their fifth Triangle location in November. The new location will be in the former Camille's Sidewalk Café location in Briar Creek in Raleigh. The other Triangle locations include: Crossroads Plaza in Cary, West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, The Pavilion in Durham and Cameron Village in Raleigh.
  
  
• Downtown Raleigh is getting another sushi restaurant. Sushi O opens next week in the Glenwood South District (222 Glenwood South) and will also serve Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese.
  
  
• Yogen FrUz has opened their first North Carolina location at North Hills in Raleigh. They will be having their "Grand Opening" celebration this Saturday from 10-10 with free t-shirts, yogurt samples and more.
  
  
• The Shish Kabob restaurant located in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza is expanding with another location next month. The store's second location will be in Pinecrest Pointe in North Raleigh at 9101 Leesville Road.
  
  
• It looks like the swinging doors at the Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon in Raleigh will swing no more. The Raleigh location is one of 19 locations across the country that recently closed. The Durham, Knightdale and Clayton locations remain open.
  

• Over in Cary in South Hills Mall there is some letter-changing going on. Huh? The Triangle's last K&S Cafeteria was sold to employees Sylvester and Diane Smith and is now D&S Cafeteria (their initials). Aside from the initials, pretty much everything stays the same.
  
  
• We reported a few weeks back that Sauced Pizza in the Glenwood South District in downtown Raleigh is under new ownership. Word now is that the restaurant is getting a bit of a face-lift to go along with that. The good news is that the restaurant remains open during this improvement process. Check it out!
  
  Looking for some fun stuff to do this weekend?
  
  
• The Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro is holding their annual Oktoberfest Celebration this Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. There will be kids' activities in the afternoon (kids bounce house, clown and magic, face painting and a dunking booth) and live music in the evening beginning at 7 p.m. Plus beer and brats all day. Admission is $5 and includes a token for one beer or food item. More details here.
  
  
• Durham's Guglhupf Cafe is also hosting an Oktoberfest with a twist - Rocktoberfest - a live performance by the German rock band, Die Nierentische. The event will be from 4-10 p.m. this Saturday on the cafe's outdoor patio. Enjoy this festive day with delicious cuisine, paired with outstanding beers and wines. Get more information here.
  
  
• The Anugus Barn is hosting a complimentary wine tasting in the Wild Turkey Lounge this Sunday (Sept. 26th) from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Call 919.787.3505 for more information.
  
  
• This Saturday four area farmer's market will participate in the Triangle Farmer Foodshare Challenge - each market is trying to collect 1,000 pounds of fresh, locally grown food. Participating markets are: Carrboro Farmers' Market, Durham Farmers' Market, South Estes Farmers' Market and Western Wake Farmers' Market. So, head out this Saturday and "buy a bunch and give a bunch!" More information here.
  
  
• Triangle Uncorked is this Saturday, September 25th from 2-6 pm at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Taste hundreds of wines from around the world for just $25 ($35 day of event). If you want access to the VIP tent, high-end wine tastings and free appetizers, those tickets will cost $75. For more information go to their site. All proceeds benefit The Frankie Lemmon Foundation and the North Raleigh Rotary Club.
  
  
• It is fall (unless you step outside into the heat), which is a time for new menus for many area restaurants. Two to note here: Southern Rail next to Carr Mill Mall in Carrboro has released a new menu featuring new entrees as well as new sandwiches, starters and desserts. Now open for lunch and dinner, it is worth a visit to check out Chef Mark's new creations.
  
  
• And in downtown Raleigh, Sono chef and owner Mike Lee has crafted a new lunch and dinner menu, which debuted this week. Sono is located at 319 Fayetteville Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh.
  
  
• And if it is fall, it means the North Carolina State Fair is just around the corner! So, coat your stomach with Pepto-Bismol and head on over to see what is being deep fried this year! And to help out a great cause at the same time, make plans to attend on Thursday, October 21 for the annual Food Lion Hunger Relief Day. Just bring four cans of Food Lion brand food to the Fair and your admission is covered and you've helped the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina.
  
  
• Fall also means corn mazes. And at Ken's Korny Corn Maze, if you bring 4 cans of corn, you get ½ off admission - all while benefiting the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina. Get more information on the corn maze here.
  
  
• Here's another beer dinner you don't want to miss. Zely & Ritz will hold a beer dinner on Wednesday, October 13 featuring brews from Durham's very own Fullsteam and desserts from Raleigh's Crumb. For reservations, call Zely & Ritz at (919) 828-0018. Zely & Ritz is located at 301 Glenwood Avenue.
  
  
• In Fearrington Village, the Old Granary will host an "Evening Out Dinner Series" on Wednesday, September 29th! These popular three-course dinners are $30 per person, $45 with wine pairings. Reservations can be made online or at (919) 542-2121.
  
  
• Ruby Tuesday is offering up their popular BOGO coupon (buy one, get one). Max of $10. Get it here.
  
  
• Uncle Fatty's in Raleigh's Cameron Village has a new coupon ($3 off any entrée). Get it here. It is good through the end of this month.
  
  
• Get your TGI Fridays coupon for half off appetizers. These coupons are good through this weekend.
  

• CiCi's is back at it just in time to help with the time crunch that hits all families as school cranks back up. Their popular $3.99 all-you-can-eat buffet deal runs from September 22 - October 3. More information here.
  
  
• There's a coupon out for all you can eat soup and salad at Mimi's Cafe restaurants for the flat price of $7.99. It's good through Oct. 1. To get the deal, you have to print the coupon and bring it to the restaurant.
  
  
• You've heard the rumors. And they are true. Quizno's has six new $5 Large Toasty sandwiches on their menu. And to encourage you to give them a try, here's a coupon - $1 off a regular and $2 off a large.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 17, 2010

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

• Looks like Cary is going to land the fifth Triangle location of Jason's Deli. The latest rendition is set to open before month's end at the Crossroads Plaza in Cary.
  
  
• Chubby's Tacos is very close to opening their 5th Triangle area location at 10511 Shadowlawn Drive in the Falls River Town Center in North Raleigh. Falls River is located on Durant Road between Falls of Neuse and Capital Blvd., across from Durant Road Middle School.
  
  
• In downtown Raleigh, Z Pizza is just days away from opening their 3rd Triangle area location. It will be located on the ground level of the NationsBank building right at Raleigh's City Plaza. And it won't just be pizza - their sandwiches and salads are amazing and rumor has it they will also be serving up breakfast!
  

• It was reported and confirmed this week that the building that housed the former Hideaway BBQ at 2210 Capital Blvd. (which closed January 19th of this year) will have a more "Eastern" influence when it re-opens. And no, we're not talking Eastern North Carolina Barbecue. It will be a Chinese buffet of some sort. We'll keep an eye on it for opening details.
  
  
• Yogen Früz is scheduled to open today at North Hills around 1 pm! Yogen Früz serves up frozen yogurt and smoothies. Yum!
  
  
• Apparently things are going very well for Chapel Hill's newest addition to the restaurant scene - Kitchen (located on MLK Blvd. next to Foster's). Kitchen announced this week that they have begun serving lunch from 11:30 until 2, Tuesday through Saturday.
  
  
• According to the TBJ, in 2011 Raleigh will become home to North Carolina's first location of Rex's Chicken. It will be the first of three locations here in the Triangle for the revived fried chicken chain. A site has not been identified as of yet.
  
  
• Durham's very own Scratch Baking made the "Top 10 Places To Get Pie" in the current issue of Bon Appetit. Scratch Baking is located at 111 Orange Street in Durham. See the article here.
  

• Here's an interesting restaurant challenge - the Bull City Vegan Challenge. During the month of October, 10 Durham restaurants will serve up a vegan dish. During the month, you can vote on your favorite dish. The contest will feature: Alivia's, Beyu Caffe, Dos Perros, The Federal, Nosh, Parker & Otis, Piedmont, Rue Cler, Toast and Vin Rouge. Get more information here.
  
  
• Here's a helpful and easy-to-use website that was recently introduced to me. It organizes all of the state's numerous wine events and festivals. Check it out.
  

• Mark your calendar for Triangle Uncorked on Saturday, September 25th from 2-6 pm at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Taste hundreds of wines from around the world for just $25 ($35 day of event). If you want access to the VIP tent, high-end wine tastings and free appetizers, those tickets will cost $75. For more information go to their site. All proceeds benefit The Frankie Lemmon Foundation and the North Raleigh Rotary Club.
  
  Looking for "foodie" type things to do this weekend?
  
  
• The fifth annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour will take place from 1-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. A $25 advance ticket will allow "as many people as you can legally fit into your car" access to 24 participating farms. Advance tickets can be purchased at any Triangle Whole Foods or online at www.carolinafarmstewards.org. On the event days, $30 tickets can be picked up at your first farm stop. To plan a route or learn more about the participating farms, visit the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's website.
  
  
• The 29th Annual Greek Festival is this weekend at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. The event is 5-10 pm on Friday, 11 am -10 pm on Saturday and 11 am -7 pm on Sunday. Tickets are just $3. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. For more information, go here.
  

• Are you (or your kids) a big Mac & Cheese fan!?! Be sure to drop by the first MacDown, a macaroni-and-cheese contest being held in conjunction with Raleigh's SPARKcon festival this weekend. Judges will evaluate the Triangle's best comfort dish at 4 pm on Saturday under the Big Noodle tent on Fayetteville Street. Participating restaurants include Porter's City Tavern, Spirits Pub and Grub, The Q Shack and Tobacco Road Sports Cafe.
  

• This Saturday, the city of Raleigh will be holding a Battle of the Baked Goods event at the Mordecai Historic Park from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. They will have cake and cookie categories for both youth and adult and prizes will be awarded for first and second place in all categories. Not a baker? Come out and be a sampler! All entries will be available for tasting to the general public from 12-1pm. This event is free to enter and free to sample. More information here.
  
  Looking for a good wine dinner to attend? Here are a few:
  
  
• The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City will host is monthly afternoon wine dinner this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The five -course dinner with wine costs $75 and will feature chef Chip Smith and his wife, Tina Vaughn of Chapel Hill's Bonne Soiree. For reservations, call 742-5176 or email: theinn@celebritydairy.com or visit their website.
  
  
• In Fearrington Village, the Old Granary will host an "Evening Out Dinner Series" on Wednesday, September 29th. These popular three-course dinners are $30 per person, $45 with wine pairings. Reservations can be made online or at (919) 542-2121.
  
  
• This Sunday, September 19th at 6:30 pm, Carrboro's very own Acme Restaurant will host its Acme Wine Dinner featuring five courses and five wines for (you guessed it) $55. Reservations are required at 919 929 2263.
  
  
• And Durham's Washington Duke Inn is unveiling its new fall menu with a five-course wine dinner at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 23. It costs $59. Call 493-6699 for reservations.
  
  And a few coupons / discounts for you:
  
  
• One of my favorite restaurants has a Groupon deal going right now (through midnight tonight). For $30, you get $65 worth of delicious grub and drinks at Savoy, a fine-dining establishment in Greystone Village in Raleigh. Check out the deal here.
  

• In addition to Groupon, you may also want to check out similar "deal sites" like Living Social Deals and Cary's very own Twongo. I monitor all three of these and there are some great deals every day on restaurants, spas, nails, car washes, museum memberships, etc. Sign-up for the daily e-mails.
  
  
• Ruby Tuesday is offering up their popular BOGO coupon (buy one, get one). Max of $10. Get it here.
  
  
• Uncle Fatty's in Raleigh's Cameron Village has a new coupon ($3 off any entrée). Get it here. It is good for two more weeks.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 10, 2010

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

• Listen Up Wolfpack Fans! Looking to do a little tailgating before next Thursday's home game against Cincinnati at 7:30 pm but pressed for time? No worries! Order your tailgating package from The Q Shack and pick it up at the VIP East entrance to the RBC Center anytime from 3 hours up until 1 hour before kick-off (i.e. between 4:30 and 6:30). How easy is that? View the menu here. All you need to do is add a new location to your profile (RBC Center - 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, 27607) and you are ready to order...and enjoy a little Wolfpack football and The Q Shack barbecue!
  
  
• Here's a little different "dining" experience for you this Saturday (that your kids will absolutely love!). The NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh is hosting its annual BugFest, the largest single-day bug-centered event, from 9 am - 7 pm. Featured at the event is Café Insecta where you get your own taste for entomophagy (the practice of eating bugs!). Seriously. Café Insecta opens at 10:30 am and closes when the food runs out! So come early to enjoy buggy dishes prepared by Acro Café, PoshNosh Catering, Spize Café, Locopops, Market Restaurant and Tijuana Flats Burrito Co. Get more information here and here.
  

• The Carrboro's Farmer's Market is hosting one of its most popular events of the year this Saturday - the 8th Annual Chef Event - when local chefs will show you how to spice up the buffet table. This year, seven culinary stars will be sharing their secrets. Adam Cobb of Glass Half Full, Adam Rose of Il Palio, Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery, Bret Jennings of Elaine's, Kevin Callahan of ACME, and Sheila and Matt Neal from Neal's Deli will participate. The event begins at 9 am tomorrow and will last until the food runs out. Get there early!
  
  
• Not to be outdone, this Saturday evening at 7 pm the Eno River Farmers Market in downtown Hillsborough will host a sit-down dinner at the Market House prepared by market chefs featuring all local ingredients, wine and music. The $40 tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at Saturday's market which is open from 8 am to noon.
  

• In downtown Raleigh, Tookie's Grill closed its doors in Seaboard Station. Owner Marshall "Tookie" Gullie hopes to relocate the Raleigh store to a new location.
  
  
• According to the Durham blog Bull City Rising, the former AnotherThyme space in Durham will become a new restaurant concept called Off Main. The current one-story structure will add a second-story rooftop deck. Plans call for Off Main to be a restaurant, bar and event space. Stay tuned as they move through the approval process. Roof-top concepts have done very well in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. This will be Durham's first roof-top concept.
  

• Rumor has is that when you return to the RBC Center for NC State basketball or Carolina Hurricanes hockey, you'll no longer be able to order up a 100% Black Angus Beef Thickburger from Hardees. Apparently an in "in-house" burger is now available. A quick perusal of the RBC Center website didn't boast the familiar Hardees logo.
  
  
• Chapel Hill is about to get a new barbecue restaurant. Located in the former home of The Barbecue Joint on Weaver Dairy Road, The Pig is opening this week. They are self-described as "bringing regional flavors and local ingredients to the party in your tummy, featuring whole-hog barbecue, cola-braised pork belly sandwiches and Mee-Ma's low-country, house-smoked, chicken-fried tofu."
  
  
• Herons at the Umstead Hotel in Cary reopened this week after a nearly $1 million makeover. I wasn't sure it could get any better! They are now back up and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  
  
• In Raleigh, Mami-Nora's opened in the old Papa Lou's location at 2401 Wake Forest Road, serving rotisserie chicken and items like plantains and yucca fries. The company also has a store at 302 Davidson Ave. in Durham.
  
  
• Frozen yogurt chain FreshBerry will open a second Raleigh store at 2526 Hillsborough St., just four months after opening its first. Unlike the first store on Six Forks Road, this FreshBerry will offer self-service, where customers serve-up their own treats and toppings, paying by the ounce. It will open in late September or early October.
  
  
• A couple of new Asian options hit the Triangle over the past few weeks. If you are looking for a little Japanese influence, head on over to the intersection of 54 and 540 (10970 Chapel Hill Rd.) where Teriyakin' just opened. Teriyakin' is a Japanese BBQ restaurant serving char-grilled beef and chicken and whose concept comes from the yatai style cooking usually found in festivals or "Matsuri" across Japan.
  
  
• And over in Cary, Yuri Japanese Restaurant opened in the Shoppes of Kildaire (near Trader Joe's at 1361 Kildaire Farm Rd.). Billed as the place for Sushi enthusiasts and beginners of Japanese cuisine, here are a couple of coupons to encourage you to stop by.
  
  
• Also in Cary, Cafe Caturra opened its second Triangle location in Stone Creek Village (600 Ledge Stone Way). The other Triangle location is in Cameron Village. The concept behind Café Caturra is a place you want to be all day - fresh roasted coffee in the morning, high quality food all day long and unique wines in the evening. Café Caturra also has three other locations in the Richmond area.
  
  
• Looking for a great place to eat this Sunday? Well, downtown Cary's The Food Factory is now open on Sundays from 8:30 'til 3. Stop by and tell Jimmy and Lisa "Hi!" The Food Factory is located at 211 E. Chatham Street.
  
  
• Raleigh's very own Goodberry's turned 22 this week! It was 1988 when Goodberry's opened at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Spring Forest in Raleigh. Now there are nine Goodberry's locations in the Triangle!
  
  
• Raleigh's only location of Hungry Howie's on Oberlin Road is about to get some company. The area's second location just opened on Glenwood Avenue near Haverty's and Blinco's, across from Townridge Shopping Center. Plans are also in the works for a third location to open in 2011.
  
  
• Bob Evans has launched a line of 10 family-sized takeout meals, each priced at less than $20. The family-dining chain is marketing its Bob Evans Family Meals To Go with a "Think Outside the Pizza Box" promotion that gives a $2 discount to guests who bring a pizza coupon into the restaurant. Each dinner, which the chain says serves three to four people, comes with bread and a choice of side dish. More info here.
  
  
• The casual-dining Mimi's Café chain has introduced new fall menu offerings with two- and three-course fixed-price options and new all-inclusive meals for kids. In addition, coupons are available online offering a buy one breakfast entrée, get another one free. In the Triangle, Mimi's has two locations - 6320 Plantation Center Drive in Raleigh, and 1115 Walnut Street in Cary.
  
  
• Mark your calendars for the 20th Annual A Tasteful Affair to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. It will be held on Sunday, November 7, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 pm at The Carolina Club on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.
  
  
• As you can tell, I'm very excited about this upcoming event (as this is the third week I have mentioned this). The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is hosting the "Science of Beer" on September 16th from 7-9 pm. Enjoy live music, beer tasting and light snacks. Got kids and no babysitter? No problem, for an additional $10 you can enroll your little ones in "The Science of Root Beer." Members $12 per person / Non-members $15 per person. Pre-registration requested, please call 919-220-5429x313 to order tickets.
  
  
• The Mint Restaurant in downtown Raleigh is offering a four-course wine dinner for $75 at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The dinner will feature wines from Beaucanon Winery. For a reservation, call 821-0011.
  

• Cary's An restaurant will mark its 4th anniversary with a special evening on September 18th at 7 pm with special stations, music, dancing and more. The cost is $40. Call 919.677.9229 to make reservations.
  
  
• In Fearrington Village, the Old Granary will host an "Evening Out Dinner Series" on Wednesday, September 29th! These popular three-course dinners are $30 per person, $45 with wine pairings. Reservations can be made online or at (919) 542-2121.
  
  
• Irregardless Café wants to wish you a happy birthday and/or anniversary! If you make a reservation online at Irregardless Café three weeks before your birthday or anniversary, they will send you a certificate for a free bottle of wine! Email reservations@irregardless.com or make your reservation online here.
  

• Wake Forest Coffee Company and Cannon Catering are teaming up to offer cupcakes for sale at the coffee shop until Sept. 18 with all of the proceeds benefiting The Stephen Siller Foundation. The Foundation is named after firefighter Stephen Siller, a Brooklyn firefighter who died while responding to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The foundation's mission is to help children who have lost one or both of their parents.
  
  
• Uncle Fatty's in Raleigh's Cameron Village has a new coupon ($3 off any entrée). Get it here. It is good through the end of this month.
  
  
• Ted's Montana Grill is offering a coupon for $5 off any $15 or more purchase coupon. Get your coupon here. It expires September 19th. There are two Triangle locations - Triangle Town Center in Raleigh and in the Renaissance Center across from the Streets at Southpoint in Durham.
  
  
• On a personal note, but something you could derive a lot of benefit from, my daughter's gymnastics facility is selling Citipass Coupon books as a fundraiser. If you haven't been hit-up yet to buy one of these, just drop me an e-mail and I'll get you one for the low, low price of $25. These books truly are amazing and will save you a gazillion dollars in discounts from over 285 Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Garner & Apex-area merchants. Check out their website here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - September 3, 2010

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

• Big news out of Chapel Hill (and no, this is not football related)...The Ramshead Rathskeller (or simply known as The Rat), once a Chapel Hill landmark, will open by the end of the year under new ownership. This is the best news to come out of Chapel Hill since last week's opening of Krispy Kreme on Franklin Street!
  
  
• Looks like Governor Purdue is ready to do a little drinking. She's proclaimed September as North Carolina Wine and Grape Appreciation Month. And as part of this, you can participate in Grape Day (only in North Carolina) at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh next Friday, September 10th. More information here. I wonder if the governor will show up in one the Fruit of the Loom grape costumes?
  
  
• According to the N&O's Greg Cox, downtown Raleigh's bu-ku's executive chef and founding partner, William D'Auvray, has left the restaurant. Not much else is known at this point, other than he's got something new in the works. We'll keep an eye on it.
  
  
• Here's a coupon just for Labor Day Weekend - TGI Fridays' coupon knocks 25% off your bill over Labor Day Weekend. It is online and printable - and reusable!
  
  
• North Carolina's first Yogen Fruz (frozen yogurt and smoothies) is coming to North Hills in Raleigh! It looks like the opening date is either September 15 or 16th. Visit their site here. Be warned, the site plays some annoying music so turn your speakers down.
  

• The folks that founded McAlister's Deli are bringing a new concept to the Triangle, but not until the fall of 2011. Newk's Express Café will eventually have 5 Triangle-area locations. If your curiosity is killing you, check out their website here so you'll know what to anticipate.
  
  
• It is not like you need another reason to go to Pinehurst, but if you're looking for something to do this weekend, head on down to the 22nd Annual Pinehurst Food & Wine Festival. The four-day event features over 100 labels from all over the globe and 10 featured chefs at receptions and culinary demonstrations. Get tickets and more details here.
  
  
• Staying in town for Labor Day? Gravy Restaurant (136 S. Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh) is hosting their next "Italian Food Tour" on Monday night at 7 pm (featuring the Apulia Region). Cost is $30. Call 919.896.8513 for more information and reservations.
  

• Here's something else to do if you're in town this weekend. Locopop's is celebrating their fifth anniversary on Labor Day, Monday September 6th from 4-6 pm at all three Triangle area locations. Sales during that time will be donated to selected non-profits.
  
  
• Speaking of anniversaries, Raleigh's legendary Char-Grill is turning 50! To celebrate, during their anniversary week (Sept. 6-10), customers can get 50% off a Char-burger, cheeseburger or hot dog with the purchase of any sandwich. More information here.
  

• And speaking of Char-Grill, they have just inked a four-store franchise agreement in the Charlotte area. The first of the four will open in Davidson in early 2011.
  
  
• The Duke Coffeehouse is now open in the Crowell Building on Duke's East Campus. More information at their website, including new fall semester hours (6 pm - 2 am).
  
  
• Restaurant Savoy announced this week that Christopher Madasz has joined the culinary team as sous chef. Madasz will assist executive Chef Peter Gibson in preparing the seasonally changing menu. Savoy is located in the Greystone Village Shopping Center on Lead Mine Road.
  
  
• Speaking of Savoy, if you haven't been there yet, let me suggest going on any Tuesday when they have their extremely popular half-price bottles of wine.
  

• Need a little more wine? Tonight (Sept. 3), visit the Hillsborough Wine Company (118 S. Churton Street in Hillsborough) for their First Friday Wine Tasting from 5 to 7 pm.
  
  
• If wine isn't your thing, how about beer? On Thursday, September 9th Fearrington Village's The Old Granary will host a beer dinner, featuring a three-course menu paired with beers from award-winning Carolina Brewery. It all begins with a reception on the patio at 6pm, followed by a seated dinner at 7pm. $45 per person, reservations required, call (919) 542-2121.
  
  
• If you can't make it on the 9th, try The Old Granary's "Evening Out Dinner Series" on Wednesday, September 29th! These popular three-course dinners are $30 per person, $45 with wine pairings. Reservations can be made online or at (919) 542-2121.
  
  
• And keeping with the beer theme, you might want to sign dad and the kids up for this. The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is hosting the "Science of Beer" on September 16th from 7-9 pm. Enjoy live music, beer tasting and light snacks. Got kids and no babysitter? No problem, for an additional $10 you can enroll your little ones in "The Science of Root Beer." Members $12 per person / Non-members $15 per person. Pre-registration requested, please call 919-220-5429x313 to order tickets. More information here.
  
  
• Beer and wine not your thing? How abut chocolate? Want to see it made right here in Raleigh? Escazu Artisan Chocolates is now offering tours of their chocolate making facility, every first Friday and Saturday of the month. It is limited to 10 people, so call ahead to make a reservation at 919.832.3433. Escazu is located at 936 N. Blount Street in Raleigh.
  
  
• Apparently the Pho Tu Do located inside the An Chau Plaza / Asian Food Court at 2821 Brentwood Road (just off Capital Blvd.) in Raleigh has closed.
  
  
• Get your leash Sparky, we're going to dinner! According to a statement released last Friday by DENR (Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources) restaurants can now allow cats and dogs in outdoor dining areas as long as conditions to protect public health are met. Wonder if any menus are changing?!?
  

• Your kids probably already know this, but if you want to find out who has the best Mac & Cheese in Raleigh, head on out to the 1st Annual Mac Down on Saturday, Sept. 8th. The event will be part of downtown Raleigh's Sparkcon celebration. More details here.
  
  
• Burger King was sold this week for a cool $3.26 billion (yes, that is a "b"). Just think, you could have owned the "BK Lounge". Oh well. Let's hope the new owners get rid of that creepy Burger King character.
  
  
• Uncle Fatty's in Raleigh's Cameron Village has a new coupon ($3 off any entrée). Get it here.
  
  
• Ted's Montana Grill is offering a coupon for $5 off any $15 or more purchase coupon. Get your's here. It expires September 19th. There are two Triangle locations - Triangle Town Center in Raleigh and in the Renaissance Center across from the Streets at Southpoint in Durham.
  
  
• In honor of their 35th anniversary, The Melting Pot started giving away a $100 gift card every day, and will do so for 35 consecutive days. Enter here for your chance to win! The Melting Pot has two Triangle locations - Wake Forest Road in Raleigh and across from The Streets at Southpoint in Durham.
  
  
• Get a Buy One Get One Free coupon from Ruby Tuesdays right here (up to $10 value; some restrictions, yadda, yadda, yadda)!
  
  
• On a personal note, but something you could derive a lot of benefit from, my daughter's gymnastics facility is selling Citipass Coupon books as a fundraiser. If you haven't been hit-up yet to buy one of these, just drop me an e-mail and I'll get you one for the low, low price of $25. These books truly are amazing and will save you a gazillion dollars in discounts from over 285 Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Garner & Apex-area merchants. Check out their website here.

al n

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 27, 2010

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

• This is the last weekend to take advantage of Restaurant Week in Downtown Raleigh. Participating restaurants are offering a three-course meal for either $20 or $30. Click here for a complete list of restaurants and to see their menus.
  
  
• The new location of Buffalo Brothers, known for their pizzas and wings, opened this week on Lake Boone Trail. It is located in the same center as WhichWich Sandwiches, just down the hill from Rex Hospital. Buffalo Brothers original location is on Capital Boulevard, also in Raleigh.
  
  
• According to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, there will be a free wine tasting from 3:30 - 5 pm this Sunday in the Wild Turkey Lounge at the Angus Barn. The Wild Turkey Lounge was recently named one of the Best Business Bars in America by Entrepreneur magazine.
  
  
• If you live in Garner, you've got a new option for steaks, pastas and seafood. TerraFin Station restaurant has opened in Garner at 25 Old Drugstore Road. TerraFin is open for dinner Monday through Friday and lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.
  
  
• Seth Gross, a co-founder of the Wine Authorities store in Durham, is opening Bull City Burger and Brewery next February at 107 E. Parrish St. in downtown Durham. It will be a farm-to-fork brewpub where the majority of offerings will be either made from scratch or purchased locally. It will feature six beers brewed on site.
  
  
• Another addition to the recently refurbished/reopened Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. Urban Food Group's Frazier's Wine Bar/Lounge is now open (reopened if you want to be picky) at 2418 Hillsborough Street. The bar still has food but the menu is limited and the concentration will be mostly on beverages. It is open daily from 5 pm until 1 am.
  
  
• It appears as if we are getting closer to new life at the former Biscuit Station / Mema's Biscuits on the outskirts of downtown Raleigh at 100 N. Person Street. Word on the street (literally) is that Ruben's will open in the next two weeks and will still feature good ol' Southern cooking!
  
  
• In honor of their 35th anniversary, The Melting Pot started this past Tuesday giving away a $100 gift card every day, and will do so for 35 consecutive days. Enter here for your chance to win! The Melting Pot has two Triangle locations - Wake Forest Road in Raleigh and across from The Streets at Southpoint in Durham.
  
  
• If you are a fan of Solomon's Restaurant in North Raleigh, listen up. They are offering a five-course wine dinner next Tuesday, Aug. 31 for $50. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm. To see the complete menu, click here. To make a reservation, call 844-4977.
  

• Durham's Revolution Restaurant is offering a five-course wine dnner this Sunday, Aug. 29 featuring wines from the B.R. Cohn Winery. The $65 dinner is 6:30-9 pm. For more information, click here.
  
  
• If you love the food trucks in Durham, word has it that there will be a round-up this Saturday from 5 to 8 pm in the CCB City Plaza located at 201 N. Corcoran in downtown Durham. All the regular suspects are expected to be there. If you haven't been to one of these, and looking for something fun to do this weekend, I highly recommend it.
  
  
• And not to be outdone by Durham, it appears Raleigh is getting a new food truck - Klausie's Pizza. You can follow their location via Twitter or visit their website.
  
  
• And one last "Food Truck" mention - Durham's very own Only Burger has been nominated to be on next season of the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race." Voting runs from Aug. 29-Sept. 10. You can vote once a day - vote here.
  
  
• Tropical Smoothie Café is adding sandwiches and flatbreads to its breakfast menu starting September 1st. There are two locations in Raleigh - 1028 Oberlin Road and 8111 Creedmoor Road.
  
  
• Alright Starbucks fanatics, here's your chance to win a Starbucks espresso machine for your house. Seems pretty simple to enter, but unfortunately, it doesn't come with a barista! Enter here. They say it is valued at just over $800, but I gotta say this would be priceless in my house!
  
  
• Want to take a little of Spize Café home with you? They are now selling two of their most popular sauces - the Thai Peanut Dressing and the Lemongrass Marinade. Spize is located at 121 Fayetteville St. Get more information here.
  

• Following on the heels of Restaurant Week, next week is the inaugural Raleigh Beer Week, August 30-September 3, 2010. For this first year, there are beer dinners, special cask nights, brewer talks, and to start it all off, Mayor Meeker tapping the first keg opening night. Find our more here on their blog or on their facebook page.
  
  
• If you are thinking about attending the World Beer Festival in Durham on October 9th - you better get your tickets now. Word is that tickets are selling fast and they don't expect them to last much longer. The tickets are for either the noon - 4 pm session or the 6 - 10 pm session. General admission is $45 in advance. VIP tickets are already sold out. Get your tickets online here. For more information on the Festival, click here.
  
  
• You might not notice this the next time you are in there, but it is worth noting. The Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro, got six new tanks this week to help them keep up with the increased wholesale demand for their beer. Sounds like a good enough reason for me to stop in and have a cold one. Just to make sure they put them in correctly!
  
  
• I'm thinking a dad came up with this idea. The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is hosting the "Science of Beer" on September 16th from 7-9 pm. Enjoy live music, beer tasting and light snacks. Got kids and no babysitter? No problem, for an additional $10 you can enroll your little ones in "The Science of Root Beer." Members $12 per person / Non-members $15 per person. Pre-registration requested, please call 919-220-5429x313 to order tickets.
  

• Ted's Montana Grill is offering a coupon for $5 off any $15 or more purchase coupon. Get your's here. It expires September 9th. There are two Triangle locations - Triangle Town Center in Raleigh and in the Renaissance Center across from the Streets at Southpoint in Durham.

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 20, 2010

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

• As the summer winds down, and the heat retreats into the fall, outdoor dining is again something people are seeking. And if you live in Raleigh (or at least dine in Raleigh) here is a cool new site that rates outdoor dining experiences at area restaurants. A great resource before you head out for your Friday night dining experience.
  
  
• Downtown Raleigh restaurants are celebrating Restaurant Week NEXT WEEK - Monday, Aug. 23 to Sunday, Aug. 29. Participating restaurants will offer a three-course meal for either $20 or $30. Click here for a complete list of restaurants and to see their menus.
  
  
• If you are a Wolfpacker and have said Chapel Hill is full of cupcakes, we'll, you'd be right tonight (but only tonight). Tonight from 7-9 pm the Horace Williams House will host the town's best bakers for the 2nd Annual Cupcake Festival. Enjoy samples of the area's best cupcakes and live music for only $5 (kids 12 and under are free). The Horace William's House is at 610 E. Rosemary Street and you can get more information here.
  
  
• This could be one of the most interesting openings of a Krispy Kreme in recent memory. Krispy Kreme, which will open next Wednesday on Franklin Street (directly across the street from the return of 25,000 starving college kids), will be offering the first person in line a dozen donuts a week for a year. And persons 2-100 will receive a dozen donuts a month for a year. In addition, those lucky 100 people will also get a Carolina Blue Krispy Kreme T-shirt. With last year's basketball season, this may be the "camp out" event of the year in Chapel Hill!
  
  
• If you are a fan of Popeyes, we've got good news. Popeyes has confirmed another Triangle location (aside from the one at RDU) will open in November. Signage seen in the window seems to indicate that it will be in the former Hardee's at the corner of New Bern Avenue and Trawick Road in Raleigh.
  
  
• Café Helios on Glenwood South in Raleigh continues to prove itself as so much more than just a coffee shop. The latest proof of that is the release of its new Fall 2010 menu. Check out their new menu here. Lunch and dinner are served from 11:30 am to 10 pm. Of course, breakfast and coffee are still offered from 7 - 11 am.
  
  
• Across the street, we have confirmed that Sauced Pizza in Glenwood South was recently sold. In a "tweet" from the new owners, "same slices you love, a renewed focus on a great customer service experience and an expanded menu coming soon!" Apparently there had been some serious "customer experience" issues under the previous owners. Sauced Pizza is located at 410 Glenwood Avenue.
  

• Rumor has is that Chef Maurizio Privilegi, who was most recently the head chef at Caffe Luna, will be opening a new Italian restaurant in the warehouse district of Downtown Raleigh. We'll keep our eyes and ears open as more information becomes available.
  
  
• The Noodles & Co. stores in Cameron Village and Cary are hosting Family Fun Nights on Tuesdays in August. During the events, from 5 to 9 pm each Tuesday, children under the age of 12 receive a FREE small bowl of noodles. The Cameron Village store is at 403 Daniels St., Raleigh, and the Cary store is in Crossroads Plaza, 200 Crossroads Blvd.
  
  
• Cameron Village's Uncle Fatty's has a coupon for $3.00 worth of food or drink (not valid on beer or wine) with any purchase of $5.99 or more. Sounds like a half-off coupon to us! Hurry, it expires today! Get it here.

• The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) will be holding the 5th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm tour on Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 18 and 19th from 1-5 pm on both days. This year's tour will have a record twenty-four sites, including eight new farms! The cost is $25 per car (so see how many people you can pack into one car!). Get tickets online here.
  
  
• Not to be outdone by their friends over on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, Hillsborough Street in Raleigh now has a location of The Pita Pit at 2908 Hillsborough Street, near the intersection with Dixie Trail.
  
  
• Also in Raleigh, Little Caesar's opened at the corner of Glascock Street and Raleigh Boulevard.
  
  
• Morrisville has a couple of new dining options. The Dim Sum House opened at 100 Jerusalem Drive (that's the same strip mall as Babymoon Café). Dim sum is the equivalent of Chinese tapas (think small plates / appetizers).
  
  
• The other Morrisville announcement is that Martin's Curry Rice will open tomorrow at 9549 Chapel Hill Road - that's the same strip mall as Danny's BBQ & Bear Rock Café.
  
  
• On Saturday the Morrisville location of Randy's Pizza (4129 Davis Drive) will be celebrating its 15th anniversary of the original store opening by rolling its prices back to 1995 levels. Store hours on Saturday are 11 am to 9 pm.
  
  
• Just down the road in Cary, Tribeca Tavern has been recognized as one of the top 50 kid-friendly restaurants in the nation by OpenTable, a leading provider of online reservations for diners. Tribeca Tavern is located near the corner of High House Road and Davis Drive in Cary and is part of the Rocky Top Hospitality family of restaurants.
  
  
• Over in Chapel Hill, Locopops closed its Franklin Street store at 128 E. Franklin Street this past Monday, but is now operating a cart on the UNC campus which can be found in The Pit near the bookstore.
  
  
• Carrboro's Panzanella restaurant is offering a dinner next Monday featuring dishes created from produce and animals raised on Eco Farm, which is run by John and Cindy Soehner in Chapel HIll. Panzanella's next farm dinner will feature Chapel Hill Creamery on September 27. More details here.
  
  
• Over in Durham, Old Havana Sandwich Shop is prepping for a fall opening at 310 E. Main St., just past Roxboro St. and the courthouse.
  
  
• Also in Durham, we mentioned the rumor a few weeks ago, but it is now confirmed that starting this week the West Village space occupied for a decade by Tosca will become 604 West Morgan Italian Eatery featuring Cinelli's Pizzeria.
  
  
• Durham's Piedmont restaurant has been bought by the Eno Hospitality Group, the folks behind Coon Rock Farm and Raleigh's Zely & Ritz restaurant. Andy Magowan, who owned Piedmont, apparently has plans to open a beer-garden/restaurant in Durham. Piedmont is located at 401 Foster Street in Durham.
  
  
• When the new terminal opens at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in January, you'll be able to enjoy Jason's Deli, Five Guys Burgers & Fries and gourmet market Flavours.
  
  
• From the "strap on the feed bags" file...The Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta Bowl has returned for a limited time. $8.95 gets you unlimited access to 42 combinations of pasta and sauces as well as unlimited salad and breadsticks.
  
  
• TGI Fridays continues with their free $10 gift card but you better hurry as this "deal" ends this Saturday. All you have to do is order two entrees from their new Caribbean Summer Menu. Check out the details here.
  
  
• Chili's Grill & Bar introduced this week a $20 dinner-for-two promotion - which amounts to a shared appetizer and two full-size entrees. The offer does not include beverages or tax. Get more details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 13, 2010

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

• OK, since there isn't much good news coming out of Chapel Hill these days (i.e. football), let's start with some good news out of Chapel Hill...
  
  
• First up, the much anticipated Five Guys famous burger joint opened up this week on the circle in Meadowmont, in the former Azure location.
  
  
• Also in Meadowmont, Firehouse Subs opened this week right next to Café Carolina (bet they were happy about that!). This comes a few months after Firehouse closed up their downtown Chapel Hill location.
  
  
• And so as to not be shown up, Chapel Hill's East 54, just a mile down the road, made a couple of big announcements. First, Chocolaterie Stam has opened after moving from its former Chapel Hill North location.
  
  
• Also in Chapel Hill's East 54, Archira Thai and Sushi has opened up and will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
  
  
• Chapel Hill's Courtyard continues to "reinvent itself" with the opening of L'incontro, a casual Italian restaurant located where Baba Ghannouj used to be. Owned by Sicilian siblings, the restaurant serves pizza, pasta and calzones.
  

• The Carolina Inn over in Chapel Hill has teamed up with Eastern Carolina Organics to offer a "Farm to Fork" dinner this Saturday night featuring a complete "local" menu from produce grown in NC. The event begins with a reception at 6:30, followed by dinner at 7 pm. $49 per person (includes wine pairings with dinner). Call 919-918-2735 for reservations & more information.
  
  
• And not far from Chapel Hill, up the road in Hillsborough, if you are looking for something to do on Saturday, The Eno River Farmer's Market is kicking things up a notch with Pepperfest where you'll find every variety of pepper -- from sweet to smoking hot -- at the market, as well as free pepper roasting and canning and cooking demos.
  
  
• Over in Raleigh, a Raleigh restaurant legend opened up his new digs this week on a famous corner. If you've eaten at The Mandarin House, The Abacus, The Great Mall of China, The China Café and Grille and most recently, the Duck and Dumpling, then you've enjoyed David Mao's creations. Now, at the corner of Hillsborough and Oberlin, in the former Darryl's/Red, Hot & Blue location, David has opened up David's Dumpling and Noodle Bar. Early reviews are extremely positive!
  
  
• Golden Corral's flagship restaurant on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has been rebuilt from the ground up and will be 12,800 sq. feet in size, and have 444 seats when it re-opens today. It includes food pavilions featuring Italian, Mexican and Asian specialties, an open flame grill, traditional American cuisine and a dessert Pavilion. Strap on the feed bags!
  

• Looks like a "showdown" is brewing in downtown Raleigh. We got word this week that Dickey's BBQ will be moving into the bottom of the new Progress Energy building (former Pharoah's location) which is almost directly across the street from Raleigh's legendary Cooper's Barbecue. Should be interesting!
  
  
• Also in downtown Raleigh, I just got word that we are less than a month from seeing the newest location of Z Pizza. Steve Drotts confirmed that the opening date is just three weeks off. The new location will be on the ground level of the Bank of America building, right at Raleigh's new city plaza. He also announced that they will be serving breakfast! This will be Z Pizza's third Triangle location.
  
  
• If you haven't heard, Hamid Mojaher, chef and co-owner of Mo's Diner in downtown Raleigh has stage IV lung cancer. His family and friends in the restaurant community are putting together a number of unique events to help raise money to offset the growing medical costs. To learn about these events, or to donate money, visit www.friendsforhamid.com.
  
  
• Restaurant chain Saladworks has signed a franchise deal that will introduce the company's salads, soups, wraps and Fusion sandwiches to the Triangle, specifically Wake County. No location information nor timeframe is available at this time. Entrepreneur Magazine named Saladworks the nation's top salad franchise for 2009 and 2010.
  
  
• Ever wanted to see how coffee is made? Raleigh coffee roasting company Larry's Beans has announced the next date for its popular factory tour: Sept. 25 from 11:30 to 1:30. On the tour, you'll get to check out the place where the Larry's staff roasts all the beans and also see many of the factory's eco-friendly features. Those include the bio-fuel pump out front, the awesome open-air layout of the plant and of course the Veggie Bus that runs on recycled oil. There will be snacks from Neomonde, beverages from Big Boss and live music. Sign up by e-mailing: tours@larrysbeans.com with the # of people in group, contact name, and phone number. Don't wait because they're limiting it to the first 100 people! Visit their facebook page for more information.
  
  
• Over at North Hills in Raleigh, just heard that The Q Shack is now offering up Locopops as an option for dessert! Que & loco - a great combination!
  
  
• An "Open Soon" sign was spotted at Benelux Café in downtown Raleigh's City Market in the space formerly occupied by Metro Café. They'll offer everything from espresso drinks, to delicious pastries, to a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads and of course, Belgian ales and largers. We don't have an open date at this point.
  

• Downtown Raleigh's "Restaurant Week" is happening August 23-29 where restaurants will be offering up three-course meals for either $20 or $30 depending on the venue. Get more information here.
  

• Looks like the former Camille's Sidewalk Café location in Cary is getting a new tenant. Signs in the store indicate that Tijuana Flats will be opening in the popular center next to Trader Joe's at the corner of Kildaire Farm Road and Cary Parkway. Their site confirms this, but no open date has been set (and still gives us time to let them know they've spelled "Carry" wrong on their site). This will be the 2nd Triangle location of Tijuana Flats (E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh).
  
  
• Morrisville got big news this week from a project that has been "in the works" since 2006. The ParkWest project, at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Cary Parkway, will break ground in a week or so. Target will anchor the location, but will be joined by the following dining options - New Japan Express, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Zoe's Kitchen, Kilwin's Chocolates and Ice Cream, Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits, and the Triangle's first Omaha Steaks store.
  

• Over in Durham, Taverna Nikos has been sold and is operating under new management. Things continue "as is" for now, but at some future time the restaurant will close for renovations and a new theme. The Nikos Taverna in Morrisville continues to be owned by Bill Bakis.
  
  
• There is also word this week that the former location of Anotherthyme (which closed in fall 2009 after nearly thirty years) will get a new tenant. No word as of yet.
  
  
• In downtown Durham, Old Havana Sandwich Shop will be opening at 310 E Main Street this fall. And yes, these will be "real" Cuban sandwiches as the owner is Cuban, as well as his cousin, who worked as a cook in Cuba.
  
  
• Some more exciting news out of Durham this week - West End Wine Bar will be opening a brand new pool hall at West Village! West End Billiards will be in the same building as the wine bar .
  
  
• And finally, McDonald's is at it again with another coupon for $1 off any size or flavor, smoothie or frappe. The coupon is good through this Sunday.
  

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