Friday Fun Food Facts - August 26, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

•  Steve Hunt, who owns The Big Easy in downtown Raleigh, has opened another restaurant over in Cary in the former Marty's All-American Grill and Sunset Grill location. Look for the same Cajun- and creole-inspired dishes as the downtown restaurant. Visit them online here. 

• According to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, Nikos Taverna, a Greek restaurant in Morrisville, has closed and will open in about a month as the Triangle's fourth La Rancherita. We'll keep you posted.  

• A couple of big openings this week over in Durham. First, the much anticipated L'Uva Enoteca opened this week in the American Tobacco Campus complex (across from Tyler's) and is the creation of Jim Anile, owner of Revolution in downtown Durham. Take a peek at their Facebook page here. 

• And The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro on Duke's campus opened this past Wednesday. If you were a fan of The Food Factory (which closed last month in downtown Cary and will re-open soon as a similar establishment), it is worth a drive to Durham. Very cool space/location. Check it out!  

• Big happenings in downtown Raleigh. Over on Hargett Street the spaces formerly occupied by Two T's and Blue Bar will soon become home to a "Hawaiin café" and a British pub. Nothing else much to report at this point (they are being pretty tight-lipped about it) other than there is a lot of renovation going on, including outdoor seating space.  Look for an October/November opening.

• Here's one I never thought I'd see in this area. Imagine a place where you can sit around eating chocolate, and enjoying a beer or glass of wine that you brought! Or as someone else described it, "a Willy Wanka Factory for adults!" That's right, it is coming in the form of Videri Chocolate Factory which will take over the former Ess Lounge in downtown Raleigh. Sounds marvelous! Should be open just in time for the holiday season - a great place to take out-of-town guests.

• Don't think there are enough dining options on Raleigh's Glenwood South? Sit tight because the latest, Blue Mango, is under construction and on its way. It is located in the 222 condominium building and will serve up Indian cuisine from Chef Sita Khosla. Look for it to open this fall.

• A friend asked me the other day about the opening of the Mellow Mushroom over in Cary at the corner of High House and Cary Parkway. It appears as if they now have an "end of September" opening date. Stay tuned as we continue to watch this one. 

• With growth comes pain, I guess the old saying goes. And so it is as Raleigh's Hillsborough Street continues to "grow up" with plans announced this week that a new hotel/retail complex will sprout up across from NC State's bell tower. With that comes news that Sadlack's, a Raleigh institution, will close. No word yet on whether they will relocate. We'll keep an eye on it.

• In an interesting turn of events, the Carino's Italian Restaurant on Fayetteville Road near The Streets at Southpoint in Durham has closed. And now the 6-year-old building is scheduled to be demolished to make way for two retail shops. Apparently building ownership changed hands and the new owners wanted the change to happen, but apparently Carino's did not. But that said, there is still a Carino's in Brier Creek in Raleigh and we are awaiting news to see if they will relocate the Durham location.

• Over in Chapel Hill, right on the Chapel Hill/Carrboro line (Chapelboro as some refer to it) on Rosemary Street, brown paper adorns the windows of The Fuse, which has closed. Signs in the window indicate that the Standard Bar & Grill is coming soon. We'll keep an eye on it.

• The Great Food Truck Race is on again and there are a handful of Triangle area trucks competing for "most popular" in hopes of securing the $100,000 prize. Local trucks trying to become "America's Favorite" include: Captain Poncho's Tacos, Klausie's Pizza, Pie Pushers, OnlyBurger, Blue Sky Dining, KoKyu, Valentino's, Olde North State BBQ and Slippin' Sliders. Vote daily and vote often. Voting ends September 12. 

• 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. The restaurant will not serve burgers on this night and there will be no vegetarian options. The menu includes an assortment of beef, lamb, pork, offal and sausage provided by Farmhand Foods, which specializes in local-raised meat. The $45 ticket also gets you two beers and unlimited fries, bread, celery and radishes. Tickets cost $45 for adults and $20 for a child. Tickets are limited and only available online here. The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Durham.

• 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. 

• There are a couple of things you need to do to get ready for this year's TerraVITA food & wine event. First, mark your calendar. The event will be held in Chapel Hill's Southern Village on Saturday, September 24th. You can get more information here. Second, you need to purchase your tickets. Here is where you can purchase tickets. 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!  

• 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. 

• And finally, the Angus Barn is hosting another of their complimentary wine tastings this Sunday at 3:30 pm with Certified Sommelier Henk Schuitemaker and his staff. No reservations required and wine cellar tours are available. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 19, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• One open, two to go. Downtown Raleigh's much anticipated Beasely's Chicken + Honey, the creation of Poole's Diner owner Ashley Christensen, opened this week. And there are two more establishments on the way for Christensen - Chuck's, a burger joint next door, will open in about two weeks. And that will be followed by Fox Liquor Bar - aiming to open the 2nd weekend in September. Keep up with all of Ashley's restaurants here.  

• The Jack Astor's in Cary has closed - it did so at the end of last month. However, on their facebook page, they direct you to pay attention to the October opening of a JD's Tavern in Apex at 800 W Williams St. Apparently there will be some familiar faces from Jack Astor's. We'll keep you posted. 

• Last week we told you about the "re-opening" of Hectors in Chapel Hill. Well, it is actually The Thrill at Hectors and the "bar side" of it opened this week. But you can't get a Greek Grilled Cheese just yet. The "kitchen side" of the Chapel Hill legend, won't open until the end of this month. Keep up with the latest on their Facebook page.   

• Speaking of Chapel Hill legends, the rumors are circulating again about the rebirth of The Rathskeller. While it appears that there is more "activity" happening with these latest rumors, there is still a lot that has to happen in order to bring back "The Rat." We'll continue to watch it...and keep our fingers crossed!

• And speaking of rumors, here's a good one. It was "tweeted" last week that Jimmy Stubbs, from the Pittsboro "version" of Allen & Son Barbecue, is bringing his operation to Raleigh with the planned opening of Five Points BBQ. While this hasn't been confirmed and there are conflicting stories out of Pittsboro, there is a Twitter feed (@5PointsBBQ), and there is renovation work taking place at the corner of Oberlin and Fairview. We'll continue to watch this. 

• The original El Rodeo on Hillsborough Street (now 18 years old) is getting a new name and a new feel. With a planned opening of next Tuesday, Chile Bomba will be a "funkier" and "bolder" version of El Rodeo. The restaurant, across the street from NC State at 2400 Hillsborough Street, remains in the Ibarra family. Keep up with the latest here. 

• We told you about this last week, but Joel Lane's Public House, located in Raleigh's Glenwood South behind The Diner, is now open. The chef is William Thornton, who most recently worked at Gravy. Check out their website here.   

• According to the N&O, brothers Eddy and Galo Andrade are opening the Latin Grill in Clayton today at 876 Gulley Drive off of Highway 70. The 49-seat restaurant will serve Portuguese and Argentinian food, including grilled steaks, ribs and chicken. It will be open for lunch and dinner every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

• If you're looking for a new place to enjoy wings (that isn't a sports bar) we've got good news for you. East Coast Wings & Grill has opened in the Cornerstone Village Shopping Center at the corner of  Davis and High House Roads in Cary. There are plans to open three to five additional locations here in the Triangle area over the next few years. The restaurant features over 75 flavors of wings. Visit them here.

• The Tasty Beverage Company will open its doors this Monday (Aug. 22) at 6 p.m. They are located in the Raleigh Depot district in downtown Raleigh adjacent to the Union Tavern, Tuscan Blu and Jibarra (and across from Spy). At the opening, there will be tons of vendors providing free samples and their shelves will be stocked with over 500 different beers available for purchase.

• It is official...the latest version of Raleigh's Q Shack is now open at the food court in Crabtree Valley Mall. They opened to huge crowds this past Saturday. Congratulations to Tom Meyer and his team and partners.

• Want to take a tour of Larry's Beans? They have scheduled another of their extremely popular tours on Saturday, September 24th. These fill up quick, so email them soon if you are interested - tours@larrysbeans.com. Let them know how many people are in your group (6 max) and your contact information. This is limited to 150 people.

• Congratulations to Martin's Curry Rice on their one-year anniversary. To celebrate, join them this Sunday (Aug. 21) from 12 to 5 p.m. with festivities including live music, games and kids' activities.  

• The Western Wake Farmers' Market is holding an old-fashioned pig pickin' with live music, kids' entertainment and raffle prizes on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 beginning on Sept. 1. Tickets for kids are just $5. Visit their home page for more information.   

• Acme restaurant over in Carrboro is hosting another wine dinner this Sunday (Aug. 21). It will feature the spectacular wines of importer Rudi Weist. The cost is $58 per person and will get started at 6:30. Reservations are required by calling 919-929-2263.

• Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week is next week! Over 30 downtown Raleigh restaurants will be offering special prix fixe menus from Aug. 22-28 offering three-course meals for either $20 or $30. And this year, for the first time, many restaurants will offer beer or wine pairings for an additional $10. To see menus and the complete list of restaurants, go here.

• Tickets for the 2011 World Beer Festival in Durham (October 8, 2011) are now on sale to ther general public. If you want to go, better buy them now. They tend to go fast!

Friday Fun Food Facts - August 12, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Well, there is finally some great news coming out of Chapel Hill...Hector's is making a return to the hill! This rendition will be located on Rosemary Street in the same building as Bub O'Malley's (aka Bub's). We'll keep you posted once we get a firm opening date.

• I know I talk a lot about food trucks, but this is THE EVENT not to miss if you are a food truck junkie, or if you've been meaning to try out a food truck. They will ALL be at Durham's Central Park (adjacent to Durham's Farmer's Market on Foster Street) this Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This will mark the largest gathering of food trucks in the Triangle's history. Here is who is signed up to date (more to come, I'm certain): Only Burger, Pie Pushers, The Parlour, KoKyu BBQ, The Grilled Cheese Bus, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Farmhand Foods, Slippin' Sliders, Klausie's Pizza, Don's Classic Ices, Sweet n Savory, Kona Ice and Locopops. 

• Speaking of food trucks, there's a new food truck in town! Hitting the streets is Chirba Chirba Dumpling which will be focused on selling Asian street fare with an emphasis on dumplings. "Chirba Chirba" literally means "Eat eat!" in Mandarin Chinese. Keep up with their locale by visiting their website here. 

• MinGa, a Korean/Japanese restaurant in Chapel Hill, is now open at 116 Old Durham Road. That's the road that runs behind Hardees as you head out of Chapel Hill into Durham. You can get more information on their Facebook page here.   

• Over in Durham, Happy China Sushi & Bar on 15-501 Business (just down from Foster's at 2505 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.) is having their grand opening on Tuesday, August 16th.  Happy China Sushi & Bar is an American Chinese bistro that serves both Chinese and Japanese dishes. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Also, according to the N&O's Andrea Weigl, L'Uva Enoteca over in Durham's American Tobacco Campus (former Café Zen spot across from Tyler's), will open next week. To keep up with the latest, keep checking their Facebook page here.  

• Qdoba is now open in Brier Creek at 8521 Brier Creek Parkway. For those that remember, that is the former Salsarita's Fresh Cantina location.  

• With just over three years having past since the chain's last Triangle opening, Starbucks is set to open a new store at Six Forks Station in North Raleigh this October. It will be in the former Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant location.  

• Jet's Pizza, which opened its first two Triangle locations earlier this year, is getting ready to open another location. Jet's has begun the interior construction of its newest location at 6114 Falls of Neuse Road in the North Ridge shopping center in Raleigh.

• Brookside Market & Deli, near Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood, opened last month at 1000 Brookside Drive near downtown Raleigh. Brookside Deli offers a variety of Mediterranean food, including hummus, falafel, baba ghanouj, and beef, chicken and lamb shawarma. Check out their Facebook page here.

• If you live in Knightdale and are looking for a new place to get barbecue, check out the new Dickey's Barbecue Pit which opened this week at 2001 Widewaters Parkway.

• Rick's Diner & Catering Co. in Durham is growing. Rick's, which recently relocated just down Shannon Road to the Hope Valley Square shopping center, is planning to add another 2,000 square feet to its footprint by expanding into unoccupied space next door.  

• And over in Garner, The Fuji Japanese Steakhouse at 1571 U.S. 70 next to the Lowe's Home Improvement store is now open for business.

• The Italian-style Casalinga restaurant that has been operating in Raleigh's Mini City shopping center since 1995 is turning back the clock. Casalinga founders Manny LoGuidice and his sister-in-law Josephine Cappiello are returning to the restaurant's management after several years' absence with most of the old recipes and a few new ones.

• As noted in the Triangle Business Journal, Foster's in Cameron Village has closed their doors. And rumors on the street indicate that the prime location will soon be occupied by Charlotte's Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. Nope, that's not a typo - sushi and burgers. As soon as that is confirmed, we'll be sure to let you know. This would mark Cowfish's second location.

• It appears as if Grayson's over in Durham has consolidated all of their operations into their location at the Museum of Life & Science. While I was only able to visually confirm the closing of the Shannon Road location, their website seems to confirm that the museum location is the only remaining operation.

• We mentioned this several week's ago, but we've got some firm dates now. The Moe's in Cary at the corner of Weston Parkway and Harrison Avenue will close this Monday, (August 15) as they begin their expansion project to more than double their seating space. They plan to re-open the store on Monday, September 5th.

• The Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, a brewery and tavern, is celebrating their one-year anniversary this Saturday. The celebration runs (officially) from 4 to 8 pm, and will involve the closing of Rigsbee Avenue to allow for the following food trucks (to date): Farmhand Foods' Sausage Wagon; Backyard BBQ Pit; Chirba Chirba Dumplings; Klausie's Pizza; The Parlour; and Cocoa Cinnamon/bike coffee. More information here.  

• Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week is just a little more than a week away. Over 30 downtown Raleigh restaurants will be offering special prix fixe menus from Aug. 22-28 offering three-course meals for either $20 or $30. And this year, for the first time, many restaurants will offer beer or wine pairings for an additional $10. To see menus and the complete list of restaurants, go here.

• Tickets for the 2011 World Beer Festival in Durham (October 8, 2011) are now on sale to ther general public. If you want to go, better buy them now. They tend to go fast! 

• Tribeca Tavern is launching their new brunch menu this weekend at their Raleigh and Cary locations. The new menu is designed with an even greater influence on North Carolina farmer partners. The new menu can be seen here (pdf).    

• For a limited time, all Triangle locations of Moe's are now offering a new menu item - Taco Stacks. They are packed with your choice of steak, beef or chicken and stacked between two crunchy corn shells and wrapped in a crisped flour tortilla. Did we mention Moe's famous queso is also involved? 

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 29, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• North Raleigh seems to be the "hot" restaurant location this week. First up is the news that Simply Crepes has opened in LaFayette Village complex of shops and eateries. This is the third location for Simply Crepes and marks the first location outside of New York. Visit them on Facebook here. 

• Just across the way over on Creedmoor Road, al Dente, an Italian restaurant, has opened in the Stonehenge Shopping Center at 7456 Creedmoor Road. Visit them online here.   

• Also in North Raleigh, in the Brier Creek shopping complex, there is a new Indian option with the opening of Chakras Fine Indian Cuisine. It is located on the "Wal-Mart" side and you can visit them online here. 

• A quick update on a couple of announcements we have made in recent weeks/months. It now appears that Nanataco has set an official date of August 16th for their opening. Nanatacos will be in Durham on University Drive in the former Fish Shack location and is owned by Nana's Scott Howell.

• And we have a new time frame for another Durham restaurant to be opened by Revolution's Jim Anile. We originally reported that L'Uva, an Italian restaurant and bar, would be open just after the 4th of July. We are now looking at a middle to end of August open date. It will be located on the American Tobacco Campus in the former Café Zen space. Not much going on with their website, but you can keep up with their updates on Facebook here.  

• Over in Raleigh, The Diner on Glenwood South is set to get a new neighbor in the next month or so. Joel Lane's Public House is working toward a mid- to late-August opening. Located in the Creamery building, and sharing a patio with The Diner, they will serve "tavern classics" and will be open seven days a week.

• If you are as big a fan of Cary's Food Factory as I am, you better get over there today or tomorrow (before 3 pm)! Jimmy & Lisa are closing the doors to the downtown institution. That's the bad news. The good news is two-fold. One, they will move over to Durham to open The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro on Duke's campus around the middle to end of August (before the students return). The second bit of good news is that a family member, Ray Dorry, will reopen the Cary location in a matter of weeks as Dorry's Downtown. Expect a very similar menu.

• And in a bit of shocking news, the N&O's Andrea Weigl reported this week that Chapel Hill's Cypress on the Hill has closed their doors.

• Looking for a good deal? You better move fast! Today and today only you can get a $40 gift card at The Twisted Fork Grill, Market & Bar for just $20. The gift card is for dine-in only. The Twisted Fork is located at Triangle Town Center or visit them here.    

• Here's a little bit of interesting news that shook my southern foundation a little last week. Our beloved Bojangles concept (founded in Charlotte) has been sold to an interest in Boston. But apparently, we're told, we won't see much change. They better not mess with the fries and the sweet tea!

• Where can you find 60 beers, 40 bourbons and tons of barbecue? At the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival being held at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on August 5th and 6th, of course. The event features events on both Friday and Saturday (and some of them have already sold out). Visit their website for additional information and tickets.    

• And finally, I'll be on vacation next week so there will be no Friday Fun Food Facts Friday, August 5th (unless I get really tired of laying round in the sun, sipping beer and relaxing!).

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 22, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

The Triangle appears to be going more international this week with several announcements "around the globe."

• Downtown Raleigh is getting more international flare with the recent opening of Babylon which opened on West Lane Street in a former yarn mill. Samad Hatchby opened Babylon two weeks ago and serves food from his homeland, Morocco, and southern Europe. Visit them online here and to get detailed directions. 

• Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar, which will be a fine-dining Indian option in Raleigh's Glenwood South district, is set to open the second week in August at 116 N. West Street in the space most recently occupied by Vintage Bar & Grill. They will be open for lunch and dinner. Get more information here. 

• According to the Carpe Diem website, Salamandra re-opened earlier this summer on Hillsborough Rd. in Durham (2627 Hillsborough Road to be exact), just next door to their former location. If you're looking for authentic, fresh and inexpensive Mexican cuisine, you'll want to add this to your list. 

• And completing the international "theme," Laziz Biryani Corner has opened at its new location at 3281 Avent Ferry Road, Suite 117. LBC features Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Visit them online here . 

• If you've got a sweet tooth, listen up - we've got a couple of items of interest. First, the owners of The Cupcake Bar, a delivery cupcake business founded in 2008 and based in Cary, will be opening a retail space in the Five Points area in downtown Durham. Sisters Katie & Anna will begin construction on their brick and mortar location at 102 Morris Street in September. In the meantime, you can continue to get your cupcakes at Coffee & Crepes in Cary's Crossroads or at Tin Roof Teas in Raleigh's Cameron Village. 

• And we're also hearing (via Andrea Weigl at the N&O and Bull City Rising) that Daisy Cakes, an extremely popular Durham pastry truck, will be opening a storefront location later this fall in downtown Durham. The business will be located at 401-A Foster Street, right next door to the Bull City Arts Collaborative. And don't worry, they'll continue to operate their truck, both at the store and at special events.  

• If you've been to the Moe's at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Weston Parkway in Cary, you know it is a little limited on seating. Not anymore. That location is currently expanding into the former Sprint location next door and will increase it's seating from about 60 seats to well over 150 and will also have a private room for parties and events. Welcome to (a bigger) Moe's! 

• And speaking of renovations and additional seating, the small parking area that was out in front of Zely & Ritz, Sushi Blues and Taiphoon Bistro on Glenwood South has been torn out and is being replaced with a very large outdoor seating area. Very cool! 

• In a quick update for you Mellow Mushroom fanatics, the newest location in Cary is getting closer and closer to reality. The latest update estimates an end of August, first of September opening.  

• Guess I've been under a rock for this one, but Serena, a Sicilian-inspired restaurant in the heart of RTP (Miami Blvd. next to Randy's), is under new ownership. Stop by and say hello to Giuseppe and Kelly.  

• Anyone want to buy a Mexican restaurant? Los Potrillos Mexican Restaurant in Chapel Hill (aka Los Po's) near the intersection of East Franklin and Estes Drive, has an "Operating Restaurant For Sale" sign outside their restaurant. The sign on the door also says that they are closed for vacation and encourages folks to visit their other location at 220 W. Rosemary Street. We'll keep an eye on it. 

• Looking for somewhere to dine next Wednsday (July 27th) night? Head on over to Durham for two special dinners. First, Guglhupf is offering a farm-to-table dinner featuring products from Four Leaf Farm. The five-course meal with wine pairings will cost $45 plus tax and tip. And Dos Perros is offering a five course-meal paired with Durham's Fullsteam Brewery beers. The dinner costs $40 plus tax and tip.  

• Mark your calendars for the next variation of Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week which will be Aug. 22-28. Almost 30 restaurants have signed up to offer three-course prix fixe meals for $20-$30 per person. Some restaurants will offer three-course beer or wine pairings for an additional $10. For more information, go to their website . 

• Where can you find 60 beers, 40 bourbons and tons of barbecue? At the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival being held at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on August 5th and 6th, of course. The event features events on both Friday and Saturday (and some of them have already sold out). Visit their website for additional information and tickets.

• Piedmont Restaurant is also hosting a Farmer Wine Dinner with Wine Authorities at 7 pm on Thursday, July 28th. The dinner will feature wines made by wineries that are more farm than winery. These producers are focused on the agricultural aspect of the wine world. Make your reservations now by calling 919.683.1213 or visit their site here. 

• Due to a huge response to their dinner on July 27th, Blu Seafood and Bar on Hillsborough Road in Durham will extend their Lobster Night an extra night to  July 28! If you are interested in attending, or need more information, visit their site.

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 15, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Horowitz's Deli is returning to North Raleigh! Well, not exactly, but as close as we are going to get, and that is a great thing! Brothers Rick and Gary Weinberg are teaming up to resurrect the Horowitz concept (Rick was the original manager at Horowitz's Deli and Neil Horowitz is a consultant on this project) with the opening of Weinberg's - The Delicatessen which is scheduled to open this fall next to the Harris Teeter in the former Bombay Kitchen location on Falls of the Neuse Road. Construction on the space begins this week. Follow their progress on Facebook here. 

• According to the Duke Chronicle, Cary-based eatery The Food Factory will operate a location out of Duke University's The Devil's Bistro on central campus beginning this fall. The new eatery is tentatively being referred to as The Food Factory at Devil's Bistro, though the name could change slightly. The on-campus restaurant will be open for lunch, dinner and late night. Here's the article in the Duke Chronicle. 

• Chris Harris (formerly of City Beverage in Durham) and partner Danny Qaddomi have purchased the Tap City saloon at 6675 Falls of Neuse Road in North Raleigh and renamed it Fork and Barrel (new signage to go up soon). Tap City just opened this past fall in the old Stonewood Grill space at Falls Village on Falls of Neuse Road. Expect an overhaul of the menu.

• Alvin Cotto, owner of We Cook for You Catering and Raleigh Chocolate Fountains, has announced that he and his wife will open Bistro 155 at the intersection of US 1 and Highway 55 in Apex in the Apex Banquet Hall. The exact location is 1402 E. Williams Street where Fuji Asian Bistro was located. Bistro 155 will initially serve breakfast and lunch and is planning for an August opening. We'll get you an exact open date once we learn of it.  

• Dulce Café in Durham's Sutton Station on Fayetteville Road is now open. If you're looking for French press, espresso drinks, in-house made pastries, delicious sandwiches and gelato, this spot is worth the visit. 

• Listen up Q Shack fans. We are inside of two weeks before the opening of The Q Shack in the food court at Crabtree Valley Mall. What's cool about this venture (other than the great Q) is that it is owned by the farmers who provide the product for the Q Shack. Talk about Farm to Table! We'll let you know as soon as we get a firm opening date. 

• According to the website/blog BBQ Jew and now confirmed from numerous sources on Chowhound, the history-rich A&M Grill in Mebane, has gone out of business. 

• Only open for a few months, Downtown Raleigh's Fai Thai restaurant has closed. Fai Thai was part of the Empire Eats conglomeration of restaurants and the space will be utilized for private parties and to coordinate catering for all the Empire Eats restaurants. Chef William D'Auvray is still with Empire Eats.

• Antonio's Gourmet Market & Patio Bistro in Raleigh is hosting an N.C. Beer Festival tonight (Friday, July 15th) at 6pm! You don't want to miss this event as several local breweries are coming out with brews for every taste bud. The cost is $15 and Antonio's Gourmet Market & Patio Bistro is located at 8460 Honeycutt Road in Raleigh. Visit them online here.  

• This Saturday the Carrboro Farmers' Market will host its annual Tomato Day celebration. Starting at 8:30 on Saturday, the Tomato Day event includes tomato samples, a display of more than 70 varieties, cooking tips and recipes, as well as live music, face painting for the children and a raffle. For more information about either event, go to their website.  

• Speaking of tomatoes, Acme restaurant in Carrboro will host its 10th Annual Tomato Festival this weekend (July 15-17) - which basically means the restaurant takes a weekend to offer a menu full of tomato-based dishes. All tomatoes used (and we're talking 600-700 pounds of tomatoes!) come from the Carrboro Farmers' Market.  

• And if that is not enough tomato action for you, the Piedmont Restaurant over in Durham is having its Coon Rock Farm Tomato Dinner this Saturday night at 7. Be sure to reserve your spot soon as seats are filling up fast. The dinner is $45 per person. Wine pairings are an additional $20. Call for reservations to 919.683.1213 or visit their site here. 

• The Angus Barn is offering another complimentary wine tasting this Sunday, July 17 from 3:30-5pm. Reservations are not required and complimentary Wine Cellar tours will be available. Get more information at their website. 

• Capital Club 16 in downtown Raleigh will be hosting a Summer Seafood Bake (a communal style seafood wine dinner) on Monday, July 18th. The event will feature a 3-course dinner with an opening reception, lots of seafood and great wine pairings! Call 919.747.9345 to reserve your spot.   

• The Carolina Ale House in Cary just completed the installation of a new 72-tap open-air patio bar and is celebrating the grand re-opening with a Pints & Pipers Lawn Party on Wednesday, July 20th. All pints will be $3 each, with the exception of several high gravity beers, and The Magic Pipers, Raleigh's premier cover band, will play live 7p - 11p.  

• Moe's extremely popular "Free Queso Day" is back and cheesier than ever! On July 20th, Moe's Southwest Grill will be offering a free six ounce cup of queso to every customer, no strings attached. This offer is valid at all Moe's locations from 11 am until 9 pm.

• Piedmont Restaurant is also hosting a Farmer Wine Dinner with Wine Authorities at 7 pm on Thursday, July 28th. The dinner will feature wines made by wineries that are more farm than winery. These producers are focused on the agricultural aspect of the wine world. The full menu will be out in a few days. Make your reservations now by calling 919.683.1213 or visit their site here. 

• Due to a huge response to their dinner on July 27th, Blu Seafood and Bar on Hillsborough Road in Durham will extend their Lobster Night an extra night to  July 28! If you are interested in attending, or need more information, visit their site.

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 8, 2011

Triangle Restaurant News

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

• Cantina South, which took over the former Bogart's location on Glenwood South, is now open! Cantina South serves modern Mexican cuisine with entrees between $13 and $20, specialty margaritas and more than 50 tequilas. Check them out and welcome Kevin Summers back to the Raleigh restaurant scene!

• Here's some great news out of Durham. Nana's Scott Howell recently announced that he will take over the former Fish Shack location (2512 University Drive in Durham - aka former Rockwood Filling Station) and will open a Mexican restaurant called Nanataco. Howell is shooting for a late July opening. His newest venture will feature fresh tamales, burritos, and of course, tacos. In addition, he says to expect rotisserie chicken, housemade chorizo and an expanded outdoor seating area.

• We reported this many months ago, but it looks like the old Seafood North location (10630 Durant Road in Raleigh) is very close to getting a new tenant. A sign was spotted this week by my buddy John, aka Triangle Explorer, for Munchies Mexican Grill. Stay tuned for any new information we get.

• Downtown Raleigh has a new option for Turkish cuisine with the opening of Troy Mezze Lounge. Located on Blake Street in City Market in the former Edelweiss Café location, Troy Mezze  is owned by Arif Denk and offers up a large selection of Turkish food.

• If you find yourself up in Wake Forest early in the morning, you might want to check out their latest addition - Main Street Grille Café & Bakery. While they are known for their breakfast (and specifically their homemade Apple Cider Donughts), they also serve up sandwiches, burgers and such. Good Southern cooking! Thanks to John (aka Triangle Explorer) for the tip on this. They are located at 1318 South Main Street, or you can visit their website here. 

• The Triangle is about to get its sixth Applebee's location! The newest location will break ground in Durham's Patterson Place (15-501 and I40) this month and anticipates a November opening.

• Somebody in Chapel Hill is looking good, and we're not talking about John Edwards' latest $400 hair cut. No, this is food related and we're talking about a "face-lift" of sorts that was recently completed at Carolina Brewery on West Franklin Street. I've seen pictures and it looks pretty spiffy. Plan a trip over to Chapel Hill and check them out.

• Over in Durham, Mad Burrito announced plans to open in Northgate Mall's food court in early September.

• And for those counting down the days until the opening of the newest location of Chipotle -  you're going to have to wait a little longer. The Hillsborough Street location has moved back their opening date until right around August 31/September 1. As we get closer we'll let you know the exact opening date.  

• In our last issue, we reported that Johnny's of Carrboro had closed. That is true, but apparently it is a temporary close and will re-open, albeit under a new name. Details are still being worked out, but we will keep you posted.

• In related news, former Johnny's of Carrboro partner Brian Plaster, is now over at Frosty's on Jones Ferry Road between Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Pittsboro. The vision there might involve a name change to Johnny's at Frosty's, and will be similar to the venture over in Carrboro.

• Just a reminder that the Chick-fil-A on Walnut Street in Cary at Cary Crossroads will be closed (starting tomorrow) for a month-long renovation. But don't fear, you can still hit the Chickf-fil-A at Cary Town Center, just a few miles down the street.

• Speaking of Chick-fil-A, today is "Cow Appreciation Day" at all Chick-fil-A locations. Which simply means, dress up like a cow (or give it a good try) and you'll get free food!  

• Here's an interesting combination - A food truck rodeo (featuring Pie Pushers, The Parlour, Hot Diggity Dogs and Farmhand Foods) and women's arm wrestling! The event is this Saturday, July 9th, at the Casbah in Durham. The food trucks will be set-up and rolling at 7 pm, with the arm wrestling beginning at 9 pm. Let me know if you go!

• Somebody at the NY Times has a love affair with Durham - which we think is a great thing! Check out the NY Times' latest article on Durham! 

• If you are a beer connoisseur, good news is on the horizon. Bottle Revolution, a new specialty beer store, will open Aug. 5 on Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh next to Buffalo Brothers. Check their website for details on their fast-approaching opening.   

• Wild Ginger Asian Bistro and Sushi, which was located on the first floor of the Progress Energy building in downtown Raleigh, has closed their doors.  

• Two of the South's most iconic brands, Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme, have announced the re-release of their limited edition Cheerwine Filled Krispy Kreme Doughnut. But get them while they last - the limited edition treats will only be available until the end of July. To find the nearest location carrying Cheerwine Filled Krispy Kreme Doughnuts visit their website.  

• Antontio's Gourmet Market will host a Mexican Fiesta today (July 8th) and tomorrow. Festivities will begin tonight at 5pm, and will continue on Saturday at 12 noon. Bring your family, friends, and your appetite and enjoy their specially designed hot and spicy menu. Antonio's Gourmet Market is located at 8460 Honeycutt Road in Raleigh in Lafayette Village or visit them online here.  

• The Saturday Market At Rebus Works this weekend looks especially "foodie"! This weekend you'll find Blue Sky Dining (joining with Locals Seafood), Muddy Dog Roasting Company, Bobby's Ice Water and all the regular vendors featuring garlic, field peas, heirloom tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, corn, lemon tahini, homemade mustard, tomato sauce, butter, cheese and much, much more.  The Saturday Market is located at 301-2 Kinsey Street, (next to the Boylan Street Bridge) in Raleigh. Visit them here for more information.   

• On July 12, Brixx-Raleigh (Brier Creek Shopping Center) is playing host to a five-course beer dinner featuring the amazing beers of Left Hand Brewing! Tickets are $35 each. Click here for a peek at the menu and call 919.246.0640 to reserve tickets!   

• Next Friday, July 15th, Antonio's will host a Beer Fest. The cost is $15 and includes tasting and all you can eat hors d'oeuvres. Purchase your tickets in advance at the Market! More details here.    

• Saturday, July 16th will be the Carrboro Farmers' Market annual Tomato Day celebration. Starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16, the Tomato Day event includes tomato samples, a display of more than 70 varieties, cooking tips and recipes, as well as live music, face painting for the children and a raffle.
  For more information go here.  

• Speaking of tomatoes, Piedmont Restaurant is hosting the First Annual Piedmont Tomato Dinner on Saturday, July 16th at 7 p.m. The dinner will be 5 courses and will feature Coon Rock Farm's heirloom tomatoes in every dish. Call 919-683-1213 for reservations.  Spots will fill up fast!

• Capital Club 16 in downtown Raleigh will be hosting a Summer Seafood Bake (a communal style seafood wine dinner) on Monday, July 18th. The event will feature a 3-course dinner with an opening reception, lots of seafood and great wine pairings! Call 919.747.9345 to reserve your spot.  

• Moe's extremely popular "Free Queso Day" is back and cheesier than ever! On July 20th, Moe's Southwest Grill will be offering a free six ounce cup of queso to every customer, no strings attached. This offer is valid at all Moe's locations from 11 am until 9 pm.

• Due to a huge response to their dinner on July 27th, Blu Seafood and Bar on Hillsborough Road in Durham will extend their Lobster Night an extra night to  July 28! If you are interested in attending, or need more information, visit their site.

• Don't forget Foster's Market in Chapel Hill every other Thursday at 6:30 pm for a casual, family-style meal made from fresh ingredients from local farms. Reservations are required and are $25 and include a three-course meal, with an option of adding a $12 wine pairing. Get more information here.