Friday Fun Food Facts – October 31, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Happy Halloween everyone! There are lots of “Halloween” festivities planned for today (too many to mention), but free ones catch our eye. If you are in the North Hills area today, swing by Saxby’s Coffee between noon and 7 and receive a free Pumpkin Spice Latte! Tell them Triangle Food Guy sent you. Get all the details here.

Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Italian restaurant Schiano’s has opened in Wake Forest in the Gateway Commons shopping center. They have one location already on Strickland Road in Raleigh. Get all the details here.

Just a courtesy note to let you know that Jubala Village Coffee in North Raleigh will be closed on Monday, November 3rd to complete some major renovations to their kitchen. Don’t panic. Breathe. Look for more offerings out of their expanded kitchen space. Check back in with them on Tuesday.

What time is it? It is turkey time! And the Q Shack is firing up their annual tradition of providing you with turkeys, sides and desserts for your Thanksgiving Day feast. Folks, I don’t endorse many things, but I can speak from personal experience that this is a fantastic (and delicious) way to feed your guests. Seriously, who (besides Tom and his team) want to be in the kitchen cooking up a turkey? Get your orders in before November 22nd and get all the details here.

Yawn. A Chili’s Grill & Bar is planed for Holly Springs in the new Holly Springs Towne Center on NC 55 according to the Triangle Business Journal. This will be the 10th Chili’sin the Triangle.

Got word from Craig Benner that the third area Penn Station East Coast Subs opened last Sunday next to Rise at Southpoint in Renaissance Village. It is locally owned and operated by Craig, Ellen and Ashley Benner. Check them out here.

Downtown Durham’s popular baker Daisy Cakes announced this week the opening of theirDessert Room which will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5 until 9 p.m. The room will allow guests to enjoy a special dessert menu and the option to pair their dessert with a dessert wine, champagne, hot tea or coffee. Get all the details here.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Saltbox Seafood Joint, located at 608 N. Mangum Street in Durham, is adding a food truck. Keep up with them on Facebook and Twitter for locations. Get all the details here.

WRAL reported last week that Garner’s Locked & Loaded Bar & Grill is moving to a new location just down the street in the old Texas Steakhouse building. Their last day in the current location is tomorrow (Nov. 1) and plan to be open at some point next week in the new spot. Keep up with them here.

And down in Johnston County, the News & Observer reported that Clayton’s newest restaurant is billing itself as offering “the only rooftop dining in Johnston County,” Manning’s, owned by chef Howard Manning, is located at 406 E. Main Street in downtown. Get all the details and check out their menu here.

The last food truck rodeo of the year at Durham’s Central Park is this Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. All the usual suspects will be there (45+ trucks!) and is sure to be a blast with live music as well. Get all the details here.

The Raleigh Fall Brew Fest, featuring at least 20 local and regional craft beers and a Halloween costume contest, is this Saturday (Nov. 1) from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cardinal Hall at 6015 Lead Mine Road in Raleigh. The cost is $35 in advance and $40 on the day of the event, which is a fundraiser for the N.C. Therapeutic Riding Center. Get all the details here.

This year’s 12th Annual Downtown Chili Cook-off will be held on Depot Street in historic downtown Fuquay-Varina this Saturday, November 1st. Get all the details here.

The 3rd Annual Red & White Food and Beverage Festival will be held on TuesdayNovember 4th at The State Club from 6-9pm. And for our readers, receive $5 off admission by entering promo code “foodguy” when you purchase tickets here.

Triangle Business Journal reminded us that the “Much Ado about Cheese” festival returns again this year on November 9th from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cotton Room in Durham. The event is free and open to the public. Free cheese samples will be provided, and Raleigh food truck American Meltdown will be selling cheesy delights. Beer and wine are also available for purchase. Check them out on Facebook here.

On Wednesday, November 12th the good folks over at The Cookery in Durham will host theFall Harvest Veteran Farmer Dinner featuring Six Plates and Foode (out of Virginia). The event is from 6:30 until 9:30 and costs $40. Get all the details and purchase tickets here.

Our friends over at Acme Restaurant in Carrboro reminded us of the 2nd annual Salt & Smoke event on Sunday, November 16th from 3 to 6 p.m at Rock Quarry Farm. The event is a celebration of fall in the south and will feature oysters and pork barbecue, collards and cornbread, slaw, smoked mullet and sweet potatoes. It’s beer and wine. It’s bands and bonfires and, above all, it’s a damn good time. The cost is $40 for food, or $48 with a couple of drinks. Check it out on Facebook here and get your tickets here.

Thanks to Kathleen Donnelly, I was reminded that the 12th annual Gingerbread Benefitfor Triangle Family Services will take place on Sunday, December 7th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. The day begins with a Gingerbread Sneak Preview (at 11:30) and culminates with the Evening Gingerbread Benefit at 6:30, and lots in between for children and the entire family. Get all the details here.

Did you know that almost 50% of students in our 34 county service area qualify for free or reduced-price lunch? It is difficult for any student to excel academically when they come to school hungry. So we invite all students, staff, parents and teachers to join our Students Against Hunger food and funds drive to help feed hungry children and their families in our community. Get all the details here.