Friday Fun Food Facts – February 13, 2015

Triangle Restaurant News

It is quite possible this is too late, but perhaps not. Still looking to make plans for Valentine’s Day? Check out the list the News & Observer’s Andrea Weigl has put together. But if none of those pan out, my friends over at Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours have numerous options in Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill for today and tomorrow. So there is still time for you to look like a hero! But hurry. Check on what is available here.

Cary is on fire this week. The News & Observer’s Greg Cox is reporting that the owners of Kabab & Grill are targeting this weekend for the opening of their restaurant in the old Pizza Hut building that most recently was home to Atlas Mediterranean Cuisine, and before that, Unaabi Grill. It is located at 914 Kildaire Farm Road. Check them out here.

The Triangle Business Journal reported that Cary’s new downtown tavern, the Crosstown Pub & Grill, opened last Friday. It is located at 140 E. Chatham St. next to the Cary Theater and features a pub-style atmosphere. Check them out here.

And my newly ordained Cary “Triangle Food Gal” Mendy Iler (who told us about the opening of Guacamaya Fresh Mex last week) has now given me the heads up that Tijuana Flats is opening next week at the intersection of High House Road and Davis Drive in the same shopping center as Publix (isn’t there a TF just down Davis?). Check them out here.

Over in Raleigh, the News & Observer reported yesterday that Level Up Restaurant + Barcadium is now serving drinks and plans to start offering food next Thursday. The place, at the corner of Salisbury and Hargett in downtown Raleigh, will eventually open the first floor and add a rooftop patio, but all that will come later. Keep up with them on Facebook here.

And we are perhaps getting closer to the opening of Pho Pho Pho Noodle Kitchen and Bar at 510 Glenwood South (brought to us by the owners of Sushi Blues). It was noted this week that they are advertising for staff on Craigslist. Can’t be long now…

Saw on Johanna Kramer’s twitter feed that East Coast Asian Bistro has a new space in Durham at 5410 Highway 55. Check them out here.

Also in Durham, got word this week that newly opened Bar Virgile will expand their offerings next week (Monday to be exact) when they open for lunch service. Check them out here.

Got word from reader Allison Hubble that Christie’s Restaurant in Cary has closed. It was located at 748 E. Chatham Street.

Here’s a little something to get us through the dreary cold winter months…the schedule for the 2015 Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo Series. Check it out here and mark your calendars.

And we are just over a month from the Spring Food Truck Rodeo at Durham’s Central Park. Get March 8th on your calendar. Here are all the details.

This is pretty cool. The Carolina Inn over in Chapel Hill is celebrating their 90th anniversary on Saturday, February 28th. They will host a Commemorative Chefs’ Event beginning at 6:30 with a four-course wine-pairing dinner celebrating the cuisine of their executive chefs through the years including Brian Stapleton, Jimmy Reale and current executive chef James Clark. Cost is $90 per person. Get tickets and all the details here.

Our friends over at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina are encouraging folks to show their heart for hunger relief by making a gift in honor of a loved one as part of their Hearts for Hunger Valentine’s Day Honor Drive. Get all the details here.