Does anyone know what happened to the Flying Burrito? It appears that a 20-year-old Chapel Hill institution has packed up its fish tacos and gone. (I know: Who’s the reporter here, anyway?) The sign on the door says “Closed for remodeling,” the phone is disconnected, and some longtime regular customers are bereft. I know that things had been … uh, uneven … lately, but Chapel Hillians love their Tex-Mex joints, especially those that provide good margaritas and interesting vegetarian options. Farewell, Flying Mayan.
Oct. 31 marks the end of the season at the Moore Square Farmers’ Market in downtown Raleigh, so it’s a good time to check in on other area markets. Carrboro’s Wednesday market and the Southern Village market are both closed for the season.
Fearrington Farmers’ Market (www.fearrington.com/village/calendar.asp) continues every Tuesday through Thanksgiving. The Durham Farmers’ Market (www.durhamfarmersmarket.com) continues every Saturday until Christmas except Nov. 24 (after Thanksgiving). Carrboro Farmers’ Market (carrborofarmersmarket.com) continues every Saturday through Dec. 22. Also, Carrboro has a pre-Thanksgiving market from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 20 on the Town Commons.
Bentley’s at Crossroads (2007 Walnut St., Cary, 854-0644, bentleysatcrossroads.com) will host a wine dinner Nov. 5. Each of the meal’s five courses is paired with a different wine. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $60, and reservations and a deposit are required.
For its fall wine dinner, Bistro 64 (103 Edinburgh South Drive, Cary, 380-1322, www.bistro64.com) hosts Joe Otos, winemaker for Owl Ridge Winery (www.owlridge.com) and Willowbrook Cellars (www.willowbrookcellars.com). Otos will speak during a five-course dinner prepared by chef Alan Batson, paired with five different wines, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12. Cost is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and reservations are required.
Piedmont Restaurant (401 Foster St., Durham, 683-1213, www.piedmontrestaurant.com) will host its first wine dinner featuring the foods and wines of the Piedmont region of Italy at 7 p.m. Nov. 12. The five-course menu will feature (among other things) braised pasture-raised beef short ribs from Snow Camp’s Braeburn Farm (www.braeburnfarms.com), house-made Tuscan salami, cheese ravioli with fresh white truffles, and wine pairings for each course. Cost is $75 per person, and reservations are required.
And on Nov. 20, Vivace (4209 Lassiter Mill Road, Raleigh, 787-7747, www.vivaceraleigh.com) hosts the latest in its series of regional Italian wine dinners. This one features food and wine from the Lombardy region. A family-style meal composed of three or four courses will be paired with wines selected by beverage director Scott Luetgenau. Cost is not yet set; reservations are required.
I’m still on my quest for pumpkin desserts in Wake County . . . drop a line if you know where to find some.
