Are you sick of hearing about wine? I hope not, because I have two winey items to share before changing the subject to something equally important: beer.
First, congratulations to the Angus Barn (9401 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 781-2444, www.angusbarn.com) for receiving Wine Spectator magazine’s Grand Awardits highest honorfor the 19th consecutive year. Grand Award winners are recognized for exhibiting “an uncompromising, passionate devotion to the quality of their wine program.” Only 73 restaurants in the world received the Grand Award, and the Angus Barn, which has a collection of 26,000 bottles worth an estimated $2 million, is the only winner in the Carolinas.
Then, in response to my column a few weeks back about free wine tastings in the Triangle, Leandra Ganko sent me a note. Turns out she and her husband, Eric, who call themselves “wine geeks,” have a blog dedicated to wine opportunities in the Triangle. (They also have a miniature schnauzer named Riesling.) In addition to tastings and other events, they have a running list of area restaurants that offer half-price bottles on certain nights. Check them out at trianglevino.com.
A belated happy first birthday to Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro (120 Lowes Drive, Suite 100, 545-2330, www.carolinabrewery.com), which opened a year ago. If you missed the birthday party a few weeks ago (like I did), you can still swing by and swig some Anniversary Lager, brewed just for the occasion.
Online tickets go on sale Aug. 20 for the 13th Annual World Beer Festival (www.allaboutbeer.com/wbf), to be held Oct. 4 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Brewers are coming from as far away as Singapore and Thailand, and as close as Wilmington and Asheville. Tickets are for one session, either from noon to 4 p.m. or 6 to 10 p.m., cost $40 per person and provide you with more than 300 kinds of beer to sample from more than 150 breweries. VIP tickets are $75 and include complimentary foods, access to a VIP area and access to even more beers. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will benefit the Carolina Theatre.
Also in Durham, look for Revolution restaurant (www.revolutionrestaurant.com) to open soon at 107 W. Main St. After working on the place for more than a year, chef-owner Jim Anile had this to say: “Old buildings give way to lots of surprises, some good, but mostly things go slower than you would like.” Revolution’s blog lists Sept. 1 as the targeted opening, but restaurant openings are a moving target. “We are very excited about getting close,” Anile said. In the meantime, you can read the menu online at Revolution’s site. Meals come in small, big and “second mortgage.”
Café Parizade (2200 W. Main St., Durham, 286-9712, www.ghgrestaurants.com/parizade/parizademaster.html) hosts Greek Night, featuring a buffet of authentic Greek dishes, live music and dancing, beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. Cost is $29 per person, excluding tax, beverages and gratuity. Reservations are recommended.
Know about a fun food happening in the Triangle? Send it to Now Serving at food@indyweek.com.
