Chef Jimmy Crippen, owner of Crippen's Country Inn and Restaurant in Blowing Rock, has brought his Iron Chef-style cooking competition to the Triangle starting June 11.

Crippen is the force behind the annual Fire on the Rock competition, which started seven years ago in Blowing Rock. This year, Crippen teamed up with the N.C. Department of Agriculture's Got to Be N.C. campaign to take the competition statewide. So now there are four contests across the state: Fire on the Rock in Blowing Rock, Fire on the Dock in Wrightsville Beach, Fire in the Triangle in Raleigh and Fire in the Triad in Greensboro.

Sixteen chefs have signed up for the Triangle contest starting June 11 with Four Square's Shane Ingram going up against The Twisted Fork's Adam Jones. The complete list of pairings was announced today at a press conference in North Raleigh.

Here's how it works: Two chefs with the help of two sous chefs each prepare three courses for about 100 people using a secret N.C. ingredient that is only revealed on the day of the competition. The chefs, whose cell phones are confiscated, have about six hours to plan their menus and cook their courses. That evening, the diners and a panel of guest judges will choose the winning dishes, not knowing which chef cooked which course. The winning chef moves onto the next round. The overall winner takes home $2,000, while the runner-up wins $500.

The public can buy tickets to the dinners. The cost is $49 excluding beverage, tax and tip for the preliminary rounds, and $59 for the semifinal and final rounds. Go HERE to purchase tickets. All events start at 6:30 p.m. at Rocky Top Hospitality's catering event space, 1705 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, which is the original Michael Dean's location.

The preliminary contests are these:

• June 11: Shane Ingram of Four Square in Durham vs. Adam Jones of The Twisted Fork in Raleigh. 
• June 12: Adam Rose of Il Palio in Chapel Hill vs. Josh DeCarolis of Jujube in Chapel Hill.
• June 13: Ryan Payne of Weathervane at Southern Season in Chapel Hill vs. Chris Harris of Fork and Barrel in Raleigh.
• June 18: Scott James of The Midtown Grille in Raleigh vs. Matthew Hannon of Ashten's Restaurant & Pub in Southern Pines.
• June 19: John Childers of Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary vs. Chad McIntyre of Market Restaurant in Raleigh.
• June 20: Reto von Weissenfluh of Mia Francesca Trattoria in Raleigh vs. Serge Falcoz-Vigne of 518 West Italian Café in Raleigh.
• June 25: Michael Lee of Sono in Raleigh vs. Dean Wendel of Flights at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel.
• June 26: Christopher Hill of The Oxford in Raleigh vs. Jimmy Reale of Chapel Hill Country Club in Chapel Hill.

The quarterfinals will be July 9-10 and July 16-17. The semifinals will be July 23-24. The final competition will be July 31.

A portion of  ticket sales will be donated to N.C.'s Office of the State Fire Marshal to support local fire fighters because cooking is the number one cause of house fires.

So many things to do this weekend beyond the 24-hour celebration of the new N.C.  Museum of Natural Sciences. If the weather cooperates, here are a few ideas:

• This Saturday is the annual Cuegrass festival outside The Pit restaurant in downtown Raleigh. It's from noon-6 p.m. It costs $5. For details, go to http://cuegrass.com
• Chatham County's Briar Chapel is hosting an Earth Day celebration from 3-5 p.m. Sunday with children's activities and a food truck rodeo. The food trucks will include Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Baguettaboutit, Will & Pop's and The Parlour. (There's also a 5K in the morning if you feel so inclined. It benefits the Abundance Foundation. For more information, go HERE.)
• SEEDS' annual pie social and skills share auction also is Sunday afternoon. Read my earlier post HERE.
• The next Triangle Foodie Tweetup is April 25 at Fearrington Village. The cost is $5 for Chef Colin Bedford's take on hot dogs, sliders and more. (They do seem to outdo themselves every time they host these events.) It's cash bar. Tickets are available HERE.

And I also wanted to mention these special dinners at Triangle restaurants:

Beasley's Chicken + Honey is doing soft shell crab dinners on Monday: You get  soft shell crabs, family-style sides and three glasses of spring wine for $35. They are doing seatings at 6 and 8 p.m. To make a reservation, call (919) 322-0127.

Chapel Hill's Jujube restaurant has two wine dinners:

• 7 p.m. April 26, a five-course dinner featuring Argentine wines costs $45 per person.
• 7 p.m. May 8, a five-course dinner with Austrian wine pairings costs $50 per person.

To see the full menus, go HERE. To make a reservation, call (919) 960-0555.
 

Here are a few upcoming wine and beer dinners across the Triangle:

• Hope Valley Bottle Shop has seven upcoming wine dinners, including an Italian wine dinner at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 at Nana's in Durham. It cost $55. To see the complete list of wine dinners, go HERE. Call 493-8545 for a reservation.
• Guglhupf in Durham is offering an Austrian wine dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 21. For details and the menu, go HERE. For a reservation, call 401-2600.

• Jibarra restaurant in Raleigh is offering a four-course dinner with five Saison-style beer pairings. The dinner is 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 21. It costs $55. Go HERE for details and menu. Call 755-0556 for a reservation.
• Durham’s Vin Rouge is partnering with Wine Authorities to offer a five-course wine dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22. Winemaker Joseph Landron will be the special guest. It costs $75. Go HERE for the menu. Call 416-0466 for a reservation. (If you can’t make the dinner, you can meet Landron and taste his wines from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at Wine Authorities. For more information, go to http://wineauthorities.com.)
• Jujube restaurant in Chapel Hill is offering a four-course dinner with wine pairings  from the Paul Hobbs Winery. It will be 7 p.m. March 28. Go HERE for the menu. Call 960-0555 for a reservation. It costs $57.50. 
• ADDED: Weathervane, the restaurant at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill, is offering a five-course dinner featuring wines from Gil Family Estates at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28. Go HERE to read the menu. It costs $70. To make a reservation, call 929-9466.

For Valentine's Day, restaurants usually unveil a prix fixe menu or special offerings in addition to their regular menu. If a nice meal out isn't your thing, here's my list of other Valentine's Day activities, including cooking classes and chocolate tastings.

Here are a few dinner options that I spotted in my inbox or online:

• Durham's West 94th Street Pub is offering a four-course meal Friday through Valentine's Day and 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Dinner costs $25 per person or $35 per person with beer or wine.
• There will be a Valentine's Day Food Truck Rodeo and Fundraiser in Carrboro from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday. See my earlier post for details.
• The Point in Raleigh's Five Points neighborhood is offering a three-course menu for $40 a person. Go HERE to see the menu. (Scroll down a bit to see it.) They are offering that menu on Friday, Saturday and Valentine's Day.
• Tribeca Tavern in North Raleigh and Cary is offering a three-course meal for $50 per couple or a la carte off their special menu. Go HERE to see it.
• Twisted Fork, also in North Raleigh, also is offering a special Valentine's menu.
• Cary's Coffee and Crepes is offering a Valentine's special: a strawberry and nutella crepe. As the owner Terri Pastrana says, "Pair it with a hot mocha latte and you have a smiling date that won't break the bank."
• Raleigh's 42nd Street Oyster Bar is offering a three-course menu for 2 for $65. Go HERE to see the menu.
• bu.ku in Raleigh is offering a special three-course menu that is $75 per couple. The special starts Friday and runs through Valentine's Day. Go HERE to see the menu.
• Jibarra in Raleigh is offering a three-course meal and a margarita for $49. Plus, they will be offering some other specialty cocktails for the occasion. Go HERE to see a menu.
• The Angus Barn in Raleigh is offering a four-course meal on Saturday for $95 with live music and dancing in the pavilion after dinner. Go HERE for details.
• Daniel's in Apex is offering an Almost Valentine's wine dinner on Thursday offering five courses for $75. Go HERE and click on Wine Dinner for details. Daniel's is also offering a special Valentine's Day menu, including lobster bolognese for $22.
• The Matthews House in Cary is offering dinner and dancing from 6:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday. It costs $50 per person. Plus, one lucky couple will win a night in the honeymoon suite. Call 467-1944 for more details and reservations.
• Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary is offering a five-course tasting menu for $85. You can get wine pairings for an additional $35. You can take your date for this special meal on Friday, Sunday, Monday, Feb. 13 and then Feb. 15-Feb. 18. Call 447-4000 for a reservation.
• La Residence in Chapel Hill is offering a three-course meal for $49 or a four-course meal for $65 on Valentine's Day. Call 967-2506 for a reservation.
• Taste Carolina is offering walking tours in Durham and Raleigh on Valentine's Day. Tickets cost $62.50.
• Dos Perros in Durham has posted its Valentine's Day menu, which it will be offering in addition to its regular menu. I'm most intrigued by this drink, which could stand in for dessert: Mexican Affogato, a Mezcal-spiked coffee poured over mole ice cream with house-candied orange peel. 
• Its sister restaurant in Chapel Hill, Jujube also has posted its Valentine's Day menu.
• The Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham is offering a five-course meal for $65. Go HERE for details.
• The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill has a series of dining and overnight stay packages starting at $129. Go HERE to see their offerings. UPDATE: If you just want to dine at the Carolina Crossroads restaurant, there is a special four-course meal with champagne and a rose for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day for $75 per person. On Feb. 11-13, you can enjoy a four-course meal with champagne for $65 per person. Call 918-2735 for a reservation. 
• Il Palio at The Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill is offering a five-course meal for $95. Go HERE to see the menu.
• Chef Chip Smith, formerly of Bonne Soiree, is now cooking at The Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. They are offering a Valentine's Day menu on Saturday, Sunday and Valentine's Day. Call 742-5176 for details.
• Watts Grocery in Durham is offering a three-course meal for $50. Go HERE to see the menu.
• Foster's Markets in Durham and Chapel Hill are offering a three-course take out meal for two for $75. You must place your order by Saturday to pick up on Valentine's Day. Go HERE to see the menu.

If you would like your restaurant added to this list, please send an email to aweigl@newsobserver.com and put "Valentine's Menu" in the subject line.

The next Triangle Foodie Tweetup will be 6-8 p.m. June 14th at Jujube in Chapel Hill. The theme is Asian tapas and cocktails. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 1.

Go HERE to purchase tickets. They cost $11.75.

Fearrington House has announced its special dinners for the entire year. Seats at these events sell fast so you might want to reserve now. Fearrington House's wine director Maximilian Kast is the series host and menus are planned by executive chef Colin Bedford. Here is the line up:

• Jan. 16, a dinner featuring Sparkman Cellars wine and guest chef Charlie Deal of Chapel Hill's Jujube and Durham's Dos Perros.
• Feb. 20, Fullsteam Brewery beer dinner with brewery owner Sean Wilson.
• March 20, a dinner featuring wines chosen by Thomas Meunier with Authentique Vin Imports. The wines will be from Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Loire Valley regions of France.
• April 10, Elk Cove Vineyards wine dinner with winemaker Adam Campbell.
• Sept. 28, Blackbird Vineyards wine dinner with vineyard owner executive Paul Leary.
• Nov. 13, Perception Winery wine dinner with winery founder Mark Ray.

Each dinner costs $125 per person. Each dinner starts at 7 p.m. but is preceded by a reception at 6 p.m. To make a reservation, call 542-2121.

For more details, go HERE.
 

So many dining options, how can you choose?

I had an earlier post about the special menus at Marguax's, Savoy, Piedmont, Jujube and Zely & Ritz. Here are a few more:

• Chapel Hill's Cypress on the Hill  is offering a five-course meal for $65 with wine pairings for an additional $20. To see the menu, go HERE. Call 537-8817 for a reservation. Earlier time slots are filling up but if you want a later reservation, this may be a good option for your party.
• Chapel Hill's Lantern is serving a three-course menu for $75. To see the menu, go HERE. Call 969-8846 for a reservation.
• Raleigh's Solas is offering two seatings. One from 5-7 p.m. and another from 7-9 p.m. Click HERE for details. (I can't tell if it costs $40, $60 or $55. The facebook page isn't clear to me.) If you don't want to do dinner, it looks like you can pay a $20 cover for access to the bars, deejays and more. Call 755-0755 for a reservation.
• Cary's The Umstead Hotel is hosting a New Year's Eve gala for $125. It  includes beverages, hors d'oeuvres and live music. Call 447-4000 for tickets.
• ADDED: Blu Seafood and Bar in Durham is offering four courses for $60. Go HERE to see the menu.
   

My e-mail is filling up with details on local restaurant's New Year's Eve offerings:

Margaux's in North Raleigh is offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $69 for the 5:30-6:30 p.m. seatings and $89 per person for the 8-9 p.m. seatings. The later seating includes a champagne toast and party favors. It's a masquerade ball theme and the best costume will win the diner a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant. Call 846-9846 for a reservation.

Piedmont in Durham is offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $50 per person or $75 with wine pairings. They'll be seating from 6-11 p.m. Call 683-1213 for a reservation.

Raleigh's Savoy restaurant is offering a six-course meal for $100 per person or $125 with wine pairings. (No coupons or Groupons accepted though.) Seatings start at 5:30 p.m.and end at 8:45 p.m. Call 848-3535 for a reservation. (The menu is below.)

If you missed my earlier posts, I've already posted information about Jujube's menus and Zely & Ritz's menus.

UPDATE: Michael Maller, the manager at Vin Rouge in Durham, sent this note about them offering their usual menu on New Year's Eve and Day. He wrote: "I don't know if not doing anything special is "news worthy" but I'm sure lots of people are looking for something to do other than prix-fixe or tasting menus."

Click READ MORE to see the complete menu for Savoy's New Year's Eve offering.

A few more New Year's Eve menus have come into the inbox:

Chapel Hill's Jujube is offering two seatings at two prices with two menus.

The 6 p.m. seating costs $45 per person. The 5-course menu includes: 

• Shared Appetizers: octopus soppresatta with arugula, Chinese olives and shaved parmesan; shrimp and scallion fritters with pineapple "kim chee;" duck confit, sweet potato and ricotta spring rolls with persimmon coulis.
• 1st course: Korean-style tuna tartare with black rice toast and Asian pear; and five-spice boudin blanc with Asian choucroute and Chinese mustard.
• 2nd course: choice of scallop-stuffed lemon sole, glazed turnips and tangerine-coconut beurre blanc OR grilled beef tenderloin with miso glaze and squash-fennel gratin.
• Dessert: chocolate-orange mousse with champagne chantilly or New York cheesecake with jujube preserves.

The 9 p.m. seating costs $60 and the 8-course menu includes:

• Shared Appetizers: octopus soppresatta with arugula, Chinese olives and shaved parmesan; shrimp and scallion fritters with pineapple "kim chee;"  and duck confit, sweet potato and ricotta spring rolls with persimmon coulis.
• Korean-style tuna tartare with black rice toast and Asian pear.
• Five-spice boudin blanc with Asian choucroute and Chinese mustard.
• Sweet soy-braised pork belly and daikon with crispy shitake.
• Scallop-stuffed lemon sole, glazed turnips and tangerine-coconut beurre blanc. 
• Grilled beef tenderloin with miso glaze and squash-fennel gratin.
• Chocolate-orange mousse with champagne chantilly.
• New York cheesecake with jujube preserves.

Call 960-0555 for a reservation.

Chef/owner Charlie Deal has a couple special dinners coming up at his restaurants:

• 7 p.m. June 16, a Steele Winery dinner at Jujube featuring five courses for $47.50. For the full menu, click HERE. Call 960-0555 for a reservation.
• 10 p.m. June 18, a late night tequila cage match dinner at Dos Perros featuring five courses for $45. For full menu, click HERE. Call 956-2750 for a reservation.