If I didn't have plans Thursday night, I'd be  headed to Mo's Diner in downtown Raleigh for this enchanting five-course meal with wine pairings for only $69.

They're are going to turn off the lights and let diners eat by candlelight, which will be beautiful in this cute old house turned into a restaurant. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.

The menu includes:

• Sweet potato latkes with house-made applesauce and sour cream paired with Jolivet Sancerre
• Seafood bisque made with lobster, crab, scallops, shrimp, dill and sherry paired with Vincent Marie Antoinette Pouilly Fuisse
• Warm duck salad made with autumn greens  and a cherry brown butter vinaigrette paired with Louis Jadot Cuvee Margot Bourgogne Rouge
• Grilled dry rubbed filet mignon with oven roasted wild mushroom and a port jus paired with Jaboulet Parallel 45 Cotes du Rhone
• White chocolate-pistachio bread pudding with warm whiskey sauce and chantilly cream

Without the wine, dinner costs only $39. Call 856-9938 to make a reservation.

If you'd like to read about the late Chef Hamid Mohajer, please read this story.
 

There are still seats available for the Sunday, Sept. 19 benefit dinner for the late Chef Hamid Mohajer at the Glenwood Grill. Mohajer was the first chef at the Glenwood Grill in Raleigh.

Mohajer, who along with his wife Holly own Mo's Diner in downtown Raleigh, died last month. (I wrote a story about his death and how another dinner became a tribute to him.) The restaurant and chef community had scheduled several benefits to help raise money to cover Hamid's medical bills.

It is 6-9 p.m. Sunday. It costs $75 per person. To make a reservation, call 782-3102.

For more information about the dinner, go HERE.

I wrote a story today about Chef Hamid Mohajer of Mo's Diner. Even if you didn't know him, the story illustrates how people will come together to help one of their own.

Go HERE.

Just a reminder that this is a rock concert fundraiser for Chef Hamid of Mo's Diner at 4 p.m. this Sunday, Aug. 15 at the Pour House in downtown Raleigh.

To read my story about Chef Hamid's illness and the numerous upcoming fundraising events, go HERE. 

To keep tabs on any new or updated events, go HERE.

A sad e-mail from Holly and Hamid Mohajer, the couple who owns Mo's Diner in downtown Raleigh this morning. Here's what it says:

"We are writing this letter to inform you of some very sad news.  Hamid has been diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer.  It has spread to his spine, and most other bones in his body.  He has not worked at the restaurant in some time, and he has been going to medical appointments daily to deal with his situation.  Holly has been cooking, managing the restaurant, and accompanying Hamid to all of his appointments.  In addition, Holly has been working a second job which provides health insurance.  To make matters more difficult, the health insurance for Hamid's illness has capped, and all of the medical bills are now being paid out of pocket.
 
We are launching a series of benefits for Hamid to assist in paying his mounting medical bills.  We humbly ask that you join us in this endeavor through donations, attendance at the events, and any other means of assistance which you deem appropriate.  With the help of Capital Bank, we have set up an account, Friends For Hamid, to manage any funds received for this cause.  If you can not attend an event and want to donate, you can send a contribution to Mo's Diner c/o Friends for Hamid."

It looks like the first event is this Thursday at Five Star in downtown Raleigh.

Here are the websites: 

Facebook Friends For Hamid  
www.friendsforhamid.blogspot.com
www.friendsforhamid.com

I also found this event on my space: http://events.myspace.com/Event/5599628/Friends-for-Hamid-Benefit

Just got a note from Mo's Diner in downtown Raleigh that they are offering bottles of wine half off on Wednesday nights throughout the summer.

The menus just came out for tonight's Green Plate Specials where the chefs from Solas and Mo's Diner will be cooking what they buy at the Moore Square Farmers Market.

This week's Green Plate Specials from the Moore Square Farmers Market will be at Solas and Mo's Diner. The restaurants' chefs will go shopping at the downtown Raleigh market between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday and create a special based on their ingredient purchases.