First - PF Chang’s is running a special called Chang’s For Two.  It’s a prix-fixe menu that includes two soups, a shared appetizer, two entrees and two of their mini-desserts.  It’s just $39.95.  Drinks, tax and tip aren’t included, but this is a great deal.

Deal two is dinner at The Melting Pot. I’m not much of a coupon clipper, but I got one of those ad things in the mailbox and was flipping through and found a coupon for $29 per person at the Durham location (across from the Streets at Southpoint).  It offers four courses, which I’m assuming are the salad, cheese foundue, meat foundue and dessert foundue for dessert.  It doesn’t expire until 6/1 so I’m sure they’re still running it, so you might want to take a closer look at those things before tossing them.  In the same ad, they’re promoting another busienss they own, Green Kids which offers drop in child care.  It’s located right next door to the restaurant and might be worth looking into if you’re looking for a little alone time and can’t find a sitter.

Deal three: Enjoy Pittsboro’s “First Sunday Celebration” at the General Store Cafe in Pittsboro.   GSC is going to have a jazz band from 4:30 to 7pm during the event and they’re offering a $10 meal that includes a salad, your choice of quiche, lasagne or foccacia pizza and dessert.    I guess we just missed the first Sunday in March (can somebody please tell me what happened to February), but make a plan for the first Sunday in April.  Of course you don’t have to wait until first Sunday — I like eating there so much, I keep making up excuses to go there for lunch.  If you haven’t eaten there yet, it’s totally worth a try.  The food is fresh, the menu is diverse and the ambiance is charming.

I think the most popular events are the Thursday night Winemaker diners held at local restaurants.  Basically, the chefs invite in a featured wine maker and do a custom menu with pairngs for every course.  It’s on the pricey side ($125 per person), but it’s for a great cause. The participant lists reads like a Who’s Who of Triangle restaurants including the Angus Bar, 18 Seaboard, Bloomsbury Bistro, Four Square, the Fearrington House, Second Empire, Vin, the Washington Duke, Il Palio, An and Nana’s to name a few.  If you’re interested in attending one of these, be sure to reserve early — like now — as the seats sell out fast.

If those prices are a little steep for you, consider the Friday event from 5-6:30 event.  It’s FREE.  The winemakers will be pouring, discussing and selling their wines at various shops throughout the Triangle.  Check the TWE site for locations.

The event wraps up on Saturday with a gala and wine auction ($150 per person). They auction off a lot of wine in addition to trips, dining experience and fine art.  There’s dancing to follow.

What are your favorite places/restaurants to take out of towners when you want to show off our food scene?  Leave a comment here and I’ll work it into an upcoming post on the subject.