Epicurean:Looking for ways to beat the summer heat? Check out the chilly wares at these three new foodie destinations.

Just between us foodies: If you knew that the Triangle's premier French bakery had expanded into the adjoining space and opened a café, wouldn't you want to rush over?

Epicurean:What with all the competition in the sports pub market these days, it's no longer enough to hang a few flat-screen TVs on the wall, tap a couple of kegs and throw some wings in the fryer.

Epicurean:This week, the foodie news train jumps the tracks and takes off for a few off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Epicurean:Looks as if Apex is taking that "peak of good living" motto seriously. The town's dining and drinking options continue to grow rapidly, outpacing every other city in the Triangle on a per capita basis.

Epicurean:The local dining scene has not been immune to the effects of the recession, and many restaurants continue to struggle.

Downtown Raleigh is all abuzz about Busy Bee Café , which opened April 6 in a renovated historic building.

Epicurean:It should come as no surprise that the local dining scene is not immune to the effects of the current recession. Mythos Bistro, a romantic gem of a Mediterranean fusion restaurant that closed recently in Cary, is just one of the most notable victims.

Chapel Hill is the new home of the NCAA men's basketball champions, and of course Raleigh can always lay claim to being the state capital.

How do you like your pizza? Traditional New York style or loaded with gourmet toppings? Whole pie or by the slice? Round or square crust? Take your pick; these new restaurants have got you covered.

Epicurean:Wherever you are in the Triangle, odds are you're less than five minutes from a sushi fix.

Epicurean:After more than two years of delays, beer is finally flowing from the taps at the long-awaited Boylan Bridge Brewpub.