Cincy’s, the place that brought Cincinnati chili to downtown Greensboro, celebrates 26 years in business Jim Noble’s celebrated 30 years in the business on July 6, the day Noble’s in High Point opened its doors in 1983. That’s a hell of a long time to be in the restaurant business.

Got room for one more? Consumerist reports that a French café in Sydney, Australia is accepting kisses as payment. Insert your favorite “down under” joke here. But before you book a flight, understand that you don’t just get to make out with your hot, tattooed barista instead of paying for your half-caf macchiato.

Fire in the Triad began this week in Greensboro, pitting Undercurrent against Southern Roots. As I’m writing this, I’m preparing to judge the first round Tuesday night. Jordan Green will be there Thiusday. Read all about it next week and find out more at competitiondining.

More big news: Fire in the Triad starts next week at the Empire Room in downtown Greensboro. The first cook-off pits Undercurrent’s Chef Michael Harkenreader against Chef Wes Patterson from Southern Roots in Jamestown. Listen to me: You need to get your tickets for these events now, because they al will sell out.

Chik-fil-A has new salads on the menu, while TGI Fridays has new small plates. Table 16 in downtown Greensboro has a new menu for the month of May — no details as of yet, but check their website at table16restaurant.com. And Gnam Gnam Bistro will be opening in that district later this month at the Renaissance Plaza Building.

Friday is Greenhouse Vegetable Day, formerly known as Free Tomato Sandwich Day, at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market beginning at 11 a.m. And the Fresh Market on Lawndale Avenue holds a cooking demo at 4 p.m. featuring beef tenderloin and bleucheese bruschetta.

First off, Fire in the Triad has booked its bracket for cooking challenge that begins on May 15 — 16 chefs squaring off live to see who’s the best. More on this as the action unfolds, but check out the lineup at competitiondining. com/events/fire-in-the-triad.

And in Winston-Salem, a brandnew Arby’s prototype restaurant has sprung up at 101 Summit Square Blvd. New features include a communal table, redesigned sauce and beverage stations and a stainless-steel eating bar. It is the first if 16 new redesigns the company will roll out this year.

Big doings in chain-restaurant land this week, with a slew of new menu items like flatbread sandwiches coming to Wendy’s, Kids’ meals at KFC, deep-dish pizzas from Little Caesar’s, Boston Market ribs and a new spring menu at Cracker Barrel that...

Undercurrent in Greensboro is open as well, with a midday menu running from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Make a reservation at 336.370.1266. In Winston-Salem, Mozelle’s is open all day long, with a brunch seating at 11 a.m. and a dinner menu all day. Reserve a table at 336.

Shane’s Rib Shack and Buffalo’s Bar & Grill in Greensboro have closed. Likewise with Caf Roche in Winston Salem. But Los Cabos Mexican Grill has opened on Greensboro’s Tate Street and D’Lishi Frozen Yogurt will open on Battleground Avenue this weekend.

Or try some of the new menu items at national fast-casual chains. Applebee’s has added two New Orleansthemed entrées: a shrimp combo platter and a Creamy Cajun Steak & Shrimp plate. Cracker Barrel is testing a few items in select markets, including a catfish brushed with orange marmalade and a breakfast sandwich on flatbread.

It’s winter’s last gasp here in the North Carolina Piedmont Triad, with periodic bouts of sunshine breaking through the dismal grayness and rain. The leafy greens come through in March, followed a few weeks later by the strawberries.

But you can still catch another week of the Big Eat, which has just one more night in downtown Winston-Salem. On Tuesday, you can get signature meals from your favorite restaurants for just half price. This week, Foothills served its famous fish and chips — who knows what they’ll have in store on Tuesday night? Check dwsp.

Heads up, people: Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and if you haven’t already scored a reservation at your favorite restaurant, I’m here to say that you may be out of luck. But I happen to know that 6th & Vine in downtown Winston- Salem will keep about two-thirds of the dining room open for walk-ins, so if you don’t mind waiting you could give it a shot.

Also on Saturday, the Greensboro Whole Foods Market holds a Sweet Soiree intended to introduce its customers to all manner of fabulous candies in preparation for Valentine’s Day. The event begins at 1 p.m., and prizes are promised. And the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market holds a heart-healthy cooking demo and heath screening.

It’s Super Bowl weekend, one of the biggest holidays for gluttony on the nation. Chili, wings, pizza and a few hands’ worth of finger foods should make their way into your pie hole on Sunday. I recommend gumbo because, after all the game is held in New Orleans this year.

It’s quiet weeks like that inspired the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership to hold the Big Eat, a two-month restaurant celebration, over HJanuary and February. Here’s the deal: Every Tuesday through February, all your favorite Winston-Salem restaurants offer signature dishes at half price — nothing to sign and no strings attached.

The big news this week is, as always during the first few months of the year, the Big Eat, downtown Winston- Salem’s restaurant initiative wherein all you favorite places offer all your favorite dishes at half off every Tuesday night through February.

Big Mama’s in Winston-Salem is no more, alas. But the Cajun Honeybee in Greensboro, specializing in Louisiana fare, is open at 1609 W. Friendly Ave. And Milner’s American Southern in Winston-Salem is planning a new restaurant to open in Clemmons next month.