Friday Fun Food Facts – July 1, 2016

Triangle Restaurant News

Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.

This week tickets to TerraVita went on sale. And you better jump fast, as many of these events will sell out soon. Trust me. If you aren’t familiar with TerraVita, it is arguably the premier “foodie event” in the southeast and it will take place September 28th through October 1 right here in Chapel Hill. In a nutshell, it is a multi-day celebration that brings together top chefs, food artisans, sommeliers, baristas, brewers, educators, distillers, cookbook authors and industry luminaries from across the Southeast to celebrate culinary excellence and sustainability in food and drink. Get tickets (NOW!) here. And get additional details on TerraVita here.

Got word from Vinty Judge herself that she is bringing the European gelato cafe Amorino to downtown Raleigh – more specifically to the street level of the Edison Lofts at 109 Davie St. If you are not familiar with Amorino, check them out here. They have US locations in New York, Boston, Beverly Hills, Chicago…and soon, Raleigh!

Raleigh & Company writer Jen Baker gave an update this week on the newest coffee joint opening soon in Raleigh. 42 & Lawrence will open in the “next 2 weeks” on the ground floor of SkyHouse (308 S. Blount Street) in downtown Raleigh. The endeavor is brought to us by Larry Larson (think Larry’s Beans and Larry’s Coffee). Not much up yet on their Facebook page, but check them out here.

And speaking of coffee, New Raleigh noted this week that Sir Walter Coffee is coming soon to Raleigh. That is it. That is all we know. No date. No location (other than Raleigh). So, stay tuned. Here is the website.

We are getting closer and closer to the opening of Fayetteville Street’s latest restaurant, a burger joint by the name of Bare Bones. It will open any day now in the former home of Zinda’s at the PNC Plaza. Check their website out here and their Facebook page here.

A quick update to the opening of Wings over Raleigh. WRAL reported this week that they will open on July 7th at 2900 Hillsborough Street. Check them out here.

We learned this week via “Cindy Who” on Twitter that the Dalat Oriental Restaurant in Raleigh’s Mission Valley shopping center is changing ownership. The transition is to be complete by the middle of July. Check them out here.

Related to that, New Raleigh is reporting that the current Dalat owner will open a fusion Vietnamese subs, pizza, and burrito joint with arcade games off Hwy 42 called 42 Funland. We will keep an eye on that.

This is kind of cool. The recent opening of Boheme Restaurant in Durham is getting rave reviews. Now, the next component of that property is coming online – in the form of their Bohemian Garden. Open on Thursday and Sunday nights from 8pm onwards the lush garden will host live music and drink specials, not to mention dogs are encouraged. Calling this their “soft” opening, the grand opening is Sunday, July 10th with a Luau BBQ featuring traditional Caribbean dishes, drink specials and live from 5pm onwards. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

And a quick update. Last week we told you that that Tonya Council (of the family that brought us Mama Dip’s) is about to open Tonya’s Cookies. We learned from readers that the location will be on Rosemary Street (near Mitchell Lane), almost right across the street from Mama Dip’s. Check them out here.

It appears that Back in the Day Cafe in Cary’s Millpond Village is now permanently closed as there is a “For Sale” sign in the window.

Also learned from David Warpole that Checkers on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street has closed.

Every Friday through August 5, Raleigh’s Triangle Town Center will host food trucks at its new “Creekside Wind Down” event series. Stop by the mall’s Creekside Cafe food court entrance from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. to grab a bite, listen to live music and enjoy a local brew from Compass Rose Brewery. Get all the details here.

For a listing of ALL food truck events, head over to Art’s page, The Wandering Sheppard on all things food truck related here.

Voting for the WRAL Out and About 2016 Voters’ Choice Awards is open until July 10. This is your chance to vote for your favorites in categories ranging from food, nightlife and lifestyle. Vote here.

The good folks over at the Downtown Raleigh Alliance announced the dates for the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week – it will be held this year August 15-21. Go ahead and mark your calendar. Get all the details here.

West 94th St. Pub celebrates 22 years of doing business with their 4th Annual Grill Master Cook Off Competition. They are calling all local “Grill Masters” to show off their grillin’ skills to help raise funds to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. This family friendly competition will be held Sunday, July 17 from 9am-1pm with live entertainment, family games, food tasting and more. The “grill master” winner will receive a special package valued at $250. Interested contestants must register via email to Kerry Bryant by July 11th. Get more information on their website here.