TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

• And fresh on the news of the opening of the new Tobacco Road, WRAL reported this week that their old spot at 222 Glenwood Avenue will soon be home to La Santa Mexican Restaurant. They hope to open by the first week in February. Keep up with their progress on their Facebook here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported that the new AC Hotel is slated to open at Raleigh’s North Hills in February. But the coolest part (me thinks) is it will feature a 5,100-square-foot rooftop lounge, bar and restaurant, called Level7 – which, of course, is on the seventh floor of the 135-room hotel. Check out the hotel here.

• We have an update on Sir Walter Coffee, a new coffee shop going into the ground floor of The Edison at 145 E. Davie Street. The coffee barista bar/tea house/bottle shop is aiming for a March 1 open. But keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

• James Borden’s Raleigh Public Record blog reported last week that the owners of Sushi Nine have received the go ahead from the City of Raleigh to begin rebuilding the popular eatery on Western Blvd., which burned nearly to the ground almost a year ago. Their Facebook page might be the best spot to keep up with updates.

• The News & Observer reported that there are only two weekends left (they are only open on weekends now) to eat at Finch’s Restaurant before the building is demolished to make way for road improvements. January 15th is their last day in their current location. Finch’s is moving into the former Family Garden space at 3211 Chapel Hill Road in Durham, but it will take at least four months to retrofit the space.

• James Borden’s Raleigh Public Record revealed that permits were issued last month for work on the Raleigh’s second location of burger chain Bad Daddy’s Burgers, which will be located in the new Olive Park shopping center at 9400 Falls of Neuse Road in North Raleigh. The chain currently has a location in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station. Check out Bad Daddy’s here.

• Rudino’s Pizza & Grinders is expanding up into Wake Forest, more specifically, Heritage, with a projected opening date around the first of February. They will be located in the Publix shopping center on the corner of Rogers and Forestville Rd. Keep up with their opening plans and exact date on their Facebook page here.

• Also in Wake Forest, the News & Observer reported that the Olde English Tea Room, which has been a fixture in downtown Wake Forest for 20 years, has closed. The space at 219 S. White St. will become Sugar Magnolia Cafe and Emporium by the end of February. Check them out here.

• Over in Cary, got an update on the Charlie Grainger’s coming to Weston Corners. If you are not familiar with the concept out of Wilmington, NC, they are known for their brisket, hot dogs and bbq. They are looking to open the week of January 23rd. Check them out here.

• Also in Cary, reader Hugh Autry tipped me off to the fact that a sign went up recently at Centrum at Crossroads for Buldaegi Korean BBQ House in Cary next to Baba Ghannouj. I couldn’t find a web presence for them, so we’ll ask Hugh to keep an eye on it for us.

• We learned this week from the Triangle Explorer that there is a new coffee shop on its way to downtown Wendell – called 41 North Coffee. Located at 41 N. Main Street, there isn’t an open date posted, but they are hiring part-time folks as we speak. In addition to amazing coffee, they will be offering dessert, smoothies and a great atmosphere for reading alone or a night out with friends. Check them out on Facebook here or on their website here.

• There is no doubt we are blessed with amazing dining options throughout the Triangle. We are also blessed (Fr. Scott might not be pleased with my use of that term in this context…) with many breweries and distilleries. And 2017 will increase the number we will enjoy. The News & Observer did a great job compiling a listing of the new breweries on the way in 2017 throughout the Triangle. Check it out here.

• And finally, the good folks over at the Western Wake Farmers Market are trying to secure a “forever” home in partnership with the Town of Morrisville. It would be a wonderful addition to the community and they need your support. If you are inclined, jump over to the site to see how you can contribute to make this a reality. Thanks!

• Some very exciting news coming out of Chapel Hill. Friend Colleen Minton (think Terra Vita Food & Drink Festival) informed me that Adam Rose has bought the little cafe in the Europa Center (Southern Comfort Cafe, formally Crook’s Atrium Café) from Paul Covington. No word yet on any name change and/or an open date. Stay tuned! So good to keep Adam in the area – super talent!

• The News & Observer’s Andrea Weigl was the first to report that Alivia‘s in Durham has hired a new chef, Mark Mishalaine, who you might know from his victory on the Food Network’s “Grocery Games.” Mishalaine comes to the Triangle from California, and he’s revamping Alivia’s menu, which will now feature raw winter squash alfredo, scallop Florentine and something called mushroom candy. Check them out here.

• Also in Durham, the News & Observer reported that Durham will soon be home to the Durham Food Hall when it opens in the Reuse Arts District at the Shoppes at Lakewood next fall. Durham native Adair Mueller and her partner, Andrew Smith, are the pair behind this ambitious new venture. The food hall will be part dining space, part communal space and part event space. For now those interested in following along with the project’s progress can keep an eye on the website here.

• Over in Hillsborough, friend Morgan Moylan made sure I knew about the good news from The Wooden Nickel. On December 31, they announced on their Facebook page that they were moving, “our little pub a couple doors up the street into the former Bank of America building at 113 N Churton St.” Keep up with them on Facebook here.

• Saw on a Yelp message board that there is a Pine Cone Ice Cream, Shakes & Coffee coming to Brightleaf Square in downtown Durham. No word on a timeline and I was unable to find a web presence for them. Stay tuned.

• The News & Observer reported that chef Jim Anile has closed Revolution, a fine dining destination in downtown Durham for the last decade.

• Got word from my friends over at Franklin Street Partners in Chapel Hill that the Five Guys location in Chapel Hill’s Meadowmont has closed. The next closest one now is in Patterson Place in Durham.

• Also, just down Hwy. 54 in Durham, the Char-Grill at the corner of 751 has also closed. Thanks to Mike Gorman for the tip on that.

• So this is exciting news in the “food truck world” – we got word from Art Sheppard that Gonza Tacos y Tequila has secured a way cool food truck (you can see a picture on Instagram here). In the meantime, check out their website for updates.

Food Bank Corner

• And the third time’s the charm. Mint, then Bolt, now Pizza La Stella. Tonight (December 16) and Saturday night mark the soft opening (5-9 p.m.) of the third restaurant concept in the space at 219 Fayetteville Street. Let me just go on the record after getting a tour and sampling one of the pizzas coming out of one of the two 7,000 pound ovens, this place is going to be a huge hit for downtown Raleigh. Rudy Theale brings a vision that is very exciting and a great fit for downtown and Raleigh as a whole. Look for them to go full-time next Monday, but tonight and tomorrow night get by while a percentage of sales will go to the Food Bank of Eastern & Central North Carolina. The space looks amazing! Check them out here.

• Staying in downtown Raleigh, James Borden’s Raleigh Public Record noted a building permit has been issued for a new coffee shop going into the ground floor of The Edison at 145 E. Davie Street called Sir Walter Coffee. It bills itself on its Facebook page as a coffee barista bar, tea house and bottle shop. No word yet on an open date. Check them out here.

• The News & Observer reported this week that City Market Sushi, the newest restaurant in Raleigh’s City Market, is expected to open for lunch on Monday in the former Troy Mezze space. It is located at 315 Blake Street, a couple doors down from Cafe Lucarne. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Also in downtown Raleigh, saw on Facebook that Brewery Bhavana, the brewery/dim sum restaurant/flower shop from the folks at Bida Manda (going into the former Tir Na Nog Irish Pub spot at Moore Square) is now hiring. That means we are getting close! Keep up with their progress here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that The new J. Alexander’s restaurant that’s been under construction for the last several months next to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh is now open for business. J. Alexander’s is also finalizing plans to open another one of its brands, the Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill restaurant, at Chapel Hill’s University Place. Check them out here.

• Down in Cary, buddy David McCreary pointed out that there is a new sign up at the former La Pizza Volante spot at 1871 Lake Pine Drive for a Peruvian chicken concept called Marco Pollo. No timeline on an opening. Check them out here.

• Also in Cary, the Triangle Business Journal reported this week that a new Mebane-based franchise owner for the growing pizza restaurant chain Your Pie has signed a lease in Cary for what will be the brand’s first location in North Carolina. The new restaurant will open at 685 Cary Town Blvd. – in the building formerly occupied by the Tom Yum Tai restaurant, near the intersection with Walnut Street. They are targeting a date in March 2017 for the new Cary restaurant opening. Get to know them here.

• WRAL reported that tonight (December 16) is the night for the long-anticipated opening of The Bullpen in downtown Durham. Bull Durham Beer Co. has teamed up with local restaurant Heavenly Buffaloes for a new beer garden. It is located in a 2,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the American Tobacco Campus’ Diamond View III building, and will feature live music with regular programming provided by the Music Maker Relief Foundation. Keep up with them on Facebook here.

• Also in Durham, Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas continues to spread a little love, at least (if not more) on the second Tuesday of each month. In light of a recent uptick in actions of hate, they will donate 10% of the proceeds each second Tuesday to organizations that provide direct support to disenfranchised and marginalized groups here in Durham. We say kudos! Get more information on their efforts on their Facebook page here.

• And finally, a chef announcement. visitez le site kamedef.com suivant The JB Duke Hotel, the new hotel coming to the campus of Duke University, announced the appointment of its executive chef, Erik Lampe. In addition to serving as chef de cuisine and chef de partie at a AAA Five Diamond and Mobile Four Star-rated restaurant, Lampe’s experience includes serving as executive chef for military and private clubs, upscale hotels, university and conference centers. The JB Duke Hotel looks to open in early January.

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

• Looks like the trucks are into their hibernation…

• On Tuesday, January 10th, Raleigh’s newest hot-spot in downtown’s City Market, Royale, will give New York Italian cuisine the “royal” treatment for one-night only when it introduces Big Night – an authentic New York Italian pop-up restaurant serving all the classics. Executive chef Jeff Seizer, a Brooklyn native who was raised on his grandmother’s traditional Southern Italian cooking, will share his passion for Italian-American home cooking on this night only. To make reservations and see the menu for Big Night at Royale, click here. Tickets are $95 per pair (tickets sold in pairs) or $35 per person with wine.

• Gifts went twice as far this #GivingTuesday thanks to a matching gift from our generous partners Allscripts, Delta Airlines, Harris Teeter, and Railinc. Every dollar donated was matched up to our goal of $40,000! We are pleased to share that we’ve met the #GivingTuesday goal of $40,000! Because of the support of our generous community, we were able to provide 504,865 meals as part of our Holiday Meals Drive! Although the match has been met, you can still make a donation that will count toward our Holiday Meals Drive in which we are committed to providing 2.4 million meals before December 31.We can still use your help…click here.

One Final Word For 2016

• So, with this stroke of the pen (or strike of the keyboard) I wrap up things for 2016. I’m looking forward to another trip around the sun with you in 2017. Never forget how blessed we are with all the talented chefs and wonderful dining options we have. And never forget those that go without. Please support our friends over at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and all those that help those without. Commit yourself in 2017 to making a huge difference in at least one person’s life (hopefully hundreds). We will need a lot more love in 2017 than we’ve ever needed before and I look forward to being part of that. God bless and thanks for all your support and kind words. See you in 2017!

  And to reward you for your intended good deeds in 2017 (and for reading this far), I ask that you email me and tell me what you plan to do in 2017 to make a difference. I will select one “winner” from all entries for a $50 gift certificate to your favorite local dining establishment. Look forward to hearing what everyone is up to!