TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

•  Just made the announcement yesterday that my corporate catering website has officially moved to an “all local” status (over 60 restaurants and caterers). All of the restaurants and caterers that we work with are locally owned and operated. We are very proud of this (and should have done it sooner). At any rate, to celebrate we did a promotion with our current clients yesterday and we extend it to everyone today. Anyone that places an order today for delivery next week will receive a $20 gift card to any local store of their choice! Order away!

Wake County Restaurant News

•  The News & Observer reported this week that Arken Elhicheri, a veteran restaurateur in the Triangle, has opened Garibaldi Trattoria in the former Daniel’s on Main building in Fuquay-Varina. The menu is 95% Italian (there are a few French dishes) and they are open for lunch and dinner daily. You can check out their Facebook page here.

• Thanks to a tip from John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, we learned that Butcher Block American Grill next to Bella Italia on Durant Rd. in N. Raleigh is now open. Check them out here.

• Got wind of a new restaurant coming into downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station on the local Yelp message board. The Night Kitchen Bakery and Café will be located next to Marigold Parlour. Check them out on Facebook here.

• The Triangle Business Journal broke the news this week that the old Lucky 32 restaurant building on Spring Forest Road in north Raleigh has been sold to a new restaurant group called Kamado Grille. It will specialize in foods prepared on ceramic, kamado-style grills. Other than that, there isn’t much else to report at this point. Suffice it to say, we are curious and will keep an eye on this one.

• WRAL reported last week that Wake Forest has a new restaurant. One Whirled Café, an upscale eatery featuring global cuisine, has opened in the former home of Blue Fins Bistro off of Rogers Road. Check them out here.

• If you love cheese, have we got great news for you. John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) tipped us off to the fact that Six Forks Cheese Shop, in North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village, will open today (July 18)! Be sure to stop by and check them out. Get all the details here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that both Ledo Pizza and Firehouse Subs have committed to opening new restaurants in the 54 Plaza buildings now underway at the intersection of Miami Boulevard and N.C. 54 near Morrisville. The project’s first building is slated to open early next year.

• AJ Viola and Mike Sholar, the guys behind BREW, a new coffee and beer bar coming to downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station, are very close to successfully fulfilling their Kickstarter campaign, but need a little more support to push them over the top. Check out their Kickstarter campaign here.

• A quick update from my friend Dana McCall over at GoGoRaleigh. Taverna Agora is now looking at mid December date for their move to Hillsborough St. (next to Second Empire). Thanks Dana for the update.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• The big news out of Durham this week was the “major announcement” that Monuts will open a second location after they signed a 10-year-lease on the former Magnolia Grill location on Ninth Street. Look for a November opening in the space that will more than double their original space. Keep up with them here.

• The other big news out of Durham is that the Herald Sun is reporting that Pizzeria Toro, which has been closed since November 2013 due to a fire, plans to reopen the downtown shop by Saturday. Get all the details here.

• Got word from the Triangle Localista that the folks behind the food truck Olio & Aceto (and Blue Sky Oil & Vinegar) are opening their brick and mortar location this Saturday in Chapel Hill at 400 S. Elliot Rd (former location of Tracy’s New York Deli). Their celebration is from noon until 5 p.m.

• The Meadowmont location of Market Street Café is currently undergoing renovations. Got word this week that the contractor anticipates they will be able to re-open in about 3 weeks. Can’t wait to see what the renovations will bring. Keep up with them here.

Closings 

• Making way for a new apartment and retail building on Hillsborough Street, we learned from a Yelp message board that Two Guys Pizza has closed. No word on whether it will open elsewhere.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• With three locations in the Triangle, locally owned Firewurst has launched their 10,000 for 10,000 Summer Hunger Campaign for the month of July. Firewurst is charging the community to come out and eat one of their famous Certified Angus Beef hot dogs in celebration for National Hot Dog month. The goal is to sell 10,000 hot dogs throughout the month, and Firewurst will donate $10,000 to the Food Bank’s Stop Summer Hunger program that feeds local children in need. Visit one of these Firewurst locations to participate: 1377 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary (next to Trader Joe’s); 1823 N. Harrison Ave., Cary, (next to Bass Pro Shops) and 8531 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh (next to Regal Brier Creek Stadium 14). Get all the details here.

•  The word is out! Mark your calendars for one of the Triangle’s annual “can’t miss” foodie events – Terra Vita 2014. It will be held October 9 – 11 and tickets go on sale July 20. Lots of great folks involved this year. Follow @terravitafoodie on twitter and Instagram for more updates. The website is here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported this week that Tammy Calaway-Harper is targeting early August for the opening of Belle, an ambitious new farm-to-table restaurant, coffee shop/bakery and cafe in the Jones House, a historic structure at the corner of Academy Street and Dry Avenue in Cary. Follow her progress here.

• Got word this week that Ajisai Japanese Fusion + Sushi has opened in the old Sushi Gami location in Cameron Village.

• Triangle Business Journal reported last week that the Triangle is home to another location of WhichWich Superior Sandwiches. The latest location opened up in the food court at Crabtree Valley Mall. This is the chain’s first mall location.

• It was recently announced that Tasty 8’s Gourmet Hot Dog Company will open next month at 121 Fasayetteville Street, in the former Spize Café location. We will keep an eye on it. In the mean time, visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  Via twitter, @Burgeoningbaker tweeted me yesterday that Primal Restaurant, a gluten-free restaurant and bar, is now open in Durham. They are located at 202 West Highway 54 in the former location of Souper Salad. Check them out here.

• Noticed on a recent stroll down Franklin Street in Chapel Hlll that Pita Pit has closed, and a sign for Campus Calzones has gone up. No word yet on an open date, but the Herald Sun noted that there is a Campus Calzones location in Greenville, NC. Get a peek at them here.

• The Triangle Business Journal also reported that seven months after a building fire closed their pizza pie restaurant, the owners of Pizzeria Toro at Five Points in downtown Durham will reopen in late July at its original spot at 105 E. Chapel Hill Street. Keep up with them here.

• According to the Herald Sun, a Krispy Kreme shop is coming to 3536 Hillsborough Road in the former George’s Diner location. Plans for renovation are under review at Durham City-County Planning. Stay tuned.

• The Herald Sun reported this week that Straw Valley in Durham has moved its lunch service to The Black House. Previously, lunch was offered at the cafe and wine bar space and surrounding outdoor spaces. Reservations will be accepted for lunch at The Black House. Also, The Black House will be open seven nights a week for dinner service. They are located between U.S. 15-501 and the New Hope Commons shopping center. Check them out here.

Closings 

• After more than 46 years in business, the first Dunkin’ Donuts shop to open in North Carolina closed its doors at 1801 Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. Our best to Groover and Joyce Blitch.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• With three locations in the Triangle, locally owned Firewurst has launched their 10,000 for 10,000 Summer Hunger Campaign for the month of July. Firewurst is charging the community to come out and eat one of their famous Certified Angus Beef hot dogs in celebration for National Hot Dog month. The goal is to sell 10,000 hot dogs throughout the month, and Firewurst will donate $10,000 to the Food Bank’s Stop Summer Hunger program that feeds local children in need. Visit one of these Firewurst locations to participate: 1377 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary (next to Trader Joe’s); 1823 N. Harrison Ave., Cary, (next to Bass Pro Shops) and 8531 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh (next to Regal Brier Creek Stadium 14). Get all the details here.