TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  This is one of those events that makes you realize how very great it is to be in America. Saturday, February 2nd is National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (and no, that is not something Sean Lennard nor Tim Coynesmith made up). And our good friends at Maple View Farm Ice Cream in Chapel Hill/Hillsborough are helping us fulfill our childhood fantasies with ice cream for breakfast! Can I get an AMEN!?! Proceeds from this sugar rush of a morning will go to Angel’s Among Us Team TumorNators, an organization supporting those fighting brain tumors. The special menu will feature pancakes, waffles, doughnuts and cinnamon roll sundaes. Wear your pajamas or superhero attire to support the cause. For more information, visit them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• As the tenants at Transfer Co. Food Hall continue to ramp up, you can now add Benchwarmers Bagels to the list. Blogger EatRaleigh informed us that the wood-fired bagel and coffee shop from the folks at Boulted Bread and Jubala Coffee is set to open today, February 1, at Raleigh’s newest food hall. Get familiar with them here.

• Saw online that Oak City Fish and Chips is holding their grand opening for their second location this Saturday, February 2nd. The second location is in Farmington Square at 2822 New Birch Drive in Raleigh. They also have a location inside the Morgan Street Food Hall as well as 3 mobile units traveling all over the Triangle. Stop by their newest location tomorrow and try some Fried Lobster Tail! Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• The folks over at the ITB Insider reported this week that permits were issued last week for the much-anticipated Pooleside Pies pizzeria from Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen. The new restaurant, next door to Poole’s, will feature Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas. Built in 1915, the building at 428 S. McDowell Street is now undergoing a nearly $400k renovation. Keep up with the progress through their Instagram account here.

• Got word via Twitter from a reader that Chinese restaurant Peking Garden in the Colony Shopping Center on Millbrook Road was sold earlier this year and is under new management. The new owner is renovating the restaurant and the menu and food is very different. Peking originally opened in 1990. Visit them here.

• Got word from my high school buddy (and award-winning dentist) Dana McCall that Cava is opening soon in the old Bob Evans location at Crossroads over in Cary. Cava just opened in Chapel Hill and has plans for stores in Raleigh. Get to know them here.

• Also in Cary, got word from WRAL this week that Dean’s Kitchen and Bar has completed the transition into Der Biergarten. Look for it to replicate a “typical” German establishment where beer and local food are served, typically at shared tables, surrounded with games for entertainment. The menu will feature classic American fare (and some favorites from Dean’s) as well as German inspired dishes and a Sunday brunch buffet. Get all the details on their site here.

• Months ago we told you about McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks announcing their departure in June of this year. Well, things progressed a little quicker than anticipated and reader Lisa Galanis notified us that they have already closed up shop. Not sure what that does to the timeline for Uncle Julio’s to fill that spot. Stay tuned and get familiar with Uncle Julio’s here.

• And down in Holly Springs, got word reader Chris Creighton that Eggs Up Grill is now open at 4216 Lassiter Road, next to the recently opened Butcher’s Market. This marks their second Triangle area location with the first over in Fuquay-Varina. Get to know them here.

• And while this isn’t “technically” Triangle area restaurant news, it is worth sending a kudos to a local team/couple growing their restaurant empire! Kevin and Stacey Jennings, owners of Urban Food Group (Vivace, Coquette and Chow in Raleigh; Vivace in Charlotte; and Avelina in Denver), announced their expansion into the Wilmington market according to Neal DePersia of DePersia & Associates who represented the Jennings. They recently purchased Boca Bay, Brasserie Du Soleil and Osteria Ciccheti, three highly successful restaurants in Wilmington that will continue to operate with the current menus and staff. Visit Urban Food Group here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Reader Holly Deng notified us that Sister Liu’s Kitchen has opened in Durham  in the space in front of New Hope Commons near the intersection of 15-501 and Interstate 40 (same complex as Namu). She noted that they are serving up homemade dumplings, northern Chinese “hamburgers”, and a few cold plates all prepared using family recipes. Check them out here.

Closings

• None to report! Keep eating local, folks! (Other than McCormick & Schmick’s noted above)

Food Trucks…are back! 

• Go ahead and mark down the dates for 2019 for the Durham Food Truck rodeos – they are: March 24, June 16, September 1 and November 3! Get all the dates here.

Events

• Today, Feb. 1, the Cary Rotary Club will raise money to fight hunger around the world and in our community with its 16^th Annual Chili Dinner. The meals, consisting of chili, pasta salad and cornbread, are available for $8 each and will be prepared by Whole Foods Market. Lunch will be served from noon to 2 p.m. and dinner will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadow Dr. in Cary. Tickets are available at the door or from members of the Cary Rotary Club. Get all the details here.

• Chatham OutReach Alliance (CORA) invites the public to the 9th Annual Chatham Empty Bowls Fundraiser on Sunday, February 24^th at Galloway Ridge at Fearrington in Pittsboro. Empty Bowls is an event designed to raise awareness and funds for our battle to end hunger in Chatham County. Get all the details here. Purchase tickets here or at the door.

• An annual favorite – Cooking for a Classic 2019 – is just around the corner. The prize for 2019  is restored 1982 JEEP Scrambler. The First Round is Monday-Thursday, Feb. 25-28; Second Round is March 4 and 5; and the Finale is March 11. Tickets start at $75 for the First Round, $100 for the Second Round and $125 for the Finale.Venue is 1705 East in Raleigh. You can get all the details here and tickets here. Each evening features six plated courses. Round One features Teddy Diggs from Coronado vs. Ryan Grimm from Watersview; Matt Hannon from Ashton’s vs. Bo Peterson from Primal Food & Spirits; Jake Wood from 18 Seaboard vs. Jonathan Blackley form Prestonwood Country Club; and Andrew Smith from buku vs. Orlando Jinzo from The Leadmine. All proceeds benefit the Lucy Daniels Center’s mental-health programs for children in the Triangle.

• Shop Local Raleigh’s annual craft beer festival, Brewgaloo, will take place April 26-27, 2019 Brewgaloo features craft breweries from North Carolina and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Get tickets now and all the details on their website here.

• The return of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Thrive NC is scheduled for May 9 -10 at City Market in downtown Raleigh. The inaugural event attracted thousands of members of the community to celebrate North Carolina’s culinary roots, while also initiating critical conversations about food insecurity in our state. The highlight of the two-day event is the festival which will feature more than 60 of the area’s best restaurants serving food and drink samples as well as live entertainment, including chef demonstrations and music. Get all the details, including when tickets will go on sale (February 28), here.

Food Bank Corner

• Start a virtual food drive at your office! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Starting a food drive is easy! Get all the details here.

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  A popular dining spot on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street is going dormant, but just temporarily, after the Super Bowl. Got word from reader Jordan Kab that East Village Grill will be closing after Super Bowl Sunday on February 3 as the land between Daisy Street and Dixie Trail will be redeveloped into an apartment complex. That’s the bad news for EVG fans. The good news is they will reopen in the brand new space on the ground floor when it opens in 2020. Get there before February 3rd and then keep up with them during the transition on their Facebook page here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Also along Hillsborough Street, noticed in Ashton Mae Smith’s newsletter that Sushi Mon has opened at 105 Friendly Drive offering up sushi and Japanese small plates. Get to know them on Facebook here.

• Over at North Hills it was announced this week that Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, a seafood restaurant offering Maine lobster and shrimp rolls, will be opening in the Main District at North Hills. Located between Bartaco and the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel, the restaurant is projected to open in 2019. This will be their first restaurant in North Carolina but they have other locations in Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware and Virginia. Get to know them here.

• Got word via a Facebook chat group that Boondini’s at Celebrations at Six Forks is closing that location before the end of the year. Apparently they are unable to renew their lease and Billy has decided to retire. Unless you know someone that is willing to take over. Boondini’s began in Buies Creek before moving to Tryon Hills and eventually to its current location on Six Forks Road in 1986. Pay Boondini’s a visit here.

• And this is terrible news. Just last Friday, after months of wondering when they would ever open, Mami’s opened on Glenwood Avenue on the way to the airport near the intersection with Duraleigh. That’s the good news. The bad news is the very next day they suffered an electrical fire that leaves it closed indefinitely. Keep up with any news on their Facebook page here.

• And in other “Glenwood” news, a reader shared with us that the Sawasdee Thai restaurant has been converted into the Cajun Crab House. The restaurant is under the same ownership and will keep a few popular dishes from the Sawasdee menu but they now come with seafood options only and most other dishes will be served at Tamarind Asian Fusion Bistro, which is their sister restaurant in Brier Creek Commons. Check out the Cajun Crab House here.

• The folks over at ITB Insider reported this week that The Melting Pot on Wake Forest Road  is about to expand into the vacant space in the rear of the building that was once an Enterprise Rent-a-Car. No exact word on the timeline. Check them out here.

• Got word this week that Coleen Speaks is beginning brunch service at her Hummingbird restaurant on Whitaker Mill Road this weekend. Brunch service will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, be on the lookout for new additions to the regular breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, including large plates in the evening. Check out Hummingbird here.

• Also in Raleigh, we are getting closer to the opening of the Mellow Mushroom at Brier Creek according to my friend Neha Shah. It is located at 9600 Brier Creek Parkway across from the  Duke Medical Center and Walgreens complex. They are in the middle of their job fair, so we are getting closer! Keep up with their announcements on their Facebook page here.

• Over in Cary, Hugh Autry brought it to my attention that Havana Grill on Chatham Street has closed and been “replaced” by a concept called Tacos Estilo Hidalgo #3. I haven’t had a chance to go by yet, but a Yelp posting noted that the Havana Grill menu is still posted on the wall inside, so might be more of a rebranding. Stop by and check it out. The Yelp page is all we’ve been able to find online.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The Daily Tar Heel reported over in Chapel Hill that there is a new sign in the window at the closed Asia Cafe indicating that Curry Point Express, an Indian fast food restaurant located in Durham, have bought the establishment. The space will be renovated and upgraded, and the menu will retain some of Asia Cafe’s favorites. Mike DePersia of National Restaurant Properties oversaw the sale of Asia Cafe. Get familiar with Curry Point Express here.

Closings

• Got a note from Keri Owen that The Twisted Fork at Triangle Town Center is closed and all their equipment is being auctioned off next week.

Food Trucks…are back! 

• This Saturday, January 26th, Bull City Ciderworks on Roxboro Street in Durham  is hosting their first Mini Food Truck Rodeo of the year. The last Saturday of each month they will host four (4)  trucks serving up delicious treats from 2 – 7 p.m. This month will feature Will & Pop’s, Mr. Wingz & Mrs. Thingz, Saigon Lily and Holy Moly Cannoli. Get all the details here.

• And this Sunday, January 27th Durham Central Park will host the Winter Food Truck Rodeo from 12 noon until 4 p.m. – and the weather looks fantastic – sunny and in the 50s! And while you are adding this to your calendar, go ahead and mark down the rest of the dates for 2019 – they are: March 24, June 16, September 1 and November 3! Get all the details on Sunday’s rodeo here.

Events

•  On Friday, Feb. 1, the Cary Rotary Club will raise money to fight hunger around the world and in our community with its 16^th Annual Chili Dinner. The meals, consisting of chili, pasta salad and cornbread, are available for $8 each and will be prepared by Whole Foods Market. Lunch will be served from noon to 2 p.m. and dinner will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadow Dr. in Cary. Tickets are available at the door or from members of the Cary Rotary Club. Get all the details here.

• An annual favorite – Cooking for a Classic 2019 – is just around the corner. The prize for 2019  is restored 1982 JEEP Scrambler. The First Round is Monday-Thursday, Feb. 25-28; Second Round is March 4 and 5; and the Finale is March 11. Tickets start at $75 for the First Round, $100 for the Second Round and $125 for the Finale.Venue is 1705 East in Raleigh. You can get all the details here and tickets here. Each evening features six plated courses. Round One features Teddy Diggs from Coronado vs. Ryan Grimm from Watersview; Matt Hannon from Ashton’s vs. Bo Peterson from Primal Food & Spirits; Jake Wood from 18 Seaboard vs. Jonathan Blackley form Prestonwood Country Club; and Andrew Smith from buku vs. Orlando Jinzo from The Leadmine. All proceeds benefit the Lucy Daniels Center’s mental-health programs for children in the Triangle.

• Shop Local Raleigh’s annual craft beer festival, Brewgaloo, will take place April 26-27, 2019 Brewgaloo features craft breweries from North Carolina and partners with local food trucks, local vendors and local bands. Get tickets now and all the details on their website here.

• The return of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Thrive NC is scheduled for May 9 -10 at City Market in downtown Raleigh. The inaugural event attracted thousands of members of the community to celebrate North Carolina’s culinary roots, while also initiating critical conversations about food insecurity in our state. The highlight of the two-day event is the festival which will feature more than 60 of the area’s best restaurants serving food and drink samples as well as live entertainment, including chef demonstrations and music. Get all the details, including when tickets will go on sale (February 28), here.

Food Bank Corner

• Start a virtual food drive at your office! Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive… “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Starting a food drive is easy! Get all the details here.