October 21, 2016 · 8:48 am
Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- The Raleigh Agenda was the first to report that Buku’s Sean Degnan and Tony Hopkins will open their second restaurant, Soca, in Raleigh’s Cameron Village in the space formerly occupied by Faire. Where Buku tends to focus on updates of popular, approachable dishes from Asia, Soca will shift its eye to South and Central America, the menu bouncing between Colombia and Mexico, Trinidad and Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Chile. They plan to open in January. Keep up with their progress on Facebook here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- Up in Youngsville, just north of Raleigh in Franklin County, the folks over at Rocky Top Hospitality have purchased The Boondocks, a special events facility located in historic downtown Youngsville and are rebranding the venue as Cross+Main. Rocky Top Catering and Southland BBQ Catering will now be the exclusive caterers of Cross+Main. Check them out here. Congratulations to Dean Ogan and his team!
- The Triangle Business Journal reported that over in Morrisville, Guasaca, a Venezuelan grill-style restaurant, will be opening a third location in the region by December. The owners of Guasaca have signed a lease inside the new Weston Corners retail complex at the intersection of Weston Parkway and Chapel Hill Road. Check them out here.
- And just down the street, Lubrano’s Italian Restaurant at 101 Keybridge Drive in Morrisville is now Paolo’s on 54. Same ownership and team, just new name. Stop by and check them out.
- Also in Morrisville, food blog FoodCary reported that Morrisville will be getting its first Potbelly Sandwich Shop at 9662 Chapel Hill Road as the Chicago sandwich store comes to the area, with three more openings planned in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The plan for the Potbelly in Morrisville is to open either in the last week of January or the first week of February. Check out Potbelly here.
- Over in Raleigh, we saw on James Borden’s Raleigh Public Record blog that final site work permits were issued last week for Raleigh’s newest Panera Bread (yawn), which will be located at the redeveloped Villages of Lake Boone. Actual building permits have not been issued yet, so we don’t have a timeline on that project.
- Congratulations to Jill Donovan of Donovan’s Dish as she announced this week that they have launched their Dish to Door service. Now you can enjoy their signature dishes such as Chef TJ’s Famous Shrimp & Grits or their signature Stuffed Chicken right in the comfort of your own home. Check out their promo video here or visit Donovan’s Dish here.
- And finally, a couple of “anniversary” shout outs – Capital Club 16 recently celebrated 6 years and Moonlight Pizza turned 20 last week. Thanks to Ashton Mae Smith for bringing those to my attention.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Noticed over in Chapel HIll at East 54 that CocoBean Coffee & Tea has opened. They are located adjacent to Tobacco Road Sports Cafe and directly across from elements. Check them out here.
Closings
- Thanks to a tip from Ashton Mae Smith, she noted via New Raleigh that the Dickey’s BBQ location on Davie Street in downtown Raleigh has closed.
Food Trucks
- Congratulations to the ladies at Pho Nomenal Dumpling Truck as Buzzfeed, the national website that loves cultural trends, has named them the best food truck in North Carolina. Congratulations! And thanks to the Triangle Business Journal for pointing this out via Twitter. Check them out here. I will say, I still miss their original name – Dump Pho King Truck. Classic.
- For a listing of ALL food truck events, head over to Art’s page, The Wandering Sheppard on all things food truck related.
Events
- This Saturday, October 22nd, the Carolina RailHawks are hosting Minnesota United as the final home game this season and will hold a food truck rodeo prior to AND during the game. Featured trucks include: Bulkogi, Backyard Bistro, Bam Pow Chow, Kocina, Arepa Culture and CJ’s Street Food. Get tickets and all the details here. Or call the box office at 919-459-8144.
- Jennifer Noble Kelly notified me about PICNIC, North Carolina’s newest whole hog barbecue joint, and its’ farm partner, Green Button Farm, hosting their inaugural NC Barbecue Revival at the farm this fall, October 28th – 30th. The three-day weekend will be chock full of classes, discussions, feasts and pig pickins’. Get a listing of all the events, ticket information and every last detail on the their website here.
- The second annual Pork + Vine festival will be held on October 30 from 12 – 4 p.m. outside of The Wine Feed’s downtown Raleigh store located at 602 Glenwood Avenue. Chefs from five well-known area restaurants, including Gravy, Oval Park Grille, Patrick Jane’s Bar & Bistro, Buku and Gonza’s Tacos y Tequila, will each prepare their own pork-inspired small plates, which will then be thoughtfully paired with a pour of high-quality wine specifically chosen from The Wine Feed’s extensive selection. For additional information and tickets, go here.
- On November 6th, the folks over at Acme will bring back the fourth edition of Salt & Smoke Festival to beautiful Rock Quarry Farm on Highway 54 just outside of Carrboro. This is becoming quite the event, as over 500 people attended last year. Get all the details and ticket information here.
- And John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, pointed out that Teddy Diggs, executive chef of Il Palio in Chapel Hill, and renowned author Katie Parla are teaming up to host a culinary tour of Italy’s capital. Hosted at Il Palio on November 15th, this Tasting Rome feast will feature recipes from Parla’s acclaimed cookbook, Tasting Rome, along with classics from Chef Diggs’ regional Italian repertoire. Tickets may be purchased for $125 by calling 919-918-2545 and include signed copies of the Tasting Rome cookbook, wine pairings, tax and gratuity. Visit Il Palio here.
Food Bank Corner
- Exciting things have been happening at your Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina! They have moved to a much larger facility to accommodate their expanded operations and the continued need for food assistance. In celebration of this move, they invite you to their Community Open House on Saturday, November 12th from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. (tours, food truck rodeo and fun & games). The new facility is at 1924 Capital Blvd. Get all the details on the Open House here.
October 14, 2016 · 8:29 am
Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, thousands of our neighbors are without food, water and basic supplies. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is poised to deliver life sustaining food, water, and non-food essentials to the thousands affected. You can support the Food Bank’s efforts by making a donation today. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide five meals. Please help the Food Bank serve those who have been seriously impacted by this storm. Find out here how your donations and/or time can help in those efforts.
Wake County Restaurant News
- James Borden reported last week in his Raleigh Public Record that the London Bridge Pub at 110 East Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh will be adding a kitchen. Anticipate the menu to be “English-inspired” – bangers and mash, fish and chips, all that traditional stuff, with burgers and sandwiches and salads according to the Raleigh Agenda. Check out London Bridge here.
- Borden also reported that Sola Coffee out on Lead Mine Road will be undergoing $112,000 in renovations that will add a new seating area to the popular coffee shop. Check out Sola here.
- We are getting closer to the opening of Lou Moshakos’ latest venture, Vidrio, a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar. There was a big social media push this week looking to hire staff. It will be located at 500 Glenwood South in the same building as the Carolina Ale House, their sister restaurant. Keep up with the latest on Vidrio on their Facebook page.
- The folks over at Rocky Top Hospitality (Dean’s, Twisted Fork, The Daily Planet Cafe, 1705 Prime, etc.) have launched a new venture, Southland BBQ Catering. There is no store front, delivery to homes and businesses will be available 7 days a week. Check them out here.
- Got word from WRAL that Tropical Picken Chicken in Wake Forest (2010 S Main Street) is moving ¼ mile up the road next to Bella Pizza at 109 Capcom Avenue, Wake Forest. Their grand opening in the new location will be November 4th. In the interim, they remain open at their original location until October 30th and will be giving away free lunch certificates from now until the grand opening. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.
- And WRAL reported this week that Parkside Restaurant in downtown Raleigh will begin offering brunch this Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Check out Parkside here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- The American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham is getting two new dining options. First up, from the folks behind Tyler’s Taproom, comes Maybelle’s, a BBQ and biscuit concept. Aimed to meet the needs of breakfast diners all the way through dinner, Maybelle’s will offer scratch made biscuits, eastern NC pulled pork BBQ, ribs, brisket and sides. Look for them to open December 1st. They don’t have a website yet, but you can learn more about them here.
- And second, Wedgies Sandwiches is also coming to the American Tobacco Campus in early December. The beloved Southern Pines pizza crust focused sandwich shop will open its second location on the ground floor of Diamond View III. Owned by a former golf pro, Wedgie’s aims to bring its promise of “Bite Me & You’ll Love Me” to Durham’s hungry and discerning diners. Learn about Wedgies here.
- Got a press release this week that Sera Cuni and Susan White, the owners of Root Cellar Café & Catering in Chapel Hill, will open a second location in Pittsboro in the new Penguin Place at Chatham Park. Look for a stronger focus on dinner and more outdoor seating when they open toward the end of summer 2017. Check out Root Cellar here.
- The Duke Chronicle reported that Jumba Juice is coming to Ninth Street and will be on the first floor of the Solis Ninth Street apartments and will be the first Triangle area location. Look for it to open before the end of the year. Check out Jumba Juice here.
Closings
- Got word first from reader Stephen Wall that Crisp on Glenwood South has closed.
- David McCreary informed me that Edna Morales announced that after a four-year run she is closing her namesake Edna’s Cafe & Cocktails located at 135 S. Main Street in downtown Fuquay-Varina.
Food Trucks
- The Raleigh Durham Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) will hold a food truck rodeo in Carrboro this Sunday, October 16th from 11 – 4 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Hall grounds. Get more information on their website.
- For a listing of ALL food truck events, head over to Art’s page, The Wandering Sheppard on all things food truck related here.
Events
- If you haven’t heard…the STATE FAIR IS HERE! – now through Oct. 23rd and their “Eat Lunch at the Fair” deal. Here’s how it works. Come to Gate 9 (only) after 11:30 a.m. on weekdays, pay $10 cash for a lunch card to get in, get your grub on at any fair vendor, and exit out the same gate by 1:30 p.m., and you get your $10 cash back. Sign me up! Get all the details here.
- This weekend (Saturday, October 15th and Sunday, October 16th) is the 3rd Annual Triangle VegFest in Raleigh. Saturday’s events will be at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh from 1-5 p.m., and Sunday’s events will be held at the McKimmon Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Get all the details here. Thanks to Holly Kahl for the heads up!
- Also on Sunday (Oct. 16), in Carrboro, grab a locally made pottery bowl, enjoy a hearty meal of soup, sandwiches and dessert and help TABLE provide food aid to area children all while enjoying live music and a silent auction at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Tickets: $15-$50. Visit here for all the details.
- And if that is not enough for one day, head over to Chapel Hill for A Tasteful Affair taking place at the Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium, to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill will have food and beverage purveyors like Chirba Chirba, elements and others competing for awards with judges like UNC’s Sean May and Miss North Carolina McKenzie Faggart crowning their favorites. Tickets: $75-$125. Get all the details here.
- The 12th Annual Garner Rotary Club OysterFest will be held the evening of October 20 at the Fidelity Business Park in Garner. Monies raised at the event are used to fund college scholarships for area high school seniors. The menu includes “all you can eat” oysters, seafood bisque and clam chowder, catfish fingers, chicken fingers, popcorn shrimp, pulled BBQ, coleslaw, potato salad, French fries, dessert and drinks. A cash bar is also available. Tickets are $30 in advance from a Rotarian and $35 at the door. Get all the information here.
- Jennifer Noble Kelly sent me information about PICNIC, North Carolina’s newest whole hog barbecue joint, and its’ farm partner, Green Button Farm, hosting their inaugural NC Barbecue Revival at the farm this fall, October 28th – 30th. The three-day weekend will be chock full of classes, discussions, feasts and pig pickins’. Get a listing of all the events, ticket information and every last detail on the their website here.
- On November 6th, the folks over at Acme will bring back the fourth edition of Salt & Smoke Festival to beautiful Rock Quarry Farm on Highway 54 just outside of Carrboro. This is becoming quite the event, as over 500 people attended last year. Get all the details and ticket information here.
Food Bank Corner
- Join the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina at the NC State Fair on Thursday, October 20th. Here is how it works. Bring five cans of Food Lion brand food to the NC State Fair and you get in free! And you’ve helped a great cause in the process. Everybody wins. 5 cans = free admission. Get all the details here.
