TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  Chef changes/announcements are always big news and we’ve got two this week. This week, chef Jake Wood shared via Facebook that November 27th would be his last day at Plates Neighborhood Kitchen. He shared that “the time has come to move in different direction and we couldn’t be more excited.” Wood gave no indication as to where that “direction” would take him, but let’s hope it keeps him here in the Triangle – this guy is super talented. You’ll remember him coming onto the scene prior to Plates with Jason Smith over at 18 Seaboard. And over at Mandolin, chef Sean Fowler announced that Derek Pierce would be his new chef de cuisine. Pierce was the sous chef at the Forbes 5-star Herons in The Umstead Hotel and Spa for four years. Check out Mandolin here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Saw in Ashton Mae Smith’s weekly email that The Brasserie at Neuse River Brewing is now open and serving a full menu of European inspired foods, wine and soon, liquor! Join them Wednesday through Sunday for dinner or on the weekends for brunch from 12-3pm. They are located at 518 Pershing Road in Raleigh, just outside the Five Points neighborhood. Visit them here.

• Some exciting things happening over in downtown Wake Forest with two openings just around the corner. First of the two is Norse Brewing Company which will be at 203 Brooks Street in the former La Foresta Italian Cafe and Pizzeria. Things are headed up by Chris Jorgensen and brewmaster Brad Wynn. Stay tuned to their website and social media for an exact date.

• And just around the corner Anthony Bowman and his construction/remodeling crew are busy converting the building at 107 S. White St. into Smoky Tony’s. Anthony’s (aka Smoky Tony) story begins in a small town in northern México where he learned the art of Mexican Pit Barbacoa. From there he learned techniques in California, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and even out west in Arizona and Utah! Visit their website and social media to keep up with their opening date.

• Back in August we reported that MacGregor Village’s Tony’s Oyster Bar had closed. We got word this week from reader Barbara Leutner that a former owner has purchased the space and will open Tony’s Tap & Oyster Co. in that same space. According to their social media, they are looking to open next month. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Thanks to a tip from reader Jeanette Hauser, we know that the former  O’Charley’s location in Brier Creek will be razed and an Olive Garden will rise in its place. The directory listing out at Brier Creek confirms this, but no word on a timeline. And speaking of one chain replacing another, we’ve seen no update on the prior news of Panera Bread moving across the street into the former Johnny Carino’s building. Anyone got an update on that?

• And fast-casual pizza franchise Your Pie just announced a 9-store expansion plan across the Triangle area. All nine locations will be owned by local entrepreneur Efrem Yates, who acquired Your Pie in Cary Village Square Shopping Center this month and is already working toward a new location off Raleigh’s Capital Boulevard, projected to open in April 2020. For his next eight locations, Yates is looking toward Durham and Chapel Hill, as well as Triangle suburbs like Clayton and Knightdale. Get to know Your Pie here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• My wickedly talented daughter Lillian Lennard pointed out on a recent visit to downtown Chapel Hill (for breakfast at Breadmen’s), that Sawasdee Thai Restaurant at 110 N. Columbia Street, is closed for renovations and will reopen as Savor, gluten free eats and treats. No word on an open date (signage indicated September 2019 – but we know how Chapel Hill is). Stay tuned. Not much on the website.

• WRAL’s Sarah Krueger shared the news this week that Secrets Pho Noodle Bar is coming soon to Ninth Street in the old Saint & Co location. We could not find an online presence, so stay tuned. Thanks Sarah!

• The folks over at the Best of the Bull tipped us off to the fact that Boricua Soul, who operate a food truck and were one of the first businesses to occupy American Tobacco’s popular PopUp @ ATC space, opened its first-ever brick and mortar restaurant this week. You can find them in the Crowe Lobby (next to Saladelia Cafe). The owners describe the menu as “Puerto Rican inspired soul food.” The chefs have a flair for combining historic ingredients of their African and Carribean roots with nouveau Southern-Latino methods of cooking. Get to know them here.

• Speaking of American Tobacco, the folks over at Bites of Bull City let us know that this month, Pop Up at American Tobacco will feature Favor Desserts! Get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth through November 27th, Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:00pm. Get all the details at the American Tobacco Pop-Up website here.

• And if that is not enough sweetness for one city, Bites of Bull City also let us know that Durham will get an Insomnia Cookies at 1105 W Main Street (near Brightleaf & Duke) in the Spring of 2020! If you didn’t know, you can get them delivered up until 3 a.m. Not that I know from experience… Get familiar with Insomnia here.

• The grand opening of Showmars is set for THIS Saturday, November 9th and it will be in Durham’s The Corners at Brier Creek out off Glenwood Avenue in the same shopping center as Harris Teeter. The event will be from 11am-1pm and will include a red carpet entry, a prize wheel with giveaways, DJ and more. A portion of this weekend’s sales will be donated to Make-A-Wish of Eastern North Carolina. Founded in Charlotte in 1982, Showmars serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and their menu features a diverse mix of Greek, Southern and American dishes with signature items including gyros, pita burgers and fresh salads. Familiarize yourself with them here.

• And finally, a happy 20th anniversary to Carrboro Coffee Roasters’ Open Eye Café in Carrboro. They also operate Caffé Driade in Chapel Hill and distribute their coffee all over the country. Visit them here.

Closings

• More bad news over on Elliott Road in Chapel Hill – Haw River Grill has closed (this follows the closing of Olio & Aceto and Living Kitchen, the rebrand of Don’s Chicken (now Monterrey Tacos) and word that Jersey Mike’s is moving to Eastgate next month.

Food Trucks 

•   The final date for the 2019 edition of the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is THIS weekend, Sunday, November 10th. Get all the details here.

Events

• The fifth-annual WRAL.com Voters’ Choice Awards presented by Millennium Buildings launched in a major way. Over 20,000 nominations were made for the area’s best events, restaurants, businesses and more. And thanks to my amazing readers and followers, yours truly (Triangle Food Guy) was nominated for Best Blog AND Best Twitter personality ! But now that I am in the final five, the real work begins! Voting is now open through December 1st and I would greatly appreciate your support! Thanking you in advance. Vote early and vote often!!! Vote here! 

• If you are looking for the recipe for a perfect fall day, here’s a tip: Salt & Smoke VII presented by chef Kevin Callaghan and his team at ACME is THIS Saturday, November 9th from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. Join the nearly 300 people who’ve already bought their tickets to the seventh annual celebration of southern food and drink and music at the beautiful Rock Quarry Farm in Orange County. Visit their Facebook events page here and get tickets here. Isn’t it time you #GetYourSouthOn? Thanks to the folks over at Taste Carolina for the reminder.

• The Zen Succulent & Jeddah’s Tea Grand Opening Party is taking place tomorrow, November 9th from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. Join The Zen Succulent and Jeddah’s Tea celebrate the grand openings of their new downtown Durham locations! Lots of vendors and kids’ activities. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• This Sunday, November 10th, the folks over at MOFU Shoppe in downtown Raleigh are hosting a pop-up meal, Get Lao’d for Veterans Suicide Awareness, benefiting Stop Soldier Suicide with an incredible Laos inspired menu from one of MOFU’s own, Dallas Frentz. Dallas is a Purple Heart recipient. Get all the details and reserve your spot here on their Facebook event page.

• Also this Sunday, November 10th from 12 to 2 p.m. is the annual Triangle Chili Challenge that brings out some of the best restaurants, food trucks, caterers, businesses and organizations as they compete for the title of “Best Chili in the Triangle”. Triangle Chili Challenge will donate a portion of this year’s proceeds to Special Olympics North Carolina. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• November 14th is the date for the next Uninhibited Bourbon & Wine Dinner over at Uninhibited Tapas at 3048 Medlin Drive in Raleigh. Chef Gregory Goldberg’s first one was a huge success and they are looking to build on that with this one. Tickets are $45++ with the bar opening at 6, and the dinner beginning at 7:30. Get all the details on his website here.

• Now is the time to get tickets to Families Moving Forward’s Chefs for Change Dessert Gala on November 15th at The Rickhouse, where desserts from Durham’s best restaurants, bakeries, and catering companies will be featured. source: https://www.uldiving.com/ live roulette online The evening will include local desserts, a silent auction, live entertainment, and the unveiling of our 2020 Chefs for Change Series chef line-up! Sweets aren’t your thing? They’ll have savory dishes as well. Get tickets and all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Help us set a larger table this year at Thanksgiving! Right now your donation to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina goes twice as far thanks to some very generous matching donors. Right now, every $10 you give will help provide 100 meals for children, hardworking families, and seniors in our community facing hunger this Thanksgiving. Give now — and make twice the difference!

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

Featured Restaurant News

• The Triangle Explorer and WRAL were the first to share the news that celebrity chef Kenny Gilbert announced plans Thursday to open a restaurant in north Raleigh. Cut & Gather is expected to open at 13100 Falls of Neuse Road in early 2020. The restaurant will feature wood-fired Southern cuisine, including barbecue and seafood. If you are not familiar with Gilbert, he is known for being a fan favorite on season seven of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” He was a winner on the Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” and has judged “Chopped Junior.” In addition to cooking at the G8 summit, Gilbert also prepares Oprah Winfrey’s personal holiday meals each year. Start getting familiar with Cut & Gather here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Today is the day! Friday, November 1 marks the opening of the much anticipated kō•än in the former An space in Cary. Sean Degnan, chef Drew Smith and their team are opening the beautiful space today at 2800 Renaissance Park Place. Smith’s menu and vision for kō•än includes an array of small plates meant for sharing like Lobster Gyoza, Steamed Buns and Duck Larb, along with large plates like Singapore Chicken Rice and Yakisoba. Expect to find inventive bowls on the menu as well like the kō•än Ramen and Vietnamese Pho with Wagyu Beef Short Rib. Visit them here.

• A quick update on the next location of Showmars coming to the Triangle (there is already one in Wake Forest). We got word this week that the grand opening is set for Saturday, November 9th and it will be in Durham’s The Corners at Brier Creek out off Glenwood Avenue in the same shopping center as Harris Teeter. Founded in Charlotte in 1982, Showmars serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and their menu features a diverse mix of Greek, Southern and American dishes with signature items including gyros, pita burgers and fresh salads. Familiarize yourself with them here.

• Got word this week from Jan Delory that Preeti Waas, who owns Sugar and Spice Kitchen, is opening up a concept called Cheeni in the lobby of the Y building on Fayetteville St where Brew used to be. She will be serving up coffee, chai and tiffin (a light snack or lunch in India) along with offering superfood smoothies and acai bowls by Frameworks Juice Kitchen. They are having a soft opening THIS Sat. Nov 2nd. Keep up with her on Instagram here.

• Heard from reader Keri Owen that a Cuban restaurant and rum bar called Rumba Cubana is taking over the former Lost Cajun building in Wake Forest. This is being headed up by Randy Hernandez who you may know from Red Monkey Latin Fusion Kitchen. Rumba’s goal is to bring Miami-style Cuban food, drinks, breakfast and nightlife with a fun and exciting experience. No word on an open date. In the meantime, visit Red Monkey here.

• The folks over at ITB Insider reported that The Flying Mayan plans to open in December at 319 Fayetteville Street in the former Wahlburger’s space. Billing itself as a place where “the Southwest meets the Southeast,” The Flying Mayan specializes in “fresh, made from scratch sauces, salsas, and menu items that have their roots in both regions.” It is being developed by the same team behind the Flying Burrito, located on Grove Barton Road. Get familiar with them here.

• Over in Cary, got word from reader Bill Striegel that Amberly Local at 718 Slash Pine Dr. opened last Friday. They feature 24 craft beer taps, wine by the glass and a deli kitchen turning out what looks to be some pretty delicious sandwiches, salads and things like cheese and meat boards. Kid friendly! Check them out on Facebook here.

• Down in Holly Springs got word from Chris Creighton that a third location of Manhattan Pizza is coming to the shopping center at 4200 Lassiter Road (same shopping center as The Butcher’s Market). They also have two locations in Raleigh. No word on an open date. Check them out here.

• And finally, a huge kudos to the boys over at Manhattan Cafe in downtown Raleigh. Next week they are celebrating their 5th year of owning Manhattan Cafe….and you are getting the “presents.” Throughout the week they will be celebrating by picking their best seller and offering it for $5. Here’s a quick look so pick your day(s) and take advantage of this opportunity:  Mon- Cajun Chicken Panini; Tue- All Deli Sandwiches; Wed- Salad Bar; Thur- Buffalo Chicken Wrap; and Friday- Philly Friday…….(If weather permits the race car they sponsor will be out front). They are located at 320 S Wilmington St. If you’ve never been before, don’t deprive yourself anymore and get by next week to try their goodies for just $5. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The News & Observer shared this week that a new rooftop restaurant is in the works for downtown Durham, coming from the owners of Gonza Tacos y Tequila. Macondo Latin Cuisine, the second concept from Gonza owners Gonza Salamanca and Carlos Rodriguez, will open in the new Longfellow Real Estate high-rise in downtown Durham. This follows on the footsteps of an earlier announcement that they will also open one in Raleigh in the Sojourn Glenwood Place Apartments, just inside the Raleigh Beltline. The Raleigh Macondo will open early next year. The Durham location should open in late 2020. Keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

• Down in Chatham County, Neha Shah, director of the county’s visitors bureau, shared with me some exciting news coming to Chatham Park. Shah shared that David Sandeghi will be bringing his Town Hall Burger & Beer and his People’s Coffee to the Mosaic at Chatham Park. Additionally, she shared that Jen Kremer, who owns bagel shops in Philadelphia, will be opening Everything Bagels in Mosaic Park as well. Additionally, Kremer will have a location in the Durham Food Hall. Check out Town Hall here, People’s here and Everything Bagels here.

• Saw a tweet from the News & Observer’s Drew Jackson that the former County Fare food truck venue at 1920 Chapel Hill Road which has been on the market for a cool $1.75 million, is under contract. The 4,000 square-foot facility with a 1,300 square-foot patio in Durham’s Lakewood neighborhood features six food truck landing pads and a beer garden with outdoor seating. Too early to speculate, but that is a bit exciting. Stay tuned.

• And finally, last Friday we broke the news that the Yellow House Tacos, a proposed joint venture between the folks at IPIII and Al’s Burger, is no longer on the drawing board. That’s the bad news. The good news is we still get to enjoy the great pie at IPIII and burgers at Al’s. So life is not all bad!

Closings

• We shared the news last Friday (with tips from a half-dozen readers or so) that the Mellow Mushroom on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street will close this Sunday, November 3.

• For those down in Fuquay-Varina, you’ll be sad to learn the news that Chris Creighton shared with us that the One Stop Market at the Citgo gas station at 101 Dickins Road has closed. However, rumors are that a Mexican restaurant is going in its place. Stay tuned.

Food Trucks 

• The last 2019 Durham Food Truck Rodeo is this Sunay, November 3! Get all the details here. And the final date for the 2019 edition of the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is next weekend, on November 10th. Get all the details here.

Events

• The fifth-annual WRAL.com Voters’ Choice Awards presented by Millennium Buildings launched in a major way. Over 20,000 nominations were made for the area’s best events, restaurants, businesses and more. And thanks to my amazing readers and followers, yours truly (Triangle Food Guy) was nominated for Best Blog AND Best Twitter personality ! But now that I am in the final five, the real work begins! Voting is now open through December 1st and I would greatly appreciate your support! Thanking you in advance. Vote early and vote often!!! Vote here!

• On Sunday, November 3rd, more than 30 of the Triangle’s finest restaurants will be paired with world-class wines at the third annual Sip + Savor – A Wine, Food and Music Experience.  Sip + Savor will showcase 30+ culinary all-stars, sommeliers, on-stage experience with live music, VIP lounge, and more. Get all the details and tickets here.

• The folks over at Mandolin Restaurant will hold their Fall Oyster Roast on their farm on Durant Road on Sunday, November 3rd from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. At their traditional North Carolina Oyster Roast, they will be cooking wild NC oysters over an open fire and serving them with the traditional accompaniments and seasonal dishes from our farm. $65 per person includes all food, non-alcoholic beverages, and gratuity. Wine and beer will be available for a supplemental fee. Get tickets and all the details here.

• The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will hold their Brewer’s Ball on November 8, 2019 from 6:30-10pm at The Rickhouse in Durham. The Ball  is an evening celebrating the Triangle’s “finest” young professionals and features food, beer, live music, live and silent auctions, and a chance to mingle, all while being a part of a great cause: helping move us closer to a cure for cystic fibrosis.  This one-of-a-kind beer tasting event has grown each year with the 2018 event hosting over a dozen different vendors including local craft breweries, and food from several Triangle area restaurants. The event will be capped at 300 people and tickets have sold out every year! Get tickets and details here.

• If you are looking for the recipe for a perfect fall day, here’s a tip: Salt & Smoke VII presented by chef Kevin Callaghan and his team at ACME on Saturday, November 9th from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. Join the nearly 300 people who’ve already bought their tickets to the seventh annual celebration of southern food and drink and music at the beautiful Rock Quarry Farm in Orange County. Visit their Facebook events page here and get tickets here. Isn’t it time you #GetYourSouthOn? Thanks to the folks over at Taste Carolina for the reminder.

• On Sunday, November 10th, the folks over at MOFU Shoppe in downtown Raleigh are hosting a pop-up meal, Get Lao’d for Veterans Suicide Awareness, benefiting Stop Soldier Suicide with an incredible Laos inspired menu from one of MOFU’s own, Dallas Frentz. Dallas is a Purple Heart recipient. Get all the details and reserve your spot here on their Facebook event page.

• Also on Sunday, November 10th from 12 to 2 p.m. is the annual Triangle Chili Challenge that brings out some of the best restaurants, food trucks, caterers, businesses and organizations as they compete for the title of “Best Chili in the Triangle”. Triangle Chili Challenge will donate a portion of this year’s proceeds to Special Olympics North Carolina. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

• November 14th is the date for the next Uninhibited Bourbon & Wine Dinner over at Uninhibited Tapas at 3048 Medlin Drive in Raleigh. Chef Gregory Goldberg’s first one was a huge success and they are looking to build on that with this one. Tickets are $45++ with the bar opening at 6, and the dinner beginning at 7:30. Get all the details on his website here.

Food Bank Corner

• This month, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina launched a new initiative with breweries/bottle shops called Hops Against Hunger. For the entire month of October, breweries, bottle shops and cideries are coming together to raise money to support the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina to help make sure No One Goes Hungry!  Each place has a different promotion, meaning there are lots of great options to enjoy a cold one for a cause! List of participants can be found here.