Friday Fun Food Facts – November 12, 2021

Featured Restaurant News

  • Tudi Jackson of Ladyfingers Catering reached out to let me know that their latest venture, Ladyfingers Market & Eatery, will open this Monday, November 15th at Sojourn Glenwood Place (3710 Exchange Glenwood Place). The Market offers Ladyfingers’ signature fresh-frozen meal solutions, select grocery dry goods, bakery and dairy products, household necessities, bottled craft beer and fine wine. The Eatery offers artisanal sandwiches, fresh deli salads, a savory array of breakfast options and baked goods, a coffee bar and by-the-glass craft beer and wine. And of course, they still have their “gourmet to go” location on Whittaker Mill and all their catering services. Stop by on Monday and check it out. Get all the details here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • Twitter follower @Jchray noted a new sign going up for fast food seafood restaurant Skrimp Shack in the Lowe’s shopping center at the corner of High House and Cary Parkway in Cary. They have locations up and down the east coast from Florida to Virginia. This will mark the third Triangle location, with one already in Durham and another in Holly Springs. No word on an open date. Check them out here.
  • Also in Cary, reader Chris Creighton sent me a note letting me know that Combo Pasta has opened at 311 Ashville Avenue in Cary (near Danny’s BBQ). Pair your favorite pasta with a variety of sauce options and other toppings. They also have specialty dishes along with salads, subs and a kids’ menu. And they have gluten-free options! Get to know them here.
  • Also, just outside of Raleigh, heading into Garner at 4205 Fayetteville Road, Chris Creighton notified me that San Blas Seafood & Bar is moving into the former Grandson’s Buffet spot. You will have to stay tuned on this one as we couldn’t find an online presence for them.
  • And one final update from Creighton (he should start a food blog in the Triangle!), sending the great news that FatBoys Kitchen, a very popular food truck (actually, trucks), will be opening a brick and mortar location at 4511 New Bern Avenue in the Walmart Shopping Center. They are known for their burgers, seafood and more. No word yet on an open date. Check them out here.
  • Down in Holly Springs, reader Scott Eaton shared news about two new spots in the Block on Main (300 S. Main Street, Holly Springs). First up is JT’s Creamery, featuring handcrafted ice cream, is already open and in soft-open mode. And Bep Vietnamese Kitchen, a locally owned restaurant that will offer authentic Vietnamese street delights from iconic Phở selections, variety snacks including crusty Bánh Mì, and an enormous selection of Boba Tea. Look for them to open by the end of the year. Check out JT’s here and Bep’s Facebook page here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Out at Boxyard RTP, Fullsteam Brewery is now slinging cold brews and square pizza! They will “officially” be open Thursday, November 18th (follow them on Instagram) for some sneak peak pourings. And did I mention they will have square pizza…with a nod to Teddy Diggs from Coronato Pizza for his guidance on that. Check out Fullsteam’s Boxyard site here.
  • Over in Carrboro, Carrie Brogren with Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies brought it to my attention that the Speakeasy in Carroboro is holding their grand opening this Saturday, November 13! The Speakeasy is in the former spot of the Speakeasy at Tyler’s at 100 E. Main Street in the heart of downtown Carrboro. Jump on their Facebook page to get all the details.
  • And reader Ryan Sweeney gave me the update that it looks like a spot called Mexi-Cali, featuring street tacos and a burrito bar, is moving into the former Sansui Sushi Bar & Grill spot at 4325 Apex Hwy. in Durham. Ryan indicated that there is a brand new paint job and signage. We were unable to find an online presence for them, so stay tuned. Thanks Ryan!

Closings / Cancellations

  • None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

  • The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo in November is…..ON!! This Sunday, November 14 from 12 to 4 p.m. Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeos aren’t just a great place to eat great street food, they also support Durham Central Park! These events raise thousands of dollars every year to operate, beautify and improve the park. There are already 30+ food and beverages trucks signed up for their very first rodeo in more than a year and a half! Get all the details here.
  • Thanks to a post on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page, we saw that on November 21st the Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture and Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation will host the first-ever THANKS + GIVING FOOD TRUCK RODEO from 12 – 4 pm at Legion Road. There will be about 15 food trucks, about 15 local non-profits, a DJ, and good community vibes. Get ready to give, grub, and be grateful! Get all the details here.
  • Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Events

  • Now through this Sunday, November 14th, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is hosting the 2021 Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. This is a great time to support all your favorite places—and discover new ones. During the week, restaurants offer lunch and dinner specials and/or 3 course prix-fixe options. The challenges of the past year and a half have greatly impacted the restaurant community, so let’s continue to show love and support for our downtown restaurants. Visit their event site here. See a complete list of participating restaurants here.
  • Carolina Brewery is hosting their Annual Oyster Roast this Saturday, November 13th from 3pm to 8pm at their Pittsboro Brew Pub located at 120 Lowes Dr #100, Pittsboro, NC 27312. The event includes free admission with oysters served and sold by the half-dozen and dozen– steamed house oysters provided by Carolina Brewery and freshly harvested North Carolina oysters provided by Ryan Berthea from Oysters Carolina. Wash down delicious oysters with Carolina Brewery’s core beers as well as a brand new beer on tap, their “Steamer Beer.” Check out their Facebook event page here.
  • Is your mouth still watering awaiting the opening of chef Katsuji Tanabe’s forthcoming A’Verde in Cary? Well, we have good news for you. Katsuji will be previewing A’Verde’s menu on Friday, November 19 from 6-9 p.m. at Vidrio in Raleigh. Tickets are $75 and include a family-style dinner with ten of A’Verde’s dishes plus paired cocktails. Get all the details and the event link here.
  • Thanksgiving pre-orders have begun at Boulted Bread in downtown Raleigh (614 W South Street). Can you say Buttermilk Muscadine Pie….or Pumpkin Pie…or assorted pastries…or freshly baked bread? Make Boulted part of your Thanksgiving tradition beginning this year! Check out their Thanksgiving offerings here.
  • Thanksgiving is on the way and Southern Harvest is proud to provide heat and eat meals, made with love from their family to yours. This year’s menu includes a la carte smoked whole turkeys and turkey breasts, as well as two meal options. 10% off with code: THANKS. Get all the details here.
  • The folks at Empire Eats have some great Thanksgiving options in store for you. First up, Sitti and Gravy are both offering Thanksgiving take-out packages. Check out Sitti here and Gravy here. And The Pit (both Raleigh and Durham locations) are serving their traditional family-style Thanksgiving dinner again this year available for dine-in or takeout. Check out The Pit’s offerings here.

Food Bank Corner

  • Double your impact on Thanksgiving this year! Thanksgiving is only two weeks away – and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is getting busy! Because of the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, and the rising cost of food, many of our neighbors are struggling this year. They are having trouble making ends meet and the holidays will only add to the pinch as heating bills soar and kids miss school meals during holiday break. Fortunately, there’s a chance now to make twice the difference for families facing hunger this year. Compassionate friends are matching all donations up to $600,000 to help our neighbors have a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving. Your gift today can provide two times as much food to families in our community.

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Friday Fun Food Facts – November 5, 2021

Featured Restaurant News

  • Now through November 14th the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is hosting the 2021 Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. This is a great time to support all your favorite places—and discover new ones. During the week, restaurants offer lunch and dinner specials and/or 3 course prix-fixe options. The challenges of the past year and a half have greatly impacted the restaurant community, so let’s continue to show love and support for our downtown restaurants. Visit their event site here. See a complete list of participating restaurants here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • This week the Flying Mayan moved into their new location in Morrisville in the former Famous Toastery spot, just down from Guasaca (9928 Chapel Hill Road, Morrrisville to be exact). This follows on the news of the closing of their Original Flying Burrito spot on Grove Barton Road in Raleigh (closed last month) and the closing of their downtown Raleigh Flying Mayan location. Stop by and check them out and give them a warm welcome.
  • The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that the rooftop lounge The Willard (at the new AC Hotel on Glenwood Avenue in downtown Raleigh) opened on Wednesday, and apparently the view is pretty cool. According to the TBJ, they have a craft cocktail program to go with a Spanish and Mediterranean menu. The hotel brought on Craig Spitzer and his Early Bird Night Owl team to manage The Willard. It is the same group that owns and manages The Mayton Hotel in Cary and The Durham Hotel. Check out the view and get to know them here.
  • The folks over at RalToday brought it to our attention that getting up in the morning is totally worth it when you find out that Iris Coffee Lab in Glenwood South has added Flip Side Donuts to their menu six days a week. Flip Side just opened this year in Cary and apparently (as you will see) have a good thing going. Get by their location in Cary or by Iris Coffee Lab to check them out.
  • Guess what today is? Yep, today is the day that Thanksgiving pre-orders begin at Boulted Bread in downtown Raleigh (614 W South Street). Can you say Buttermilk Muscadine Pie….or Pumpkin Pie…or assorted pastries…or freshly baked bread? Make Boulted part of your Thanksgiving tradition beginning this year! Check out their Thanksgiving offerings here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Things continue to heat up out at Boxyard RTP in the middle of Research Triangle Park (900 Park Offices Drive) with the pending opening of Fullsteam Brewery. According to multiple social media posts it looks like they will “officially” be open Thursday, November 18th. But keep your eyes peeled (and follow them on Instagram) for some sneak peak pourings. And did I mention they will have square pizza…with a nod to Teddy Diggs from Coronato Pizza for his guidance on that. Check out Fullsteam’s Boxyard site here.
  • You scream, I scream, we all scream for Mister Softee ice cream…or something like that. The folks over at Bites of Bull City shared the news that Durham now has a Mister Softee ice cream truck. Not familiar with Mister Softee? Well, they were first established in Philadelphia in 1956 and they are now the largest franchiser of soft ice cream trucks in the United States with over 625 trucks and over 350 franchise dealers operating in 18 states. Follow/find the one in Durham via their Instagram site here.

Closings / Cancellations

  • None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

  • Thanks to a post on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page, we saw that on November 21st the Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture and Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation will host the first-ever THANKS + GIVING FOOD TRUCK RODEO from 12 – 4 pm at Legion Road. There will be about 15 food trucks, about 15 local non-profits, a DJ, and good community vibes. Get ready to give, grub, and be grateful! Get all the details here.
  • Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Events

  • The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is hosting their Dine Out First Friday event, tonight, Friday, November 5 from 7-10 pm in the Warehouse District just outside of Morgan Street Food Hall down to Union Station Plaza. It is a monthly celebration of arts and culture where they will have live music by DJ Luxe Posh, live painting demos by Zero Period, a writing activity with Red Bud Writing Group and a Driveway Drag Show from 9-9:30pm. Beer, wine and hot beverages will be available for purchase. And lots of great eating establishments in and around that area. Check it out here.
  • After having to cancel the 2019 and 2020 events, the Town of Cary will hold Fest in the West this Saturday, November 6th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will take place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex and will feature food and beer vendors, entertainment, a kids’ zone as well as arts and crafts. Get all the details here.
  • The folks at Empire Eats have some great Thanksgiving options in store for you. First up, Sitti and Gravy are both offering Thanksgiving take-out packages. Check out Sitti here and Gravy here. And The Pit (both Raleigh and Durham locations) are serving their traditional family-style Thanksgiving dinner again this year available for dine-in or takeout. Check out The Pit’s offerings here.

Food Bank Corner

  • Cheers to an easy way to support the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, as they continue serving an 11% higher need, due to COVID-19. Island Brands USA is a premium beer brand with a mission to bring better, cleaner beer to the world. By downloading their new Loyalty app, Island Passport, you can select the Food Bank and they’ll donate $10 when you redeem 800 points in their App. For more information, visit them here.

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