Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- WRAL reported this week that Phoebe Lawless has returned to her roots with the opening of the second location of her award-winning bakery Scratch (lovingly called Baby Scratch). It opened next to her first full-scale restaurant The Lakewood at 2022 Chapel Hill Road. Lawless said her downtown Durham bakery, which opened in 2010, has become more of a cafe, doing most of its business in coffee, breakfast and lunch. The new Lakewood bakery will get back to the breads and pies on which Scratch was founded. Check out Scratch here.
Wake County Restaurant News
- North Hills announced this week that bartaco, a hip eatery specializing in tacos and rice bowls, will be opening in the Main District at North Hills. Located next door to Mura, the restaurant is expected to open in the summer of 2018. They recently opened a location at University Place in Chapel HIll. This comes on the heels of the news that Viva Chicken, a Peruvian rotisserie joint specializing in Pollo a la Brasa, will fill the former McAlister’s Deli space at North Hills. Get familiar with bartaco here.
- Over in Lafayette Village, Zanyu Asian Noodles will fill the void left by the recent closure of JoCa’s Gourmet Dawgs N’ Shakes. From what we understand, he will be doing various noodle dishes from multiple Asian countries. At this point we are not able to locate an online presence nor an opening date. We will update you as we know more.
- Who doesn’t love fresh bagels? The News & Observer reported that this month Pizzeria Faulisi in downtown Cary has turned Saturday mornings into a two-hour breakfast pop-up called the Booya Bagel Shop. The bagels are cooked in the pizzeria’s wood-fire oven and come in plain, sesame or with everything. The bagels are accompanied by biscuits and “B’doughnuts,” which are doughnuts baked in the oven. The shop is 10 a.m. to noon, or until everything is sold out. Get more information on their Instagram page here.
- Also in Cary, the News & Observer reported that former Little Hen chef Regan Stachler has resigned from his short-lived post as executive chef at Cary’s Mayton Inn. We will keep an eye on who replaces him at the Inn, as well as where Regan’s talents pop-up next.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- Over in Durham, we learned from the Durham Chamber that Big C Waffles has opened in the former Dog House location near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. 55 (2110 Allendown Dr) near Kokyu BBQ. I love their tag line, “Changing lives one waffle at a time.” Bring on the waffles! Check them out here.
- The News & Observer reported this week that a new coffee shop has opened in Durham in the former Respite Cafe spot on Duke Street, not far from Brightleaf Square. Kaffeinate is the creation of Diana Lee and features an espresso bar, drip coffee and cold brew, along with a chai latte and selection of hot teas. Beyond the beverages, Kaffeinate has a waffle menu, ranging from traditional Belgian to waffles topped with Nutella, fresh berries, cinnamon sugar or bananas and chocolate drizzle. Check them out here.
- On a recent outing, the beautiful and talented Lori Bowers-Lennard noticed that Blaze Pizza is coming to Patterson Place in Durham (5318 McFarland Drive to be exact). No word on a timeline, but they have locations in Morrisville, Holly Springs and Garner. Check them out here.
Closings
- Got an email from a long-time reader Tracey (sorry I couldn’t find your last name!) that JoCa’s Gourmet Dawgs N’ Shakes in Lafayette Village has closed. That’s the bad news. The good news is there is a new restaurant coming into that space (see above under Wake County).
Food Trucks
- Food Truck Thursdays is back in Knightdale. Every Thursday from September through November, Knightdale hosts a new truck at Knightdale Station Park for lunch and dinner. Just look for it from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm near the amphitheater (rain or shine – shelters are covered). Thanks to Mark Ginsburg for the heads up. Get all the details and a listing of the upcoming trucks here.
- Got word that the Wake Forest Food Truck Rodeo returns this Sunday, October 29th, from 12-4 at 405 S. Brooks Street in historic downtown Wake Forest. Just about everything and anything that is served from the back of a truck will be featured from savory food and dessert vendors. And a beer tent will be provided by Brooks Street Bowl. Get all the details on their Facebook page here.
- Friend David McCreary notified me that downtown Fuquay-Varina is hosting a food truck rodeo on Sunday, October 29 from 1-4. The rodeo will feature Chirba Chirba Dumplings, Dusty Donuts, JAM Ice Cream and Morfa Empanadas. And beer vendors Aviator Brewing Co., Fainting Goat Brewing and Mason Jar Lager. Visit their Facebook event page here.
- Art Sheppard notified me that Chapel Hill is bringing back the Rodeo on Rosemary. It will be held on November 5th from 12-4 (also same day as the Durham Rodeo…decisions, decisions). Get all the details on Facebook here.
- And the last food truck rodeo for the year in Durham is fast approaching – November 5th. Get all the details here.
Events
- The new WRAL.com Voters’ Choice Awards starts this fall with expanded categories and subcategories. You can nominate your favorite businesses through Nov. 8. On Nov. 13, they will unveil the official voting ballot. To nominate a business, click here. And if you are a business interested in sponsoring this year’s awards or getting promotional graphics to help encourage people to nominate your business, click here.
- Today is the last day to participate in the Hayes Barton Restaurant Week (Oct. 23-27). Restaurants, cafes and bars from Five Points, Oberlin Village and Glenwood Village are teaming up to fight hunger by donating 10% of sales to the Interfaith Food Shuttle. Participating establishments include: Bloomsbury Bistro, Crafty Beer Shop, Glenwood Grill, Hayes Barton Cafe, Hungry Howie’s, Lilly’s Pizza, Mandolin, NOFO @ the Pig, The Point, Proof at Five Points and Third Place. For more information visit their Facebook page here.
- The folks over at Blu Seafood and Bar and Fullsteam Brewery are hosting an Oyster Roast on Saturday, October 28th to raise money for Habitat for Humanity Disaster Relief at Blue Seafood and Bar at 2022 Hillsborough Road from 12-4 p.m. In addition to the roast, Lower 9th Street is having a block party and World Market is having a fair trade tasting at the same time. Get more details and see the flyer on their Facebook page here.
- Is your kid(s) chomping at the bit to wear their Halloween costume (and not crazy that Halloween is on a school night this year). Well, might as well get some free food, amiright? Penn Station East Coast Subs is giving away free kids meals for Halloween Oct. 29-31 to any kid in a costume. Each dressed kid will receive a free kid meal with an adult sub purchase. Kids meals include any four-inch sandwich, a kids-sized fresh-cut fry, a drink in a special kids’ cup and a sucker. Find your closest Penn Station here.
- November 4th brings us one of my favorite events of the year – the 5th annual Salt & Smoke Festival where chef Kevin Callaghan and his team from Acme capture a perfect autumn day in the South with bluegrass, whole hog barbecue, oysters on the half shell and local drinks – so many rich traditions rolled into one singular and spectacular celebration at Rock Quarry Farm. This is a “don’t miss” event. Get all the details here.
- Also on November 4th, join Bites of Bull City from 10-12 for a Durham brunch tour. Why go to brunch at just one restaurant when you can try three! Your delicious tour will take you to Piedmont, Pie Pushers and Counting House. You will meet the chefs behind the dishes and get a taste of the unique flavor and styles at each stop. Cost is $45. Use coupon code SAVEFIVE to get $5 off through this Sunday. Get your tickets here.
- And then on November 5th is the 27th annual A Tasteful Affair at The Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium where 500 guests will enjoy delicious samples from more than two-dozen of the area’s best restaurants, catering companies, beverage purveyors and food trucks – all to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. Details and tickets here.
- It’s time for the 2017 Triangle Chili Challenge. On Sunday, November 12 in Downtown Cary, restaurateurs and food trucks compete alongside the Cary Police and Fire Departments for the “Best Chili in the Triangle”. The event also features live music, craft beer, art vendors, raffles and cash prizes. The winner will go home with $300 in cash, a trophy and serious bragging rights. Registration is now open. For sponsorship packages, competitor registration and more information, go here.
- Reap the spoils of competition while top Triangle chefs compete to be named Soup-erior Chef at Urban Ministries of Wake County’s annual Stone Soup Supper on Wednesday, November 15 at NCSU McKimmon Center. Funds raised from the event will be used to feed, shelter, and provide healthcare to low income individuals living within Wake County. Guests receive unlimited bowls of specially crafted soup from more than a dozen chefs. Guests also receive one piece of artisan pottery, hand-crafted by the Triangle Potters Guild. Get all the details here.
Baltic Spa Saunas & Hot Tubs Ltd – wood fired hot tubs, grill houses, camping pods, mobile saunas here
- Mattie Beason of Black Twig Cider House will host TxotxFest on November 18 from noon to 4 pm. TxotxFest returns for a second year, offering award-winning regional and national ciders with North Carolina cuisine, and features the txotx – a traditional Spanish cider barrel. Beason introduced TxotxFest in 2016 as the first event of its kind in the Southeast to celebrate cider, the fastest growing segment in the beverage industry. This year, Beason kicks off TxotxFest November 17th with a $50 five-course cider-paired dinner at Black Twig Cider House featuring Asheville’s chef Steven Goff of Brinehaus Meat & Provisions and ciders from Noble Cider, Urban Orchard, Appalachian Mountain, and James Creek. Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner
- Our friends at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina will be holding a Students Against Hunger food drive from October through December for schools in the area. Participants in the Students Against Hunger campaign collect food and funds from October 2 through December 2. Competing schools must deliver their donations to their warehouse by noon on Saturday, December 2. There are lots of creative ways for your child’s school to participate. Register your school and get all the details here.
