Friday Fun Food Facts – March 13, 2015

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News 

  • Durham’s newest restaurant, The Counting House, has opened in downtown Durham at 111 N. Corcoran Street on the ground floor of the former CCB/Sun Trust building (Hill Building). It is part of the 21c Museum Hotel, which will open in the next few weeks. The restaurant is under the direction of chef Josh Munchel. Check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  •   Jason Smith recently announced that his18 Seaboard will join their sister restaurants, Cantina 18 and Harvest 18, by offering weekend brunch service. 18 Seaboard will start brunch services this Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Get all the details here.
  • According to the News & Observer, Hummus Cafe, a Middle Eastern eatery which opened just over a year ago on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, opened a second location in Morrisville this past Monday. Check them out here.
  • The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Freshii, a “health-casual restaurant” chain, has opened its first Triangle area location on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh in the same building with Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jimmy John’s. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

  •   In Durham, the News & Observer reported that Urban Food Group, owners of Vivace, Coquette and Chow, has signed a lease for the former Pop’s location in Durham’s West Village. Vivace, also has a location in Charlotte and just announced another location (will be their 4th) in Denver, Colorado. Keep up with them here.
  • Something has changed at Merritt’s Store & Grill in Chapel Hill, but it is not exactly clear just yet. According to a Facebook post, the management at the store has changed and it appears as if Charles Britt is no longer managing things. We will keep an eye on it and hope they don’t mess with the BLT or burgers! Check them out on Facebook here.
  • Over in Carrboro, Krave, a new kava bar and lounge, has opened at 105 W. Main Street according to Rebecca Troyer over at the Triangle Business Journal. They feature exotic teas and root beverages like kava, a drink popular in the South Pacific. It is owned by Elizabeth Gardner a UNC grad and attorney. A grand opening party will be held on March 28. You can get a lot of information on her Facebook page here.

Closings 

  • Got word from reader Sammi Hilliard that the TerraFin Station up on Falls of the Neuse Road has closed. Word on the street is that a barbecue joint will move into that space. We will keep an eye on it. Thanks Sammi!
  • And not really a closing, but the folks behind Firewurst have closed their original “test” kitchen (that was the plan from the beginning) and have focused their attention on their other two Triangle area locations and future growth. Check out their two locations and future plans here.

Food Trucks 

  • My friend Greg Lewis over at Pittsboro Roadhouse & General Store informed me that the first Pittsboro Food Truck Rodeo of the year will take place on Saturday, March 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. directly in front of his restaurant. Get more details here.
  • And not to be outdone by the bigger cities, Cary is jumping on the food truck rodeo bandwagon with their very own Chatham Street Chowdowns (they win hands down on the name!) scheduled for 2015. The first one is scheduled for April 19th. Feeling left out Chapel Hill? Get all the details and the full schedule here.

Events

  • Hibernian Pub is hosting their annual St. Patrick’s Celebration this Saturday (March 14) from 11 until 11. They are teaming up with Napper Tandy’s and Shop Local for a huge street festival on the 300 and 400 blocks of Glenwood Avenue. The cost is free until 4 p.m. at which time the charge becomes $5. Look for live music, local artisans and vendors and, of course, lots of great food and drinks. Get all the details here.
  • Just a quick follow up to Urban Ministries of Durham’s 9th annual Empty Bowls event – it raised over $86k to help end homelessness. And the “best soup” winners went to Saltbox Seafood Joint (Soup Dreams Chowda Saltbox Style – Judges Choice) and Toast (Calabrian Onion Soup – People’s Choice). Congrats to everyone!

Food Bank Corner   

  • Time to eat a little crow…or better yet, the BB1K BBQ Sandwich at The Q Shack in North Hills. As you’ll recall, Tom Meyer and I had a friendly wager over the last Duke vs. UNC basketball game. Well, my Heels didn’t show me much love. So I had to don a Duke Jersey and have my picture taken with a “I Like Mike” poster. I did. But now you can help the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina by stopping by The Q Shack in North Hills and ordering the BB1K sandwich (in honor of Coach K’s 1000+ wins) and 10% of all sales will go to the Food Bank. Congrats to Tom and his Blue Devils. Get all the details on the inaugural Battle of the Blues & BBQ right here.

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Friday Fun Food Facts – March 6, 2015

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

  • Battle of the Blues & BBQ – Here is the friendly wager, all to benefit the Food Bank of  Central & Eastern North Carolina. Yours truly and Tom Meyer (eventual loser an d owner of The Q-Shack North Hills) have a friendly wager on the upcoming UNC vs. Duke basketball game on March 7th. Tom is a Duke alumnus and Sean is a UNC alumnus (although was  born and bred in Raleigh and has a soft spot in his heart for the Wolfpack). ShouldTriangle Food Guy Image Duke win, Sean will have to sport a Duke Jersey and have his picture taken holding a sign that says, “I Like Mike.” To commemorate the win, The Q-Shack will create a Duke sandwich and 10% of all sandwich sales in March will be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern Carolina. The sandwich: The BB1K – NC Tri Tip with an onion aioli, NC hoop cheese and a hot pepper relish. Should UNC win, Tom will have to sport a UNC Jersey and have his picture taken holding a sign that says, “Roy Is My Boy.” To  commemorate the win, The Q-Shack will create a UNC sandwich and 10% of all sandwich sales in March will be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern Carolina. The sandwich: The Roy Boy – NC Pork Belly Sandwich with sauteed collards and NC hoop cheese. View all the details here. Go Heels!

Wake County Restaurant News

  •  After a week of “soft openings” New Raleigh is reporting that Pho Pho Pho Noodle Kitchen + Bar is opening today (please check first). Pho Pho is the creation of Sushi Blues Café’s Quy Duong. It is located in the 510 Building on Glenwood South and will feature traditional Vietnamese dishes. Get all the details here.
  • Niall Hanley’s (i.e. Hibernian Pubs) next venture is getting closer to fruition according to the News & Observer. Raleigh Beer Garden, located at 614 Glenwood Avenue, is on schedule to open in the April/May timeline. Not much to look at on the website yet, but it is coming.
  • Also in downtown Raleigh, the upstairs part of Centro Mexican Restaurant, called Gallo Pelon Mezcaleria, will open this month! No word yet on an official date, but stay tuned. The upstairs will provide more space to accommodate their busy lunch, private events, and other special gatherings. The upstairs will also host Gallo Pelón, NC’s first mezcaleria. Keep up with them on Facebook here.
  • Rebecca Calhoun updated us on the opening of El Cerro Mexican Bar & Grill in North Raleigh’s Falls Village shopping center.
  • This is kind of vague, but equally exciting. New Raleigh reported this week that a yet-to-be-named wine and coffee shop is coming to Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street in the former LocoPop’s location next to David’s Dumpling & Noodle Bar. We’ll keep an eye on it.
  • Cary’s Chatham Square Shopping Center is getting two new dining options according to the News & Observer’s Greg Cox. Taqueria La Herradura will feature tacos made with house-made corn tortillas and your choice of ten fillings. Also, Tibetan Restaurant will open as soon as possible offering a menu made up mostly of familiar Chinese and Indo-Chinese fare. We’ll keep an eye on these.
  • Got word from one of my readers that Koffee Kafe has opened a “grab and go” coffee and café in Cary’s train station. Obviously convenient for travelers, but also anyone in the area. Check them out on Facebook here.
  • Reader Graciela Reynoso tipped me off to the fact that Cary is now home to Koko’s Italian Kitchen at 8306 Chapel Hill Road. They are serving up classic Italian dishes and gourmet pizzas. Check them out here.
  • And speaking of Italian, Clayton is also home to a new Italian restaurant called La Cucina Italiana featuring pizza, pasta and subs at 110 Flowers Crossroads Way. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

  •  The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that CalaVela, an empanada and tequila bar in downtown Raleigh, has opened a second location in Carrboro at 370 E. Main Street (Hampton Inn building). Check them out here.
  • The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership announced this week that Roots Bakery Bistro & Bar has opened at 161 East Franklin Street in the former Top This! Café location. You can check them out on Facebook here.
  • Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street is now home to another hot dog joint according to the Triangle Business Journal. Following the lead of Sup Dogs, Trolley Stop Hot Dogs opened this past week at 306 W. Franklin Street. Check them out here on Facebook.
  • And over in Durham, the Herald Sun is reporting that Locopops, at 2600 Hillsborough Road, has reopened for spring with hours from 2 to 7 p.m. New expanded hours will be announced soon.

Closings 

  • Friend David McCreary informed me that Mesa Fresca Diner at 775 Center Street in Apex has closed its doors.
  • Vincent’s on Creedmoor Road in Raleigh has closed in anticipation of the opening of Vincent’s BigBoom, a joint venture between Vincent Barresi and Christopher Bender. Big Boom will open in the 510 Building on Glenwood South.

Food Trucks 

  • Food Truck Rodeo’s are back!!!! This Sunday (March 8th) is the Spring Food Truck Rodeo at Durham’s Central Park. Here are all the details.
  • And not to be outdone by the bigger cities, Cary is jumping on the food truck rodeo bandwagon with their very own Chatham Street Chowdowns (they win hands down on the name!) scheduled for 2015. The first one is scheduled for April 19th. Feeling left out Chapel Hill? Get all the details and the full schedule here.

Events

  • The third annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience, an indoor food and beer festival at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, is this Sunday, March 8 from 4 – 8 p.m. The event pairs local food showcasing 30 Durham restaurants with unbelievable beer from 30 premier craft / import breweries. Get all the details and your tickets here.
  • The much-hyped Snap Pea Underground dinner series is coming to Raleigh, March 13th and 14th. The menu is a surprise and the location is kept secret until 36 hours before the event. These dinners will be located somewhere close to the Museum of Art. Cost is $68. Register and get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner   

  • March Madness is almost upon us and the UNC v. Duke rivalry is hotter than ever. So how does food tie into this? Good question. Tom Meyer, owner of The Q Shack at North Hills is a Duke grad. And yours truly is a UNC grad (but I grew up in Raleigh and have a soft spot in my heart for the Wolfpack). Anyway, Tom and I have come up with a friendly wager on the next UNC v. Duke basketball game (March 7th). The winner will have a “special” sandwich featured at The Q Shack for the month of March. And the loser will have to don the other team’s colors and say nice things about the other team’s coach! But even better than that, the wager will benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Get all the details on the inaugural Battle of the Blues & BBQ right here. And may the best “blue” team win!

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