TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

Friday Fun Food Facts – November 14, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday – one of my favorites. A time to be thankful for all that we have in this great country of ours. Unless you are the one stuck in the kitchen at 4 a.m. Ok, I’m just kidding, but don’t feel bad about not wanting to cook all day. You should enjoy it too! And Greg Cox from the News & Observer is your hero again this year with his compilation of restaurants open on Thanksgiving day. Check it out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

And if you still want to celebrate Thanksgiving in your home, but don’t want to cook the turkey (or the sides), you’ll be glad to know that the Q Shack is firing up their annual tradition of providing you with turkeys, sides and desserts for your Thanksgiving Day feast. Folks, I don’t endorse many things, but I can speak from personal experience that this is a fantastic (and delicious) way to feed your guests. Seriously, who (besides Tom and his team) want to be in the kitchen cooking up a turkey? Get your orders in before November 22nd and get all the details here.

Saw on their Facebook page that Night Kitchen Bakehouse and Café is holding a series of soft openings today and tomorrow prior to their full opening next week. They feature breads, pastries and savory foods and are located in the Seaboard Station complex in downtown Raleigh. Check out their Facebook page for all the details.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Sardi’s Den Restaurant & Lounge, a rib house staple for the past 20 years in Clemson, SC, will be opening its first franchise location in the former Oliver Twist location in the Brennan Station shopping center on Creedmoor Road in north Raleigh. No word yet on an open date. In the meantime, check them out here.

A quick update. As we told you months ago, the Posta Tuscan Grille is transitioning into a Southern eatery & gastropub called Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen in the Raleigh Marriott City Center. We just got word that they are on schedule to open the middle of next month. Check them out here.

Back in October, we told you that both WRAL and Raleigh Public Record were reporting that the former Lucky 32 spot in Raleigh had been sold to a restaurant group called Kamado Grille and would open a concept called Bistro 832. Turns out it will in fact open as Kamado Grille in January. Keep up with them on their Facebook page here.

And not far from there in Falls Village we learned from Rebecca Calhoun that the former spot of Fork & Barrel is poised to become El Cerro Mexican Grill & Restaurant. They already have a location on Avent Ferry Road in Raleigh. Check them out here.

The News & Observer is reporting that Greek Garden has opened in the former Yummy Yogurt space in downtown Apex at 124 N. Salem Street. While the website is not live yet, it should go live any day now. They are open Tuesday through Saturday.

Last week WRAL reported that the folks over at Tropical Picken Chicken have plans to open a new concept devoted to empanadas called El Guapo Empanadas Y Mas. We learned on their Facebook this week that they have secured a space in Raleigh at the corner of Six Forks and Wake Forest Road where Pronto Pasta used to be. No word yet on an open date. In the meantime, keep up with updates on their Facebook page here.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that the Triangle is on the verge of getting their 2nd and 3rd Steak ‘n Shake locations. One will be in Fuquay-Varina at 8012 Fayetteville Road (U.S. 401) near the Kings Grant Common shopping center and the other at 5900 Duraleigh Road in Raleigh.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News

Wake up Chapel Hill! Have I got good news for you. Al’s Burger Shack on West Franklin Street announced this week that they will begin breakfast service next Monday, November 17th! Breakfast will be available from 7-11 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Get all the details here.

Saw in the Triangle Business Journal that Counter Culture Coffee is hosting a regional coffee competition in Durham that will feature top barista and brewer talent from the Southeast and Northeast. The three-day event will be at the Durham Convention Center on Nov. 21 and 22 from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 23 from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. The competition is part of the U.S. Coffee Championships that culminate with a final contest in February 2015. Get all the details here.

Ohio-based City Barbecue, which recently opened a location in Cary, is apparently eyeing a second Triangle-area location in Durham at 208 W. Highway 54, according to the Herald-Sun. The articles did note, however, that it may not be open for another year or two. Check out City Barbecue here.

According to the Herald-Sun, Dewey’s Bakery will open up a shop in Northgate starting Nov. 15 and will last until Dec. 31. The bakery offers Moravian cookies, Moravian sugar cake, cheese straws and gift baskets. Founded in 1930 in Winston-Salem, learn more about Dewey’s here.

Closings

Drove through downtown Chapel Hill earlier this week and saw that Qdoba has closed at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets. The Herald-Sun reported that their lease was up and the owners opted not to renew.

Food Trucks

Looks like this could be the last multiple food truck event of the year. It is Saturday, November 22 from 2-6 at Raleigh Brewing Company and will feature GOUGE Wrestling, five food trucks and plenty of brews. Food trucks will feature lunch and dinner and include: All American Food Truck, Bulkogi Korean BBQ, Captain Ponchos Tacos, Cajun Persuasion, and Dump Pho King Truck. Get all the details on their Facebook event page here.

Events

So, long story short. The Raleigh Times recently won a national contest by Draft Magazine. The winner was deemed to have the best craft beer list, most knowledgeable staff, etc. (pretty cool, right?). How does that help you? Well, they “won” a 170-liter oak cask of unfiltered, unpreserved pilsner from Urquell in the Czech Rebublic (this is a big deal). And they are holding a huge party to celebrate on November 15th from noon to 9 p.m. (they are closing down the street). The event is free, but $10 buys you a 1/4 -liter pour from the cask and all proceeds benefit SAFEchild. Buy tickets and get all the details here.

Our friends over at Acme Restaurant in Carrboro reminded us of the 2nd annual Salt & Smoke event on Sunday, November 16th from 3 to 6 p.m at Rock Quarry Farm. The event is a celebration of fall in the south and will feature oysters and pork barbecue, collards and cornbread, slaw, smoked mullet and sweet potatoes. It’s beer and wine. It’s bands and bonfires and, above all, it’s a damn good time. The cost is $40 for food, or $48 with a couple of drinks. Check it out on Facebook here and get your tickets here.

Urban Ministries of Wake County is hosting their 10th Annual Stone Soup Supper on Wednesday, November 19th from 5-7:30 p.m at White Memorial Presbyterian Church on Oberlin Road in Raleigh. The event raises money to end homelessness and hunger and provide healthcare to those in need. You can enjoy the soup creations of chefs from 12 area restaurants and organizations on site, or take some home with you. Get all the details here.

Thanks to Kathleen Donnelly, I was reminded that the 12th annual Gingerbread Benefit for Triangle Family Services will take place on Sunday, December 7th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. The day begins with a Gingerbread Sneak Preview (at 11:30) and culminates with the Evening Gingerbread Benefit at 6:30, and lots in between for children and the entire family. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina just launched their Holiday Meals Drive and they need your help to reach their goal of raising $435,000 online before December 31, which would be enough to provide 2.17 million meals! Folks can donate, sexe24 make a gift in honor of a friend or family member or host a holiday fundraiser. Perhaps your company can join in on this extremely worthy cause. Get all the details here.

Friday Fun Food Facts – November 7, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

It is official. Mark your calendar for Monday, December 1st. That is the official opening day for Tupelo Honey Cafe in Raleigh! Many more details to follow. In the meantime, check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday – one of my favorites. A time to be thankful for all that we have in this great country of ours. Unless you are the one stuck in the kitchen at 4 a.m. Ok, I’m just kidding, but don’t feel bad about not wanting to cook all day. You should enjoy it too! And Greg Cox from the News & Observer is your hero again this year with his compilation of restaurants open on Thanksgiving day. Check it out here.

And if you still want to celebrate Thanksgiving in your home, but don’t want to cook the turkey (or the sides), you’ll be glad to know that the Q Shack is firing up their annual tradition of providing you with turkeys, sides and desserts for your Thanksgiving Day feast. Folks, I don’t endorse many things, but I can speak from personal experience that this is a fantastic (and delicious) way to feed your guests. Seriously, who (besides Tom and his team) want to be in the kitchen cooking up a turkey? Get your orders in before November 22nd and get all the details here.

This is big news in the catering world – Catering By Design has merged with The Matthews House (and subsequently Basil & Thyme Catering Group and The Patisserie Bakery) in Cary according to the Triangle Business Journal. Both organizations will retain their identities for now. We’ll share more information as it becomes available.

Also in Cary, the franchise Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers opened their second Triangle location this past Tuesday (the other is in Durham) at 1705 High House Road in the Searstone Retail Village. Check them out here.

Got word this week from David McCreary (aka Lunchboy Says) that The Mill is opening next week in downtown Fuquay Varina at the corner of Main and Depot streets. The Mill is a wine bar (and beer) and coffee shop concept. Follow them on Facebook to receive the announcement as to the exact opening day.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News

I got my first introduction this past summer to a true Argentine barbecue and I have fallen in love with the Argentine culture and cuisine. So I am happy to report that I was recently introduced to a new concept called Makus Empanadas that currently operates out of The Cookery and offers catering and delivery, but has plans on opening its first of many locations soon. And I’m proud to report that they will soon be available through Triangle Food Guy (give me about a week). Anyway, check out Makus Empanadas here.

With growth comes change. And so is the case with downtown Durham’s Blue Coffee Cafe. WRAL reported that renovations to the building they are currently in and a high-rise being built across the street have Gwen Matthews looking to move into a space less than 2 blocks away at 107 N. Church Street. But she needs your help. Check out her Kickstarter campaign here. The move will take place by the end of the year.

Closings

None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

And if the news above about true Argentine cuisine joining our lineup here in the Triangle, I just got word that there is a food truck called Che Empanadas trying to make a go of it with a kickstarter campaign that just launched. The effort is spearheaded by the husband and wife team of Mark and Anabel Rossbach. Check out and support their Kickstarter campaign here.

Events

If you have seen me in the last week, or will see me this month, you’ll notice my feeble attempt at growing a little facial hair (trust me, the beautiful and talented Lori Lennard does not like it). It is part of the No Shave November, a month where men raise awareness of men’s health issues by growing a mustache (or beard in my case) during November. Anyway, Zinburger has brought food into the effort by creating a Pumpkin Stache Shake with a portion of sales going to ZERO, an organization dedicated to eliminating prostate cancer (and all cancer!). Check them out here.

The Triangle Business Journal reminded us that the fifth annual Brew Durham Festival will be held this Saturday (November 8th) at the Scrap Exchange at 2050 Chapel Hill Road in Durham. The festival will feature more than 40 home brewed beers and small bites from local restaurants including Bull City Burger and Brewery and Mateo Tapas. There will be two tasting sessions, from 1 to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Scrap Exchange reuse arts center in Durham. Get all the details here.

The Triangle Business Journal also reminded us that the “Much Ado about Cheese” festival returns again this year on November 9th from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cotton Room in Durham. The event is free and open to the public. Free cheese samples will be provided, and Raleigh food truck American Meltdown will be selling cheesy delights. Beer and wine are also available for purchase. Check them out on Facebook here.

Plan on spending/eating your day in Orange County (Chapel Hill & Hillsborough) next Tuesday, November 12th for the 25th Annual RSVVP Day where participating restaurants contribute 10% of their proceeds (breakfast, lunch and dinner) to the IFC’s Food Pantry and Community Kitchen. Get a complete list of restaurants and details here.

Also on Wednesday, November 12th the good folks over at The Cookery in Durham will host the Fall Harvest Veteran Farmer Dinner featuring Six Plates and Foode (out of Virginia). The event is from 6:30 until 9:30 and costs $40. Get all the details and purchase tickets here.

So, long story short. The Raleigh Times recently won a national contest by Draft Magazine. The winner was deemed to have the best craft beer list, most knowledgeable staff, etc. (pretty cool, right?). How does that help you? Well, they “won” a 170-liter oak cask of unfiltered, unpreserved pilsner from Urquell in the Czech Rebublic (this is a big deal). And they are holding a huge party to celebrate on November 15th from noon to 9 p.m. (they are closing down the street). The event is free, but $10 buys you a 1/4 -liter pour from the cask and all proceeds benefit SAFEchild. Buy tickets and get all the details here.

Our friends over at Acme Restaurant in Carrboro reminded us of the 2nd annual Salt & Smoke event on Sunday, November 16th from 3 to 6 p.m at Rock Quarry Farm. The event is a celebration of fall in the south and will feature oysters and pork barbecue, collards and cornbread, slaw, smoked mullet and sweet potatoes. It’s beer and wine. It’s bands and bonfires and, above all, it’s a damn good time. The cost is $40 for food, or $48 with a couple of drinks. Check it out on Facebook here and get your tickets here.

Thanks to Kathleen Donnelly, I was reminded that the 12th annual Gingerbread Benefit for Triangle Family Services will take place on Sunday, December 7th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. The day begins with a Gingerbread Sneak Preview (at 11:30) and culminates with the Evening Gingerbread Benefit at 6:30, and lots in between for children and the entire family. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

Did you know that almost 50% of students in our 34 county service area qualify for free or reduced-price lunch? It is difficult for any student to excel academically when they come to school hungry. So we invite all students, staff, parents and teachers to join our Students Against Hunger food and funds drive to help feed hungry children and their families in our community. Get all the details here.