October 11, 2013 · 12:41 pm

Friday Fun Food Facts – October 11, 2013

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

Featured Restaurant News
  • The News & Observer shed a little more light on the soon-to-open Quality Grocery, an old-time cafe, restaurant and grocery store in Historic Oakwood, near downtown Raleigh. Owners Jay Wellons and Jason Howard, who are behind the Rockford restaurant on Glenwood Avenue, have created a neighborhood country store in the building that has served as an on-again, off-again market since 1909. Quality Grocery is at 701 E. Lane St. Not much on their Facebook page, but if you want to keep up with them you might want to “Like” them here.
Wake County Restaurant News 
  • After 10 years, Dean Ogan is changing the concept of Twisted Fork with a reinvented menu and dining concept. The new menu, which focuses on a fun and fresh dining experience, will highlight your favorite American foods in a fun way. They are set to close the doors on Sunday, Oct. 13 and will reopen to the public on Wednesday, Oct. 23. And don’t worry, chef Richard Smith will still be there whipping up his amazing desserts! Get all the details here.
  • And the Quay (aka Fuquay Varina) is days away (they are shooting for October 18th) from the opening of Hosanna Brewery and Brew Pub located on North Main Street. Check them out on Facebook here and their main site here.
  • The Hibernian Pub over in Cary is celebrating 10 years with an event this Saturday, October 12 from 12-5 with authentic Irish cuisine, various beers on tap, live music and lots of giveaways. Stop by and get all the details here.
  • The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that a new TCBY opened at the Shoppes of Kildaire shopping center in Cary, marking the first TCBY location in Wake County. The shop will hold a grand opening from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. this Saturday at 1369 Kildaire Farm Road. Get more information on them here.
  • The News & Observer reported this morning that Cilantro Indian Café is coming into Cary’s MacGregor Village. It will be an Indian take-out restaurant and convenience store.
  • And one more bit of Cary news, several media outlets reported this week that Taco Mac Sports Grill is coming to Waverly Place. Get a sneak peek at them here.
  • This is not Wake County, but Smithfield is about to get a new brewery – Double Barley Brewery. They are holding their grand opening on October 12th with plenty of beer, giveaways, food and music. The VIP Hour ($50) is from 3-4 p.m. (only 50 tickets) with everyone else joining the fun at 4. Get more details here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  • Thanks to the observant eyes of our friends over at eatRaleigh, they scooped the news that food truck Baguettaboutit is planning a brick and mortar location in RTP in the former Worth It Café location near the intersection of T.W. Alexander and Miami Blvd. No word yet on an open date, so we’ll keep an eye on it. Check them out here.
  • The students over at UNC-CH will have a little extra help with studying in about a month when Franklin Street welcomes it’s newest tenant in Insomnia Cookies, according to The Daily Tar Heel. And as the name suggests, they will be serving up warm cookies and milk, ice cream, brownies and cookie cakes, among other things. Sounds delicious! Check them out here.
Closings 
  • We got word this week from a reader that Vinny’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria over in Chapel Hill’s Eastgate Shopping Center has closed (I told you they should have never kicked out Sal’s!).
  • The Herald Sun is reporting that after seven years in business on North Roxboro Road, the Eno River Eatery will close Sunday. What is even more disappointing than that is the fact that construction of a new crappy fast food chain will take it’s place. There are hints that they might re-open in a new location, so we’ll keep an eye on it.
Food Trucks 
  • Who would have thought you’d have food trucks at a major golfing event. But that is exactly what we have (and open to the public) at the SAS Championship on Friday Oct. 11 at Prestonwood Country Club. Food trucks in attendance will include: American Meltdown, Pie Pushers, Chirba Chirba, Sweet Traditions and Chick-N-Que. The trucks will start serving food at 4 p.m. Parking for the SAS Championship and Food Truck Friday is free of charge and located at Bond Park. Complimentary shuttle busses will bring spectators and families to and from the parking area. Get information on parking here.
  • This is kind of cool – but what else would you expect from the folks over at Rebus Works in downtown Raleigh. This Saturday, October 12, they are doing a pairing dinner of sorts where they will be “pairing” six different food trucks with 6 different New Belgium beers. The event takes place from noon until 4 p.m. Rebus Works is located at 301 Kinsey Street in Raleigh. Get more details here.
  • Sunday, October 13th will be the 4th and final Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of 2013. This one will move back to daytime hours (12-5) and will feature over 50 trucks along 10 city blocks of Fayetteville Street. Get all the details here.
  • If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They’ll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today.
  • Here is a good “cause” to get behind. The good folks behind KoKyu have launched a Kickstarter Campaign for a brick and mortar location! Sign up here through Halloween to be on their mailing list for their campaign.
Events
  • And this is the weekend for the annual TerraVITA food and wine event which runs through Saturday. The highlight of the three-day event is the Grand Tasting on the Green held at the Green in Southern Village in Chapel Hill. Sample delicious food alongside more than 100 sustainably produced beverages from around the globe. Tickets are $65 with alcoholic beverages and $50 without. Get all the details here.
  • According to WRAL, North Hills will be the site of the Midtown Barbecue, Bluegrass and Brew this Saturday. There will be a barbecue sauce contest, a pie eating contest and local craft beer samples. Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at the door. Children 10 and under get in for $5. VIP tickets are $30 and get you access to a special VIP tent with free wine, snacks and reserved seating. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Diabetes Management Solutions. Buy tickets and get more information here.
  • On Wednesday, October 23, Watts Grocery is teaming up with Four Leaf Farm & Bluebird Meadow to host the Farm to Fork Wine Dinner. Guests will enjoy a five-course meal paired with wines by Drew of the Hope Valley Bottle Shop. Cocktails begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by dinner. Tickets are $55 (tax and gratuity not included) and can be purchased by calling Watts Grocery at 919-416-5040.
  • The Garner Rotary Club will host the ninth annual Garner Rotary Club Oyster Fest on Oct. 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Fidelity Business Park. For $25, patrons will enjoy an all-you-can-eat affair catered by 42nd Street Oyster Bar of Raleigh. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or in advance from a member of the Garner Rotary Club or at the Garner Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit here.
  • Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern has partnered with Hal Parson and Danielle Centeno of Escazu Artisan Chocolates for their next Meet the Maker Dinner on October 24th. This unique event will feature their first-ever guest chef, Danielle Centeno, who will be preparing one of the five courses for this evening. The cost is $50 per person, $65 per person with wine pairings and it begins at 6:30 pm. Get more details here.
  • The annual Red & White Food and Beverage Festival is coming up on Tuesday, October 29th from 6-9 pm at The State Club in Raleigh. The event features NC State alumni who are chefs or are otherwise involved with restaurants, farms, breweries, alcoholic beverage companies and/or wineries. Ticket proceeds support Wine to Water. And as a perk, all Triangle Food Guy friends will get $5 off admission by entering “trifoodguy” at checkout. See, it pays to ready my stuff! Get all the details here.
  • Here is another great foodie event to get on your calendar – the March of Dimes Triangle Signature Chefs Auction on November 17 at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. Attendees will be able to sample signature dishes from top chefs from around the Triangle while bidding on great auction items/packages during our silent and live auctions.  Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner   
  • In its third year, the Creative Food Drive will be on Saturday, October 19, from 3-7 pm on the North Quad at American Tobacco Campus. C.F.D. is a food drive competition/community festival where local businesses and organizations raise non-perishable food items and design and build a sculpture in a competition of epic proportions. All of the food is donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and Durham nonprofit Housing for New Hope. Also, during and after the build, there’s a whole community festival going on, with live music, food trucks, beer from local breweries and a kids zone with pumpkin painting and a bouncy castle. It’s a pretty sweet way to spend a Saturday afternoon, so bring your folding chairs and enjoy the festivities. Get all the details here.

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July 19, 2013 · 5:23 pm

Friday Fun Food Facts – July 19, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
  •  They are back! In August 2012 we reported the sad news that the popular food truck Will & Pop’s was ceasing operations…but only temporarily. Well, look for their much-anticipated return on July 28th at Full Steam Brewery from 11 am until 6 pm. On their Facebook page they noted that, “”We’re back with all new menu and new staff. Same great Will and Pop’s, ready to fill your bellies!” See for yourself here.
Wake County Restaurant News 
  • Downtown Raleigh is going to get another brewery on July 29th when Crank Arm Brewery starts slinging their first craft brews. The brewery is located on Davie Street in the heart of the warehouse district. Get all the details here.
  • And if that is not enough beer for downtown Raleigh, the folks over at New Raleigh turned us onto another micro-brewery headed our way – Union Square Brewery. No word yet on an open date, but they are having a “tasting” of sorts on August 24th. Keep up with them on their Facebook page here.
  • Karyn Rivera (a Triangle Food Guy client) provided me with a quick update on new openings over at Park West Village in Morrisville. She noted that Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is now hiring (which means the opening is very close). She also noted signs up for Wine Guys Bistro & Bar as well as Big Daddy’s Burgers. Lots going on over there.
Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 
  •  The former J&J’s Deli in Chapel Hill’s Timberlyne Shopping Center will have a new tenant in about a month according to the Herald Sun. The Pita Grill will take over that space and will offer a menu with a more Mediterranean flair with gyros, salads and wraps. We’ll keep an eye on it.
  • A Yelp reader noted that The Roxy over in Durham was closing. According to their Facebook page, it is now going through a 4-6 week transformation and will re-open as Triangle Pint & Plate as they have partnered up with the folks over at Triangle Brewing Company. We’ll keep an eye on it.
  • My good friend Lisa Reichle informed me of something that could probably only happen in Chapel Hill. The former Hot Dogs & Brew location on Franklin Street has closed and will reopen as Hummus Café. Could these two concepts be any more opposite? Hummus Café touts itself as the “Home of the Falafel and Shawarma” and will also serve up gyros and paninis. We’ll keep an eye on it.
  • We have an update on Skewers Bar & Grill thanks to the folks over at the Herald Sun. Skewers will be a new variation of The Bread & Kabob and will remain at 1013 W. Main Street in Durham. The concept is shooting for an August opening.
  • According to the Herald Sun, the Phoenix Bakery has opened in downtown Pittsboro and is serving pastries throughout the day (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), according to owner Jodi Hackney. She is also working on getting a high-end cake service up and running, and expects that to happen in the next few weeks. The bakery is located at 84 Hillsboro St. Check them out on Facebook here.
Closings      
  • Thanks to a tip from reader Jillian Warren (and I confirmed by stopping by), the Bavarian Brathaus on Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham has closed their doors. Warren spoke with someone there on her last visit and they indicated they were hoping to find a space in North Raleigh. We’ll keep an eye on it.
Food Trucks 
  • One of the largest food truck events in the area is hosting its third (in a series of four) event on August 11th. The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo will change things up a little bit for this one. Unlike the previous two (which were held from 12-5), this one will be held from 4 until 9 pm. Love it! Check out all the details here.
  • If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They’ll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today.
Events
  • Looking for a good “foodie” event this weekend? Check out the Taste of Moore Square and City Market event this Saturday, July 20th from noon until 8 pm in downtown Raleigh. The event will pack in family fun, food, beer, wine and music – a little something for everyone. Participating restaurants include Tir Na nOg Irish Pub, Bida Monda Laotian Restaurant, Battistella’s New Orleans Restaurant, Woody’s American Sports Bar, Vic’s Italian Restaurant and Zydeco. Get all the details here.
  • Tickets are on sale now for TerraVITA Food & Wine Event scheduled for October 10-12, 2013 over in Chapel Hill. This is one of the Triangle’s “can’t miss” food events. Get your tickets today here. And get more information on the event here.
  • Not to be shown up by Durham, the Raleigh version of Dishcrawl, which puts on restaurant crawls, is hosting a Moore Square eating tour on July 24. RiAnica Allen-Jones says they will partner with four independent restaurants. Tickets are $45. Get more details here.
  • Also on July 24th, Guglhuph over in Durham is hosting another one of their Specialty Dinners beginning at 7 pm. This one will feature pasture-raised pork from Green Button Farm in Bahama and beer from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. The cost is $55 and reservations can be made here.
  • Here is a fun event that my buddy John Huisman told me about. Put on by Larry’s Beans and Foundations, it is called “The Hard Coffee Throwdown” and on July 26th it will pit bartenders and barista’s against each other coming up with the best concoctions. And here’s the best part – you decide who the winners are…that is, if you attend! Get all the details here. Register for the event here.
  • Curt Johnson and his team over at the Carolina Railhawks are bringing back the popular Taste of the Triangle event on Saturday, August 3rd. The event begins at 5 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. match against FC Edmonton. Food and “futbol” – does life get any better? The cost for unlimited samples from local restaurants and breweries is just $15. Get more information on the event here and purchase tickets here.
  • The fifth annual Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week will happen this year from August 19-25th. Mark your calendars now. You know the drill by now, but in case you forgot or are new to this event, restaurants feature 3 course prix-fixe dinners for $20 or $30 all week. It is a great chance to check out some new restaurants, or visit your old favorite! Check out their new site here for all the details.
  • Here is an event you probably want to get on your calendar – the Wide Open Bluegrass festival September 27 & 28 at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater. In addition to the amazing music line-up (with Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickel) there is a massive two-day street festival which will be highlighted by the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship. Get all the details here.
  • Thanks to a tip from the News & Observer, we learned that the World Beer Festival returns to Durham on Oct. 5 in a new location: the old Durham Athletic Park. Tickets went on sale this past Thursday for All About Beer magazine subscribers who get the coveted first chance to get VIP passes that typically sell out in the pre-sale days. Tickets go on sale to the general public July 24 at 10 a.m. The event will feature two sessions: an afternoon tasting from noon to 4 p.m. and an evening tasting 6-10 p.m. General admission is $45 and VIP tickets — with a food buffet, special beers and a private hospitality area — are $75. Get all the details here.
Food Bank Corner   
  • The West 94th St. Pub in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in Durham is holding a “Grill Master Cook-Off Competition” on July 27 to raise money for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. Contestants will be required to cook chicken and corn on-site with their own seasonings and spices. There is an optional bonus category in which contestants grill their own specialty items. For information or to get involved, call 919-403-0025 or send an email to [email protected].

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