Friday Fun Food Facts – May 5, 2023

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

Featured Restaurant News

  • And then there were three…four. Well, depends on how you look at it. Three if you are counting how many Pickled Onions there are in the Triangle now. Four, if you include their sister establishment, The Pickled Pub. But what is certain is there is a great new dining option right about where Raleigh, Wake Forest and Rolesville intersect at 8440 Louisburg Road in the Forestville Crossing shopping center (think Lowe’s grocery store). It feels just like their other locations, but what will be unique about this location will be the addition of a huge outdoor courtyard area (isn’t open yet) that will feature an outside bar and kitchen and plenty of picnic tables situated under a canopy of beautiful trees. We will keep you updated as to when that part opens, but for now, check out the new Pickled Onion location. See it here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • We got word this week that the European inspired coffee house Press Coffee, Cocktails & Crepes will open its third location at the 400H mixed-use tower in downtown Raleigh (400 Hillsborough Street at the corner with West Street), serving high-quality coffee and cocktail beverages, along with a rotating menu of food offerings. After revitalizing downtown Graham with its opening in 2016, Press opened a second location in downtown Durham’s American Tobacco in 2021 with immediate success. Press was named Best New Restaurant in Indy Week, Durham Magazine, and Yelp and was chosen an ideal brunch location in Durham by Southern Living Magazine. Press is planned to open this coming winter. Check them out here.
  • Reader Lauren LaPlante passed along information she saw on RalToday announcing that Jeni’s Scoop Shop in the Village District should be opening in two weeks. Jeni’s has over 60 branded ‘scoop shops’ nationally, and one other one here in the Triangle – at Durham’s Brightleaf Square. Get to know Jeni’s here.
  • Over in Apex, we got word this week that Mezcalito Grill opened its fourth location in the area (sixth overall), this one in Green Level Market at 3675 Green Level West. Locally, they have other locations in Clayton, Henderson and Durham. Get familiar with this concept here.
  • Over in Garner, Garner Biz shared on Facebook that Mia Bistro has opened at 1227 Timber Drive East in Garner. They are serving up all the delicate flavors of Thai cuisine. Sounds like a great addition to Garner. Get to know them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • The folks over at Bites of Bull City shared the news that a former arcade hall in downtown Durham has been transformed into a hip cocktail bar called Glori. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until midnight. They are located in the bottom of the Kress building at 101 W. Main Street. Check them out on Instagram here.
  • And down in Chatham County, Pittsboro to be exact, Pittsboro Eats shared on Facebook that Havoc Brewing Company opened this past weekend at 39 West St. (just off the circle). Their mission is simple: make great beer. Cheers! Get familiar with them here.

Closings

  • Nothing to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

  • The next Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is June 11 from 12-4 p.m. Get out your calendar and make note of the dates for the rest of the 2023 Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeos. September 3 | October 29 – and all the rodeos are from 12-4 p.m. Giddyup! Here is the link.
  • 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 37th Annual Ham & Yam Festival in downtown Smithfield is this Saturday, May 6th. It has grown into a celebration of the agricultural products that Smithfield and Johnston County are known for with live music, country ham biscuits, and sweetpotatoes galore! And for the record according to their website: By the way, just to be 100% correct the sweetpotato grown in Johnston County (and you will find at the festival) is not really a “YAM”.  But Yam rhymes with Ham…so it has been in the festival name for over 35 years. Get all the details here.
  • Also this Saturday (May 6th) is the 42nd Annual Apex PeakFest in downtown Apex celebrating the “Peak of Good Living.” Salem Street in historic downtown Apex will come alive with music all day, artist of every kind (jewelry, pottery, watercolor and acrylic), entertainment for the kids, food that you would find at the fair, and so much more! Get all the details here.
  • Over in downtown Wake Forest, they will hold their Meet in the Street this Saturday (May 6th) which is a community street festival hosted by the Wake Forest Area Chamber. The festival features more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, live music throughout the day, dozens of food trucks, and many activities for children. Get all the details here.
  • Also on Saturday, May 6th, the town of Cary will hold their Fest in the West at the USA Baseball Training Complex/Thomas Brooks Park (200 Brooks Park Ln.). The event features two stages of entertainment, a 7 truck food truck rodeo, a beer garden and a FREE Kids Corral with activities for families, not to mention an adorable Petting Zoo. Get all the details here.
  • And one more event for this weekend. We saw in Indy Week that after a 3-year pandemic hiatus, the Durham Greek Festival returns this Saturday and Sunday (May 6th and 7th) beginning at 11 a.m. at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church (8306 NC Highway 751, Durham)! Look to enjoy fabulous authentic Greek food and scrumptious desserts for dining under their large covered tent or for take-out. Admission is free! Get all the details here.
  • Just a quick reminder that Black Restaurant Week will run through this Sunday, May 7. This is the third time the campaign has visited the Carolinas. The week will highlight Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, sweets, and more. Find participants in our area.
  • Here is a great Mother’s Day idea for you — Mother’s Day Tea at the NC Museum of Art Café from May 12th through the 14th. This “Afternoon Tea” experience features a pre-fixe menu including savory canapes, finger sandwiches and inspired patisserie. Premium teas or coffee included. Plan on 1 – 1/2 hours based on party size. Note gluten free or vegan in special request. Recommended party size 2, 4 or 6. Make your reservations here.
  • Join Vino!! Wine Shop for the Pittsboro Wine Fest on Sun, May 21, 2-4pm at Postal Fish Company. There will be eleven wine vendors pouring 40+ wines from around the globe. The entry fee gets you a taste of all these fabulous wines, a spread of delectable food catered by Postal Fish Company, live music from the local band “Radio”, and door prizes. The food and lineup will be announced closer to the date of the festival. Get all the details here.
  • Got word from Neha Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau, that Farm to Fork is making its return in 2023 on June 4th from 4-7 p.m. at Fearrington Village. Held in the Triangle for more than 15 years, the Farm to Fork Picnic is a showcase of North Carolina chefs, artisans, and farmers paired together to create sips and nibbles of the region’s best flavors and seasonal ingredients! You can get tickets and all the details here
  • Tickets are on sale now for NC F&B Podcast’s 3rd Bubbles & Brisket at Smoky Hollow scheduled for Saturday, June 3rd from 2-6 p.m. The event features 10 BBQ pit-master chefs and an array of sparkling beverages. With the purchase of a ticket, guests will enjoy various styles of brisket and side dishes prepared by the best talent in the state, along with sampling multiple styles of sparkling wine from around the world. Get tickets here.
  • Friend Kitty Kinnin reminded me that tickets are now available for the 5th Roots for Reece Chef’s Picnic being held on June 11th from 3-7 p.m. at Haven Farm in Knightdale. At the event you will be able to sample small plates and beverages from over 25 local food and beverage establishments. Check out this list: Longleaf Swine BBQ; Glass House Kitchen; Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing; The Umstead Hotel and Spa; Craften Neighborhood Food & Drink; Postal Fish Company; Under The Oak Catering; Locals Seafood; Mebane Crafted; Cucciolo Terrazza Raleigh; Viv’s Fridge; Jolie Restaurant; Elevated Catering Company; Layered Croissanterie; Native Fine Diner; ORO Restaurant & Lounge; Lawrence Barbecue; Leroys Taco Shop; William & Company; Revival 1869 – A Drinkery; Trophy Brewing Company; Umbrella Dry Bar; Deep River Brewing Company; and Double Barley Brewing. All proceeds go to the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, which saves lives through education and prevention of opiate overdose. Visit the site here to get your tickets.

Food Bank Corner

  • We are ready to celebrate once again Stamp Out Hunger. On Saturday May 13th, the public is asked to place bags filled with nonperishable food items next to their mailbox. A Letter Carrier will then collect the donations and take them back to their postal branch where Food Bank volunteers and staff will be on-site to unload the postal trucks. If you would like to volunteer to help, do so here. #noonegoeshungry

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Friday Fun Food Facts – April 28, 2023

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

Featured Restaurant News

  • Alright folks, need you to do a couple of things. First, clear out a ton of space in your freezer. After that, head down to Boulted Bread between now and Sunday and load up on all your favorite baked goods. Why? Well, they are moving to a new, larger location on DuPont Circle, just a few blocks away from their current location..which means they will be closed for a week or two during the transition. Their last day at 614 W. South St. is this Sunday. They are open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. for the next three days, but get there early because once they are sold out, they are sold out. You have been warned! We will miss the spot on South Street, but look forward to their larger space, and continued success, just a few blocks away. Visit Boulted here and get updates on their progress/transition on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • A quick update in downtown Raleigh. Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar will reopen after being closed since Saturday, March 25, due to an electrical fire in the kitchen. Owner Samad Hachby took the unplanned downtime while repairs and inspections were being completed to refresh the downtown Raleigh eatery. Look for them to open next Tuesday, May 2nd. Get your reservations in now!
  • Speaking of returns…The original owners of Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ on Oberlin Road in Raleigh, Eric and Jesse Reyes, have returned after a two month hiatus. They will be celebrating with a grand reopening with $2 all-beef jumbo hot dogs on Monday, May 1st. They also have a secret menu that is visible only when you download the app. It’s great for the community to have Eric and Jesse back! Check out Crave here.
  • And it looks like Raleigh is going to land the first east coast location of Seattle’s CaliBurger. Reader Tyler Glover tipped us off to the fact that there is a “coming soon” sign at the old Arby’s on Hillsborough Street (3415 Hillsborough St). No word on a timeline. Get to know them here.
  • Over in Cary, a new development in downtown on E. Chatham Street is nearing completion and the Triangle Business Journal shared this week that one of the tenants in Rogers East and Rogers West buildings will be Sono Sushi. This will be their second location of the popular Japanese spot which also has a location in Downtown Raleigh. Visit Sono here.
  • David McCreary shared that downtown Apex is close to welcoming Neat & Sweet, a cocktail and dessert lounge situated right next to the popular Scratch Kitchen & Taproom (the same owners are branching out once again). Get ready for inventive handcrafted drinks alongside fondue, crepes and more. The owners hope to open the doors in May. Stay tuned for more details.
  • Over in Fuquay-Varina, the folks behind Today in the Quay shared that a new concept called SupaBowlz Cafe is coming soon. They are a a fast, casual, healthy option restaurant, specializing in acai bowls, coconut bowls, pitaya bowls, oatmeal bowls, poke bowls, wraps, salads and smoothies. They will be located at 411 Broad Street where Tsuru Sweets used to be. Follow their progress on Facebook here.
  • Today in the Quay also shared that their neighbor, Angier, is getting a steakhouse – Harvey Johns Steakhouse. It will be located at 1501 N. Raleigh Street. The restaurant is expected to open by the end of September at the latest, hopefully sooner according to owner Scott Harvey. Thanks to the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal for additional details. Keep up with their progress on Facebook here.
  • A bit of airport food news this week in the Triangle Business Journal. The new additions out at RDU include: Adios!, by local chef Oscar Diaz; Cary’s Bond Brothers Taproom & Kitchen; Raleigh’s Bongiorno and Son; Butcher’s Burger & Bar; Conniption Cocktail Bar, developed in partnership with Durham Distillery; Dunkin’, Half Moon Empanadas; and Guy’s Pizza Joint by Guy Fieri. Additionally, Durham’s Beyú Caffé will open in both terminals later this year, Black & White Coffee Roasters, which already has three locations in Wake County, and concepts from local chef Scott Crawford, are coming to Terminal 2 Marketplace and on the C Concourse.
  • And speaking of the airport, RalToday shared the news that we are getting a three-story gas station called RDU Galleria (1550 Aviation Pkwy). But that doesn’t really concern us here on this food blog. What we are excited about is that it will house a bar with 24 taps, a Gloria Jean’s Coffees cafe, a lounge, a food court with Which Wich, Pizza Hut, Wayback Burgers, an in-house restaurant and an outdoor patio. Look for them to open in the next two weeks. Nothing much on their website as of yet.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Durham Magazine shared that Flying Bull Beer Company has announced they are opening a second location with craft beer, cocktails and a full dining menu in the Durham Innovation District near West Village in fall 2023. Visit them here.
  • Durham Magazine also shared that New Jersey-founded acai shop Playa Bowls will open on Ninth Street and offer superfruit bowls, smoothies, coffee and more. This will be the second North Carolina location, with the first located in Wilmington. No word on an open date. Get to know Playa here.
  • If you haven’t checked out one of Viv’s Fridges yet, either of the next two Saturdays might be a great opportunity to do so…as you will also get to meet Vivian Howard herself! She will be serving samples of her latest fare from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Wine Authorities in Durham. If you can’t make that, she will be doing the exact same thing next Saturday, May 6th from noon-1:30 p.m. at Taylor’s Wine Shop in Raleigh. Visit Viv’s Fridge here.

Closings

  • Nothing to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

  • The next Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is June 11 from 12-4 p.m. Get out your calendar and make note of the dates for the rest of the 2023 Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeos. September 3 | October 29 – and all the rodeos are from 12-4 p.m. Giddyup! Here is the link.
  • 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 folks over at RalToday shared that Black Restaurant Week, founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson, will come to the Triangle Friday, April 28 through Sunday, May 7. This is the third time the campaign has visited the Carolinas. The week will highlight Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, sweets, and more. Find participants in our area.
  • The Wine Feed, with locations in Raleigh and Durham, has some food-focused events coming up. First up, Flights & Bites: A Wine and Food Pairing with Brewery Bhavana on April 30th from 12 – 5pm. This Flights & Bites combines delicious food from Brewery Bhavana with a perfectly paired flight of wine! Get tickets and see the menu here.
  • Hospitality mavens Sarah Shepherd of Height House Hotel and chef Liz Grandchamp of Grandchamp Hospitality recently introduced Raleigh’s newest pop-up dining experience – Supper Club – hosted monthly at Heights House Hotel. They have one more on the schedule and tickets for it “opens up” three weeks prior. Mark your calendars for Supper Club May 22 (Italian American). After this one, Supper Club at Heights House will then resume in the Fall. So get ready! Follow along here and get ready for the next one.
  • Join Vino!! Wine Shop for the Pittsboro Wine Fest on Sun, May 21, 2-4pm at Postal Fish Company. There will be eleven wine vendors pouring 40+ wines from around the globe. The entry fee gets you a taste of all these fabulous wines, a spread of delectable food catered by Postal Fish Company, live music from the local band “Radio”, and door prizes. The food and lineup will be announced closer to the date of the festival. Get all the details here.
  • Got word from Neha Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau, that Farm to Fork is making its return in 2023 on June 4th from 4-7 p.m. at Fearrington Village. Held in the Triangle for more than 15 years, the Farm to Fork Picnic is a showcase of North Carolina chefs, artisans, and farmers paired together to create sips and nibbles of the region’s best flavors and seasonal ingredients! You can get tickets and all the details here.
  • Tickets are on sale now for NC F&B Podcast’s 3rd Bubbles & Brisket at Smoky Hollow scheduled for Saturday, June 3rd from 2-6 p.m. The event features 10 BBQ pit-master chefs and an array of sparkling beverages. With the purchase of a ticket, guests will enjoy various styles of brisket and side dishes prepared by the best talent in the state, along with sampling multiple styles of sparkling wine from around the world. Get tickets here.
  • Friend Kitty Kinnin reminded me that tickets are now available for the 5th Roots for Reece Chef’s Picnic being held on June 11th from 3-7 p.m. at Haven Farm in Knightdale. At the event you will be able to sample small plates and beverages from over 25 local food and beverage establishments. Check out this list: Longleaf Swine BBQ; Glass House Kitchen; Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing; The Umstead Hotel and Spa; Craften Neighborhood Food & Drink; Postal Fish Company; Under The Oak Catering; Locals Seafood; Mebane Crafted; Cucciolo Terrazza Raleigh; Viv’s Fridge; Jolie Restaurant; Elevated Catering Company; Layered Croissanterie; Native Fine Diner; ORO Restaurant & Lounge; Lawrence Barbecue; Leroys Taco Shop; William & Company; Revival 1869 – A Drinkery; Trophy Brewing Company; Umbrella Dry Bar; Deep River Brewing Company; and Double Barley Brewing. All proceeds go to the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, which saves lives through education and prevention of opiate overdose. Visit the site here to get your tickets.

Food Bank Corner

  • Between June 2021 and May 2022, inflation caused a 10.7% increase in food costs in the U.S. For people in our community, making some family’s budget untenable. Your gift today to The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina can support families whose budgets are being stretched because of the rising cost of food and living. There have also been significant increases in fuel, housing, and energy costs because of inflation. This means the average living costs for households in our country are up $460 per month! Your gift today can provide nutritious food for our neighbors in need. Donate here, and thank you! #noonegoeshungry

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