TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that P.G. Werth’s Restaurant & Market, the new project of Chef Gregory Hamm, will open for business today. It is located on the ground floor of the 927 W. Morgan apartment building in downtown Raleigh. Hamm is also the proprietor of Cafe 121 in Sanford. Check it out on Facebook here.

Wake County Restaurant News

•  I might need to start a “great reads” section on a weekly basis – especially if Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer keeps turning out these amazing pieces! This time she has penned a terrific article on some of the “other” (i.e. non Ashley Christensen…) wonderful establishments owned by women in Raleigh’s booming food scene. Take the time to read it here.

• A bit of a change-up over in Cary. As you might recall, Bella Mia changed hands right around December, 2012. Now we are getting word that that location has closed and a sign for Ruckus Pizza now hangs in the window. No word yet on the open date for Ruckus. Thanks to readers Christy Tucker and Sarah Armstrong for the initial tips on this. Check out Ruckus here.

• John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) tipped me off to the fact that The Mason Jar Tavern in Holly Springs opened yesterday. They are located at 114 Grand Hill Place. Check them out here.

• Got word from my friend Dana McCall (aka GoGoRaleigh) that the third time might just be the charm. Apparently Chipotle is going into Crossroads Shopping Center in Cary where Salsaritas and Taqueria del Sol were. Looking at early summer.

• Also in Cary, got notice that Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint is set to host their grand opening this Saturday, January 24 with free pizza from 11 until 2. It is located in the Parkside Town Common shopping center. Look for two more locations to open in the Triangle in the next 18 months. Check them out here.

• Reader Hugh Autry informed me via email that the family that started Lane’s Seafood and Steaks down in Angier have decided to reopen the restaurant. Stay tuned. Thanks Hugh!

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  I saw on a Yelp feed that Gonza Taco y Tequila is about two weeks from opening another Triangle area location. With locations already in Wake Forest and Raleigh, they are set now to open in downtown Durham’s West Village development. Check them out here.

• A bit of an update on news we brought you back in April, 2014. The News & Observer is reporting that Ken Yowell, owner of CalaVela Empanada & Tequila Bar in downtown Raleigh, is targeting the first week in February for the opening of a second location in Carrboro in the Hampton Inn building. Although, due to a parting of ways with a business partner, it won’t be called CalaVela. Here is a look at CalaVela to give you an idea.

• And upon getting that operation up and running, Yowell will immediately begin efforts to open in the adjacent space a “meatball” concept similar to his Oak City Meatball Shoppe which is also over in downtown Raleigh. Obviously it won’t be called Oak City, but no word yet on the name (I don’t think Paris of the Piedmont Meatball Shoppe will make the cut). We’ll keep an eye on both of these. Take a peek at Oak City Meatball Shopped to get an idea.

• The Triangle Business Journal noted this week that Durham-based food truck Captain Poncho’s Tacos is opening a restaurant in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village and that they are targeting an opening date of Feb. 15. Check them out here.

• On Saturday, January 24th, Smallckakes will hold their grand opening celebration. Details here.

Closings 

• Rebecca Calhoun brought it to my attention this week that Taqueria Americana at Lafayette Village has closed. But it seems they might be reopening in another space. We will keep an eye on it.

• Got word this week that the Five Guys Burgers in the food court at Streets at Southpoint has closed.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Our friends over at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina are coming off a very big year in 2014 (read about it here). But the need is even bigger and their work is even more meaningful. So how can you help? Have you ever considered hosting a food drive at your office? They make it as easy as pie. Click here for a step-by-step “guide” to hosting a food drive in your office.

• Got word from a couple of sources this past week that Cary is now home to a wonderful new Indian restaurant called Peacock. Located at 2250 Gathering Park Circle in the former Café Capistrano space, they feature simple Indian comfort food. Check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• In September of last year we told you about the changes coming to the 501 Building on Glenwood South. The Triangle Business Journal provided us with an update this week – Raleigh restaurateurs Vincent Barresi and Christopher Bender will open Big Boom later next month, or early March in the space formerly occupied by Red Room.

• We got word this week that the former Pasta Tuscan Grille has completed its transition into a Southern eatery and gastropub called Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen in the Raleigh Marriott City Center, and is now open. Check them out here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported that Red Hot & Blue is opening soon in Cary’s Waverly Place, in the same site it was previously located at 325 New Waverly Place. At this point, all we know is that their opening is “just around the corner” according to their Facebook page. You can check out their Facebook page here to see the latest.

• The folks at Tupelo Honey, which just opened adjacent to Raleigh’s Cameron Village, are changing things up a bit. This past week they tweaked their menu, and changed the color of their plates! While long-standing, tried-and-true Southern favorites will still be on the menu, the restaurant will introduce several smaller sharable plates and a few new entrees. Check out Tupelo here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  An opening and a grand opening celebration to remind you about over in Durham. Next week (January 20) Eschelon Experiences opens their newest concept – Basan (Japanese/sushi restaurant) in downtown Durham’s Diamond View III building. Details here. And on Saturday, January 24th, Smallckakes will hold their grand opening celebration in the Hope Valley shopping center. Details here.

• And Triangle Business Journal provided a bit of an update on the opening of the Carolina Ale House on West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Originally scheduled to open in the next few months, that opening has been pushed back to the middle or end of 2015. It will be located in the old Yates Motor Company building. Just this past week, Carolina Ale House opened their long-awaited downtown Raleigh location. Check them out here.

Closings 

• None to report. Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner…Is Cancer Corner For a Week    

• I need a favor. First, I promise to get back to the wonderful folks over at The Food Bank next week (they still need your help, so check them out here.) But, I have some dear friends that have a sister that is battling stage 4 incurable lung cancer. She is a mother of four. They are trying to win a viral video contest (need to get 500,000 views) that would award her with $500,000 to help take care of her children when she is gone. If you can spare 2 minutes to watch this video (and share it with your social networks), I would be most appreciative. I am confident we can reach this goal. Here is the video…and thanks in advance. Cancer sucks!