Friday Fun Food Facts – March 28, 2014

•  We begin this week with news out of Durham. The Herald Sun is reporting that Scott Howell, owner of Nana’s and nearby NanaTaco (both on University Drive), is “awfully close” to signing a lease for a new restaurant called NanaSteak. No word yet on the location nor the timing. You can bet we’ll keep an eye on this one. Check out Nana’s here and NanaTaco here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• The legendary Clyde Cooper’s BBQ will serve up their last meal in their current location on March 29th – that’s tomorrow – before the move to their new location right around the corner (327 S. Wilmington St). Most of the booths and interior items will have already made their way to the new location, which is aiming to open on April 9th. Visit Cooper’s here.

• It’s official. Chubby’s Tacos owner Jody Lytton has chosen Guacamaya as the new name of his 5 Triangle area locations of Chubby’s Tacos. The change was prompted by his discovery that the “Chubby’s” name was already trademarked in Colorado. Check them out here.

• In other changes, the News & Observer reported this morning that Edible Art Bakery & Dessert Café, which has been around since 1982, is moving from 3801 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh to the Main District at North Hills this fall. Check them out here.

• Got word this week that City Barbecue has set April 12 at 11 a.m. as their grand opening in this market at 1305 Kildaire Farm Road in Cary. This is the first North Carolina location for the Ohio-based chain. Get more details here.

• David McCreary (aka Lunch Boy Says) tells us that down in Fuquay-Varina, Tom McGrath and Cory Ellsworth have joined forces to open Wingin’ It Bar and Grille at 1625 N. Main Street. McGrath is also proprietor of popular Fuquay pizzeria Assaggio’s Ristorante. Check out their Facebook page here.

• Our friends at the North Raleigh location of Neomonde are about to make Wednesday your new favorite day of the week with their “Wine & Dine” evening with 1/2 price bottles of wine of your choosing and a $5 sampling mezza plate. It begins April 16th. Check them out here.

• Saw this week on a Yelp message board that a Taqueria Americana will move into the former Henry’s Gelato location in Lafayette Village. No word yet on an open date.

• Also on a Yelp message board, we heard about Bittersweet, a dessert and cocktail lounge with an all-natural, seasonal menu, is coming to downtown Raleigh. Should be opening very, very soon. Check them out here.

• And back on March 14th we told you about Hungry Howie’s coming to Cary at 1904 NW Maynard Road (between the Starbucks and Jimmy Johns). This morning the News & Observer reported that they will officially open on April 2nd. All three Triangle locations are owned by Daniel Satut. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• Drove by the former Doc Greene’s location last week only to notice that Chef Jason Smith had opened his third restaurant Harvest 18 (18 Seaboard and Cantina 18 – both in Raleigh – are his other award-winning establishments). Check out Harvest 18 here.

• Things are getting ready to get real interesting on the West end of Franklin Street in Chapel Hill where Carolina Ale House owner Lou Moshakos will open his 14th North Carolina location (21 total throughout the Southeast). The location is in the former Chrysler-Plymouth dealership building, almost directly across from Carolina Brewery. Look for the remodeling to be complete in roughly one year. Check our Carolina Ale House here.

• Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse, which had their soft opening in January, will be hosting a grand opening with the entire community on Friday, April 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. This after-work event will include free food, festive music and $2 drink specials and more. If you’d like to attend, simply email them here. Check out Gregoria’s here.

• By now I’m certain you’ve heard all the rave reviews about One Restaurant over in Chapel Hill. Now is the time to recognize Kim Floresca & Daniel Ryan by voting for them as the South East’s best new chef(s) here.

• We also got word this week that the Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market will move to the opposite side of University Mall beginning this week (next to Wells Fargo). Check them out here.

Closings 

• We first heard the news that Fat Daddy’s in Raleigh was closing up after 29 years from reader Jeff Roberts. It didn’t take long for the social media world to “light up” on this one. Their last day is this Sunday. Good luck trying to get in.

• We also got word this week from David McCreary that Taqueria del Sol will be closing their doors at the Cary location this Sunday, March 30th at 9 p.m.

Food Trucks 

• It is here – the Beer and Bacon Festival is this Saturday – March 29th – at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheater featuring at least 75 craft beers and 10 varieties of bacon. The event is from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.

• And if you know you are going to feel guilty for eating all that bacon and “sampling” so much beer, you might consider taking part in Sola Café’s 1st Annual Sola Run/Walk and Fun Run on Saturday March 29th at 7:30 a.m. The goal of the event is to support our troops and their families by Remembering Freedom’s Costs. All proceeds go to the USO of North Carolina. Register here.

• Get your tickets now for Serving Up Spring, a pop-up brunch benefit at HQ Raleigh’s new space at 310 S Harrington Street in Raleigh on Sunday, March 30. Enjoy a selection of crepes, fried chicken, potato salad, pastries, coffee and juice from Coffee & Crepes, Smithfield’s Chicken & BBQ and more. Online registration required. Dine anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Stay to relax and socialize or just stop in for a quick bite. Get your tickets here.

• Wake Technical Community College will host their annual Culinary Arts Showcase on Tuesday, April 1st from 4-7 p.m. at the Raleigh Convention Center. Tickets are just $8 in advance. Get all the details here.

• And if beer is your thing, the World Beer Festival in Raleigh is on April 5th with two sessions to purchase tickets for. The festival presents you with the opportunity to sample from over 250 craft and specialty beers from around the world – they just announced all the participants. Oh, and there is food to help soak it up a little. cliquez simplement sur le pilemeds.com message à venir Get the list of participants and all the details here.

• On the evening of April 6th, downtown Raleigh’s Café Helios will be converted into a pop-up Japanese noodle restaurant called The Lucky. Matthew Bettinger and Zach Neuman’s concept is simple: A casual spot that offers counter-service of hot ramen noodles cooked in a pork-based broth. The Lucky is the first of six pop-up events, with each being its own entity. The next one will be at least a month after The Lucky. Everything begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until the noodles run out!

• The Great Grapes! Wine & Food Festival will be held April 12th from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Get all the details here.

• The 2nd Annual East Meets West food and performance festival celebrating Morrisville’s diverse community will be on Saturday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission to the festival is free, tickets will be available for purchase to buy food, beer and wine. Get all the details here.

• If good food and good movies is your thing, you’ll want to mark your calendar for Fridays in late May and June (May 23rd through June 27th) for a new series being put on in City Plaza in downtown Raleigh. In addition to the movies, there will be local/regional craft beer and food trucks. More details to follow.

Food Bank Corner   

• The Pit’s 6th Annual ‘Cuegrass Festival returns to Raleigh Saturday, April 26, with a jam-packed day full of great food and music, with all proceeds benefiting the Food Bank! Get all the details here.

Freebie!

• And we close with a freebie. Dunkin Donuts couldn’t be anymore perfect with the timing on this one – with the warm weather on the way. Next Monday (March 31) all participating Dunkin’ Donuts will be giving away free 16 oz. cups of double-brewed iced coffee. Drink it straight or add one of eight flavors: French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Toasted Almond, Blueberry, Coconut, Cinnamon, Caramel and Raspberry. Thanks to the News & Observer for the heads up on this one. Find a location near you.