Friday Fun Food Facts – May 2, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

The next big news in downtown Raleigh will be the opening next week of DeMo’s Pizzeria and Deli which is going into the former Bada Bing site at 222 Glenwood Avenue. Look for a May 5th opening! DeMo’s is brought to us by the guys from DeMarco’s up in North Raleigh Check them out here.

According to the News & Observer, the owners of Taste, a tapas and wine bar on Medlin Drive, opened The Oak last week in Raleigh’s Marketplace at Lake Boone complex in the former 618 Bistro space. You can check them out here.

A new Mexican restaurant has opened on Raleigh’s Honeycutt Road (8450 Honeycutt Road to be exact) called Taqueria Americana. Check them out here.

We saw on the blog Raleigh Public Record this week that there is a new restaurant coming into the Greystone Village shopping center called Papa’s Pizza & Subs. They are in the middle of renovations and no open date has been set and we weren’t able to find a website.

Normally this news would just make the pages of any bowling blog (is there such a thing?), but because of their focus on providing a unique dining experience, it is worth noting that Sparians, an upscale bowling alley and restaurant in Raleigh’s North Hills, has changed owners and will rebrand as Kings Bowl America. Get a sneak peek at Kings here.

Got word this week that Menchie’s, a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, has opened in Garner. The store is located at 2636 Timber Drive in the Garner Towne Square.

If you are out in Knightdale, Triangle Business Journal noted that Latitudes Fine Food & Spirits will be opening on Knightdale Boulevard near the water tower. They are looking to open sometime this month, but you can keep up with them on Facebook here.

We’ve noted these before, but it is worth noting again. If you are interested in buying a successful restaurant, both Tony’s Oyster Bar in Cary and the Spotted Dog in Carrboro are for sale. If you have any interest, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Neal DePersia at National Restaurant Properties.

Over in Durham, Café Love will have their “official grand opening” on Monday, May 5th (but they are already open) from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. They are till takeout only – but they have a very nice deck area to enjoy. A huge congratulations to Jane Howard Crutchfield and Matthew Daniels. Check them out the opening details here.

Got word from the Herald Sun this week that Mi Peru (a Peruvian restaurant) will be opening at 4015 University Drive in the space that formerly housed Rick’s Diner, Bear Rock Café and most recently, Fresno Café. No opening date has been posted, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

Also in Durham, WRAL noted last week that Blue Note Grill is moving over near the old Durham Athletic Park. The Triangle Business Journal and the Herald Sun report that it will be located in a two-bay building at 709 and 711 Washington St. The venue will be remodeled into a restaurant with a live music space and outdoor patio. We’ll keep an eye on it.

Over in Chapel Hill, got word from friend Wendy Ransbury that Jersey Mike’s has opened a new location in Chapel Hill North at 1802 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Check them out here.

Got word this week that Ox and Rabbit Soda and Sundries on Durham’s Ninth Street will be closing their doors. They will be having a thank you/farewell party on Saturday, May 24. Get more details on their Facebook page here.

Food Trucks for the Food System will take place tonight (May 2nd) at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market from 6 until 8 p.m. Local vendors and restaurants including American Meltdown, Capt. Poncho’s Tacos, Chirba Chirba, Parlour, and Steel String Brewery will be there! Get all the details here.

Raleigh’s Downtown Food Truck Rodeo season kicks of this Sunday, May 4th from 1 to 6 p.m. with over 50 trucks on Fayetteville Street from the Capitol Building all the way to city plaza. Seating for over 1,000 will also be provided. Get there early to avoid the lines! Get all the details here.

Fairview Garden Center’s second annual Flora and Food Trucks Spring Series will host their next event on May 17th. Get all the details here.

If you are looking for something to do for your father on Father’s Day, take him to Durham’s Central Park for the next Food Truck Rodeo. For those that haven’t marked this on their calendar, Father’s Day is June 15th. Get all the details here.

The Cinco de Mayo “celebration” next week won’t be without lots of dining out options and the News & Observer has you covered with this list of options.

Due to this week’s nasty weather, the opening of the 2014 Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market and Pig Pickin’ Kickoff, was moved to next Wednesday, May 7th, from 10 am-2 pm at City Plaza. Enjoy delicious eastern North Carolina barbecue from The Pit BBQ, a local craft beer tasting from Crank Arm Brewing Co. (a new event feature) and connect with North Carolina’s highest quality growers and food artisans. 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.

They are doing it again – combining great food from area restaurants with the beautiful game! Yes, the Carolina Railhawks will be hosting the 6th Annual Taste of the Triangle on Saturday, May 17th at 5:30 p.m. prior to the 7:30 kickoff vs. the Silverbacks. Tickets to the pre-match event are just $16. Get all the details here.

The dates are set and tickets are already on sale for this year’s edition of Fire in the Triangle. The fun runs from June 23rd through the finale on August 4. Get all the details and tickets here.

And finally, tickets are on sale now for the 2014 Farm to Fork Picnic, which will be held on Sunday, June 8th from 4-7 p.m. The event celebrates local food and local farms and promises food, beverages, live music and fun. Get all the details here.

Our friends over at Cackalacky, Inc. are turning thirteen years young and they will be celebrating by hosting A Super Awesome Cackalacky Happy Fun Time Birthday Party & Oyster Roast at Fullsteam Brewery this Sunday, May 4th at 2 p.m. Get all the details here. The event is absolutely free. However, you are encouraged to bring along a few canned food items to be donated to the nice folks at Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

And mark your calendars for May 10th and support our local food bank for their annual Stamp Out Hunger drive by placing a bag of food by your mailbox and the letter carrier will deliver it to the local post office. Get more information here.