Friday Fun Food Facts – May 16, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

There are three things you need to know about the upcoming (June 23-August 4) Fire in the Triangle chef competition to be held in Raleigh. One, the first round pairings were announced yesterday. Second, the lineup of chefs is crazy good. And three, all the events WILL sell out. Guaranteed. Mark my words. Trust me. Get all the details and tickets here.

Got word from reader John Wall this week that Boulted Bread is now open in Raleigh, at 614 W South Street. Three guys run this place, making craft bread and pastry from house milled heirloom and locally sourced grains. It is pretty simple, you order in advance via email and pick your bread up at the bakery on Wednesdays or Fridays. Get all the details here.

The News & Observer reported this week that Full Moon Oyster Bar, a small North Carolina chain with locations in Clemmons and Southern Pines, has announced plans to open a location in Morrisville in the Park West Village complex at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Cary Parkway. This will be the first in the Triangle. Full Moon Oyster Bar is expected to open in late August or early September. In the meantime, check them out here.

Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint will be opening its first make-your-own pizza restaurant in the Triangle. Partners Andrew Madans and Talie Madans have plans to open three Triangle locations, starting with Raleigh. A specific location has not been announced yet. Get a peek at them here.

Our friends over at New Raleigh tweeted this week that Five Star is now serving lunch Monday through Friday in the Warehouse District in downtown Raleigh. Check them out here.

Anticipation continues to build as Ed Mitchell’s Que gets closer and closer to opening. Last week the full menu made its way onto the website and hints at announcing an opening date appeared. But no date has been officially announced yet. Stay tuned. Get your mouth watering by checking out his site here.

And we were able to confirm this week that Olio and Aceto Food Truck (Suzie & Megan) will be taking over the space in Chapel Hill formerly occupied by Tracy’s New York Deli on Elliott Road. They are shooting for an early July opening. Learn more about them here.

Grounds coffee shop in Cary is closing their doors and will hold a closing celebration this Saturday (May 17) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And Ox and Rabbit Soda and Sundries on Durham’s Ninth Street has closed but will be having a thank you/farewell party on Saturday, May 24. Get more details on their Facebook page here.

Food trucks will gather today (Friday, May 16) for the 2nd Annual RegEd Food Truck Rodeo for lunch and games from 11am-2pm at 2100 Gateway Centre Blvd. in Morrisville. Gussy’s Greek, Chick-N-Que, Stuft and LadyBug’s Desserts will be there. All game proceeds and a portion of food sales will benefit The Relay for Life. Get more details here.

The Meals on Wheels Food Truck Fest is this Saturday, May 17th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Durham Central Park pavilion. There will be live music, silent auction, cakewalk, cornhole tournament and local beer/food for purchase from Chick-N-Que, Parle-vous Crepe, Only Burger, Valentino’s and Fullsteam. All the details are here.

Fairview Garden Center’s second annual Flora and Food Trucks Spring Series will conclude this Saturday, May 17th (trucks – 11 – 2) with one more event. 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.

Want to mix great theater with great food trucks? Well the food trucks will be present at the Raleigh Little Theatre Amphitheatre later this month, as Bare Theatre, Cirque du Vol and Raleigh Little Theatre present their outdoor production of “Two Noble Kinsmen: Fire & Shadows”. Click here for a complete listing of which trucks will be present on which nights.

The annual Got To Be NC Festival will take place this weekend at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The event is a festival highlighting all the great things from North Carolina. Most of the festival is free with a few exceptions including the $2 Wine and Food Expo. Get all the details here.

Client Karyn Joy Rivera reminded me that the 35th annual Artsplosure Festival is this Saturday and Sunday in downtown Raleigh. Lots to see and do and buy and eat! Get all the details here.

The 10th annual Tour D’Coop is this Saturday, May 17. And as part of this year’s event, the first-ever “Coop Carnival” will also take place at Urban Ministries with food trucks, local beer and fun activities. Here is more information on the Coop Carnival.

The 2nd Annual East Meets West food and performance festival celebrating Morrisville’s diverse community is this 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 this 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.

Kick off the summer right with a clambake, cold craft beer, live music, local art, and a Caribbean-style seafood feast. NC Fresh Catch Raleigh returns to Moore Square Saturday, June 7th from 1-7pm, packing the park with day-long entertainment and authentic island flair. Get all the details 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.

Help the Food Bank kick off their Stop Summer Hunger Campaign by joining them at The Streets at Southpoint Kickoff Event on May 31. There will be activities for the whole family! Check out a can structure made by Cisco and learn how to make your own with the “Bailey’s Kids Can Build” activity. And remember to bring your cans! They’ll be hosting a Drive Drop & Go Food Drive on Main Street next to Champps from 10 am – 2 pm. This is a great opportunity for you and your family to have fun and support a great cause! See you there! Get more details on this and all Food Bank events here.