Friday Fun Food Facts – July 18, 2014

•  Just made the announcement yesterday that my corporate catering website has officially moved to an “all local” status (over 60 restaurants and caterers). All of the restaurants and caterers that we work with are locally owned and operated. We are very proud of this (and should have done it sooner). At any rate, to celebrate we did a promotion with our current clients yesterday and we extend it to everyone today. Anyone that places an order today for delivery next week will receive a $20 gift card to any local store of their choice! Order away!

Wake County Restaurant News

•  The News & Observer reported this week that Arken Elhicheri, a veteran restaurateur in the Triangle, has opened Garibaldi Trattoria in the former Daniel’s on Main building in Fuquay-Varina. The menu is 95% Italian (there are a few French dishes) and they are open for lunch and dinner daily. You can check out their Facebook page here.

• Thanks to a tip from John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, we learned that Butcher Block American Grill next to Bella Italia on Durant Rd. in N. Raleigh is now open. Check them out here.

• Got wind of a new restaurant coming into downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station on the local Yelp message board. The Night Kitchen Bakery and Café will be located next to Marigold Parlour. Check them out on Facebook here.

• The Triangle Business Journal broke the news this week that the old Lucky 32 restaurant building on Spring Forest Road in north Raleigh has been sold to a new restaurant group called Kamado Grille. It will specialize in foods prepared on ceramic, kamado-style grills. Other than that, there isn’t much else to report at this point. Suffice it to say, we are curious and will keep an eye on this one.

• WRAL reported last week that Wake Forest has a new restaurant. One Whirled Café, an upscale eatery featuring global cuisine, has opened in the former home of Blue Fins Bistro off of Rogers Road. Check them out here.

• If you love cheese, have we got great news for you. John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) tipped us off to the fact that Six Forks Cheese Shop, in North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village, will open today (July 18)! Be sure to stop by and check them out. Get all the details here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that both Ledo Pizza and Firehouse Subs have committed to opening new restaurants in the 54 Plaza buildings now underway at the intersection of Miami Boulevard and N.C. 54 near Morrisville. The project’s first building is slated to open early next year.

• AJ Viola and Mike Sholar, the guys behind BREW, a new coffee and beer bar coming to downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station, are very close to successfully fulfilling their Kickstarter campaign, but need a little more support to push them over the top. Check out their Kickstarter campaign here.

• A quick update from my friend Dana McCall over at GoGoRaleigh. Taverna Agora is now looking at mid December date for their move to Hillsborough St. (next to Second Empire). Thanks Dana for the update.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• The big news out of Durham this week was the “major announcement” that Monuts will open a second location after they signed a 10-year-lease on the former Magnolia Grill location on Ninth Street. Look for a November opening in the space that will more than double their original space. Keep up with them here.

• The other big news out of Durham is that the Herald Sun is reporting that Pizzeria Toro, which has been closed since November 2013 due to a fire, plans to reopen the downtown shop by Saturday. Get all the details here.

• Got word from the Triangle Localista that the folks behind the food truck Olio & Aceto (and Blue Sky Oil & Vinegar) are opening their brick and mortar location this Saturday in Chapel Hill at 400 S. Elliot Rd (former location of Tracy’s New York Deli). Their celebration is from noon until 5 p.m.

• The Meadowmont location of Market Street Café is currently undergoing renovations. Got word this week that the contractor anticipates they will be able to re-open in about 3 weeks. Can’t wait to see what the renovations will bring. Keep up with them here.

Closings 

• Making way for a new apartment and retail building on Hillsborough Street, we learned from a Yelp message board that Two Guys Pizza has closed. No word on whether it will open elsewhere.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• With three locations in the Triangle, locally owned Firewurst has launched their 10,000 for 10,000 Summer Hunger Campaign for the month of July. Firewurst is charging the community to come out and eat one of their famous Certified Angus Beef hot dogs in celebration for National Hot Dog month. The goal is to sell 10,000 hot dogs throughout the month, and Firewurst will donate $10,000 to the Food Bank’s Stop Summer Hunger program that feeds local children in need. Visit one of these Firewurst locations to participate: 1377 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary (next to Trader Joe’s); 1823 N. Harrison Ave., Cary, (next to Bass Pro Shops) and 8531 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh (next to Regal Brier Creek Stadium 14). Get all the details here.