Friday Fun Food Facts – July 25, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

If you read this early enough you’ll have the opportunity to scoot over to downtown Durham for the first ever Durham Breakfast Food Truck Rodeo happening TODAY until 10 am at 505 S. Duke Street in the parking lot of the main BB&T branch. It features The Wicked Biscuit Company, Belgian Waffology and Caffee Bellezza. Can’t make it today? It appears as if this is a “every Friday” event!

We learned from the website Raleigh Public Record that a Shucker’s Oyster Bar is getting built out at the 510 Glenwood Avenue building in downtown Raleigh. No word yet on a timeline.

We also learned from Raleigh Public Record that Glenwood Avenue, in the Pleasant Valley area, will be home to a new First Watch, a breakfast, brunch and lunch chain out of Florida. The Glenwood location will be the first in North Carolina (125 across the country) and is one of five scheduled to open in the region. Get a peek at them here.

The Raleigh Connoisseur blog reported this week that a small shop called Harvest Sundries & Deli has opened in the Progress Energy building. Check them out here.

We told you about this concept back in early June, but the Triangle Business Journal is reporting this week that Farm Table has opened at 960 Gateway Commons Drive in Wake Forest in the space formerly occupied by Girasole Trattoria. Farm Table is part of the Giorgios Hospitality and Lifestyle Group. Check out all their concepts here.

Got a tweet from Matthew Andrako that Wild Cook’s Indian Grill has opened in the space on Hillsborough Street that was formerly India Mahal. Couldn’t find a website for them, but here is a link on Yelp.

For you ice cream lovers out there (ok, that is everyone) – there is a Ben & Jerry’s that has popped up at the Streets at Southpoint between The Cheesecake Factory and Firebirds. Apparently it is just a kiosk, but who cares – it is ice cream! Thanks to reader Mary Moorefield for that tip.

The Meadowmont location of Market Street Café is currently undergoing renovations. Got word last week that the contractor anticipates they will be able to re-open in about 2 weeks now. Can’t wait to see what the renovations will bring. Keep up with them here.

We learned this week, from multiple sources, that Papa Mojos Roadhouse, a Creole restaurant and music venue on Highway 55 in Durham, has closed after a seven year run. Our best to Mel Melton on his next venture.

Pittsboro Roadhouse will host the next Pittsboro Food Truck Rodeo this Saturday, July 26th from 6 – 9 p.m. The event will feature 7 food trucks, 2 beer trucks and of course, Pittsboro Roadhouse and their delicious offerings. Be sure to stop by. Get more details here.

Also on Saturday the good folks at Rebus Works are holding another one of their Gouge Wrestling and Food Truck events. The fun begins tomorrow (July 26) at 5 pm with the following food trucks: : All American, American Meltdown, Bulkogi, Chirba Chirba Dumplings and Sol Taco’s. Get all the details here.

Head over to Wake Forest this Sunday, July 27th from 12-4 for the first official Wake Forest Food Truck Rodeo. It will take place at 419 S. Brooks St. at Over the Falls Shopping Center. Get all the details here.

Mark your calendars for the next Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo which will be Sunday, August 10 from 4pm-9pm. Think 50 food trucks spread out over a 1/2 mile of downtown with all your local favorites as well as trucks from as far away as Wilmington and Charlotte. Get all the details here.

And if you like to run and you like food trucks (or if you run because you love food trucks) you won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo scheduled for Sunday, October 19th. Register for the race and get all the details here.

The word is out! Mark your calendars for one of the Triangle’s annual “can’t miss” foodie events – Terra Vita 2014. It will be held October 9 – 11 and tickets go on sale this Sunday, July 20! Lots of great folks involved this year. Follow @terravitafoodie twitter and Instagram for more updates. The website is here.

The Carolina RailHawks’ 3rd Annual Pig Pickin’ Festival is Saturday, July 26th at 5:30 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. It will take place prior to the RailHawks hosting Ottawa Fury FC at 7:30 p.m. The cost is only $16 and includes all-you-can-eat BBQ, beer from White Street Brewing Co., and many other great items. Live music will be presented by ReverbNation.com. A Pig Pickin’ Fan Contest will take place on Friday, July 18-entries are still available. Contest winners will receive RailHawks’ tickets, an authentic home jersey and more. Get all the details here.

If beer, bourbon or barbecue peek your interest, you’ll definitely want to check out the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival next Friday (August 1st) at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre. With your entrance ticket you’ll get a souvenir glass for tastings, unlimited beer and bourbon tastings (there are 40 bourbons and 60 beers on tap) and BBQ galore from a variety of vendors. Get all the details (and tickets) here.

Just got word from my buddy Derrick Minor about an event in September that you’ll want to get on your calendar. Mark your calendars now for September 27 for Beericana. What is Beericana? 50 breweries + 10 food trucks + 4 Americana bands + Awesome People = Beericana! The event will be held at Sugg Farm Park in Holly Springs. More details to follow. Keep up with details here.

And hold the date for an annual event held by The Ronald McDonald House over in Chapel Hill that features over two dozen of the triangle’s finest restaurants – A Tastefull Affair will be held on Sunday, October 26th in The Blue Zone at UNC’s Kenan Stadium. Get all the details here.

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.