Friday Fun Food Facts – September 5, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

A huge congratulations to AJ Viola and Mike Sholar, the guys behind BREW, a new coffee and beer bar that just opened in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station. Serving up locally roasted Raleigh Coffee Company coffee beans, cold brew, in house baked goods, and they have plans to serve craft beer in the near future. Get by and check them out – cool space. Here is their website.

Joe & Sarka Leli just yesterday hung the “now open” sign up at Leli’s Deli in Wake Forest at 3325 Rogers Road and will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have known Joe for a number of years and excited to see him with his own place again. Check them out here.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that a restaurant called Organic Festival is coming to the Poyner Shopping Center near Triangle Town Center in north Raleigh. The restaurant, at 5951 Poyner Village Parkway, is expected to open in November. Check them out here.

We’ve been watching this one for a while, but the Triangle Business Journal reported this week that a deal to build a new Chick-fil-A restaurant and drive-thru at the Lake Boone Shopping Center in west Raleigh has been finalized with plans to open the new location by the spring of 2015. The Wendy’s building that is currently there will be torn down to make way for the new store.

The News & Observer reported today that Maui Wowi, a restaurant that serves Hawaiian coffees and smoothies in flavors such as strawberry banana, mango orange, lemon and pina colada, has opened in Cary at 919 N. Harrison Ave. near Walmart. Check them out here.

And reader Bryan Kay provided a quick update on the former KFC location at 5900 Duraleigh Road that is being converted into a Steak & Shake. Bryan notified us that in the last week construction crews have begun making significant progress and it won’t be long now before burgers and shakes are rolling out of there. We will keep an eye on it. Thanks Bryan!

Say cheese! WRAL and Triangle Business Journal reported that a Cincinnati-based grilled cheese restaurant made famous on the reality show “Shark Tank” announced plans for a Carrboro location. Tom+Chee specializes in more than 20 types of grilled cheese and three versions of tomato soup. Their menu also includes salad and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The location is not known just yet. Check them out here.

Got word from Natalie Goodman that the Draft Line in Fuqua-Varina is hosting an event on September 14th from 3-8 p.m. to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Lots of activities going on all afternoon and plenty for the kids as well. And of course, a few food trucks will be on hand. Get all the details here.

The final Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of the year will be held on Sunday, October 12th from 1 – 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Think ½ mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 11 city blocks! 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.

They are selling out! (I told you so!) Get this on your calendar and buy your tickets today! This is one of the Triangle’s annual “can’t miss” foodie events – Terra Vita 2014. It will be held October 9 – 11 and tickets are on sale now! Lots of great folks involved this year. Follow @terravitafoodie twitter and Instagram for more updates. The website is here.

Little Hen Restaurant in Holly Springs will host a Western Wake Farmers’ Market dinner on Monday, September 8, 2014, during which a portion of the proceeds will benefit the market. Get all the details here.

Picture this. Downtown Apex. 6 food trucks. 7 restaurants. A giant wine and beer garden. And wall to wall Jazz music. Does that “peak” your interest? (I know it is pique, but Apex is known as the Peak of Good Living!) Then mark your calendar for the 4th Annual Apex Jazz and Music Festival on Saturday, September 20th. Get all the details here.

My buddy Chris Duke (owner of Anna’s Gourmet Goodies) turned me onto an event coming up on September 21, 2014 called Dinner in the Meadow. Held on a farm just outside of Louisburg, the dinner will feature 8 amazing chefs with locally and naturally raised ingredients and locally sourced wines, beers and cheeses. Get tickets and all the details here.

Derrick Minor turned me onto 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.

If you, or someone you know, requires a gluten free diet, you’ll want to get this event on your calendar. The North Carolina Triangle Gluten Intolerance Fair will be held on September 27 from 1-6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.

Raleigh City Farm’s Annual Harvest Dinner will be held this year on Sunday, October 5 and will feature Chef Scott Crawford of Standard Foods. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. Raleigh City Farm is located at Person Street Plaza at 800 North Blount Street. Tickets can be purchased here beginning next month.

For the 19th year in a row, The World Beer Festival will be held in Durham on Oct. 11 in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The festival, produced by All About Beer Magazine, has reduced tickets available by 35 percent and raised the price to relieve crowding. General admission tickets are $55 and include a tasting glass to sample from over 200 international beers. VIP tickets are $70 and offer a private air-conditioned hospitality area with private bathrooms and a bonus selection of beers. Get all the 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 Tasteful Affair will be held on Sunday, October 26th in The Blue Zone at UNC’s Kenan Stadium. Get all the details here.

And just got word that the 3rd Annual Red & White Food and Beverage Festival will be held on Tuesday November 4th at The State Club from 6-9pm. And for our readers, receive $5 off admission by entering promo code “foodguy” when you purchase tickets here.

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is proud to announce that they will hold their 3rd Annual FoodBank24 New Media Telethon on September 26-27, 2014. The 24-hour event begins at noon on September 26th and continues for 24 straight hours of entertaining and enlightening activities as part of Hunger Action Month. Put it on your calendar and get all the details here. There are lots of ways to participate.