Friday Fun Food Facts – September 27, 2024

Featured Restaurant News

• Legendary restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias opened his latest venture yesterday, Giorgios Epicurean Market (or GEM). It is located at East End (2020 Progress Court, Raleigh) and is a culmination of all his experiences and travels under one roof – a gourmet market where you will experience a butcher, bakery, coffee bar, chef-prepared goods, quality ingredients, fine wines, and gourmet gifts. They are currently open for breakfast, 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Look for expanded hours with the addition of lunch October 2 (8 a.m. until 3 p.m.) and dinner October 9. Sunday brunch service begins October 13. Keep up with them on their Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• We are getting very close to the opening (Monday, Oct. 7 according to Raleigh Magazine) of the latest concept from the team over at LM Restaurants (think Carolina Ale House, Vidrio, Taverna Agora, a’Verde Cocina, etc.). Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen, will be located on the first floor of the landmark 150 Fayetteville Street building in Downtown Raleigh (Wells Fargo building). The planned 150-seat restaurant will serve guests from sunrise to moonrise and feature a morning barista-led café, as well as a private event room for business meetings and special events. The restaurant will feature a central bar-in-the-round with ample indoor and outdoor seating, exclusively designed to provide outdoor dining and special event space. Check it out here.

• Got word from my friend Melinda Russell at Yellow Dog Bread Company that Daijobu has opened at 180 E. Davie Street in the spot that has been home to Kaiju, Reuben’s and most recently The Darby Bar. The Japanese noodle bar (which will also feature hand rolls of sushi and other small plates) is brought to us by the folks behind Raleigh’s City Market Sushi. Get to know them here.

• Raleigh Magazine shared that Durham scoop shop Simons Says Dip This will join Bloc 83 (at the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Hillsborough Street. The magazine noted that they will open later this fall and feature fully customizable cones, stuffed cookies, ‘90s-style decor, and more. Their original location is at 117 W. Parrish Street in Durham. Get to know them here.

• The News & Observer shared this week that Captain Cookie & The Milk Man is opening a second Raleigh location in North Hills on Saturday, Oct. 5. The shop will offer freshly baked cookies, ice cream and unique flavors. Opening day will feature giveaways and a chance to win free cookies for a year. Their original location is in the Transfer Co. Food Hall in Downtown Raleigh. Check them out here.

• Reader Rebekka Mastin shared that she saw an “open now” sign for the Masala House Indian Restaurant at the intersection of Millbrook and Six Forks roads. They are in the former Koi Grill and Sushi spot in the Colony Shopping Center. Get familiar with them here.

• Got word from David McCreary that over in Apex Fratelli’s Delicatessen (1481 Richardson Road, Suite 107) opened in the Sweetwater Town Center (about 1 mile west of Interstate 540 off Hwy. 64). McCreary noted that have a great selection of hot and cold sandwiches, salads and desserts, and they serve breakfast all day, including the BECSPK specialty sandwich, which stands for bacon, egg, cheese, salt, pepper and ketchup. He also noted that they feature both New York and Chicago deli offerings. Follow along on Instagram here.

• Also in Apex, got word from Danyah Dahbour that The Cranky Yankee, a unique Long Island family-owned bakeshop bringing delicious, made from scratch New York style, Italian Inspired desserts, pastries and breads to downtown Apex, is now in soft-open mode and will have their “official grand opening” on October 4th. They are located at 101 N. Salem Street in the heart of Apex. Get to know them on Facebook here.

• Tomorrow is the last day! Seaboard Cafe, which opened in the back of Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station in 1991, will officially close after service on Saturday. Owner Rick Perales has commemorative t-shirts that you can purchase as a keepsake. They are open 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. today and tomorrow. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar, touting “real fruit, real veggies, real good”, is now open at 100 W. Franklin Street (corner of Franklin and Columbia streets). Started in 2005 by Thom Knepp in Ohio, they now boast over 50 locations, with this being their first venture into North Carolina. They share the same intersection with Starbucks and Canes. Get to know them here.

• Saw on the Triangle NC Foodies Facebook page that Tacos Number Juan just opened (official grand opening will be on Oct. 12) at 910 MLK Parkway (in the former Wendy’s near Zaxbys). With lounge seating, air hockey, games, taco bar and more, this eatery is hopping! Start with refreshing margaritas and aqua frescas (with wine, beer, and more to come). They also noted that the menu serves up amazing quesabirrias, tacos, ACP, burritos and all your other favorites. It was also shared that they have a drive-thru! Might be best to check them out on Instagram here.

• Over in Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page founder Carrie Brogen shared the news that the Heel and Horn Craft Kitchen and Bar has opened in the old Piero’s Pasta and Wine location on Franklin Street, across from the Siena Hotel. The menu is quite diverse and offers salads, burgers, pizza, Strombolis, ribs, and much more. Get to know them here.

Closings

• The News & Observer shared that two restaurants have closed in Raleigh’s Seaboard Station: Tacos Mama Chava and Mon Macaron. 

Food Trucks

• The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season will be Sunday, November 3rd from noon until 4 p.m. at Durham Central Park. Get all the details here.

• Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Events

• The tenth-annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards will be back this fall. The new and improved ballot will make it easier than ever to nominate and vote for the best. With over 100 categories, this is your chance to help businesses, people and services in central North Carolina get the recognition they deserve. From now through October 9 you can submit nominations here.

• OctoBullFest (which is the “Oktoberfest” celebration at Bull City Burger and Brewery) is taking place over three days this year, September 27 through the 29th. The celebration features music, food, beer, and well, more beer. The fun starts on Friday morning and doesn’t stop until Sunday close. There will be live music Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.. Balloon Man Mike will be with there again for the kids Saturday from 2-4 PM. Get all the details and a full schedule on their site here.

• On Sunday, September 29th, peppers are returning to Pittsboro at the 17th Annual PepperFest at The Plant (220 Lorax Lane). There will be pepper dishes, pepper cocktails, a pepper sauce competition, a chili cookoff, and more. The event runs from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details on their Facebook events page here.

• Mandolin in Raleigh is inviting guest to join them on September 29th or October 2nd as they take a culinary trip through Mexico with a six course dinner featuring food from different regions of the country. Chef Josh Heinz has created a menu with each course representing an elevated take on flavors from a particular State of Mexico. Explore the regional cuisines of Mexico, interpreted in Mandolin fashion, through the seasonal ingredients of North Carolina. $95/person. Get tickets here.

• Market and Moss, an award-winning restaurant focused on seasonal new American cuisine in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village, will celebrate its Fourth Anniversary with a series of special events in the month of October. The month-long anniversary celebration kicks off with a Cider Dinner with Botanist & Barrel on Wednesday, October 2nd. The dinner includes an amuse bouche followed by five carefully crafted courses from Market and Moss Executive Chefs Danny Vacca and Chuck Jones, each complemented by a distinct cider from the South’s only natural cidery. Deric McGuffy, Partner and Cider Maker at Botanist & Barrel, based in Cedar Grove, NC, will guide diners through each selection of natural and Pét-Nat cider. Make your reservations here.

• After the October 2nd Cider Dinner, Market and Moss will host an event each week in October: Wednesday, October 9: Anniversary Toast – Market and Moss will be toasting to its 4 years in business at 6p and 8p, with complimentary bubbles provided to all diners that evening. Thursday, October 17: Live Music & Half Off Wine by the Bottle Live music from Tea Cup Gin on the patio from 5:30p to 8p, plus Half Off Bottles of Wine normally priced under $100 for all diners. Wednesday, October 23: Free Gift Bags – All dinner guests will receive a free bag of goodies from the kitchen. Sunday, October 27: Benefit Brunch for Compass Center – 20% of all brunch sales will be donated to Compass Center, which helps people navigate their journey to stability, safety, and health with services that include domestic violence crisis and prevention programs, education, assistance with legal resources, and youth health programs.  Get details and reservations/tickets on all their events here.

• Families Moving Forward (working to end family homelessness in Durham) is kicking off their eighth annual fundraising, food-centric series. Their Fall Harvest Mixer is Thursday, Oct. 3rd, at 6 p.m. at The Rickhouse. They’re showcasing delicious creations from four chefs/chef teams: Billy & Kelli Cotter of Toast, Seth Gross & Cece Lopez of Bull City Burger and Brewery, Chris Garrett of Seraphine Durham, and Aaron Louv of NanaSteak. The evening also features fun, interactive games, lots of networking, a prize drawing, and remarks by Mayor Leonardo Williams. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased here. If you can’t attend Oct. 3rd, please consider a donation to help families in the crisis of homelessness find their way home.

• Turn up the heat because Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is back October 5th–13th! Throughout the week, participating restaurants downtown will offer 3-course prix-fixe meals or limited-time lunch, dinner, & drinks specials. Support your favorite spots or try somewhere new, Restaurant Week is your excuse to skip the grocery lines and go out to eat instead. Look for the list of participating restaurants to be released soon. Get all the details here.

• The 12th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser, where our community – local artists, chefs, and musicians – comes together to help feed local children, will take place on Sunday, October 6th from 3 – 6 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons. Enjoy a delicious dinner of soup, freshly baked bread, and cookies donated by local restaurants, live music and more! And, of course, the choice of a bowl from a variety of beautifully crafted bowls from local artists. There are a lot of ticket options including Soup-er Star VIP, Bowls & Bites, Simply Soup, and Tiny Tasters. Help them continue to feed our kids and expand their reach! Visit their Facebook events page here.

• Pure Vegan Café is welcoming the season with a festive (and vegan-friendly) Fall Tea Party on October 13 from 2-5 p.m. at the café’s Durham location at 2812 Erwin Rd. Guests can enjoy a delicious assortment of fall-inspired bites, including finger sandwiches, flatbreads, pastries and fresh fruit skewers. Of course, no tea party would be complete without the beloved brew, so there will be plenty to go around, including black, fall-flavored and iced varieties. Tickets are $30 per person and include all food and drinks. Guests may contact [email protected] or 919.251.9694 to reserve their seats. Visit Pure Vegan here.

• Scott Crawford, a renowned chef, five-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation, will hold an exclusive seated, family-style dinner on October 20 at Healing Transitions called Freedom Harvest: an Evening with Scott Crawford. Healing Transitions is a nonprofit organization in Raleigh dedicated to providing long-term recovery services and overnight shelter for individuals who are homeless, underserved and uninsured. This event holds special significance as it marks Crawford’s 20th year of recovery. Attendees can look forward to experiencing Crawford’s culinary expertise while supporting a vital cause. Get all the details here.

• USA Today Food & Wine Experience is coming back again to Raleigh on Saturday October 26th at the Big Field at Dix Park. Chef Jared Bobkin coordinates this event visiting approximately 12 U.S. cities annually. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

• Kids are back in school. And with that, the effects of hunger reach well beyond the classroom — influencing health, well-being and earning potential well into adulthood. The Food Bank operates programs like Weekend Power Pack, Youth Pantries and Kids Cafés. With the support you provide, the Food Bank is able to connect more kids and teens with the resources they need to succeed and thrive. Help kids get the nutritious support they need to be successful by donating today!