Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- Congrats to two local restaurateurs that made the “finalists” cut in the coveted James Beard Awards. Among the finalists for 2016 are Death & Taxes, the new Ashley Christensen-owned restaurant in downtown Raleigh, which made the finalist cut in the category for Best New Restaurant. Additionally, Vivian Howard, owner of the Chef & the Farmer restaurant in Kinston, was named a finalist for her work as host and producer of the television program “A Chef’s Life” that airs on PBS. Winners will be announced at a gala held in Chicago on May 2nd. Get more details here.
Wake County Restaurant News
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Just 17 months after making its debut in the Raleigh market (
North Hills), the fast-casual eatery
b.good opened the doors to its second location yesterday in downtown Raleigh’s
Charter Square on Fayetteville Street directly across from the Marriott. Congratulations to
Steve Woodward and his team.
Check them out here.
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Saw on a Yelp message board that Parkside, a Southern inspired farm-to-fork restaurant, will be coming to downtown Raleigh in the former Brewmaster’s space at the corner of Martin & Dawson. We have no further details at this time, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
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Also in downtown Raleigh, got word from
WRAL that
Raleigh Raw has opened at 7 W. Hargett Street serving up coffee, pressed juice and smoothies. Place looks really cool. Get more information on
their Facebook page here.
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The
Triangle Business Journal reported this week that
Sweet & Savory Gourmet Cupcakes has opened in Raleigh at 2823 New Birch Road off the Interstate 440 Beltline and Rock Quarry Road in Raleigh. They offer traditional and unique flavors, including Jack & Coke, and most cupcakes are gluten free. They will celebrate their grand opening today (
March 18).
Check them out here.
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Got word from owner
Josh Trevino that
Torch Coffee Roasters has opened up a
Coffee Bar at 9521 Lumley Road in Morrisville to compliment their roasting operation. They have pastries, tacos (from
Taco Revolution), and signature drinks.
Check them out here.
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And over in Cary, started hearing ‘hiring now” ads this week for the newest version of
Hickory Tavern, which will be located in the
Parkside Town Commons near where Highway 55 intersects with 540.
Check them out here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
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Hope Valley Brewing Company opened this week in the former
City Beverage spot in south Durham. Today (
March 18) they will feature a limited menu, with the full menu being available tomorrow,
March 19th. Thanks to
Mike Kriston for the heads up!
Check them out here.
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Got an update this week in the
News & Observer that
Pizzeria Toro’s chef-owner
Gray Brooks said he hopes to open his second restaurant,
Littler, in the original
Monuts location in downtown Durham next month. It was also revealed that he has hired
Amanda Orser the former chef de cuisine at
Magnolia Grill in Durham. Until then,
check out Pizzeria Toro here.
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Got word from my friends over at
Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours that Durham is now home to a new tea shop called
Tempest in a Teapot. They carry loose leaf tea, prepackaged loose leaf tea, teabags and various other tea equipment to sell. Basically, everything you need to enjoy a simple and satisfying cup of tea – including the hot water! They are located in
Patterson Place along 15-501 near Interstate 40.
Check them out here.
Closings
- First got word from reader Jennifer Jackson Cox and confirmed by reader Jason Tekotte that MachuPicchu Peruvian Cuisine, a long-time favorite in the N&O’s annual listing of the area’s best restaurants, has closed. Apparently a rent hike proved too much for them to stay in their current location.
- The Triangle Business Journal was the first to report that Zinda, once a full-service restaurant that converted to an event space/nightlife venue/bar last July, is closing its doors for good. But not before a “Last Night Ever” party this Saturday, March 19th. Get all the details on the party here.
Food Trucks
- The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo has announced its dates for this year: May 1, June 12, Aug. 7 and Oct. 9. VIP early admission wristbands, which let you get in to buy food before the general public, are on sale now. Get all the details here.
Events
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Spring is in the air! And that means only one thing – outdoor food and drink events! Some of those are highlighted below, but my friend and fellow blogger
John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) who has come through, again, for all you folks that like to plan ahead. So get ready to fill up your calendar with
a long list of upcoming foodie events!
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Learned from
Holly Kahl that the folks over at
Triangle Vegfest are holding a monthly market with the next one this Sunday,
March 20 from 1-4 p.m. at
Fullsteam Brewery in downtown Durham. If you are interested in a plant-based diet (which we can only assume includes hops!), you might want to check this out.
Get more details here.
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Got word from
Felicia Perry-Trujillo that
Midtown Grille is hosting a multi-course beer dinner with Apex brewery
Brueprint on Thursday
March 24th at 6:30 pm. Seats are $60 each and proceeds will benefit No Kid Hungry NC.
Get more details here.
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The
World Beer Festival returns to Raleigh Saturday,
April 2nd at the exposition center at the
North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 the day of the show. The VIP Experience tickets are $85. Tickets can be purchased online and at Tasty Beverage and at Bottle Revolution.
Get all the details here.
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Bottoms up, bacon down. Got your interest? The annual
Beer & Bacon Fest will be held again this year at
Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday,
April 9th and will feature 75 craft beers, 15 restaurants and 10 bacons (who knew?) from across the US.
Get tickets and all the details here.
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The
4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held on
April 10th and tickets are available through
DPAC or you can visit the
DPAC ticket center to avoid service charges.
Check them out on Facebook here.
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Morrisville’s annual
East Meets West Festival will be held
April 16th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Town Hall Drive again this year. This food and music festival will feature local restaurants that represent the diversity of the dining scene in Morrisville along with lots of kid activities.
Check them out here.
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Andrea Weigl at the
News & Observer noted on her Twitter recently that tickets to one of my favorite annual events,
Farm to Fork have gone on sale. The event this year will be held on the weekend of
June 3rd through June 5th.
Get all the details and tickets here.
Food Bank Corner
- Want to see your money double? During the month of March, thanks to a generous matching gift campaign, Table2Table, every dollar you give will provide 10 meals instead of just 5! That’s right, double your gift to feed hungry neighbors. Get all the details here.
