Friday Fun Food Facts – May 6, 2016

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

  • This isn’t exactly “restaurant” news – but it is part of the journey of what will eventually become a larger concept that will include dining. Just yesterday Oak & Dagger’s Research Library (i.e. bottle shop) opened where Tyler’s bottle shop used to be in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station. Progress continues toward the rest of the project – Oak & Dagger Public House. Stay tuned. In the meantime, check them out on Facebook here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • Over at North Hills we got word this week that Sam’s Pizza and Salads had closed suddenly last weekend. That was quickly followed by the news in the Triangle Business Journal that Pieology Pizzeria, which just opened on Hillsborough Street, would open their second Raleigh location in that space. Renovation has begun, targeting a July opening. Check out Pieology here.
  • I get a lot of questions from readers. Probably one of the more frequent questions is regarding the restaurant space located directly behind Crabtree Valley Mall (former Crabtree Tavern, Tavola… among others). Back in December we told readers it would become the newest location of San Marcos Mexican Restaurant out of Danville, VA. Got word this week that they are about three weeks out from opening! If you haven’t been by recently, it looks amazing! Let’s hope the food is as good as the decor! Check them out on Facebook here.
  • Got word from reader Steven Moore that Ledo’s Pizza in Cary has opened. They are located at 982 High House Road in the Lowe’s Shopping Center. This looks like the first North Carolina location (unless you count Rock Hill, SC as part of NC). Check them out here.
  • Cary’s location of Sassool will hold its grand opening celebration on Mother’s Day, May 8th from 1-4 p.m. Sassool’s second location, which opened in December, is located at 1347 Kildaire Farm Road in the Shoppes of Kildaire (Trader Joe’s). Get all the details on their website here.
  • Also in Cary, got an update on a Yelp message board that the Noodle Boulevard has opened at 919 N. Harrison Avenue. They took the place of the short-lived Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies, and Java Jive before that. Check them out here.
  • Up in Wake Forest, got a note from a reader that there is some activity 1248 S. Main Street in the former Fig Wine Bar location for Italian Trattoria by Bruno, which we assume is associated with Bruno’s in Wakefield. Stay tuned.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Saw in the Herald Sun that the latest edition of City Barbecue will open tomorrow, May 7th, at their location in Durham at Southpoint Crossing between McDonald’s and Ruby Tuesday. Check them out here.
  • May 24th is the date that Giorgios Bakatsias has pegged for the opening of his newest venture – Boheme according to the Triangle Business Journal. Boheme will open in the Straw Valley space near the intersection of Interstate 40 and 15-501 at the Durham / Chapel Hill border. It will be open for dinner and brunch on the weekend. Get all the details here.

Closings

  • As noted above, Sam’s Pizza & Salads in North Hills has closed.

Food Trucks

  • The RDU Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) food truck members will be at The Salvation Army of Wake County’s Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope location (1863 Capital Boulevard in Raleigh) on Monday, May 9th from 5 to 7 pm. The event will be a dinner food truck rodeo, where a percentage of sales and tips earned will be donated to Salvation Army program, Project CATCH (Community Action Targeting Children who are Homeless). Attendees are also encouraged to bring a canned good to donate. The food trucks that will be here are Baozi, Chick-N-Que, Cocoa Forte, Gussy’s, Philly’s, Sweet Traditions and Will & Pop’s.
  • With the warm weather returning, it also means the return of the Food Truck Thursdays in Knightdale. Every Thursday from April through June, the town will host a new truck at Knightdale Station Park for lunch and dinner. Just look for it from 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm near the amphitheater (rain or shine – shelters are covered). For all the details and the truck schedule, check them out here. Thanks to Mark Ginsberg for the heads up!

Events

  • The Boot’s chef John May has teamed up with the folks over at Starpoint Brewing for a four course prix fixe dinner paired with a craft brew at each turn on Tuesday, May 17th. It is $50 per ticket. Get all the details here.
  • I saw in the News & Observer that Vino!! Wine Shop and 458 West B&B are hosting Pittsboro’s first ever Wine Festival on May 21. The event will happen rain or shine from 1-4 p.m. at the bed and breakfast’s front lawn and porch. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Only 100 tickets will be sold for the event. Attendees will get to taste wine from seven vendors, savor appetizers and cheese from Goat Lady Dairy and enjoy door prizes and live music. Tickets can be purchased online here.
  • The Piedmont Dinner Series continues on May 25th as Piedmont’s Greg Gettles and The Boot’s John May will host a late spring bbq in partnership with Locals Seafood. The multi-course dinner is $65, plus $20 for wine pairings. Get all the details and the menu on the events page here.
  • Ok, this is a bit of a stretch to include, but it’s too fun/funny not to include. It is the 2016 Doughman event being held in Durham on May 28. What is it? It is a “foodie” event that combines the elements of a triathlon with competitive eating. 4-member teams basically down a delicious treat from a Durham establishment which is then followed by a bike, run or “water activity” challenge of varying distances. Sign up and get all the details here.
  • Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer noted on her Twitter account 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.
  • Arguably the area’s biggest “foodie” event, TerraVita, recently announced the dates for this year’s festival – September 28th through October 1st. The Chapel Hill-based festival, now in its seventh year, offers exceptional dinners, tasting events, after parties, chef demos as well as the “Sustainable Classroom” – educational experiences featuring renowned chefs, authors & national media. TerraVita concludes with a Grand Tasting on the Green featuring over 65 chefs, artisans and beverage producers for tastings, live chef demonstrations and cookbook signings. TerraVita’s ticket launch and full schedule will be released in mid-June. More details here.

Food Bank Corner

  • The Letter Carriers Food Drive is back for its 24th year – and will be on Saturday, May 14th. It’s easy! Pack a bag of food and set it by your mailbox. Your letter carrier will do the rest! Check out the list of most needed items here!

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