Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news…that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.
Featured Restaurant News
- Are you looking for Valentine’s Day plans for you and your sweetheart? Well, the News & Observer has you covered. Here’s a roundup of some of the offerings from Triangle restaurants, tour groups, bakeries and more by county.
Wake County Restaurant News
- WRAL brought it to our attention that Brewery Bhavana has posted “early March” as the anticipated opening of their new spot – a brewery, taproom, dim sum restaurant, and flower shop – located at 218 South Blount Street off Raleigh’s Moore Square in the former Tir na Nog space. Keep up with their progress and announcement on their Facebook page here.
- Soca, which is going into the former Faire spot in Raleigh’s Cameron Village, posted on their Facebook page this week that they will open March 1st…ish. Soca is being brought to us by the owners of the popular eatery Buku, Sean Degnan and Tony Hopkins. Where Buku tends to focus on updates of popular, approachable dishes from Asia, Soca will shift its eye to South and Central America, the menu bouncing between Colombia and Mexico, Trinidad and Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Chile. Get a peek at their menu and keep up with their updates and pending opening on their Facebook page here.
- And just down Oberlin Road, Diced opened their newest location this past Monday at 1028 Oberlin Road. The original location is on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary. Check out Diced here.
- Over in Cary there is something brewing at Cozzolino’s New York Style Pizza at the corner of Kildaire Farm and Penny Rd. As of now, it is closed, but I’m hearing there are big plans in the works. Stay tuned as this story develops.
- And finally, the good folks over at the Western Wake Farmers Market are trying to secure a “forever” home in partnership with the town of Morrisville. It would be a wonderful addition to the community and they need your support. If you are inclined, jump over to the site to see how you can contribute to make this a reality. Thanks!
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
- The News & Observer announced this week that Fullsteam Brewery, Durham’s beloved beer hall and gathering place, will be adding a kitchen that will be run by chef Kyle McKnight, most recently of Highland Avenue Restaurant in Hickory. Sean Lilly Wilson, owner of Fullsteam, said Tuesday morning that he hopes to have the first phase of the kitchen open by the brewery’s seventh anniversary in August. Check out Fullsteam here.
- Got word from Amber Watson over at Bites of Bull City that Wedgies Sandwich Shop opened this past Wednesday on the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham at 359 Blackwell Street. The original Wedgies, and thus it’s name, is located in the golfing community of Southern Pines. Get familiar with Wedgies here.
- Over near the Streets at Southpoint, got word from Glenn Gillen that The Melting Pot is moving from its current location “around the corner” to the former Ai Fuji spot in the Southpoint Crossing Shopping Center at 202 NC Hwy 54. An employee at The Melting Pot confirmed the move and noted it would be sometime this summer. Check them out here.
- Staying on that side of town, reader Jeff Cross shared with us that a new restaurant called Bua Thai is moving into the old Pale and Porter spot in Sutton Square shopping center on Fayetteville Road in Durham. The banner says opening March 15. Unfortunately, we could not find a web presence. Stay tuned. Thanks Jeff!
- And in Chapel Hill, John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) shared that the Honeysuckle Tea House will open for the season on April 1, 2017. If you’ve never been, it is worth the trek. Check them out here.
Closings
- This past Monday Café de los Muertos, a popular coffee shop on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh, closed rather abruptly. Apparently there is new ownership in play, but no details have emerged yet about when they might reopen. The News & Observer has a little more information on this development here.
Food Trucks
- Anyone have any information on the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo’s dates for 2017? We are a week into February and no dates have been posted. Certainly would hate to see that event end. Truck calendars fill up early…If anyone has any details, let me know.
Events
- The Downtown Durham Food Tour has a few spots open for their next tour this Saturday! It will take place in the city’s center and highlight a few favorite new restaurants near DPAC and the Durham Bulls Stadium. Attendees will get to try all kinds of delicious cuisine from American to Japanese to South American! The meet up spot is the new beer garden, The Bullpen; other stops include Basan and Luna. Must be 21+ to attend. (Alcoholic drinks beyond what is provided by the restaurants during the tour must be purchased separately.) Contact the host in advance if there are any food allergy restrictions. Get all the details here.
- Families Moving Forward in Durham is launching Chefs for Change, a fundraising dinner series that will pair the burgeoning Durham food scene with the needs of families experiencing homelessness. The series kicks off Monday, February 20 with a launch party at the Rickhouse and will be followed by a dinner every other month (beginning in April) featuring a distinguished chef serving three or more courses. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit Families Moving Forward. The chef line-up will be announced at the launch party. Tickets to that are just $25. Get all the details on the series here and on Families Moving Forward here.
- The Lucy Daniels Center is proud to announce the inaugural Cooking for a Classic series. This unique philanthropic event held at 1705 Prime (1705 E. Millbrook Road) in Raleigh throughout February and March will feature the talents of 16 local and regional chefs competing head to head to win a beautifully restored 1969 Corvette Stingray. The competition is structured tournament style, with two chefs paired together each night and the winner advancing to the next round until a champion is crowned. Get information on the chefs, dates and ticket information here.
- Viceroy Durham will collaborate with Bull McCabes Irish Pub to celebrate the spring festival of Holi on March 11th on the lawn at Bull McCabes. The food will be a preview of the thali style dishes that will be available when Viceroy opens for lunch service. The color fight will be taking place between noon and 3pm with kid’s activities throughout the day. DJ’s will keep the party going until 11pm. Get all the details on their website here.
- DPAC is partnering again with Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom and Sam’s Quik Shop to host the 5th Annual Bull City Food and Beer Experience on Sunday, March 12. The event features the Harris On stage Experience showcasing additional brewery and local food vendors, unlimited samplings and three floors of food & beverage options, so make sure you visit each level of DPAC’s lobbies for the full experience. Get additional information and tickets here.
- I’m going to just put this right here for my buddy Tim Coynesmith. You (and Tim) will just have to click through to see what it is. Let’s just say it involves beer…and bacon…need I say more? Oh, and clear your calendar for April 8th. (hint: it’s a festival involving beer and bacon…)
- April 20-23 are the dates for TASTE, a huge culinary event that includes a series of culinary experiences. Now in its fourth year, TASTE invites and assembles more than 50 of the best chefs, culinary artisans, artists, brewmasters, sommeliers, and mixologists in the local area. Enjoy “Grand Taste” signature experiences where you can sample the area’s best chefs, spirits and craft beers, as well as special dinners and classes. Purchase tickets and get additional information here.
- On Sunday, April 30, 2017 from 5-10pm at the Rickhouse in Durham, guests can sit back and watch the excitement while local, renowned chefs prepare a five course, farm-to-table feast showcasing local ingredients and inventive plate presentation right before your eyes. The chefs are: Justin Anderson, Nana’s; Ricky Moore, Saltbox; Kaci Walker, JuJu; Regan Stachler, PatriaFood, Chicken Wire & LittleHen; BJ Patel, Viceroy; Brian Whetsel, The Federal; Amy Tornquist, Watt’s Grocery; John Knox, Vin Rouge; Rob Kinneen, The Boot; and Rhonda Jones, Chez Moi Bakery. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 5 pm where chefs will prepare the first course right before your eyes. Individual tickets are $225 and are available here .
- And got word from Lisa Jeffries that the Raleigh Food & Wine Festival has set their dates for this year as May 18-21, 2017. Go ahead and mark your calendar. More details to follow here.
Food Bank Corner
- Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, a day that focuses around nice meals, flowers, and candy. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina reminds us that for our food-insecure neighbors in need, however, it’s just another day of making tough choices between paying rent or filling empty bellies. Do you have a Heart for Hunger this Valentine’s Day?
