Friday Fun Food Facts – July 20, 2018

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

• Over in Durham, the folks at Taste Carolina informed us that Eastcut Sandwich Bar, located at 3211 Old Chapel Hill Road in the former Finch’s spot, just recently opened and begin full hours today, Friday, July 20. They serve up East Coast sandwich fare, salads, small plates, soups, sweets, and beer, wine and limited cocktails. The establishment is very family friendly and they even allow dogs on their deck. A great new Durham spot. Check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, shared the great news this week that Two Roosters Ice Cream has announced plans to open a second ice cream shop, this one in downtown Raleigh next to Yellow Dog Bread in the Person Street Plaza. In addition to their food truck, they also have a location in the Greystone Village Shopping Center at the corner of Lead Mine and Sawmill Roads in Raleigh. Get to know them on their website here.

• John also shared the news that The Lost Cajun Restaurant, serving up seafood and gumbo, is coming to the former Wendy’s spot on Forest Pines Drive in Wakefield. There is a ‘Coming Soon’ sign in the window, but no word yet on a timeline. This will be the second North Carolina location for the chain, the first in the Triangle. Get familiar with them here.

• And if that is not enough seafood news for you, the ITB Insider reported this week that permits were recently issued for Raleigh’s first location of The Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar at McNeill Pointe. McNeill Pointe is currently under construction and is located just across the street from Mami Nora’s restaurant at the corner of McNeill and Wake Forest Road. The Shuckin’ Shack has a location in Durham and two in Cary. Check them out here.

• The highly anticipated Morgan Street Food Hall in Raleigh’s Warehouse District will remain just that, for now. Last Friday, just over a week from its anticipated opening, we got word the opening would be delayed until at least August. So now we wait…Check it out here.

• Also in Raleigh, John Huisman, aka Triangle Explorer, was the first to share about the opening of Fig, a new coffee shop and cocktail bar, serving your favorite drinks all day and a small menu to accompany those. They are holding their grand opening tomorrow, Saturday, July 21 and are located at 1000 Brookside Drive. Get to know them on their website here and their Facebook page here.

• A quick update. One of our readers informed us that TLC Wings and Grill Sports Bar is now open in the old Applebee’s space on Hillsborough Street near Meredith College. Get a peek at their menu here.

• Saw a tweet from EatRaleigh that a neat new spot in Clayton’s Riverwood neighborhood called 9Bar Coffee Shop has opened. They are open seven days a week serving up coffee options during the day, and beer and wine in the evening. They are located at 411 Athletic Blvd. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Over in Fuqua Varina, John Huisman (he really has a nose for fun coffee spots) informed us that Cultivate Cafe + Coffee Roasters, a new coffee shop and roaster, has opened in the downtown area in the former EMS building across from the library. They serve freshly-roasted organic coffee and other complementary house-made products, like ice cream made from grass-fed organic milk and hand-crafted sweet and savory baked goods from Bestow Bakery. Get familiar with them here.

• Up in Wake Forest, reader Brandon Clevenger gave us several quick updates. First, Freddy’s Steakburgers will be opening July 29 at corner of Retail Dr and 98. And next door to that there is a Chipotle and a Firehouse Subs. No timeline for either of those. And a little further up Capital, in the Harris Crossing Shopping Center, Doug’s Dogs and More has been replaced by the recently opened 9.19 Island Café serving up Jamaican dishes. Get familiar with 9.19 here.

• And if that is not enough Wake Forest news for you, Clevenger also reported that Backfins Crab House has opened at the corner of Stadium Drive and Capital Blvd. (1009 Stadium Drive to be exact). They serve up (you guessed it) crabs, crab cakes and ice cold beer! Sign me up! Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported this week that Pokéworks, a national chain with 20 locations in eight states, will open its first North Carolina location this year in Durham’s One City Center. Look for a mid-September opening. Pokéworks, started in 2015, has 20 locations and has plans for more, including one in Raleigh scheduled to open next year. The Raleigh location will also be owned by Andy Lee. The company said two more North Carolina locations are planned. Check them out here.

• In Chapel Hill the lovely and talented Lori Bowers-Lennard informed us that Quickly Boba Café in Meadowmont in the former Market Street Coffee location is now open. They serve hot and cold drinks made with premium quality flower and tea leaves as well as unique Asian street food. Quickly is one of the largest tapioca milk tea franchises in the world, with over 2,000 locations in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Also in Chapel Hill, the local Facebook page for B.Good indicated that they are looking at an early August (possibly August 2) opening date for their newest location at Carolina Square (near the new Target). B. Good has two locations in Raleigh (downtown and North Hills), and one in Morrisville. They also have one planned for Durham’s One City Center. Get familiar with them here.

Closings

•  None to report! Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks

• The dates have been set for the Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo and Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos. Check out Durham here and Raleigh here.

• Two great sites to keep up with your favorite food trucks. Street Food Finder is one – find it here. And another, aptly named, is Roaming Hunger – find it here.

Events

• Ok, here it is again. And I tell you EVERY year, but I will repeat it again. DO. NOT. MISS. THIS. EVENT. You can just thank me later. The dates have been set for the 9^th annual TerraVita Festival over in Chapel Hill. Those dates are October 17-20. Things will kick off Wednesday, October 17, with the East Meets West dinner (first year at The Carolina Inn) and ends on October 20 with the Fall Fête on The Green in Southern Village. Check out this video that gives you a great look at all the events that make up TerraVita. Or visit their website here.

• WRAL shared that this Sunday, July 22^nd is the Taste of Soul NC event at Durham Central Park from 1 to 6 p.m. Enjoy ribs, burgers, Jamaican food, jambalaya, vegan food, Italian ice, cakes, shaved ice and much more, including lots of entertainment options for adults and kids. The event is free. Get all the details here.

• Sunday, August 26^th is the date for Families Moving Forward’s Kids for Change End of Summer Celebration at Durham Central Park from 3-5 p.m. featuring budget-friendly food trucks and lots of fun entertainment. Admission is free. Check it out here.

• The NCRLA Chef Showdown is an annual statewide culinary competition sponsored by the NC Department of Ag. that will result in a final competition on Monday, Aug 27 in Charlotte. The final event is in conjunction with the first night of the industry’s Restaurant & Hotel Expo. Get all the information you need here.

• The 2nd annual Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market Brewfest is happening on Saturday, August 25, with a 12 pack of local brewers and fermenters bringing product to sample and sell. Look for: Botanist & Barrel, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Bull City Ciderworks, Dingo Dog Brewing, Fullsteam Brewery, Haw River Farmhouse Ales, Mystery Brewing, Oak & Dagger Public House, Raleigh Brewing, Starpoint Brewing, 3rd Degree Brewhouse, and Vecino Brewing. The address is 201 S. Estes Drive Chapel Hill. (University Place next to Silverspot) and hours are regular market hours, 8am-12. Get details here.

• And one of my daughter’s favorite events has set the date for their 2018 edition – the Mac and Cheese Throwdown is scheduled for Sunday, September 16th from 5pm until 8pm at 214 Martin.  They’ve had a great response from some “mac makers” and have some new contestants this year.  So far, it looks like the lineup is Relish, Oak and Dagger, Wandering Moose, Dram and Draught, US Foods, The Mac House, Southern Charred, NOFO and the chef from 214 Martin. My daughter and I will be judges again this year! Check it out.

Food Bank Corner

• As a part of the Stop Summer Hunger initiative, generous friends of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina will match every gift – dollar for dollar. Please help them reach their matching goal of $135,000. For every $20 you give, the Food Bank can provide 200 meals! Make your donation here!