Friday Fun Food Facts – August 3, 2018

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  While we await the opening of Raleigh’s first food hall (Morgan Street Food Hall), Transfer Company Food Hall picked up some steam this week with the announcement that Locals Seafood and Person Street Bar have teamed up to open Locals Oyster Bar. Slated to open late 2018, they will bring you fresh, finely shucked oysters and seafood meals accompanied by cocktails and a staple collection of beer & wine. Up until this point, Locals has focused on bringing fresh seafood to the Triangle, operating seafood markets (their 4^th will be adjacent to the oyster bar) and providing seafood to over 50 Triangle restaurants. This will be their debut in the restaurant business. Check out Locals here, Person Street Bar here and Transfer Co. Food Hall here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• In Wake Forest, this Saturday, August 4^th is the opening date for Showmars at the corner of Capital and Stadium Drive. Stop by from 11-2 to enjoy festivities including a bounce house and a DJ. A portion of all sales from Aug. 4 & 5 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern NC. They are described as a fast, casual concept featuring a blend of Greek and Southern, serving up sandwiches and salads. Get familiar with them here.

• Also in Wake Forest, the Freddy’s Steakburgers up in Wake Forest has officially opened at the corner of Retail Drive and Hwy. 98. This marks the fifth Triangle-area location of the chain. Get familiar with them here.

• Got word from Ashton Mae Smith that Glenwood Seafood Kitchen & Bar, a Cajun/Creole seafood spot has opened in downtown Raleigh at 222 Glenwood Avenue. Get familiar with them here.

• Over on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh in the old Fowler’s Florist location (4215 Wake Forest Road) reader David Bass did a little research and informed us that a Panda Express is going into that spot (building was demolished). No word yet on a timeline. They currently have locations in Apex and on Duke’s campus. Check out Panda Express here.

• And my eyes and ears down in Fuqua-Varina, David McCreary, has informed me of two updates down that way. Jimmy John’s is now open at 724 N. Judd Parkway NE. And a sign has appeared in the window of the former Rock Harbor Grill at 132 S. Fuquay Avenue indicating that Vicious Fishes Brewery Tap & Kitchen is coming soon. We have to think (we will let you know if it is not) that it is the same Vicious Fishes with locations in Apex and Angier. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

• Down in Chatham County in Chatham Park, the Penguin Place development recently shared that Marco’s Pizza will join House of Hops Pittsboro and The Root Cellar Café later this summer. And before year’s end, Mi Cancun (with locations in Raleigh and Morrisville) will also join the mix. Check out Marco’s here and Mi Cancun here.

• Over in Durham, WRAL shared the news that Snow Factory, a rolled ice cream chain, has opened on Ninth Street. Check them out here.

Closings

•  Unless you were under a rock, it was announced (after our deadline) last Friday that Phoebe Lawless closed The Lakewood and “Baby” Scratch in Durham.

Food Trucks

•  David “Flip” Filippini, owner of Na’Mean restaurant and the popular KoKyu BBQ food trucks (Ondo and Old Blue), announced via Facebook this week that he is out of the food truck business – selling both trucks – focusing on his wildly popular counter service eatery Na’Mean near RTP in Durham. As far as any new ventures, he indicated that, “When the time is right the sandwich will tell me what to do.” Love me some Flip. In the meantime, check out Na’Mean here.

• The dates have been set for the Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo and Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos. The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo this Sunday is their “evening” version running from 3-9 p.m. Check out Durham here and Raleigh here.

Events

•  Raleigh Restaurant Week, produced by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary from August 13 – August 19. This week long dining extravaganza showcases the culinary talent in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Over 40 restaurants will be offering specials. Participating restaurants will offer delectable, three-course prix fixe dinners for either $20 or $30 per person, depending on the venue (tax and tip not included). As a special amenity to downtown employees and other daytime downtown visitors, some restaurants will be offering $5 and $10 lunch specials. Get all the details 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering announced that they will host their annual Porkapalooza Festival at their new Pittsboro restaurant on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. To celebrate their seventh year, the celebration will offer small plate creations, featuring locally raised pork from Hickory Nut Gap and Sharp Family Farms, served casually indoors and outdoors, rather than a traditional seated dinner. Their Pittsboro location is at 35 Suttles Road in Penguin Place in Pittsboro. Tickets for Porkapalooza are $50, which includes all food, entertainment and a souvenir pint cup. Get all the details here.

• 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 end on October 20 with the Fall Fête on The Green in Southern Village. Check out this video that give you a great look at all the events that make up TerraVita. Or visit their website here.

Food Bank Corner

• For most of us and for our children summertime is full of memories and fun times and it seems like school will be here before we know it. But for many, summertime is the hardest time of the year – children not feeling full and parents struggling to keep food on the table. The Food Bank CENC can remove the grown-up worries for kids in our community, and help ease the stress of their parents…but they cannot Stop Summer Hunger alone. Help kids just be kids for the rest of the summer by donating today.