Friday Fun Food Facts – November 30, 2018

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  We’ve been hearing this rumor for months, but the News & Observer confirmed this week that Sam Jones, known for cooking some of the most acclaimed whole hog barbecue in the South, is coming to Raleigh. The fourth-generation pitmaster and James Beard semifinalist is opening his second Sam Jones BBQ restaurant at 502 W. Lenoir St., in the former Dusty’s Garage near Boylan Heights. Sam Jones BBQ opened in 2015 near Greenville just down from his family’s legendary Skylight Inn in Ayden, a modest brick restaurant topped by a silver Capitol dome, self-proclaiming it as the center of the barbecue universe. Look for the Raleigh location to open next fall. If you are not already, get familiar with them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• We learned that the former Kamado Grille location in North Raleigh is going to have a new tenant thanks to a note passed along to us from Steve Howell. He shared that Cape Fear Seafood confirmed on Facebook that they will open first half of 2019 at 832 Spring Forest Rd. in Raleigh. Get familiar with them here.

• Got word from WRAL that The Lost Cajun is holding their grand opening in Wakefield on December 3rd at 10901 Forest Pines Dr (old Wendy’s). You’ll be able to enjoy their delicious gumbo as well as their famous catfish and Po boys. Check them out here.

• The latest location of Kale Me Crazy has opened in Raleigh at 2018 Cameron Street in Cameron Village in the former home of Baskin-Robbins. They also have a location in Cary in the Waverly Place shopping center. Kale Me Crazy is a superfood cafe offering juices, smoothies, salads, and wraps in a sleek, upscale environment. The menu also includes poke bowls, acai bowls, coffee, tea, and avocado toast (obvi). Check them out here.

• We also learned that the newest Triangle location of Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar has opened in Raleigh at McNeil Point, just off Wake Forest Road (across from Mami Nora’s). They currently have two location in Cary and a location in Durham. Congratulations to Brad Barbour and his team. Check them out here.

• In downtown Raleigh, at the Morgan Street Food Hall, we learned that YoHo Asian Bistro, a Japanese and Thai restaurant, is coming online there later this year, first of next year. Their original location is in Tryon Village on the corner of Tryon Road and Walnut Street. They will be serving up hibachi and sushi burritos. Check them out here.

• Thanks to the keen eyes of reader Wesley Mays, we have learned that there is a “coming soon” sign for Pho XO Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine at 10290 Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville in the Greenwood Village shopping center. We were unable to find an online presence and we don’t have a timeline. Stay tuned!

• Up in Wake Forest, the Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Lonerider Brewing Company has plans to open a new taproom called The Hideout. Look for them to open in early 2019. It will be located in The Factory, where the old go-karts used to be. The taproom will have 3,100 square feet of space inside and around 5,000 square feet outside featuring many of Lonerider’s beers. The outdoor beer garden will provide the option to buy food from food trucks. Keep up with Lonerider’s busy 2019 here.

• Over in Cary, Asali Events announced last week via Instagram that they are opening a bakery in the MacGregor Village Shopping Center called Asali Desserts and Cafe. They will be serving up fresh desserts, savory small plates, and coffee  in their new home. You can keep up with their progress on their Instagram page here.

• Across the way in Apex, got word from Sadiye Sezenol that she is opening a 100% Vegan restaurant called Vegan Community Kitchen at 803 E. Williams Street in the former Sweet Cheeks Bakery location. The restaurant will feature 100% vegan casual Mediterranean fast food. Look for them to open in January, 2019. In the meantime, get familiar with them here.

• On the other side of Apex, reader Chris Creighton shared that there is a Zaxby’s coming to Hwy 64 next to the Academy Sports store. No word yet on a timeline as they just broke ground. If you’re not familiar with Zaxby’s, do so here.

• And down in Fuquay Varina, David McCreary provided two quick updates. First up, Oaklyn Springs Brewery is open at 2912 North Main Street, Suite 100. Not sure food is on the menu, but sometimes all you need is a good beer. Check them out here. And David shared that a plan has been submitted to the town for a Panera Bread to be located at 1330 North Main Street in Sunset Plaza.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

•  I had lunch this week with Neha Shah with the Pittsboro-Siler City Visitors Bureau and she brought it to my attention that Sadie’s Southern is now open in Northern Chatham County off 15-501. You’ll remember that Sadie’s is the newest concept from the husband and wife team of Leslie and Brendan Cox in the former Alberello’s spot. They also own Oakleaf in Carrboro. Sadie’s positions itself as fantastic home cooked food served with true Southern hospitality. They are open for lunch and dinner. Get familiar with them on Facebook here.

• Over in Durham, WRAL reported that Hi-Wire Brewing out of Asheville will open a taproom in Durham at 800 Taylor Street (Golden Belt) with a public grand opening celebration scheduled for Dec. 1. The new taproom consists of 8,844 square feet of interior space, as well as a 1,678 square foot outdoor covered patio and beer garden. The space is game and activity heavy, featuring full-sized shuffleboard courts, soccer pool tables, table tennis, and more. The bar’s 24 taps feature ours full line-up of beers, including year-round, seasonal, specialty, sour, and one-offs, as well as wine, local cider, and guest taps from neighboring breweries. The Dec. 1 grand opening party will have a circus theme, with roving circus acts, a Rock-O-Plane spinning wheel, high striker and aerial artists. Funk band, Lotus Sun, will provide musical entertainment with two sets starting at 6:30 p.m. The Durham tap room is in addition to Hi-Wire’s two locations in Asheville. Get familiar with them here.

• Looks like while we were “away” last week, B.GOOD opened on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street. With this opening, they now have locations in Raleigh (North Hill and downtown), Morrisville and now Chapel Hill. Each location serves “food with roots” – meaning food that is sustainable, natural, clean and freshly prepared and served every day. It’s food with heritage and origin, homemade, shared and grown by communities. Get familiar with B.GOOD here.

• One final note from Chapel Hill, SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill will operate a Dewey’s Bakery holiday shop at the SECU House (NOT in University Place as originally planned) at 123 Old Mason Farm Rd in Chapel Hill through Dec. 23. Thirty-five percent of proceeds from each sale will go directly to SECU Family House – a safe, nurturing and affordable home for patients and their loved ones who travel great distances to UNC Hospitals for lifesaving procedures due to serious illnesses. Dewey’s baked goods have been a treasured holiday tradition since the bakery opened in downtown Winston-Salem in 1930. Get familiar with Dewey’s here.

Closings

•  Got word from reader Stacie Creech that Bedford Bistro in North Raleigh has closed. But word is they are looking to sell, so if you are looking for restaurant space in North Raleigh, let me know and I can connect the two of you.

• Mike DePersia confirmed that 888 Chinese Take Out on Creedmoor Road in the Stonehenge Shopping Center has closed.

• Over in Chapel Hill, we learned that Raaga closed down as well. They had just celebrated 10 years back in October.

• And in Durham, Glen Gillen brought it to my attention that Cure Deli has closed.

Events

•  Tonight, November 30th, at 5 p.m. 222 Fusion Bistro and Bar will hold their grand opening at 222 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Their menu will feature homemade dumplings, Japanese pasta, Korean BBQ ribs, whole snapper, Vietnamese shaken beef, seafood boil, Filipino chicken adobo and more in a casual dining experience. Get familiar with them here.

• Join Motorco as they welcome Allagash Brewing of Portland, Maine and Oysters Carolina of Harkers Island, NC for a Wonderful Winter Time Oyster Roast on the patio at Motorco on Sunday, December 2nd from noon until 6:00 p.m. They will be pouring tasters and glasses of several of Allagash’s fantastic brews including some special reserve barrels. Additionally, Oysters Carolina will be providing their fresh (harvested that morning) oysters grown on their farm off the waters of Harker’s Island. These deep cup award winning oysters are known as some of the saltiest in the state. Just choose raw, roasted or grilled. Preorder to guarantee your oysters. Details here and ordering here.

• Herons, Rooted in the South will now feature two guest chefs to cook alongside chefs Steven Greene and Jonathan Fisher on December 5th. Kevin Johnson of The Grocery in Charleston and David Bancroft of Acre and just-opened Bow & Arrow will join chefs Greene and Fisher in the Herons kitchen to develop a collaborative menu of dishes born from their Southern roots and create an unforgettable experience to benefit the Southern Foodways Alliance. Herons will donate 50 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales to the Southern Foodways Alliance, which documents, studies and explores the diverse food cultures of the changing American South. Tickets are $150 per person, with optional wine pairings for an additional $75, and can be purchased by calling the restaurant at (919) 447-4050. Get all the details on the Herons events page here.

• John T. Edge, executive director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, will lead a Celebration of Southern Food to benefit Farm to Fork from 6-9 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 6, at Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill. The dinner will be prepared by several of the Triangle’s best-known chefs: Sean Fowler of Mandolin in Raleigh; Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh; Brendan Cox of Oakleaf in Chapel Hill; Wyatt Dickson of Picnic in Durham; Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham; and Robert Kinneen of The Boot in Durham. Dessert will be prepared by Jonathan Fisher of Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Phoebe Lawless, formerly of Scratch Baking and the Lakewood. Counterclockwise String Band will perform. Tickets are $45 per person. Proceeds from the nonprofit’s events provide training and mentorship through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro and Breeze Farm Incubator in Orange County. Get tickets and all the details here.

• December 15th is the date of the Holiday Pop-up Wine Dinner at Vino Wine Shop at 89 Hillsboro Street in downtown Pittsboro. This first dinner in a series will feature chef Regan Stachler, former owner-chef of Little Hen farm to table restaurant in Holly Springs. The cost is $69 per person and features four courses paired with five fabulous wines. Space is limited to 26 people so hurry and buy your ticket before they are gone. Here is the Facebook event page with all the details.

• The folks over at The Rickhouse will host the first Durham Village Holiday Market featuring North Carolina made eats, drinks  and gifts on December 16-18. Sample independent food, beverage, and craft producers while you complete your shopping list. Each night will have a bar and a different food truck for you to enjoy. Get all the details, including hours, on their Facebook page here.

• Postal Fish Company brings an Italian tradition to the Triangle as they host the Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Christmas Eve is a vigil, or fasting day, and the abundance of seafood reflects the observance of abstinence from meat until the feast of Christmas Day itself. Today, the meal typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. The tradition comes from Southern Italy, where it is known simply as The Vigil (La Vigilia). This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. This “feast” features 7 courses paired with 5 wines. Dinner starts at 4:45 promptly, doors open at 4:30pm. Get tickets and all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

•  Over 60% of students in our 34-county service area qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. It’s difficult for any student to excel academically when they come to school hungry. So we invite all students, staff, parents, and teachers to join our Students Against Hunger food and fund drive to help feed hungry children and their families in our community. Since 1996, students in our area have donated enough to provide nearly 6 million meals. Join the cause! Participants in the Students Against Hunger campaign collect food and funds from October 1 through November 30. Competing schools must deliver their donations to any of our branches by 11am on Friday, November 30th. Find out if your child’s school is participating (and if not, get them to!) here.