Friday Fun Food Facts – February 14, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

The Triangle Business Journal and the News & Observer reported this week that a new, independent coffee shop called Brew is coming to downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station next to Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. Owners A.J. Viola and Mike Sholar are looking to open in late spring. Keep up with their progress on their Facebook page here.

Over in Cameron Village, the Triangle Business Journal provided us with an update on two establishments that are “coming soon.” According to the TBJ, Tazza Kitchen will open in the former Cafe Caturra space in late February, and the Sushi Gami restaurant is back under construction with reopening planned in March. We will keep an eye on both of those as they near opening.

The Triangle Business Journal also reported this week that the next location of Noodles & Company here in the Triangle will open next Monday (February 17) at Park West Village in Morrisville. This will mark the Triangle’s sixth location. Get more details here.

According to WRAL, things are heating up over at Lafayette Village in North Raleigh. Driftwood Southern Kitchen is coming along in the space formerly occupied by Antonio’s. Progress is also being made on a tqqueria that is opening up there as well. No date set on either as to when they will open. We’ll keep an eye on those.

Cinelli’s Pizzeria in Cary’s Macgregor Village shopping center is now Tribute Pizza Place according to the News & Observer’s Greg Cox. The new joint will still serve New York style pizza and pasta dishes, but will be adding a selection of tapas options. Check them out on Facebook here.

The Diamondview III building is about to get your taste buds dancing with three establishments that are very close to opening according to the Herald Sun. First up is pitmaster Ed Mitchell’s ‘Que which will begin serving up barbecue in late March. Keep up with Ed here on Facebook.

Also in the same building will be the Triangle’s next locations of both WhichWich Superior Sandwiches and Moe’s Southwest Grill. According to franchise partner David Wilson, Moe’s will open on February 20th and will be the first location to offer daily breakfast options and bicycle delivery for lunch. Be sure to check out their opening day specials!

The Herald Sun is reporting this week that Triangle Brewing Co. Pint & Plate, the bar opened by the founders and owners of Durham’s craft brewery Triangle Brewing Co., is expected to have its kitchen up and running in the next two to three weeks. Get more details here.

The Daily Tar Heel reported this week that after 10 years at the intersection of Rosemary and Main Streets in Carrboro, Don Jose Tienda Mexicana, a Hispanic grocery store of sorts that also has a lunch counter providing Mexican taqueria fare, has moved to a new location in Chapel Hill beside Al’s Garage. You can find them on Yelp here.

The next food truck rodeo at Durham Central Park will be March 9th from noon to 4 p.m. The Brooklyn-based 10-piece band PitchBlak Brass Band is expected to play at the rodeo, and Kidznotes is slated to present a musical showcase and instrument zoo. Get all the details here.

Big Mike’s BBQ Food Truck has a new home at the ViewBar at 610 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. To celebrate, Big Mike’s BBQ and Triangle Brewing Company are hosting a “Meat Up” on Tuesday February 25th at 6 p.m. where you can enjoy complimentary NC beer and food pairings. Check out Big Mike’s page on Facebook for more information.

February 20th is this year’s date for the annual “Science of Eats” event held every year at the Museum of Life & Science in Durham. The event, from 6:30 to 9:30, will feature over 25 vendors (including restaurants, food trucks, farmers, scientists and craft beer vendors). Tickets are $20 for members ($24 for others) and all the details are here. Did I mention that Pabst Blue Ribbon is one of the sponsors? Hey mayor, we should go!

The 3rd annual chef competition in Durham called the Bull City Vegan Challenge is back for the month of February. Six restaurants are competing to see who can dish up the most creative vegan entree and dessert for the entire month of February. Participating restaurants (one more to be announced) are Beyu Café, Dos Perros, Hummingbird Bakery, Parts & Labor (Motorco) and The Refectory Café. And you get to vote. Get all the details here.

On March 1st, two great Glenwood South institutions – Napper Tandy’s and Hibernian Pub – will join forces in the battle to end childhood cancer. The Glenwood South St. Baldrick’s Event will take place on Saturday, March 1st from 1 – 7 p.m. Consider joining the effort. Get all the details here.

The Bull City Food & Beer Experience is back for its second year. This year’s event will be held at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on March 9th at 4 p.m. The event pairs food from 30 Durham restaurants and unbelievable beer from 30 premier craft / import breweries. Tickets are $85.50. A limited number of exclusive VIP tickets are also available. Get all the details here. Bitcoin and the future by Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey, and Cathie Wood https://naga.com/news-and-analysis/articles/bitcoin-and-the-future-by-elon-musk-jack-dorsey-and-cathie-wood While Bitcoin BTCUSD is still half the price it was at one point this year, the most famous cryptocurrency is certainly not forgotten.

If you are in the market for a new cookbook with a local twist, you’ll definitely want to check out Andrea Weigl’s new cookbook – Pickles & Preserves, a Savor The South cookbook. She has some book signings coming up, with the first on March 12th at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. Get all the details on her cookbook and signings here.

Got a note on my blog about an event coming up on March 15th called the Raleigh Tamale Festival, a Latino heritage festival, with tamale competition, soccer, music, dancing & more. It will be held in Raleigh at Peach Road Park from 1-4 p.m.

Here is an event you are definitely going to want to get on your calendar for this year. Two words: Beer. Bacon. That’s right, a Beer and Bacon Festival is coming to Cary’s Booth Amphitheater featuring at least 75 craft beers and 10 varieties of bacon (did you know there were 10 varieties?). The event will be held on March 29 from noon until 6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.

And finally, the N&O’s Andrea Weigl tweeted that tickets are now on sale for the 2014 World Beer Festival event that will be held in Raleigh on Saturday, April 5th (the Durham 2014 date hasn’t been announced yet). Get all the details here.

During the week of April 23-27, Durham Magazine and Chapel Hill Magazine will put on a festival of food and beverage events called TASTE, which will celebrate the vibrant Durham-Chapel Hill culinary scene. A portion of ticket sale proceeds from the signature event, the Grand TASTE Experience at DPAC on Thursday, April 24, will be donated to the Durham Branch of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. For more information, visit them here.