{"id":2745,"date":"2024-01-26T07:41:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T12:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=2745"},"modified":"2024-01-26T07:41:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T12:41:27","slug":"friday-fun-food-facts-january-26-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=2745","title":{"rendered":"Friday Fun Food Facts &#8211; January 26, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Triangle Restaurant News<\/mark><\/strong><br>Triangle restaurant news\u2026that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Featured Restaurant News<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Drew Jackson <\/strong>at the <strong>News &amp; Observer <\/strong>shared the news this week that <strong>La Buena Vida<\/strong>, a modern Mexican restaurant from <strong>Fonda Lupita<\/strong> owners, married couple <strong>Biridiana Frausto<\/strong> and <strong>Salvador Alvarez<\/strong>, will expand next month to Cary, taking over the former <strong>Totopos<\/strong> space. <strong>La Buena Vida<\/strong> is known for providing a very lively environment, replicating a night out in Miami (the fun ticks up a notch after 8 p.m.), and they hope to replicate that experience in Cary. Look for them to open mid-February. Get ready to party Cary! <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buenavida.art\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Start getting familiar with them here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Wake County Restaurant News<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>James Beard Awards<\/strong>, one of the highest honors in the restaurant business, released their semi-finalists for the 2024 awards this week. And Raleigh pulled in four of those! <strong>Cheetie Kumar&#8217;s<\/strong> new restaurant <strong>Ajja<\/strong>, featuring Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, was nominated for the country&#8217;s Best New Restaurant; <strong>Scott Crawford&#8217;s<\/strong> restaurant <strong>Crawford &amp; Son<\/strong> was nominated for Outstanding Hospitality; Downtown Raleigh bar <strong>Bittersweet<\/strong> made it to the semis in the Outstanding Bar category; and <strong>Preeti Waas<\/strong>, with her Indian restaurant <strong>Cheeni<\/strong> in Raleigh (and recently opened in Durham), was nominated again for Best Chef: Southeast. Finalists will be announced Wednesday, April 3, and winners will be revealed in Chicago on June 10. To see the full list, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesbeard.org\/blog\/the-2024-james-beard-awards-semifinalists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">visit them here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We first shared with you back in April of 2022 that a group headed by <strong>Trophy Brewing<\/strong> partner <strong>David Meeker<\/strong> had purchased the three little houses that sit between<strong> Trophy Brewing &amp; Pizza<\/strong> and (the now former location of) <strong>Goodnight\u2019s Comedy<\/strong> on Morgan Street (849 W. Morgan Street). <strong>The News &amp; Observer<\/strong> shared this week that the project has a little more definition now and will become the new<strong> State of Beer<\/strong>, <strong>The Bend Bar<\/strong>, and the third house is still up for discussion, but could possibly become a coffee house or a wine bar if any of the original plans hold. Time will tell. The entire project is being called <strong>The Bend<\/strong> and construction\/renovation has begun (there is a rendering of the finished project at the site). The two known spots will share a patio and are looking to open in 2024. There is no &#8220;close date&#8221; for the Hillsborough location of <strong>State of Beer<\/strong> and the two locations may very well overlap and operate concurrently. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Raleigh Magazine<\/strong> shared this week that<strong> Little City Brewing<\/strong> (400 W North St. in downtown Raleigh) will close in mid-February. But the bad news is followed by great news. <strong>Anthony Rapillo<\/strong> (think <strong>V Pizza<\/strong>, <strong>Flask Cocktail Bar<\/strong> and <strong>The Side Door Craft Cocktails<\/strong>) will open <strong>Flour &amp; Barrel<\/strong> in that spot. As the name suggests, expect housemade pasta and bread and barreled spirits. The extensive renovations will include a full-service kitchen and patio. No word just yet on an open date. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flourandbarrel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Visit them here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong> and sign-up for their e-mail list. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>RALToday<\/strong> shared the news that<strong> Little Native Coffee<\/strong>, from the team behind <strong>Cloche Coffee<\/strong> in Durham, is in soft-open mode at 426 S Person St. near <strong>Moore Square<\/strong>.  Their temporary hours through Saturday are  from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will begin normal hours next week. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/littlenativecoffee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Might be best to follow along on Instagram<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reader <strong>Burke Williams<\/strong> sent us a note to let us know that there is a new <strong>Starbucks<\/strong> going in the <strong>Celebration at Six Forks<\/strong> where the BB&amp;T bank used to be beside<strong> IHOP<\/strong> at the corner of Sawmill and Six Forks. No word on the timeline, but they just knocked down the bank this week. Stay tuned. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Durham, Orange &amp; Chatham Restaurant News<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We will start this week in Pittsboro with updated news on something we&#8217;ve been talking about since last September. <strong>Big Mike\u2019s BBQ<\/strong> out of Cary (1222 NW Maynard Road) is now in soft-open mode in what used to be home to a couple Mexican restaurants (<strong>Michoac\u00e1n Mexican Grill<\/strong> and <strong>Los Charros Mexican Grill<\/strong>) in the True Value shopping center (440 East Street). Looks like for now they are opening on limited days (Thursday thru Saturday) with a limited menu and serving until they run out. But it won&#8217;t be long before they are operating under full, regular hours. Might be best to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bigmikesbbqnc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">follow along on Instagram for now<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. Or you can visit <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brewnquenc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Big Mike\u2019s here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Durham Downtown<\/strong> posted on Facebook that <strong>ThaiAngle<\/strong>, a new Thai Restaurant adorned with traditional Thai decor, paintings, wooden seating, and a full service bar, is coming to the former <strong>Dos Perros<\/strong> restaurant space at 200 N. Mangum Street. Looks like they are looking to open sometime in February.  <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thaiangleofdurham.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Not much up on their website just yet<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get ready Durham&#8230;here it comes again! <strong>Geer Street\u2019s<\/strong> annual <strong>Chinese Week<\/strong>, when they dedicate their whole specials menu to Chinese cuisine. They are predicting that this year is going to be the best, most expansive one yet, and they\u2019ll be doing an all-dim sum brunch on <strong>Sunday, February 11<\/strong>. Get the menu and all the details <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/geerstreetgarden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">on their Facebook page here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is kind of fun. It is soup season! Amirite? Well, I was just made aware of a local soup company called <strong>Short Winter Soups<\/strong> based out of Hillsborough that offers soup subscriptions! What? Is someone reading my diary? The &#8216;season&#8217; runs <strong>February 13th through April 2nd<\/strong>. Each week you pick up your &#8216;soup of the week&#8217; (all soups are vegetarian and they can usually accommodate special dietary needs). Pick-up locations are all over Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham. Oh, and add some bread as well! Check them out and tell them Sean sent you. If not, NO SOUP FOR YOU! \ud83d\ude42 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortwintersoups.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Sign up and get all the details on their site here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Closings<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reader <strong>Leslie Hopkins<\/strong> passed along the news that <strong>Arandas Mexican Cuisine<\/strong> in Apex (5460 Apex Peakway) has closed. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chris Jordan<\/strong> shared the news that the <strong>Tin Cup Joe Coffee trailer<\/strong> behind <strong>Al&#8217;s Burger<\/strong> on Chapel Hill&#8217;s Franklin Street has closed. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Food Trucks<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don\u2019t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/streetfoodfinder.com\/\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Street Food Finder here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Events<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Here&#8217;s a great option for this weekend. What&#8217;s a better pairing than four of <strong>Raleigh Brewing&#8217;s <\/strong>signature beers and four iconic Girl Scout cookies? Can&#8217;t think of one! Join them for three full days of their annual <strong>Girl Scout Cookie\/Beer Flight!<\/strong> This duo will be available at all three <strong>Raleigh Brewing<\/strong> locations, while supplies last! Flights will include two of each cookie and a four 4 oz. pour of beer for $12! Lemonades &amp; Not Another; Caramel deLites &amp; Hell Yes Ma&#8217;am; Peanut Butter Patties &amp; Yard Games; Thin Mints &amp; Coffee Hidden Pipe.  <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/765688115464223\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Visit their Facebook event page<\/mark><\/a><\/strong> for all the details. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The annual <strong>Triangle Restaurant Week<\/strong> concludes this <strong>Sunday, January 28<\/strong>. Between now and then, participating restaurants within Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas will offer a special 2 or 3-course prix fixe menu ($20, $25, $30,$35, $40, $45, $50) each day they are open. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trirestaurantweek.com\/restaurants\/\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">See the list of participating restaurants here<\/mark><\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Downtown Raleigh&#8217;s <strong>Whiskey Kitchen<\/strong> and <strong>Videri Chocolate Factory<\/strong> have teamed up to craft decadent chocolate and spirit pairings just in time for Valentine\u2019s Day. Throughout February, <strong>Whiskey Kitchen<\/strong> will feature signature pairings of six of <strong>Videri&#8217;s<\/strong> chocolate bars alongside a selection of different spirits. Guests can look forward to sipping each spirit presented with mini bars of the corresponding chocolate. Special Valentine pairings will run February 12 through February 18.  <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C2iZGdXPv53\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Follow along on Instagram here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Longleaf Hotel &amp; Lounge<\/strong> is celebrating 4 years on <strong>Saturday, January 27th<\/strong> from 5-8 p.m. with a swanky 60s inspired fondue party. They&#8217;ll have classic cocktails, fondue by <strong>Chris Lopez<\/strong>, and vinyl by Tuttle Recall. Fondue tickets will be available for purchase through the bar for $25\/each.\u2060 They will be fonduing rain or shine!\u2060 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelongleafhotel.com\/events\/4yearanniversaryparty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get all the details here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My buddy <strong>Neha M. Shah<\/strong>, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau, shared that the annual <strong>Farm to Fork Picnic<\/strong>, celebrating local food and local farms, will take place <strong>Sunday, June 2<\/strong> from 4pm \u2013 7pm, again at <strong>Fearrington Village<\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cefs.ncsu.edu\/farmtofork\/\">Get details and tickets here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tickets are on sale now for the<strong> 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow<\/strong> which will take place on <strong>September 15, 2024<\/strong> on a grassy knoll at<strong> Meadow Lane Farm<\/strong>, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region\u2019s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the <strong>Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund<\/strong>, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dinnerinthemeadow.org\/\">Get tickets and all the details here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Food Bank Corner<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No doubt we live in a wonderful corner of the world. But here are some things to remember and not forget. Right now, one in five people in central and eastern North Carolina don\u2019t have enough to eat. <strong>The Food Bank<\/strong> provided over 88 million meals to families and individuals last year. <strong>The Food Bank\u2019s <\/strong>partner agency network has reported up to a 60% increase in neighbors visiting for food assistance. The need is real and right here in our backyard. Consider helping in 2024. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.foodbankcenc.org\/site\/Donation2\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">See how here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Triangle Restaurant NewsTriangle restaurant news\u2026that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler. Featured Restaurant News Wake County Restaurant News Durham, Orange &amp; Chatham Restaurant News Closings Food Trucks Events Food Bank Corner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2745"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2756,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2745\/revisions\/2756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}