{"id":3990,"date":"2025-07-11T06:42:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T10:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=3990"},"modified":"2025-07-11T06:48:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T10:48:22","slug":"friday-fun-food-facts-july-11-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=3990","title":{"rendered":"Friday Fun Food Facts &#8211; July 11, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\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>It is hard this week to not be focused on the restaurants (as well as individuals and other businesses) that were so severely impacted by Chantal &#8211; including so many in Chapel Hill, Mebane, Hillsborough and Saxapahaw&#8230;.to name a few. It will be weeks, if not months, before many of these establishments will re-open. Please be generous in any support you can personally lend to these folks &#8211; many GoFundMe sites have been set up. My advice would be to closely follow the social media sites of your favorite places to get updates on how you might be able to help.<\/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><strong>EAT Restaurant Partners<\/strong> out of Richmond expanded this past Tuesday into North Carolina, and specifically Raleigh, with the opening of <strong>Wong\u2019s Tacos<\/strong> in the <strong>Glenlake<\/strong> development just up the hill from Crabtree Valley Mall at 4251 Park Lake Avenue. The full-service, Asian-Mexican fusion spot (internally dubbed \u201cMexanese\u201d) brings playful energy, bold flavors resulting in Asian ingredients wrapped in Mexican style and served in a vibrant, family-friendly setting that\u2019s as fun as it is flavorful. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wongstacos.com\/locations\/glenlake\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get to know them here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. (Note: someone needs to let their web designer know they are not located in Glenlake, NC&#8230;.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Raleigh, <strong>Raleigh Magazine<\/strong> shared the news that Virginia-based Peruvian restaurant <strong>Inka Grill<\/strong> is opening in the former <strong>Capital Club 16<\/strong> space on West Martin Street. The magazine highlighted some of the menu items including faves like lomo saltado (a steak-based dish typically served with fries or rice), ceviche, Peruvian-style paella and other authentic eats. This will be their first venture outside of Virginia, with what looks like a possible second North Carolina location opening soon in Greensboro. No word on an open date. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkagrill.pe\" 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>Also in Raleigh, <strong>Timber Pizza Co.<\/strong> (named Pizzeria of the Year by <strong>Bon App\u00e9tit<\/strong>) just launched its brand-new summer menu, extended hours and a happy hour dubbed <strong>\u201cTimber Time.\u201d<\/strong> They are now open daily from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and their <strong>Timber Time<\/strong> (Monday\u2013Thursday) features $5 draft beers, $6 house wines, and $7 cocktails. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DL5JjJ9M8Fi\/?img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Check out their new summer menu 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>Shawarma Stop<\/strong>, a go-to spot for fresh, traditional Mediterranean food near North Carolina State University, is officially expanding into the RTP area near Wake Tech\u2019s RTP campus. The popular locally-owned restaurant is opening a second location in <strong>The MarketPlace at Perimeter Park<\/strong> retail center in Morrisville at 10966 Chapel Hill Road. The restaurant\u2019s grand opening celebration is set for <strong>Saturday, July 12<\/strong>, from 12 to 6 p.m. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shawarmastopnc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Check them out here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over in Cary, acclaimed North Carolina chef <strong>Greg Gettles<\/strong> has been named executive chef of <strong>Peck &amp; Plume<\/strong>, the signature restaurant at <strong>The Mayton<\/strong>, a 44-room boutique hotel overlooking the <strong>Downtown Cary Park<\/strong>. A rising star of the Triangle dining scene in the early 2010s, <strong>Gettles<\/strong> was celebrated for his innovative, ingredient-driven cooking. He worked at such esteemed restaurants as both <strong>Magnolia Grill<\/strong> and <strong>Piedmont <\/strong>in Durham, and <strong>Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa<\/strong> in Cary. After stints in Charleston and Atlanta, he has returned to the Triangle. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peckandplume.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 Peck &amp; Plume here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Also in Cary, reader<strong> Chris Allen<\/strong> reached out to us to let us know that <strong>The Williams House: Craft Taproom<\/strong> has opened in Cary where <strong>Bull City Ciderworks<\/strong> used to be (210 East Chatham Street). This week is their grand-opening week (July 8-12) where they are serving up craft beer, coffee (started on Tuesday), cocktails and more! <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thewilliamshouse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Stop by and check them out here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Out in Wendell, the <strong>Triangle Business Journal<\/strong> reported that<strong> Lauren <\/strong>and <strong>Chris Gass<\/strong>, both with deep culinary backgrounds, will open <strong>Bellow Butcher Co.<\/strong> this fall at 8 N. Main St. in&nbsp;downtown Wendell. In addition to pork and beef cuts, they will sell deli sandwiches, build-your-own charcuterie board items and a number of retail items, including locally-made jams, honey and crackers according to <strong>TBJ<\/strong>. Locals will recognize <strong>Chris<\/strong> from his time as the former chef de cuisine at&nbsp;<strong>Brodeto<\/strong>&nbsp;and before that at <strong>Mandolin<\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bellowbutcherco\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Keep up with their progress on Instagram 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\">Durham, Orange &amp; Chatham Restaurant News<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A little more detail on the news we reported last week about the former <strong>Dog House<\/strong> on Guess Road (near Broad St) soon becoming <strong>LRB Provisions<\/strong>. We learned this week that <strong>Amanda Orser<\/strong>, former chef de cuisine of the legendary <strong>Magnolia Grill<\/strong>, is behind the new concept and will open later this summer. The cozy counter-service spot will focus on takeout lunch to start, with hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday through Monday. <strong>LRB Provisions\u2019<\/strong> menu, which will use ingredients from local farms and purveyors, will include sandwiches on house baked breads and rolls, as well as seasonal soups, salads and sides. The menu also will include rotating flavors of house-made potato chips, smoked meats and fish, pickles, desserts and beverages. On weekends, they will offer brunch boxes with bialys, smoked and cured fish, schmears and pickles. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lrbprovisions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Keep up with their progress here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And down in Pittsboro, <strong>Greg Lewis<\/strong> is at it again! Under the <strong>YOLO Entertainment Group<\/strong> brand, <strong>Lewis<\/strong> will soon add <strong>a Tavolo<\/strong> to his lineup that already includes <strong>The Sycamore at Chatham Mills<\/strong>, <strong>39 West Catering<\/strong> and <strong>Forest Hall Chatham Mill<\/strong>. Expect a true taste of Italy in <strong>MOSAIC at Chatham Park<\/strong> (367 Freedom Parkway) where they will feature woodfired pizza, house-made pasta, a full bar, and fresh, locally sourced ingredients\u2014all crafted to bring the warmth and flavor of an authentic Italian table. No word yet on an exact open date, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tavoloitalianeatery.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">but visit their website here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong> to signup for an email notification. <\/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>Scott Rhodes<\/strong> shared with us that <strong>David&#8217;s Dumpling and Noodle Bar<\/strong> on Raleigh&#8217;s Hillsborough Street has announced on their Facebook page that this <strong>Sunday, July 13th<\/strong>, will be their last day of operation after a 15 year run. <\/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>The final <strong>Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo<\/strong> of 2025 will be on <strong>Sunday, November 2<\/strong>. It will run from 12 noon until 4 p.m. featuring over&nbsp;<strong>50+ food trucks<\/strong> with cuisine from all over the world making it the ultimate Sunday Funday in <strong>Durham Central Park<\/strong> (501 Foster Street)! <a href=\"https:\/\/eventvesta.com\/events\/97144-food-truck-rodeo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\"><strong>Get all the details here<\/strong><\/mark><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/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&nbsp;<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><strong>Left Hook Coffee<\/strong>&#8216;s fundraising event two weekends ago brought in a good amount of money toward their overall goal &#8211; but still leaves about $19k to raise towards making their East Raleigh roasting space into a new shop. So they still need your help. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelefthookcoffee.com\/donate912hargett\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Donate directly to their Kickstarter campaign here<\/mark><\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lakeside Kitchen<\/strong>, located on NCSU\u2019s Centennial Campus has added <strong>Whiskey Flights<\/strong> to their lineup of some 70 whiskey offerings. Every <strong>Whiskey Wednesday<\/strong>, a featured whiskey is offered at a reduced price for your enjoyment. And now they have added six flights with different themes of a pairing of four whiskeys such as \u201cAround the World\u201d, \u201cWest of the Mississippi\u201d, \u201cA Mixed Bag\u201d and more as well as a &#8220;Build Your Own\u201d Flight. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/lakesidekitchenraleigh.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Check out the entire list on their website<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mark your calendars. The <strong>Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week<\/strong> returns <strong>July 24th \u2013 August 3rd<\/strong>. This beloved tradition is your invitation to discover the unique, locally-owned restaurants and bars that make downtown Raleigh a true dining destination. Savor exclusive deals, prix fixe menus, and chef-driven specials at your favorite spots across our community. Now in its 17th year, the celebration returns with a fresh new look. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/downtownraleigh.org\/restaurant-week\" 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<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get tickets now! The <strong>Grand Finale of&nbsp;NCRLA\u2019s Chef Showdown <\/strong>will take place on <strong>Monday, August 4th<\/strong> at&nbsp;<strong>Bay 7<\/strong>&nbsp;in Durham. Presented by&nbsp;<strong>Got To Be NC<\/strong>, this one-of-a-kind event showcases the state\u2019s top chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distilleries as they compete for the coveted titles of <strong>Chef of the Year<\/strong>, <strong>Pastry Chef of the Year<\/strong>, <strong>Mixologist &amp; Distillery of the Year<\/strong>, and <strong>Best Mocktail of the Year<\/strong>. Guests will savor sweet and savory bites, sip creative cocktails and mocktails, and cast their vote in <strong>The People\u2019s Choice Awards<\/strong>\u2014all while celebrating North Carolina\u2019s rich culinary culture. Plus, for the first time ever, the <strong>Grand Finale<\/strong> will feature a <strong>North Carolina Wine Bar<\/strong>, highlighting some of the state\u2019s top vineyards. Tickets are $150 per person and include all food and beverage tastings. Attendance is limited\u2014don\u2019t miss this unforgettable night of flavor, competition, and local pride. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncrla.org\/ncrla-events\/2025-ncrla-chef-showdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get tickets and all the details here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The inaugural <strong>Salt &amp; Smoke &amp; Sound Festival <\/strong>will be held <strong>Saturday, October 18th<\/strong> at <strong>Blackwood Farm Park<\/strong> between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The exciting new community event merges together two beloved festivals\u2013<strong>Acme\u2019s Salt &amp; Smoke<\/strong> and Sonark Media\u2019s <strong>Harvest Festival<\/strong>\u2013into a celebration of food, culture, and music in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Food will be provided by <strong>Acme\u2019s Kevin Callaghan<\/strong> and a team of local chefs and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes and dining options. The festival will feature craft beers, curated beverages, and other interesting spirit-free options. All food and drink will be available for purchase and is not included in the price of festival entry. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/saltsmokesound.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Tickets are on sale now<\/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\">Food Bank Corner<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Yesterday, Congress voted for devastating cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. <strong>Amy Beros<\/strong>, President &amp; CEO of the <strong>Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina<\/strong>, shared what this will mean for North Carolina. &#8220;No one should go hungry\u2014no matter where we live, where we\u2019re from, who we love, or the color of our skin. Yet with this vote by Congress and a stroke of the President\u2019s pen, millions more people will soon face hunger here in North Carolina and across the country.&#8221; The <strong>Food Bank<\/strong> is moving mountains to make food available to all who need it. They\u2019re still here, no matter what. They need your help now more than ever. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/foodbankcenc.org\/federal-budget-reconciliation-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Read their full statement here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.foodbankcenc.org\/site\/Donation2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">get involved in the fight to end hunger<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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-3990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3990","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=3990"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4004,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3990\/revisions\/4004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}