{"id":4204,"date":"2025-10-24T07:23:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=4204"},"modified":"2025-10-24T07:23:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:23:40","slug":"friday-fun-food-facts-october-24-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=4204","title":{"rendered":"Friday Fun Food Facts &#8211; October 24, 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>Super exciting news coming out of RTP\/Durham. James Beard Award-nominated chef <strong>Preeti Waas<\/strong> took to Instagram this week to share that she is reviving her <strong>Cheeni Indian Food Emporium<\/strong> with the soon to open location at <strong>Horseshoe at HUB RTP<\/strong>. The spot backs up to her recently opened <strong>Nanny Goat<\/strong>, a boutique bodega founded by <strong>Preeti<\/strong> and her daughter, <strong>Amy Waas<\/strong>. This opening will bring back the favorites everyone fell in love with at her former North Raleigh location. Look for her to open in November. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/preetiwaas\/\" 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 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\">Wake County Restaurant News<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We first told you about this back in December, but <strong>Raleigh Magazine<\/strong> shared that we are one step closer to <strong>Bongiorno &amp; Son\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0owner,\u00a0<strong>Michael Bongiorno<\/strong>, opening an Italian cuisine concept at\u00a0<strong>The Exchange Raleigh<\/strong>\u00a0in Raleigh\u2019s <strong>Midtown<\/strong> (1000 Social Street). Renderings released this week also unveiled the name of the new concept &#8211; <strong>Pranzo<\/strong>. According to the magazine, we should expect Italian-style sandwiches (i.e. Bongiorno faves like the Italian, prosciutto, and hot soppressata sandos) and salads by day, then shift to an aperitivo-style menu of small plates\u2014paired with wine, beer and spritzes\u2014come 5 p.m. \u2060In addition to his <strong>Bongiorno &amp; Son<\/strong> location in <strong>Lafayette Village<\/strong>, he recently opened a location at RDU. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bongiornoandson\/\" 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 his progress 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>Up in North Raleigh, we have the return of a crowd favorite. <strong>Triangle Business Journal<\/strong> reported this week that after more than a five-year hiatus, <strong>Anita Khalek<\/strong> is\u00a0making a restaurant comeback, this time in a much bigger location. <strong>Khalek<\/strong> plans to open <strong>Levant Bistro <\/strong>at 7400\u00a0Six Forks Road\u00a0in Raleigh in late winter or early spring next year. One of the reasons she had such a large following was her dedication to a gluten-free and soy-free menu that serves breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner. <strong>Khalek<\/strong> closed <strong>Levant Bistro <\/strong>in\u00a0<strong>Lafayette Village<\/strong>\u00a0in 2020 because her lease was ending and she wanted to help her kids through the difficulties of online school during the pandemic. Plus, she needed a larger space for the restaurant and bakery. Which she now has! <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/freshlevant\/\" 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>Over in Cary, the <strong>Herald-Sun<\/strong> shared that a fast-casual restaurant known for customizable bowls is opening its second Triangle location this <strong>Saturday, October 25th<\/strong>. Described as a restaurant with a \u201cbright, tropical-inspired atmosphere,\u201d the Florida-based <strong>Mahana Fresh<\/strong> is located at 1151 Parkside Main St. in the <strong>Parkside Town Commons<\/strong> shopping center. The space was once the spot of Mexican restaurant <strong>Zambrero<\/strong>. They have additional North Carolina locations in Fuquay-Varina (<strong><strong>Bengal Towne Centre<\/strong><\/strong>) and Charlotte. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mahanafresh.com\/\" 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>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speaking of openings, <strong>Super Rad Retro Lounge<\/strong>\u00a0also opens tomorrow, <strong>October 25th<\/strong> on Glenwood Avenue near <strong>The Cupcake Shoppe<\/strong> (they&#8217;ve been in soft-open mode all week). The new retro-inspired spot has 30 classic arcade games, nine pinball machines, and a fully stocked bar. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/superradretrolounge\/\" 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 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>We have an open date thanks to our friends over at <strong>Raleigh Downtown<\/strong>. Started in Auburn, Alabama in 1965 and claiming to be the pioneer of chicken fingers, <strong>Guthrie&#8217;s Chicken<\/strong> will make its North Carolina debut on <strong>November 4th<\/strong> in <strong>Midtown Raleigh<\/strong> at 2907 Wake Forest Road (across from Wegman&#8217;s). Apparently they feature a &#8220;Gut Box&#8221; which is a popular combo meal that includes chicken fingers, fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and sauce.&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/guthrieschicken.com\/\" 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>.<\/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>It\u2019s official, Durham! <strong>Dame\u2019s Chicken &amp; Waffles <\/strong>is back. Their \u201cAlmost\u201d World Famous Chicken &amp; Waffle inspirations are now being served up (they opened yesterday, October 23rd) at their new home at 455 S. Driver Street in Durham. They closed up their previous location on Foster Street just three short weeks ago. They have one other location in Greensboro. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/dameschickenandwaffles\/\" 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 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\">Closings<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>WRAL<\/strong> shared the news that <strong>Abbey Road Tavern<\/strong> in Fuquay-Varina is closing after seven years. The locations in Cary and Apex remain open (each are independently owned). Word on the street is that the newest location of <strong>Mi Cancun<\/strong> will open in that space. <\/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>The tenth-annual <strong>WRAL Voters&#8217; Choice Awards<\/strong> are back! Nominate your local favorites in over 100 categories <strong>Oct. 16 &#8211; Nov 15<\/strong>. Then come back to vote on the top 5 finalists in each category <strong>Nov. 16 through Dec. 15<\/strong>. Winners will be announced in January 2026. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wral.com\/news\/local\/wral-voters-choice-awards-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get your nominations in here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On October 29th at 5 p.m., <strong>St. Roch&#8217;s <\/strong>in Raleigh (223 S. Wilmington St.) will host a &#8220;take-over&#8221; <strong>Supper Celebration<\/strong> as their Wilmington sister restaurant, <strong>Olivero<\/strong>, just turned two (and was recently named by <strong>USA Today<\/strong> as \u201cRestaurant of the Year\u201d for 2025). To celebrate, chefs <strong>Sunny Gerhart<\/strong> and <strong>Lauren Ivey<\/strong> (James Beard Best Chef nominees) will reunite in the kitchen for an Italian-inspired family-style supper with optional wine pairings&#8230;think Southern coastal soul meets Italian heart. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/resy.com\/cities\/durham-nc\/venues\/st-roch-fine-oysters-and-bar\/events\/st-roch-olivero-a-family-supper-celebration-2025-10-29?seats=2&amp;date=2025-10-24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Reserve your seat now<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>! <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For the month of October, <strong>Little Rey\u2019s<\/strong> latest taco collaboration is with <strong>Colleen Speaks<\/strong> from <strong>Hummingbird<\/strong>. Available just in October, stop by to try her blackened flounder taco with slaw, avocado crema, radish and cilantro on grilled corn tortillas. All proceeds benefit <strong>Southern Smoke Foundation<\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.littlerey.com\/raleigh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Visit Little Rey&#8217;s here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tickets are now on sale for <strong>2025 Chefs for Change Gala &amp; Live Auction<\/strong>, the annual fundraiser for <strong>Families Moving Forward<\/strong>, Durham\u2019s primary emergency shelter for families with children. The event will take place on <strong>Nov. 6, 2025<\/strong> at <strong>The Cookery <\/strong>in Durham. This unparalleled culinary event will feature a multi-course culinary experience prepared by some of North Carolina\u2019s most acclaimed chefs, including<strong> Matt Kelly<\/strong> of <strong>Nanas Rockwood<\/strong>, <strong>Vin Rouge<\/strong>, <strong>Mateo<\/strong>, <strong>Mothers &amp; Sons<\/strong> and <strong>Dino&#8217;s Pizza<\/strong>; <strong>Gray Brooks<\/strong> of <strong>Pizzeria Toro<\/strong>; <strong>Aaron Benjamin<\/strong> of <strong>Gocciolina<\/strong>; and <strong>Michael Lee<\/strong> of <strong>M Sushi<\/strong>, <strong>M Tempura<\/strong>, <strong>M Kokko<\/strong>, <strong>M Pocha<\/strong> and <strong>M Izakaya<\/strong>. Chef <strong>Chris McLaurin<\/strong> of <strong>Lutra Cafe and Bakery<\/strong> will be providing dessert. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fmfnc.org\/tickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Secure your tickets 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>Massive federal cuts to food and healthcare programs are fueling the worst hunger crisis in a generation \u2014 and our communities can&#8217;t afford to let these irresponsible decisions continue. It&#8217;s time for leaders in Washington to come together, restore vital funding for <strong>SNAP<\/strong> and <strong>Medicaid<\/strong>, and end the shutdown before more people lose their livelihoods. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.foodbankcenc.org\/site\/Donation2?df_id=14505&amp;mfc_pref=T&amp;14505.donation=form1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Support impacted families here<\/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-4204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204","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=4204"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4215,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204\/revisions\/4215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}