{"id":4385,"date":"2026-01-16T06:27:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T11:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=4385"},"modified":"2026-01-16T06:27:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T11:27:09","slug":"friday-fun-food-facts-january-16-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/?p=4385","title":{"rendered":"Friday Fun Food Facts &#8211; January 16, 2026"},"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>Not exactly a new restaurant, but <strong>Figulina&#8217;s<\/strong> in downtown Raleigh is definitely not resting on all the awards they have already received. They proved again this week that they are eager to stay on top of the list of hottest restaurants in the Triangle with a $20k kitchen revamp (including fryer and grill) and new artwork (great job <strong>Sam<\/strong>!). This is in addition to their recently added grab-and-go lunch, new Monday hours, special dinners, weekend brunch, a warm and inviting patio and their expanded provisions store. All combine into a recipe for evolving from something really, really great into something absolutely amazing! The new kitchen gives <strong>Chef David<\/strong> the chance to expand appetizer and entree options that he&#8217;s always wanted  &#8211; like nduja Scotch egg, picanha steak, and pan-seared scallops. If you&#8217;ve never been before, you now have no excuse not to. And I promise you, it won&#8217;t disappoint. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/figulina.raleigh\" 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<\/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\"> <\/mark><\/strong>     <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>Campo Taco<\/strong> has officially opened on the ground floor of <strong>The Row<\/strong> apartment building in <strong>Rockway<\/strong>, next to <strong>Benchwarmer&#8217;s Bagels<\/strong> at 1001 S Saunders Street. This new local, family-owned spot is serving up a mix of authentic Mexican favorites \u2014 from street tacos, Arroz con Pollo, burritos and bowls, to creative house specialties. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/campotaco.co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get by today<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And we have an official open date for the latest location of <strong>Raising Canes Chicken Fingers<\/strong> here in the Triangle. Directly across from the NC State campus on Hillsborough Street (2420 Hillsborough Street), they will open their doors (and expect lines down the street for weeks) on <strong>January 27th<\/strong>. Of note, the exterior preserves the historic marquee as a nod to the <strong>Varsity Theatre<\/strong>, which originally opened in 1941. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/locations.raisingcanes.com\/nc\/raleigh\/2420-hillsborough-street\" 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 downtown Raleigh, <strong>Raleigh Magazine<\/strong> shared the news this week that <strong>Chipotle<\/strong> will open a downtown location at the southern end of Glenwood South in <strong>Bloc[83]<\/strong> near <strong>Vic\u2019s Pizzeria<\/strong> and <strong>Dram &amp; Draught<\/strong> on <strong>May 28th<\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chipotle.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 the fast-casual Mexican spot 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 one final note from downtown Raleigh, reader <strong>Vanessa Guirguis<\/strong> notified us that <strong>Garlic Bay<\/strong>, a take out sandwich place, has opened in the <strong>Hone Sharpen<\/strong> location in the <strong>Smoky Hollow<\/strong> development. They are serving up sammys like an Italian with spicy capicola, a beef sandwich with London broil meat, a tuna salad wrap, and other lunch options. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hone-sharpen.com\/garlic-bay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get by soon<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tyler Glover<\/strong> shared with us that national chain <strong>Mission BBQ<\/strong> is now under construction in the <strong>Stonehenge Market Shopping Center<\/strong> (7400 Creedmoor Rd) in Raleigh next to <strong>Outback Steakhouse<\/strong>. This will be their fifth location in North Carolina, and the first in the Triangle. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mission-bbq.com\/\" 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><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>RALToday<\/strong> reported this week that <strong>Tsa\u014dcaa + NanXiang Express<\/strong> are now open on Hillsborough Street next door to <strong>Chex Grill &amp; Wings<\/strong>. Expect piping hot soup dumplings and chilled bubble teas at this Asian spot. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nanxiangexpress.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>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Down in Holly Springs, reader <strong>Chris Creighton<\/strong> shared that there is a new <strong>Shake Shack<\/strong> coming to <strong>Holly Springs Towne Center<\/strong> (244 Grand Hill Place) next to <strong>Tijuana Flats<\/strong>. The sign is up, but no word yet on an open date. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shakeshack.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 Shake Shack here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0<\/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 was announced this week that Winston-Salem-based restaurant <strong>East of Texas<\/strong>, celebrated for its Tex-Mex house-smoked BBQ and outdoor dining experience, will open a new location at <strong>American Tobacco Campus<\/strong> this summer. Located in the historic <strong>Reed Building<\/strong>, it will feature a private event area, garage doors opening to outdoor seating near the Lucky Strike water tower, and a market with grab-and-go meals and retail offerings. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/americantobacco.co\/winston-salems-east-of-texas-expands-to-american-tobacco-campus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get familiar with them here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. Congrats and welcome to the Triangle to founder <strong>Claire Calvin<\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>News &amp; Observer<\/strong> reported this week that the owners of local Indian chain<strong> Lime &amp; Lemon<\/strong> are partnering with chef <strong>Sujan Sarkar<\/strong>, known for the Michelin-starred <strong>Indienne<\/strong> in Chicago, to open<br>a fine-dining Indian restaurant in Chapel Hill called <strong>Ayra<\/strong>. Expect a tasting menu, and a la carte menu, and Indian-inspired cocktails when it opens this spring in the former <strong>Elements<\/strong> space at 2110 Environ Way. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Chapel Hill&#8217;s <strong>University Place<\/strong>, <strong>H&amp;H Bagels&#8217;<\/strong> first North Carolina location opened yesterday on National Bagel Day. They have been a New York City institution since 1972 where their dough remains kettle-boiled in New York City water, then baked locally on-site all day, every day.\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhbagels.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">You&#8217;d be wise to start getting familiar with them 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\">Closings<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mac&#8217;s Speed Shop<\/strong> has closed its Raleigh <strong>Five Points<\/strong> location after being in business a little under two years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tyler Glove<\/strong>r shared that the <strong>Smashburger<\/strong> in the <strong>Falls Village Shopping Center<\/strong> in Raleigh (Falls of the Neuse Road) has closed. They still have a location in Durham. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over in Cary, got word from <strong>Mike DePersia<\/strong> that <strong>Spirits Pub &amp; Grub<\/strong> at 701 E. Chatham 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&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>Vidrio<\/strong>, downtown Raleigh&#8217;s destination for Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality, is launching a new <strong>Chef&#8217;s Table Dinner Series<\/strong> on <strong>January 28th<\/strong>. The dinner series, which will be held every other month, will offer refined, chef-driven tasting menus exploring the cuisines of the Mediterranean region from France to Morocco. Each dinner will be rooted in executive chef <strong>Roberto Barth&#8217;s<\/strong> modern seasonal cooking and N.C. ingredients. Starting at 6 p.m., the Jan. 28th dinner will be a five-course tasting menu highlighting dishes from Southern France. The cost is $99 per person and includes wine pairings. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vidrioraleigh.com\/events\/vidrios-chefs-table-dinner-and-wine-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">See the menu 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><strong>Rocky Top Catering<\/strong> announced this week the dates for the eighth annual <strong>Cooking for the Kids<\/strong>, a multi-night culinary competition uniting the Triangle\u2019s vibrant chef community in support of\u00a0 an impactful local nonprofit, <strong>Overflowing Hands<\/strong>. <strong>Overflowing Hands<\/strong> is a 100% volunteer-led 501c3 organization serving the most vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States and around the world. Hosted at the elegant <strong>Millbrook Manor<\/strong> (located at 1705 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh), <strong>Cooking for the Kids<\/strong> offers guests an immersive dining experience where philanthropy and culinary creativity take center stage. The first round is scheduled for <strong>Monday, January 26<\/strong> with the finale on <strong>Tuesday, February 10<\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.overflowinghands.org\/c4k-indexhome\" 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, including competing chefs as well as tickets, 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 have gone on sale for the 2026 version of the <strong>Triangle Food &amp; Wine Experience<\/strong> which will take place <strong>February 5-7, 2026<\/strong>. From its humble inception over 30 years ago, the <strong>Triangle Wine &amp; Food Experience<\/strong> has grown to become one of the leading charity wine auctions in the nation with all proceeds benefiting the <strong>Frankie Lemmon School &amp; Development Center<\/strong>. And let me tell you, the lineup of culinary talent (from all corners of the United States) is absolutely incredible &#8211; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/frankielemmonfoundation.org\/twfe\/lineup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">see the list here<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>. If you call yourself a foodie, these are the not-to-miss events of the year. A weekend of the most incredible food and wine. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/frankielemmonfoundation.org\/twfe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Get details on the weekend of events 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\">Food Bank Corner<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina<\/strong> is looking for caring friends to&nbsp;become <strong>Monthly Sustainers<\/strong> of the <strong>Food Bank&nbsp;<\/strong>to help respond to the ever-increasing demand for food assistance. When you partner with them monthly, you help ensure that healthy, nutritious food can reach people in need all year long. In fact, your monthly gift of: <strong>$25 can provide 75 meals per month<\/strong>; <strong>$35 can provide 105 meals per month<\/strong>; <strong>$50 can provide 150 meals per month<\/strong>; <strong>$100 can provide 300 meals per month<\/strong>. <strong>Plus, with your monthly commitment of $25 or more, they\u2019ll send a special tote bag your way.<\/strong>&nbsp;And when you carry it, you are reminded of all you make possible for your neighbors through your consistent generosity! <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/secure.foodbankcenc.org\/site\/R?i=XMTDzjwd75UjVviRGJ5j6G-FRiJn9oKCk552LiX5oqjmyiO5KxWcLg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Become a Monthly Sustainer 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-4385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4385","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=4385"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4385\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4396,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4385\/revisions\/4396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trianglefoodblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}