March 18, 2016 · 5:50 am

Friday Fun Food Facts – March 18, 2016

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

  • Congrats to two local restaurateurs that made the “finalists” cut in the coveted James Beard Awards. Among the finalists for 2016 are Death & Taxes, the new Ashley Christensen-owned restaurant in downtown Raleigh, which made the finalist cut in the category for Best New Restaurant. Additionally, Vivian Howard, owner of the Chef & the Farmer restaurant in Kinston, was named a finalist for her work as host and producer of the television program “A Chef’s Life” that airs on PBS. Winners will be announced at a gala held in Chicago on May 2nd. Get more details here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • Just 17 months after making its debut in the Raleigh market (North Hills), the fast-casual eatery b.good opened the doors to its second location yesterday in downtown Raleigh’s Charter Square on Fayetteville Street directly across from the Marriott. Congratulations to Steve Woodward and his team. Check them out here.
  • Saw on a Yelp message board that Parkside, a Southern inspired farm-to-fork restaurant, will be coming to downtown Raleigh in the former Brewmaster’s space at the corner of Martin & Dawson. We have no further details at this time, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
  • Also in downtown Raleigh, got word from WRAL that Raleigh Raw has opened at 7 W. Hargett Street serving up coffee, pressed juice and smoothies. Place looks really cool. Get more information on their Facebook page here.
  • The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Sweet & Savory Gourmet Cupcakes has opened in Raleigh at 2823 New Birch Road off the Interstate 440 Beltline and Rock Quarry Road in Raleigh. They offer traditional and unique flavors, including Jack & Coke, and most cupcakes are gluten free. They will celebrate their grand opening today (March 18). Check them out here.
  • Got word from owner Josh Trevino that Torch Coffee Roasters has opened up a Coffee Bar at 9521 Lumley Road in Morrisville to compliment their roasting operation. They have pastries, tacos (from Taco Revolution), and signature drinks. Check them out here.
  • And over in Cary, started hearing ‘hiring now” ads this week for the newest version of Hickory Tavern, which will be located in the Parkside Town Commons near where Highway 55 intersects with 540. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Hope Valley Brewing Company opened this week in the former City Beverage spot in south Durham. Today (March 18) they will feature a limited menu, with the full menu being available tomorrow, March 19th. Thanks to Mike Kriston for the heads up! Check them out here.
  • Got an update this week in the News & Observer that Pizzeria Toro’s chef-owner Gray Brooks said he hopes to open his second restaurant, Littler, in the original Monuts location in downtown Durham next month. It was also revealed that he has hired Amanda Orser the former chef de cuisine at Magnolia Grill in Durham. Until then, check out Pizzeria Toro here.
  • Got word from my friends over at Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours that Durham is now home to a new tea shop called Tempest in a Teapot. They carry loose leaf tea, prepackaged loose leaf tea, teabags and various other tea equipment to sell. Basically, everything you need to enjoy a simple and satisfying cup of tea – including the hot water! They are located in Patterson Place along 15-501 near Interstate 40. Check them out here.

Closings

  • First got word from reader Jennifer Jackson Cox and confirmed by reader Jason Tekotte that MachuPicchu Peruvian Cuisine, a long-time favorite in the N&O’s annual listing of the area’s best restaurants, has closed. Apparently a rent hike proved too much for them to stay in their current location.
  • The Triangle Business Journal was the first to report that Zinda, once a full-service restaurant that converted to an event space/nightlife venue/bar last July, is closing its doors for good. But not before a “Last Night Ever” party this Saturday, March 19th. Get all the details on the party here.

Food Trucks

  • The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo has announced its dates for this year: May 1, June 12, Aug. 7 and Oct. 9. VIP early admission wristbands, which let you get in to buy food before the general public, are on sale now. Get all the details here.

Events

  • Spring is in the air! And that means only one thing – outdoor food and drink events! Some of those are highlighted below, but my friend and fellow blogger John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer)  who has come through, again, for all you folks that like to plan ahead. So get ready to fill up your calendar with a long list of upcoming foodie events!
  • Learned from Holly Kahl that the folks over at Triangle Vegfest are holding a monthly market with the next one this Sunday, March 20 from 1-4 p.m. at Fullsteam Brewery in downtown Durham. If you are interested in a plant-based diet (which we can only assume includes hops!), you might want to check this out. Get more details here.
  • Got word from Felicia Perry-Trujillo that Midtown Grille is hosting a multi-course beer dinner with Apex brewery Brueprint on Thursday March 24th at 6:30 pm. Seats are $60 each and proceeds will benefit No Kid Hungry NC. Get more details here.
  • The World Beer Festival returns to Raleigh Saturday, April 2nd at the exposition center at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 the day of the show. The VIP Experience tickets are $85. Tickets can be purchased online and at Tasty Beverage and at Bottle Revolution. Get all the details here.
  • Bottoms up, bacon down. Got your interest? The annual Beer & Bacon Fest will be held again this year at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday, April 9th and will feature 75 craft beers, 15 restaurants and 10 bacons (who knew?) from across the US. Get tickets and all the details here.
  • The 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held on April 10th and tickets are available through DPAC or you can visit the DPAC ticket center to avoid service charges. Check them out on Facebook here.
  • Morrisville’s annual East Meets West Festival will be held April 16th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Town Hall Drive again this year. This food and music festival will feature local restaurants that represent the diversity of the dining scene in Morrisville along with lots of kid activities. Check them out here.
  • Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer noted on her Twitter recently that tickets to one of my favorite annual events, Farm to Fork have gone on sale. The event this year will be held on the weekend of June 3rd through June 5th. Get all the details and tickets here.

Food Bank Corner

  • Want to see your money double? During the month of March, thanks to a generous matching gift campaign, Table2Table, every dollar you give will provide 10 meals instead of just 5! That’s right, double your gift to feed hungry neighbors. Get all the details here.

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March 11, 2016 · 8:58 am

Friday Fun Food Facts – March 11, 2016

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

  • WRAL and the News & Observer both reported this week that Isaac Hunter’s Oak City Tavern is returning to downtown Raleigh starting tonight – March 11! It will open in the former Common 414 bar at 414 Fayetteville St. according to Zack Medford. Check them out on Facebook here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  • Niall Hanley is at it again, and big-time at that. The News & Observer reported this week that he has signed a lease on the 21,000 square foot (including the outdoor part) former Jillian’s space in downtown Raleigh and will convert it into a “food hall.” What is that? It will be a collection of food stalls and small restaurants as well as food retailers. Hanley is hoping for a mix of businesses and offerings, such as crepes, pizza, coffeeshop, bakery, preserves, burgers, etc. Look for this concept to open around this time next year. This will be fun to watch!
  • Food truck guru Art Sheppard (actually his wife) happened to notice this week that the former Carino’s location in Raleigh’s Brier Creek has a “now hiring” sign on it for Chuy’s. This would become the third Triangle area location. Check them out.
  • Ashton Smith also pointed out that James Borden had noted on his “development beat” that an interior completion job had begun to make way for Pieology Pizzeria on Hillsborough Street at the Stanhope development. It is kind of like a Moe’s for pizza – where you create your own pizza, and it is ready in three minutes. Check them out here.
  • Over in Cary the News & Observer reported this week that Bond Brothers Beer Company, a long-awaited addition to Cary’s downtown, opened last Friday. It is located in the space behind the former Dorry’s Downtown, and before that, The Food Factory. That space remains empty, but the tenant for that space will be announced shortly. Look for a grand opening party, featuring beer, food trucks and Chatham County Line, on Saturday, April 2nd from 2 p.m. until closing.  Keep up with them on Facebook here.
  • Also in Cary, Newk’s Eatery opened this past Monday in the former Hibernian Pub location on Kildaire Farm Road. This marks their first restaurant in the Triangle. If you are not familiar with Newk’s, they offer Southern-inspired, made-from-scratch soups, sandwiches, salads and pizzas for lunch and dinner. This will be their 98th location in the Southeast. Check them out here.
  • In Garner, WRAL reported that Buffalo Brothers Pizza & Wing Company has opened another location – this one in Garner in the White Oak Shopping Center at 7245 White Oak Drive next to Logan’s Steakhouse. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News

  • Big news over at The Boot in Durham. Got word from the man himself, John May, previously a sous chef at Chef and the Farmer, has returned to Durham and has taken over as executive chef. He told me they are taking it from a Jersey red sauce kind of joint towards a farm to table, more traditional Italian. Check them out here. Congrats to chef May!
  • Over in Hillsborough, Bona Fide Sandwich Company opened this past Monday at 104 N. Churton St. Bona Fide is brought to us by Matt Fox and Dean James, the same folks behind The Wooden Nickel Pub, LaPlace and Hillsborough BBQ Company. Check out Bona Fide here.
  • And another reminder that the newest location of Rise, this one in downtown Durham at 401 Foster St., opens tomorrow, Saturday, March 12. Check out Rise here.

Closings

  • Reader Bonnie Bendell brought it to our attention that Sardi’s Den, a rib concept out of Clemson, S.C. that went into the former Oliver Twist space in Brennan Station shopping center in North Raleigh, has closed.
  • Jeff Puckett announced via Twitter that signs on the door at the WhichWich location in downtown Durham at American Tobacco indicate it has closed.

Food Trucks

  • Durham has announced their Food Truck Rodeo schedule for the year and it kicks off this weekend with the Time Change Sunday Rodeo this Sunday, March 13th. Get the full schedule here.
  • The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo has announced its dates for this year: May 1, June 12, Aug. 7 and Oct. 9. VIP early admission wristbands, which let you get in to buy food before the general public, are on sale now. Get all the details here.

Events

  • Spring is in the air! And that means only one thing – outdoor food and drink events! Some of those are highlighted below, but my friend and fellow blogger John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) has come through, again, for all you folks that like to plan ahead. So get ready to fill up your calendar with a long list of upcoming foodie events!
  • SEEDS announced this week that their Fork Less Traveled, a chef dinner series that pairs Durham chefs with local farms and beverage purveyors, will kick off this season on March 13th and will feature Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint. The series is one way they support Durham garden-based programming. And it was just announced that the second dinner in the series will be on April 17th and will feature Chef Flip of KoKyu BBQ. Get tickets and all the details here.
  • Learned from Holly Kahl that the folks over at Triangle Vegfest are holding a monthly market with the next one on March 20 from 1-4 p.m. at Fullsteam Brewery in downtown Durham. If you are interested in a plant-based diet (which we can only assume includes hops!), you might want to check this out. Get more details here.
  • Got word from Felicia Perry-Trujillo that Midtown Grille is hosting a multi-course beer dinner with Apex brewery Brueprint on Thursday March 24th at 6:30 pm. Seats are $60 each and proceeds will benefit No Kid Hungry NC. Get more details here.
  • The World Beer Festival returns to Raleigh Saturday, April 2nd at the exposition center at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 the day of the show. The VIP Experience tickets are $85. Tickets can be purchased online and at Tasty Beverage and at Bottle Revolution. Get all the details here.
  • The 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held on April 10th and tickets are available through DPAC or you can visit the DPAC ticket center to avoid service charges. Check them out on Facebook here.
  • Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer noted on her Twitter account this week that tickets to one of my favorite annual events, Farm to Fork, have gone on sale. The event this year will be held on the weekend of June 3rd through June 5th.  Get all the details and tickets here.

Food Bank Corner

  • The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina not only plays a critical role in our community serving the needs of so many people in our area, but they also fulfill that role while making it fun and enjoyable for those lending a hand. To see how you might get involved or what events they have coming up that you can get involved with, check out their listing of upcoming events here. Get involved today!

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