Friday Fun Food Facts – New Year’s Day Edition

Featured Restaurant News

  • Start off 2021 on the right foot by taking the #TakeOutPledge for your city, county or the entire Triangle – #TriangleTakeOutPledge. Commit to takeout 1-2 times per week to help save our local, independent restaurants. With that, restaurant owners believe they can make it to sunnier weather. And if you feel so compelled, throw a little love to the staff and employees who have been so negatively impacted by the pandemic by tipping generously!

Wake County Restaurant News

  • Blogger Eat Raleigh shared the news that a new restaurant called Berto’s Chimis opens today (Friday, Jan. 1) at 414 Dupont Circle. The Dominican burger joint is the dream of Roberto Diaz and will offer sandwiches with seasoned beef patties or marinated chicken breasts and sides include tostones, maduras, and yucca fries. Get to know them here.
  • Reader Burke Williams shared with us that Thaiphoon Bistro has opened in the Stonehenge Market shopping center at 7496 Creedmoor Road, operating a takeout version of their downtown restaurant, in the space formerly occupied by 888 Chinese. The downtown location is at 301 Glenwood Avenue. Visit their new location today! Check them out here.
  • Also in Raleigh, Michael DePersia of DePersia & Associates notifed me that a new location of Brixx Wood Fired Pizza opened on December 16th at 1540 Dunn Road in the Bedford Village development. Visit them here.
  • Down in Fuquay-Varina, Today in the Quay reported that the owners of the Cleveland Draft House will open a third location in the old Golden Corral building (by Smithfield’s/Moes and the railroad tracks, behind Sherwin Williams). Look for them to open in mid-May. They already have locations in Cleveland and Garner. Visit Cleveland Draft House here.
  • And staying in “the quay” – Johnny’s Pizza has successfully opened their 4th Triangle location – this one at 722 N. Judd Parkway. This one joins the other locations in Apex, Cary and Wake Forest. Swing by and check them out or order online here.
  • On a recent drive down Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street saw a “coming soon” sign for Meat & Bite Food Exchange at 2908 Hillsborough Street. Looks like they’ll be offering up burgers, grilled and fried chicken, burritos and tacos – everything a college kid might want/crave! No word on an open date. Get to know them here.
  • Looking for all the outdoor dining options in Downtown Raleigh? The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has put together a great list of those options, and they even divided it up by district. Check out that list here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Twitter buddy Burgeoningbaker shared the news that a location of Red Crab Seafood Boil, with locations all over the US, including three in North Carolina (and 3 more on the way), will soon be opening in the Oak Creek Village shopping center in Durham just down from Zweli’s. Get to know them here.
  • And here are a couple of wonderful resources for those looking to dine in downtown Durham or downtown Chapel Hill – Downtown Durham Inc. has an up-to-date listing of the status of each restaurant in downtown Durham. Check out the list here. And the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership has put together a similar list for Chapel Hill here.

Closings / Cancellations

  • The folks over at Raleigh Convergence shared the news that Little Shop, from Anisette, Lousy Hunters Doughnuts and Sustain Market, will be closing for good at the end of their lease on January 10. See the announcement here.
  • Cameron Village’s so•ca restaurant has joined their sister restaurant, kō•än in closing – but just temporarily. Look for their reopening after we get to the other side of Covid.

Food Trucks 

  • Here are a  couple of sites to find and stalk your favorite food trucks here and here.

Events

  • Simply eating out has become a bit of an event. The creativity, caution and care our restaurants have taken (and added expenses!) is nothing short of impressive. One thing they are not short on is passion! Anyway, blogger Beck Eats World has put together a pretty impressive list of restaurants with outdoor heaters. Check out the list here.
  • Looking for places to eat out on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day? Raleigh Magazine has you covered with a list of options. Check it out here.
  • Not exactly an event per se, but rather some things to celebrate. Visit Raleigh put together a list of the best restaurants that opened in 2020 in the greater Raleigh area. Check that list out here. And WRAL’s Out and About put out a broader list of Triangle-wide openings in 2020. Check that list out here.

Food Bank Corner

Looking for ways to help in the fight against hunger? Here are four ways to help. There is a long road ahead, and the Food Bank is here for the long haul. We will need resources to continue enacting the strategies we know work to end hunger. Here’s how you can help:

Donate Funds
As we try and meet the nearly 40% increase in need this pandemic has created in our communities, funds are the resource we need most. Financial donations allow us to stay nimble and responsive in our operations as conditions change, and to reach new people with our efforts. 

Involve Friends
Want to mobilize your neighborhood, church group, or other circle of friends? Holding a Virtual Food Drive is a great way to help – while practicing social distancing. We even re-launched our Virtual Food Drive platform. Visit foodbankcenc.org/vfd to set yours up today.

Use Your Voice
Research the policies that impact hunger and speak out! Contact your state, local, and federal representatives to let them know policies like SNAP, TEFAP, and WIC need to be strengthened in order to break the cycle of hunger and help relieve families of the burden of hunger. Visit here to learn more.

Donate Time
The Food Bank greatly relies on our volunteers, especially in times of crisis. If you are a healthy adult and want to volunteer, you can self-schedule a shift here #noonegoeshungry

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Friday Fun Food Facts – Christmas Edition

Featured Restaurant News

  • Make a New Year’s Resolution by taking the #TakeOutPledge for your city, county or the entire Triangle – #TriangleTakeOutPledge. Commit to takeout 1-2 times per week to help save our local, independent restaurants. With that, restaurant owners believe they can make it to sunnier weather. And don’t forget to tip generously!

Wake County Restaurant News

  • Blogger Eat Raleigh shared the news that a new restaurant called Berto’s Chimis will open on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 at 414 Dupont Circle. The Dominican burger joint is the dream of Roberto Diaz and will offer sandwiches with seasoned beef patties or marinated chicken breasts and sides include tostones, maduras, and yucca fries. Get to know them here.
  • Over on Twitter, Dawn Morgan dropped me a note letting me know that Arepa Culture will be opening a brick and mortar location at Pleasant Valley Promenade at 6274 Glenwood Avenue in spring 2021. In the meantime, visit their food truck for your arepa fix! Keep up with their progress here.
  • Over in Cary, Twitter buddy Burgeoningbaker tipped me off to the fact that Masa Sushi & Ramen, a new Japanese restaurant serving sushi and ramen, has opened at 2757 NC-55 Hwy. in the Lidl shopping center at High House Crossing. Check them out here.
  • Looking for all the outdoor dining options in Downtown Raleigh? The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has put together a great list of those options, and they even divided it up by district. Check out that list here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

  • Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook group’s faithful leader, Carrie Brogren, shared the news that Sweets by Shayda will be opening her very own pastry shop and cafe at 105 West Morgan Street in Durham. No word yet on an exact opening date, but it is soon as she was recently awareded her certificate of occupancy. Keep up with her on Facebook for an opening announcement.
  • And here are a couple of wonderful resources for those looking to dine in downtown Durham or downtown Chapel Hill – Downtown Durham Inc. has an up-to-date listing of the status of each restaurant in downtown Durham. Check out the list here. And the Downtown Chapel Hill Partnership has put together a similar list for Chapel Hill here.

Closings / Cancellations

  • Sadly, we learned from Indy Week that Durham’s Criterion Bar will be closing permanently.

Food Trucks 

  • Here are a  couple of sites to find and stalk your favorite food trucks here and here.

Events

  • Looking for places to eat out on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day? Raleigh Magazine has you covered with a list of options. Check it out here.
  • Not exactly an event per se, but rather some things to celebrate. Visit Raleigh put together a list of the best restaurants that opened in 2020 in the greater Raleigh area. Check that list out here. And WRAL’s Out and About put out a broader list of Triangle-wide openings in 2020. Check that list out here.

Food Bank Corner

  • More people than ever before are turning the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina for assistance, and they need your reliable support to meet the growing need. This holiday season, your gift can be doubled to help twice as many neighbors facing hunger. That means every $10 you give through December 31 can help provide enough food for 100 meals for children, families, and seniors right here in our community. The gift you give provides hope in times of uncertainty. Don’t wait, donate now here! #noonegoeshungry

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