TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

•  He has done it again. The much-anticipated annual “ranking” of area restaurants by the News & Observer’s Greg Cox – including the restaurant of the year. No spoiler alert here, you’ll have to click through to see this year’s list, and winner. I’ll have to say, it is hard to argue with this list.

Wake County Restaurant News

•  And here is one more great read for you. Looks like the New York Times is following Andrea Weigl’s lead and has a great article on the “sisterhood” of great female chefs, and farmers, in North Carolina and specifically here in the Triangle. Take a moment to read this piece.

• The News & Observer reported this week that Glenwood South’s The Rockford closed temporarily this past Tuesday to revamp their menu. They will reopen next week (February 3rd). Check them out here.

• Our friends over at New Raleigh reported this week that downtown Raleigh is getting a new gastropub called Whiskey Kitchen. It will be located adjacent to Nash Square in the “White Horse” building. Nothing much on their website or Facebook page yet.

• Rise Biscuits and Donuts, which opened in 2012 near the Streets of Southpoint in Durham, announced this week that their first franchise location would open this summer in Morrisville’s Park West Village shopping center. We will keep an eye on an exact opening date once it is known. Look for additional franchise location announcements in the next month. In the meantime, check out Rise here.

• The News & Observer reported this week that Diana and Oliver Yu are targeting February15 for the opening of Goji Bistro in Cary’s Maynard Crossing Shopping Center in the former Neo-Asia space, which the Yus also operated (the original Neo-Asia on Raleigh’s Glenwood Avenue remains unchanged). Get a peek at Goji on Facebook here.

• Got word from David McCreary (aka Lunchboy Says) that a new restaurant has opened in Fuquay-Varina called Kumo Sushi Hibachi. It is located at 2915 N. Main Street. Check out their Facebook page here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• The Durham, a boutique 53-room hotel in downtown Durham (315 E. Chapel Hill Street) will open this spring according to the News & Observer. That alone is pretty cool. But what makes it suave cool, is that Chapel Hill’s Andrea Reusing (i.e. Lantern) has teamed up with the developers to open a ground level restaurant and roof-top bar. Now that makes that hotel! We’ll keep an eye out for the exact open date.

• The Triangle Business Journal is reporting that beginning next week, February 3rd to be exact, Durham will have a “Hot Now” light flashing at 3536 Hillsborough Road as Krispy Kreme opens up its newest location. Remember, the first 100 people through the doors get “donuts for a year.” If interested, you might want to make plans to camp out. This location is the former site of George’s Diner and before that, Miami Subs Grill.

Closings 

• Reader Sammi Hilliard tipped us off to the fact that One Whirled Café in Wake Forest has closed their doors.

• The News & Observer is reporting that March 27th or 29th will be the last day for Ninth Street’s Charlie’s Pub & Grill over in Durham.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Our friends over at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina are coming off a very big year in 2014 (read about it here). But the need is even bigger and their work is even more meaningful. So how can you help? Have you ever considered hosting a food drive at your office? They make it as easy as pie. Click here for a step-by-step “guide” to hosting a food drive in your office.

• Triangle Business Journal reported this week that P.G. Werth’s Restaurant & Market, the new project of Chef Gregory Hamm, will open for business today. It is located on the ground floor of the 927 W. Morgan apartment building in downtown Raleigh. Hamm is also the proprietor of Cafe 121 in Sanford. Check it out on Facebook here.

Wake County Restaurant News

•  I might need to start a “great reads” section on a weekly basis – especially if Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer keeps turning out these amazing pieces! This time she has penned a terrific article on some of the “other” (i.e. non Ashley Christensen…) wonderful establishments owned by women in Raleigh’s booming food scene. Take the time to read it here.

• A bit of a change-up over in Cary. As you might recall, Bella Mia changed hands right around December, 2012. Now we are getting word that that location has closed and a sign for Ruckus Pizza now hangs in the window. No word yet on the open date for Ruckus. Thanks to readers Christy Tucker and Sarah Armstrong for the initial tips on this. Check out Ruckus here.

• John Huisman (aka Triangle Explorer) tipped me off to the fact that The Mason Jar Tavern in Holly Springs opened yesterday. They are located at 114 Grand Hill Place. Check them out here.

• Got word from my friend Dana McCall (aka GoGoRaleigh) that the third time might just be the charm. Apparently Chipotle is going into Crossroads Shopping Center in Cary where Salsaritas and Taqueria del Sol were. Looking at early summer.

• Also in Cary, got notice that Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint is set to host their grand opening this Saturday, January 24 with free pizza from 11 until 2. It is located in the Parkside Town Common shopping center. Look for two more locations to open in the Triangle in the next 18 months. Check them out here.

• Reader Hugh Autry informed me via email that the family that started Lane’s Seafood and Steaks down in Angier have decided to reopen the restaurant. Stay tuned. Thanks Hugh!

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  I saw on a Yelp feed that Gonza Taco y Tequila is about two weeks from opening another Triangle area location. With locations already in Wake Forest and Raleigh, they are set now to open in downtown Durham’s West Village development. Check them out here.

• A bit of an update on news we brought you back in April, 2014. The News & Observer is reporting that Ken Yowell, owner of CalaVela Empanada & Tequila Bar in downtown Raleigh, is targeting the first week in February for the opening of a second location in Carrboro in the Hampton Inn building. Although, due to a parting of ways with a business partner, it won’t be called CalaVela. Here is a look at CalaVela to give you an idea.

• And upon getting that operation up and running, Yowell will immediately begin efforts to open in the adjacent space a “meatball” concept similar to his Oak City Meatball Shoppe which is also over in downtown Raleigh. Obviously it won’t be called Oak City, but no word yet on the name (I don’t think Paris of the Piedmont Meatball Shoppe will make the cut). We’ll keep an eye on both of these. Take a peek at Oak City Meatball Shopped to get an idea.

• The Triangle Business Journal noted this week that Durham-based food truck Captain Poncho’s Tacos is opening a restaurant in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village and that they are targeting an opening date of Feb. 15. Check them out here.

• On Saturday, January 24th, Smallckakes will hold their grand opening celebration. Details here.

Closings 

• Rebecca Calhoun brought it to my attention this week that Taqueria Americana at Lafayette Village has closed. But it seems they might be reopening in another space. We will keep an eye on it.

• Got word this week that the Five Guys Burgers in the food court at Streets at Southpoint has closed.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Our friends over at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina are coming off a very big year in 2014 (read about it here). But the need is even bigger and their work is even more meaningful. So how can you help? Have you ever considered hosting a food drive at your office? They make it as easy as pie. Click here for a step-by-step “guide” to hosting a food drive in your office.