Friday Fun Food Facts – October 3, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

 Featured Restaurant News

  •  Eschelon Experiences announced this week the opening of its newest restaurant, Faire in Raleigh’s Cameron Village. The planned open date is October 13th. Faire, a midcentury-modern steak and seafood restaurant, marks Eschelon Experiences‘ fifth restaurant in the Triangle area. You can check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

  •  The Triangle Business Journal revealed this week that Trophy Brewing Co. of Raleigh is opening a new bottle shop in downtown Raleigh named after the brewers’ radio show, State of Beer. According to co-owner Chris Powers, “It’s on the 400 block of Hillsborough Street, by Second Empire and the Holiday Inn … We’re going to do 12 different drafts, growlers and bottles to go. And you can sit there and enjoy a draft and we’ll have sandwiches and salads. The goal is to be open by the beginning of January.” In the meantime, check them out here.
  • And speaking of beer (I’m a sucker for beer), we got word this week that Bottle Revolution has officially opened its second location, located at 10970 Chapel Hill Rd. in Morrisville. The new location features 12 rotating drafts, a large tasting room and a growing inventory of bottled beer. Tastings/Tap-takeovers will be a regular weekly staple and there will be a Bottle Revolution run-club as well. The shop is located inside The Market at Perimeter Park near Brunch Box. Check them out here.
  • T.MAC, a casual neighborhood restaurant that is known for its award-winning wings and large selection of craft beer (40 of which area are brewed in the Triangle and North Carolina) is opening this Sunday, October 5th. T.MAC’s newest restaurant will be located in Waverly Place in Cary. Get a peek at them here.
  • Got word this week that the first b.good location in North Carolina will open on October 18th (original date was 10/13) in North Hills (the Midtown Park side). They tout themselves as fast-food made by people, not factories. Check out their local Facebook page here.
  • I was reading the blog Raleigh Public Record this week and noticed a number of restaurants making their way through the permitting process. Here is the quick low-down on four.
  • First up was the replacement of the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Duraleigh Road just off of Glenwood Avenue with a Steak ‘N Shake. It made its way closer to fruition this week.
  • Also making its way through the approval process was the addition of a Wingstop to Alexander Place, also off Glenwood Avenue in the Brier Creek area. This will be the third Wingstop location in the Triangle. Check them out here.
  • Over in North Raleigh the Falls Village shopping center, off Falls of the Neuse Road, will be getting the latest edition of Smashburger. This will be the Triangle’s second location of Smashburger, but the first in Raleigh (the other one is in Durham). Check them out here.
  • And back in July we told you that that the old Lucky 32 restaurant building on Spring Forest Road in north Raleigh has been sold to a new restaurant group called Kamado Grille. And now Raleigh Public Record is reporting that the former Lucky 32 restaurant will become Bistro 832. We will keep an eye on this one.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

  • Today is the last day to get free coffee at the recently remodeled Market Street Café in Meadowmont in Chapel Hill that just reopened after a very nice remodel. And when I say coffee, I mean ALL coffee drinks – meaning mochas, cappuccinos, pourovers – everything! Check them out here.
  • The Herald Sun reported this week that Tootie’s, a Durham-based food truck and catering business, has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to open a bar with food and live music on Rigsbee Avenue. Throw them some love here.

Closings 

  • None to report! Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

  • The final Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of the year will be held on Sunday, October 12th from 1 – 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Think ½ mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 11 city blocks! Get all the details here.
  • And if you like to run and you like food trucks (or if you run because you love food trucks) you won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo scheduled for Sunday, October 19th. Register for the race and get all the details here.

Events 

  •  This weekend is the IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass Festival taking over downtown Raleigh. As WRAL points out, the weekend is not just about music, but also food. Check out this great summary of what your taste buds can look forward to!
  • This Sunday is the 7th Annual Pepper Festival hosted by Briar Chapel community in Chapel Hill from 3-7 p.m. The event celebrates local food, beer and North Carolina culture in a spicy new way. Top chefs across North Carolina compete to create dishes–from beer to chocolate–using the locally bred and grown N.C. pepper. Get all the details here.
  • Raleigh City Farm’s Annual Harvest Dinner will be held this year on Sunday, October 5 and will feature Chef Scott Crawford of Standard Foods. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. Raleigh City Farm is located at Person Street Plaza at 800 North Blount Street. Tickets can be purchased here beginning next month.
  • For the 19th year in a row, The World Beer Festival will be held in Durham on Oct. 11 in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The festival, produced by All About Beer Magazine, has reduced tickets available by 35 percent and raised the price to relieve crowding. General admission tickets are $55 and include a tasting glass to sample from over 200 international beers. VIP tickets are $70 and offer a private air-conditioned hospitality area with private bathrooms and a bonus selection of beers. Get all the details here.
  • And hold the date for an annual event held by The Ronald McDonald House over in Chapel Hill that features over two dozen of the triangle’s finest restaurants – A Tasteful Affair will be held on Sunday, October 26th in The Blue Zone at UNC’s Kenan Stadium. Get all the details here.
  • And got word that the 3rd Annual Red & White Food and Beverage Festival will be held on Tuesday November 4th at The State Club from 6-9pm. And for our readers, receive $5 off admission by entering promo code “foodguy” when you purchase tickets here.

Food Bank Corner   

  •  The next big event for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is the Food Lion Hunger Relief Day at the State Fair on Thursday, October 23! Food Lion Hunger Relief Day is one of the largest one-day canned-food drives in the state. Here’s how it works: Bringfive cans of Food Lion brand food to the State Fair on Thursday, October 23, and you get in for free (and a good feeling that you helped some folks in need)!

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Friday Fun Food Facts – September 26, 2014

Triangle Restaurant News

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

 Featured Restaurant News

  •   Today is the day! It is the FoodBank’s 24 Hour Telethon beginning at noon today (Friday, September 26) with a goal of raising $60,000 (or 300,000 meals) for hunger relief as part of Hunger Action Month. There are lots of ways to participate (in addition to your donation), so check it out here. And plan to stop by for one of the many activities and tell my buddy Gregory Ng I said hello!

Wake County Restaurant News

  • According to the Triangle Business Journal, over atop downtown Raleigh the City Club Raleigh has reopened after a $3 million investment that combined the Cardinal Club with the Capital City Club . It is located on the top floor of the Wells Fargo Capitol Center downtown. The location now includes the Anytime Lounge and Grill and a restaurant concept called Grain. A grand opening will be held tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 27) from 7-10 p.m. and is open to the public. Check it out here.
  • This is a first. The first First Watch restaurant in North Carolina is opening this coming Monday (Sept. 29) in the former Boston Market building next to the Golden Corral on Glenwood Avenue near Pleasant Valley Promenade. But owner Bob Frame is not stopping after this one. He is committed to opening 5 locations in the Triangle over the next four years. Check them out here.
  • Got word this week that T.MAC, a casual neighborhood restaurant known for its award-winning wings and large selection of craft beer (40 of which area are brewed in the Triangle and North Carolina) is opening on Sunday, October 5th. T.MAC’s newest restaurant will be located in Waverly Place in Cary. Get a peek at them here.
  • Also in Waverly Place, Charlotte-based Toast Café, which specializes in breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch, is expected to open on October 1st according to the News & Observer. You can check out some of their other locations here. This will be the chain’s first Triangle area location.
  • Got word this week that the first b.good location in North Carolina will open on October 13th in North Hills (the Midtown Park side). They tout themselves as fast-food made by people, not factories. Check out their local Facebook page here.
  • Over in Apex, got word from a reader that Chippy’s has opened. Chippy’s is a fish and chips restaurant that is located in the old Dixie Belle’s Smokehouse location at 1001 Davis Drive. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

  • This is worth a trip to Chapel Hill. The recently remodeled Market Street Café in Meadowmont is now open again and is offering free coffee to anyone that visits the store. And when I say coffee, I mean ALL coffee drinks – meaning mochas, cappuccinos, pourovers – everything! Get in there between now and next Friday to see the new space and enjoy free coffee. Check them out here.

Closings 

  • None to report! Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

  • Tonight (September 26) from 5 until 8 p.m. Meals on Wheels will hold their third annual Food Truck Rodeo at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. The participating food trucks include MaMa Dukes, Humble Pig, Only Burger, Sweet Traditions, Sympathy for the Deli and Time-Out Restaurant. Ten percent of all the food sales will go toward supporting Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels. Check them out here.
  • The Pittsboro Roadhouse and General Store will hold their second to last Food Truck Rodeo of the year this Saturday (Sept 27) from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown Pittsboro. Featured trucks will include: Bear Creek Brews, Carolina Brewing Co., Dusty Donuts, Gussy’s Greek, Little Dipper’s Italian Ice, Mr. & Mrs. Hot Dog Shack and Philly’s Cheesesteaks. Get more details here.
  • The final Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo of the year will be held on Sunday, October 12th from 1 – 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Think ½ mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 11 city blocks! Get all the details here.
  • And if you like to run and you like food trucks (or if you run because you love food trucks) you won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo scheduled for Sunday, October 19th. Register for the race and get all the details here.

Events

  • Tomorrow (September 27) is Beericana. What is Beericana? When I saw a diagram of the layout, I immediately thought of what heaven must look like…50 breweries + 10 food trucks + 4 Americana bands + Awesome People = Beericana! The event will be held at Sugg Farm Park in Holly Springs. Get all the details here.
  • If you, or someone you know, requires a gluten free diet, you’ll want to head out this weekend to the North Carolina Triangle Gluten Intolerance Fair which will be held on Saturday, September 27 from 1-6 p.m. Get all the details and ticket information here.
  • Also this weekend, the Southern Ideal Home Show has gone all “foodie” on us. One of the featured events this year will host Brews & Bites, a dining event pairing North Carolina breweries and chefs together to create unique samplings crafted specially for show attendees. It is happening every afternoon during the three-day event. Get all the details here.
  • Put this one on your calendar as well – the 7th Annual Pepper Festival hosted by Briar Chapel community in Chapel Hill on October 5, 3-7 p.m. The event celebrates local food, beer and North Carolina culture in a spicy new way. Top chefs across North Carolina compete to create dishes–from beer to chocolate–using the locally bred and grown N.C. pepper. Get all the details here.
  • Saw in the Beltline Buzz this week that Big Boss Brewery has partnered with Nofo Café for a five course Beer Dinner beginning with a tour and the first course at 5:30 at Big Boss on October 6th. Courses two through five will take place at Nofo. To enjoy this fabulous evening, you must make reservations. Call now before spaces are filled. 919-821-1240. Visit Nofo here.
  • Raleigh City Farm’s Annual Harvest Dinner will be held this year on Sunday, October 5 and will feature Chef Scott Crawford of Standard Foods. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. Raleigh City Farm is located at Person Street Plaza at 800 North Blount Street. Tickets can be purchased here beginning next month.
  • For the 19th year in a row, The World Beer Festival will be held in Durham on Oct. 11 in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The festival, produced by All About Beer Magazine, has reduced tickets available by 35 percent and raised the price to relieve crowding. General admission tickets are $55 and include a tasting glass to sample from over 200 international beers. VIP tickets are $70 and offer a private air-conditioned hospitality area with private bathrooms and a bonus selection of beers. Get all the details here.
  • And hold the date for an annual event held by The Ronald McDonald House over in Chapel Hill that features over two dozen of the triangle’s finest restaurants – A Tasteful Affair will be held on Sunday, October 26th in The Blue Zone at UNC’s Kenan Stadium. Get all the details here.
  • And got word that the 3rd Annual Red & White Food and Beverage Festival will be held on Tuesday November 4th at The State Club from 6-9pm. And for our readers, receive $5 off admission by entering promo code “foodguy” when you purchase tickets here.

Food Bank Corner   

  • The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is holding their 3rd Annual FoodBank24 New Media Telethon today and tomorrow! (September 26-27). The 24-hour event begins at noon today and continues for 24 straight hours of entertaining and enlightening activities as part of Hunger Action Month. Stop by today or tomorrow. And get all the details here. There are lots of ways to participate.

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