TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

•  The word is out! Mark your calendars for one of the Triangle’s annual “can’t miss” foodie events – Terra Vita 2014. It will be held October 9 – 11 and tickets go on sale July 20. Lots of great folks involved this year. Follow @terravitafoodie on twitter and Instagram for more updates. The website is here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• The News & Observer reported this week that Tammy Calaway-Harper is targeting early August for the opening of Belle, an ambitious new farm-to-table restaurant, coffee shop/bakery and cafe in the Jones House, a historic structure at the corner of Academy Street and Dry Avenue in Cary. Follow her progress here.

• Got word this week that Ajisai Japanese Fusion + Sushi has opened in the old Sushi Gami location in Cameron Village.

• Triangle Business Journal reported last week that the Triangle is home to another location of WhichWich Superior Sandwiches. The latest location opened up in the food court at Crabtree Valley Mall. This is the chain’s first mall location.

• It was recently announced that Tasty 8’s Gourmet Hot Dog Company will open next month at 121 Fasayetteville Street, in the former Spize Café location. We will keep an eye on it. In the mean time, visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  Via twitter, @Burgeoningbaker tweeted me yesterday that Primal Restaurant, a gluten-free restaurant and bar, is now open in Durham. They are located at 202 West Highway 54 in the former location of Souper Salad. Check them out here.

• Noticed on a recent stroll down Franklin Street in Chapel Hlll that Pita Pit has closed, and a sign for Campus Calzones has gone up. No word yet on an open date, but the Herald Sun noted that there is a Campus Calzones location in Greenville, NC. Get a peek at them here.

• The Triangle Business Journal also reported that seven months after a building fire closed their pizza pie restaurant, the owners of Pizzeria Toro at Five Points in downtown Durham will reopen in late July at its original spot at 105 E. Chapel Hill Street. Keep up with them here.

• According to the Herald Sun, a Krispy Kreme shop is coming to 3536 Hillsborough Road in the former George’s Diner location. Plans for renovation are under review at Durham City-County Planning. Stay tuned.

• The Herald Sun reported this week that Straw Valley in Durham has moved its lunch service to The Black House. Previously, lunch was offered at the cafe and wine bar space and surrounding outdoor spaces. Reservations will be accepted for lunch at The Black House. Also, The Black House will be open seven nights a week for dinner service. They are located between U.S. 15-501 and the New Hope Commons shopping center. Check them out here.

Closings 

• After more than 46 years in business, the first Dunkin’ Donuts shop to open in North Carolina closed its doors at 1801 Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. Our best to Groover and Joyce Blitch.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• With three locations in the Triangle, locally owned Firewurst has launched their 10,000 for 10,000 Summer Hunger Campaign for the month of July. Firewurst is charging the community to come out and eat one of their famous Certified Angus Beef hot dogs in celebration for National Hot Dog month. The goal is to sell 10,000 hot dogs throughout the month, and Firewurst will donate $10,000 to the Food Bank’s Stop Summer Hunger program that feeds local children in need. Visit one of these Firewurst locations to participate: 1377 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary (next to Trader Joe’s); 1823 N. Harrison Ave., Cary, (next to Bass Pro Shops) and 8531 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh (next to Regal Brier Creek Stadium 14). Get all the details here.

• Got word yesterday that a new concept to North Carolina will take over the space formerly occupied by Piola in Chapel Hill’s East 54. Look for a concept called The Egg & I to take over that space. They serve breakfast and lunch. No word yet on an open date. Check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• Juice and salad delivery service Happy + Hale opened a brick and mortar location today in downtown Raleigh at 443 Fayetteville Street in front of the Bank of America building. They have grand opening activities planned all day. Check them out here.

• We got word this week that popular food truck Sarges Chef had a soft opening this past Wednesday at their new brick and mortar location at 400 Southtown Circle in Rolesville in the old JD’s Grill location. Get more details here.

• Saw on a Yelp message board that Almadina Bakery, which closed for renovations, has reopened as Kader’s French Pastry (1007 Method Rd.) and features nice French and Mediterranean desserts! Check them out here.

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Benjamin Harris, a native of Raleigh, has returned from the Charleston area to become the new executive chef at Midtown Grille at North Hills following the departure of Scott James. He will take over the reigns on July 3rd. Congrats to Benjamin!

• The News & Observer reported this week that Lorraine’s Coffee House and Music, a coffee shop that features live music, has opened in Garner. It is located at at 101 Timber Pointe Lane, on the corner of Timber Drive and Vandora Springs Road. Check them out here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• We were the first to break the news that Durham’s Bean Trader’s was expanding into the space next door. The expansion means Bean Trader’s will offer more roasting, coffee classes, a full alternative brew bar, and a craft waffle and dessert bar with beer and wine. Congrats to Christy and David! Expect the renovations and expansion to take place in stages. Check them out here.

• The Herald Sun reported this week that the kitchen has opened at Triangle Brewing Co.’s Pint & Plate to allow for the bar (and now restaurant) to start serving food. They opened last year at 802 W. Main St., but didn’t start offering food until the kitchen opened on May 29. Check them out here.

• This week the Triangle Business Journal noted that the much anticipated Japanese ramen shop Dashi announced their location – 415 E. Chapel Hill Street. Kelli and Billy Cotter, owners of the popular Downtown Durham paninoteca, Toast, and Rochelle and Nick Johnson, owners of the culinary incubator and event space, The Cookery, are behind this new concept. Check them out here. 

• Carpe Durham noted this week that Gocciolina, a small Italian restaurant, has opened at 3314 Guess Road in Durham. Locals will recognize Aaron Benjamin, the man behind the concept, who spent time at Rue Cler and Pops. Gocciolina has been open just over a week and is serving up small plates of Italian comfort food. Check them out here.

• The News & Observer is reporting that Mi Peru, owned by the husband and wife team of Edwin Vergaray and Gladis Muñoz, has opened in Durham in the space formerly occupied by Rick’s Cafe and more recently, Bear Rock Cafe and Fresno Cafe. Check them out on Facebook here.

• The Triangle Business Journal also reported this week that seven months after a building fire closed their pizza pie restaurant, the owners of Pizzeria Toro at Five Points in downtown Durham will reopen in late July at its original spot at 105 E. Chapel Hill Street. Keep up with them here.

Closings 

•  No closings to report! Keep eating local, folks!

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Go ahead and mark your calendar for the Food Bank’s Annual 24 Hour Telethon (#FoodBank24). This year it will be held on September 26-27, 2014. It will start at 12 noon on Friday and will air through Saturday at noon. The Food Bank and Gregory Ng of Freezer Burns are coming together once again to raise food, funds, and awareness as part of the national Hunger Action Month movement. Learn more here.