TRIANGLE FOOD BLOG

•  So my travel schedule today prevents me from putting out this week’s issue of Friday Fun Food Facts. That is the bad news.

• But the good news is that I will publish Monday Fun Food Facts (doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?) next Monday, May 12, 2014.

• Also, as an apology for the delay, I extended an offer to my corporate catering clients and thought I’d throw out the same offer to you – my Friday Fun Food Facts readers!

• The other side of my business is Corporate Catering for primarily office meetings. We offer an easy way to order catering for your office meeting through our website, Triangle Food Guy. Perhaps you never knew that and/or never had the chance to utilize our service. We’ve offered the following “apology” to our clients and want to extend the same offer to you!

• The other GREAT news is that as an “apology” for not getting the news out today, we will deliver a $10 gift card to either Starbucks or Target to you for every order placed TODAY for next week! That’s right, simply place your order(s) for next week TODAY and we’ll see you on Monday, with gift card in hand. Just put in the “Special Instructions” of your order whether you would like a Target or a Starbucks gift card. The only “catch” is that all qualifying orders must be at least $100. That’s it! There is no limit to the number of gift cards an individual can receive. Place 10 orders? Receive 10 gift cards! So get your orders organized for next week and get them in TODAY to take advantage of this unique offer. Oh, and then decide what kind of Mocha you want, or what you are going to buy at Target with your gift card. Order away now and we’ll see you on Monday!

• The next big news in downtown Raleigh will be the opening next week of DeMo’s Pizzeria and Deli which is going into the former Bada Bing site at 222 Glenwood Avenue. Look for a May 5th opening! DeMo’s is brought to us by the guys from DeMarco’s up in North Raleigh Check them out here.

Wake County Restaurant News

• According to the News & Observer, the owners of Taste, a tapas and wine bar on Medlin Drive, opened The Oak last week in Raleigh’s Marketplace at Lake Boone complex in the former 618 Bistro space. You can check them out here.

•  A new Mexican restaurant has opened on Raleigh’s Honeycutt Road (8450 Honeycutt Road to be exact) called Taqueria Americana. Check them out here.

• We saw on the blog Raleigh Public Record this week that there is a new restaurant coming into the Greystone Village shopping center called Papa’s Pizza & Subs. They are in the middle of renovations and no open date has been set and we weren’t able to find a website.

• Normally this news would just make the pages of any bowling blog (is there such a thing?), but because of their focus on providing a unique dining experience, it is worth noting that Sparians, an upscale bowling alley and restaurant in Raleigh’s North Hills, has changed owners and will rebrand as Kings Bowl America. Get a sneak peek at Kings here.

• Got word this week that Menchie’s, a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, has opened in Garner. The store is located at 2636 Timber Drive in the Garner Towne Square.

• If you are out in Knightdale, Triangle Business Journal noted that Latitudes Fine Food & Spirits will be opening on Knightdale Boulevard near the water tower. They are looking to open sometime this month, but you can keep up with them on Facebook here.

• We’ve noted these before, but it is worth noting again. If you are interested in buying a successful restaurant, both Tony’s Oyster Bar in Cary and the Spotted Dog in Carrboro are for sale. If you have any interest, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Neal DePersia at National Restaurant Properties.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• Over in Durham, Café Love will have their “official grand opening” on Monday, May 5th (but they are already open) from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. They are till takeout only – but they have a very nice deck area to enjoy. A huge congratulations to Jane Howard Crutchfield and Matthew Daniels. Check them out the opening details here.

• Got word from the Herald Sun this week that Mi Peru (a Peruvian restaurant) will be opening at 4015 University Drive in the space that formerly housed Rick’s Diner, Bear Rock Café and most recently, Fresno Café. No opening date has been posted, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

• Also in Durham, WRAL noted last week that Blue Note Grill is moving over near the old Durham Athletic Park. The Triangle Business Journal and the Herald Sun report that it will be located in a two-bay building at 709 and 711 Washington St. The venue will be remodeled into a restaurant with a live music space and outdoor patio. We’ll keep an eye on it.

• Over in Chapel Hill, got word from friend Wendy Ransbury that Jersey Mike’s has opened a new location in Chapel Hill North at 1802 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Check them out here.

Closings 

• Got word this week that Ox and Rabbit Soda and Sundries on Durham’s Ninth Street will be closing their doors. They will be having a thank you/farewell party on Saturday, May 24. Get more details on their Facebook page here.

Food Trucks 

Food Bank Corner   

• Our friends over at Cackalacky, Inc. are turning thirteen years young and they will be celebrating by hosting A Super Awesome Cackalacky Happy Fun Time Birthday Party & Oyster Roast at Fullsteam Brewery this Sunday, May 4th at 2 p.m. Get all the details here. The event is absolutely free. However, you are encouraged to bring along a few canned food items to be donated to the nice folks at Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

• And mark your calendars for May 10th and support our local food bank for their annual Stamp Out Hunger drive by placing a bag of food by your mailbox and the letter carrier will deliver it to the local post office. Get more information here.