Friday, June 29, 2012

Friday Fun Food Facts - June 29, 2012

Triangle Restaurant News
Triangle restaurant news...that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler. 
  •  Downtown Durham has a new tapas dining option with the opening this week of Taberna Tapas Diner. Featuring Spanish tapas, they are located at 325 W. Main Street between Beyu Caffee and Dame's Chicken & Waffles, just down from Toast. Check them out here.   
  • It was just over a year ago that we first told you about Uncle Vito's New York Pizza that was slated to open in Chapel Hill's Timberlyne Shopping Center. Well, then in January of this year, the news changed that Pizza Vito would be opening soon. Well, we can now report that Pizza Vito has in fact opened. Thanks to reader Jacqueline Atlas for the tip on this. Visit their site here
  • It was announced this week that a cornerstone of downtown Pittsboro will re-open sometime in August. That's right, The General Store Café, after undergoing renovations and much needed changes, will re-open under the ownership of Chef Greg Lewis, who also owns Catering By Design. Greg and his wife, who were regular patrons of the café, will hold on to many of the things people loved about the GSC, but bring many of the changes that were needed. We'll keep close tabs on Greg and keep you updated.
  • Speaking of opening dates, we got word this week that the Tobacco Road Sports Café will open its latest location sometime in September. This will mark the third Triangle location and will take over the former Streets Deli location in Chapel Hill's East 54. We will continue to keep an eye on it.
  • The blog Ninth Street Watch and Durham Magazine are reporting this week that Durham is on the verge of getting a butchery called Rose's Meat Market and Sweet Shop. While they don't have an exact location just yet, they are actively looking. Justin and Katie Meddis both bring extensive culinary backgrounds and will be holding a number of private dinners this summer as a way to introduce themselves and their concept. We'll keep an eye on it. Check out their Facebook page here.   
  • Looks like Monuts Donuts is trading in their wheels for a more permanent "brick and mortar" location in downtown Durham. While the exact location is being closely guarded, they will be releasing clues leading up to the big announcement in July. To keep up, visit their Facebook page here or their regular website here. Congrats to Lindsay Moriarty and Rob Gillespie.
  • And speaking of going from wheels to brick and mortar, the N&O's Andrea Weigl is reporting that Bulkogi Korean BBQ truck will be opening a restaurant in Wake Forest at 927 Durham Road by the end of next month. But don't worry, the truck will still be making its usual rounds, and the restaurant will feature the same menu as the truck, with a few more surprises. Keep up with it all on their Facebook page here.  
  • And one more food truck on the verge of opening a permanent location. Durham's ice cream truck, The Parlour, is just a few hundred dollars away in their Kickstarter Campaign to raise the $20k necessary for kitchen equipment. The location will be in downtown Durham. Congrats to Yoni and Vanesssa Mazuz. Contribute to their Kickstarter campaign here or visit their regular site here.  
  • Just in time for the pending 100 degrees plus days, Sweet Water Ices is the latest food cart to hit the streets of downtown Raleigh. They are typically set up outside the First Citizens building and they don't use syrup or artificial flavoring in any of their 30+ flavors. Be sure to hit them up with all this crazy heat. Visit their Facebook page here.
  • And speaking of mobile goodies, pork fans will be excited to learn that there is another pork option out there for you now. Porchetta is a new truck featuring Italian-style slow roasted pork sandwiches. Owners Nicholas Crosson and Matthew Hayden used to work together at Raleigh's 18 Seaboard. Check them out here.
  • And in one final "food truck" bit of news, the Independent Weekly is reporting that Gus Megaloudis, known to Duke's students as The Greek Devil, is taking his stand on the road with a truck called Gussy's, which will feature Greek street food. Get all the details here.    
  • Here is a fun little "wager" where you get to win! Friends Ray Dorry, owner of Dorry's Downtown Deli & Catering and Niall Hanley, owner of Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant, are holding a month-long competition - The Great Cary Reuben Challenge - to see who has the best Reuben in town. Visit both restaurants to record your vote. Good luck to Ray and Niall, and may the best Reuben win!
  • Guess who just turned 52? Shame on everyone that just guessed me! No, the legendary Angus Barn just celebrated its 52nd anniversary this week. Kudos to Van Eure and the entire Eure family for carrying on the vision that was started by Thad Eure, Jr. and Charles Winston back in June, 1960.
  • And not quite that old, but kudos to the folks at Capital Club 16 Restaurant & Bar as they celebrate their 2nd anniversary with a party on this Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Stop by for all the festivities. Check out their website for all the details.  
  • The Hillsborough Street dining scene took a big hit this week with the N&O's Greg Cox and Andrea Weigl reporting that Urban Food Group's Frazier's had closed after 14 years. Frazier's was UFG's first restaurant in Raleigh, which has grown to now include Porter's Tavern, Coquette, Chow and two locations of Vivace, one in Charlotte and the other in Raleigh. The good news is that Klara's, a Czech restaurant in Cary, has purchased the business. UFG also announced that they would be opening another location of Vivace in Durham! We will keep an eye on that.
  • And we are sad to report that Joe Van Loco, a joint effort of Joe Van Gogh Coffee and Locopops, will close their doors tomorrow in North Raleigh in the Towne North Shopping Center on Creedmoor Road. Thanks to Carole Walker for this tip.
  • The folks over at Chatham Hill Winery will be hosting a food truck rodeo today (June 29th) from 4-9 pm at their location at 3800 Gateway Centre Drive in Morrisville. Confirmed trucks are American Meltdown, Chick-N-Que, Klausie's Pizza, Dang Good Dogs, Chirba Chirba, Ole North State BBQ and Baguettaboutit. Get all the details here.    
  • While we are back on the topic of food trucks, the 2nd annual Food Truck Mash Up will take place on Saturday, July 14th beginning at 2:00 p.m. If you'll recall, this event has each truck "mashing up" ingredients with the other trucks present. And this year, they will feature two sessions - 3-6 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Get all the details here 
  • And this is kind of fun. GQ's Brett Martin set on an adventure across America to find the best food in the most unusual spots. And where did that land him...of all places, Raleigh's own Rex Hospital. Now dubbed the "Rex Carlton," Martin lavished praises on chef Jim McGrody. Check out the article here.   
  • And if that is not enough, a team of Rex Healthcare chefs proved their culinary prowess by taking home the top prize at the Association for Healthcare Foodservice 2012 Culinary Competition, held in Miami. Kudos again to Rex!
  • And finally, I hope everyone finds creative ways to survive the heat wave that is upon us and enjoys the Fourth of July holiday. For me, my family and I are heading to sunny (and cooler) Florida to visit family. Therefore, there will be no Friday Fun Food Facts next week. Happy 4th and stay cool!

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