Friday Fun Food Facts - May 31, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  Triangle Restaurant Week’s summer event starts Monday and goes through June 9. More than 85 restaurants in Raleigh, Cary, Durham and Chapel Hill will be offering three-course lunches for $15 and three-course dinners for $20 or $30. And speaking from experience, I’d highly encourage you to secure reservations before heading out (and you can do that via Open Table for 54 of those restaurants here). Get all the details here.   

Wake County Restaurant News 

• After some pretty significant delays, Randy’s Pizza announced last week via their Facebook page that they will officially swing open their doors at their newest location (Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh - former Bear Rock location) on June 3rd. Check them out here on Facebook.  

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Kai Sushi & Sake Bar restaurant has opened in the Greystone Village shopping center at the intersection of Lead Mine and Sawmill roads. Kai Sushi is filling the corner space that was previously occupied by the Stella Mare Ristorante & Pizzeria that closed last year.

• The Triangle’s second location of PDQ will open to the general public this Sunday, June 2nd at 10:30 a.m. in Wake Forest. PDQ is a fast casual restaurant specializing in chicken tenders, salads, sandwiches, fresh cut fries and milkshakes. The address is 11690 Northpark Drive. Get all the details here.   

• Last week we told you that the Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza in Cary at 3450 Kildaire Farm Road was becoming Camos Brothers Pizza. Their website now says that they are open! They also have a location on North Raleigh. Get more details here. 

• Also in Cary, I got word this week from my buddy Shane Phillips that Alison Rocker has bought Unwine’d on Chatham Street in Cary and is changing the name to Unvined. Look for it to open on or about the first week in June. It will be a wine and tapas bar where they will also be selling the wine they serve by the bottle or case. We will keep you posted.  

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• A big shout out to my friends over at Spartacus Restaurant in Durham as June brings about their 20th anniversary! Congrats to John and his entire team. As details of the celebration unfold, we will share them with you. Check them out here.  

• Known as a great lunch spot, Tracy’s New York Deli has recently extended their morning hours to accommodate people discovering it as Chapel Hill’s newest breakfast spot. The deli is now open at 8 on weekdays and 7 on Saturdays. Check them out here. 

Closings   

• Got word this week, and confirmed with a drive-by, that Mare Restaurant in Grace Park in Morrisville has closed. The sign on the door reads, “Under Construction and New Management.” We’ll keep an eye on it and see what appears next. Mare had only been open since January, 2013.

Food Trucks 

• Here's a food truck rodeo for animal lovers...Food Waggin', a food truck rodeo to benefit the SPCA of Wake County. It will be held on Saturday, June 1st from 1 - 5 pm. Bring your friends (two-legged and four-legged), and enjoy good eats and the company of fellow animal lovers. Enjoy fare from local Triangle food trucks, live music and a children's play area. Confirmed food trucks include: Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Klausie's Pizza, Captain Ponchos Tacos, Chick-N-Que and Porchetta. Each participating food truck will donate 10% of their sales to the SPCA, and Wilkinson Supply Company will match their donations dollar for dollar! Get more details here.

• And if your food truck palate is not satisfied after that event, head on over to Rebus Works for their popular food truck event couple with Gouge Wrestling from 5-9 pm on Saturday, June 1 at their Boylan Heights location in downtown Raleigh. Look for about 8 trucks to be in attendance, but get all the details here.

• One down and three to go. The first of four Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos is in the books and the feedback was generally very strong. In fact, they've already announced that the truck count will climb from 42 to somewhere in the mid 50s for the next one on June 9th. That is when they will again start lining them up at the State Capital on Fayetteville Street (single file) and stretch out...forever! And, with electricity provided, no generators! Get all the details here.  

• And the Herald-Sun turned us onto the fact that Durham will host another huge Food Truck Rodeo at Durham’s Central Park on Sunday, June 16th from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. Go ahead and mark your calendar. More details to come here.

• Thanks to our friends over at WRAL we learned this week that there is a new truck in town that does cupcakes! How sweet is that!?! And the truck’s name? Joy! Check them out here and look for them at all the big upcoming food truck events.

• If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They'll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today. 

Events 

• Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut of any type per customer on June 7 in recognition of National Doughnut Day. No purchase is necessary, but you have to get 'em while supplies last. Krispy Kreme has 5 locations here in the Triangle. Find the one closest to you here.

• The 2013 version of Farm to Fork will take place on Sunday, June 9th. The annual picnic celebrates local food and local farms. Get all the details here.

• Got a note this week from Susan White, co-owner of Foster’s in Chapel Hill, that
  they are having their 2nd annual Porkapalooza Farm Dinner on June 13. This year’s event will feature Cane Creek Farm and Bluebird Meadows and will celebrate everything we love about the pig! This year the dinner is being served tapas style - giving you more tasting opportunities. The cost is $35 per person and reservations are required. Get more details here. 

• The Western Wake Farmers' Market will host a Farm-to-Fork dinner on Thursday, June 13th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa. The evening will feature a multi-course dinner prepared by Chef Scott Crawford using all locally-grown ingredients from the farmers at Western Wake. Even the farmers themselves will be at the dinner. That's cool! Tickets are $100 and include beer (Full Steam) and wine (Sip). Get your tickets today.

• The Fire Pit BBQ & Smokehouse in Wake Forest is hosting a Farm-To-Table fundraising dinner on Monday, June 24th at 6:30 p.m. to benefit the Wake Forest Farmers’ Market. The cost for the 5-course dinner is $65 per person. Get all the details here.

• Can you say free cheese? If so, mark your calendar for June 29th (1-4 pm) and head on over to The Cookery in Durham for the Artisan Cheese Fest hosted by The Cookery and American Meltdown. At the free event you’ll enjoy a sampling of cheeses, charcuterie, bread, wine and even cheesecakes. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner 

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is launching their Stop Summer Hunger Campaign this week and the big kickoff is this Saturday, June 1.  If you'd like to support the effort by walking, here is additional information.  

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 24, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  We’ve been busy adding new restaurants to our lineup here at Triangle Food Guy for your next office lunch...and we’ve got even more on the way. Mix up your catering with some new options including: Top This! (burgers and sandwiches); Donovan's Dish (our newest caterer) and Capital Buffet (from the folks at Crystal Palace). Be on the lookout for a couple more additions in the coming weeks including Lubrano’s (Italian) and several others.  

Wake County Restaurant News 

•  Just got word that the Triangle’s second location of PDQ will open to the general public on Sunday, June 2nd at 10:30 a.m. in Wake Forest. PDQ is a fast casual restaurant specializing in chicken tenders, salads, sandwiches, fresh cut fries and milkshakes. The address is 11690 Northpark Drive. Get all the details here.  

• Got a tweet this week that the Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza in Cary will become Camos Brothers Pizza. The store is located at 3450 Kildaire Farm Road. The store is closed right now for renovations, but will open back up shortly. We’ll keep an eye on it. They also have a location in North Raleigh. Get more details here.

• Got word this week from my buddy David McCreary (author of Lunch Boy Says blog) that Sip Wine & Coffee Bistro in Holly Springs is scheduled to open June 1 at Holly Springs Crossing in the space formerly occupied by Java Divine. The address is 128 Bass Lake Road. Check them out here. 

• Got a tweet this week from the owners of Trali Irish Pub (with a location in Brier Creek) that their second location in Morrisville will open in mid-June. It will be located in the former Yucatan Cantina location at the intersection of Davis Drive and Morrisville Carpenter Road. Keep up with the latest here. 

• A little bird told me this week some exciting news about Lynnwood Grill in Raleigh. Word is they are going to open a brewery soon called Lynnwood Brewing Concern. We will keep an eye on it for you. Lynnwood Grill is located at 4821 Grove Barton Road (next to Raleigh’s Grand Theatre). Check them out here.

• Downtown Cary’s Academy Street Bistro contacted us this week to let us know that they would open for dinner on May 28th. It is in the old Klara’s location at 200 S. Academy Street. Here is their Facebook page. 
     

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  Drove by the former Tedesco’s location on East Franklin Street and noticed extensive renovations going on. As to what it will become? A Yelp message board posting seemed to suggest that it will become a "mixed" casual Korean concept. We will continue to keep an eye on it.  

• On that same drive, I noticed that the Waffle House on East Franklin Street is getting very close to an opening. The front wall is down and there is a bevy of activity going on. The 24-hour breakfast stop is located at 129 E. Franklin Street in the former YoFrutti location. Don’t know about you, but my loyalty remains with Ye Olde Waffle Shop!

• My friends over at Ninth Street Watch tipped us off to the fact that Dynamik Duo Desserts Bakery has opened in the location of what was previously the Carolina Cake Co. in the University Center shopping center. It’s located off West Main Street near the intersection with Hillsborough Road. They offer cakes, pies, cheesecakes, cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and other items. They will celebrate their grand opening on June 1st from 10 until 4. Get all the details here. 

• Got word this week from David Sadeghi (owner of Town Hall Grille in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village, and Bolt in downton Raleigh) that his latest concept at Westpoint at 751 in Durham (near the Streets of Southpoint) will be called Town Hall Burger & Beer and is looking at a late June opening. 

• And a couple of bits of great news from our friends over at The Picnic Basket, a caterer located over in Durham. Last month they opened a café in Smith Warehouse on Duke’s east campus. The other big news is that they will move their entire catering operation from Durham into the former Meat House location (and before that Applebee’s) in Chapel Hill. The location will not be open to the public (strictly catering) but they will have a sampling room for you to try some of their fare. Check them out here.

Closings   

• Got word from a Yelp message board that the MaggieMoo’s in Cary has closed. However, the location in Brier Creek remains open.

• Over in Raleigh’s Lafayette Village, Village Market / Antonio’s Gourmet Market has closed their doors. But the email announcement did allude to the fact that Antonio is pursuing a new venture. We’ll keep an eye on it.

• Got word from WRAL that the Carolina Smokehouse Grill on Capital Boulevard in Wake Forest has closed their doors. 

• And we learned this week that Hillsborough Street’s Hot Box Pizza has decided to close. This location was the chain’s only location outside of Indiana. Good people, sorry to see them close.  

Food Trucks 

• Here's a food truck rodeo for animal lovers...Food Waggin', a food truck rodeo to benefit the SPCA of Wake County. It will be held on Saturday, June 1st from 1 - 5 pm. Bring your friends (two-legged and four-legged), and enjoy good eats and the company of fellow animal lovers. Enjoy fare from local Triangle food trucks, live music and a children’s play area. Confirmed food trucks include: Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Klausie's Pizza, Captain Ponchos Tacos, Chick-N-Que and Porchetta. Each participating food truck will donate 10% of their sales to the SPCA, and Wilkinson Supply Company will match their donations dollar for dollar! Get more details here.

• One down and three to go. The first of four Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos is in the books and the feedback was generally very strong. In fact, they’ve already announced that the truck count will climb from 42 to somewhere in the mid 50s for the next one on June 9th. That is when they will again start lining them up at the State Capital on Fayetteville Street (single file) and stretch out...forever! And, with electricity provided, no generators! Get all the details here.  

• Here’s a food truck to get behind. Christian Thompson, aka the Hog Father, is in the process of launching Pork In The Road food truck. He’s holding an event this Sunday at 7 p.m., and has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his dream. Help out if you can!

• If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They'll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today. 

Events 

• Just a little heads up that Triangle Restaurant Week is scheduled for June 3-9, 2013. Get more details here.

• Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut of any type per customer on June 7 in recognition of National Doughnut Day. No purchase is necessary, but you have to get ’em while supplies last. Krispy Kreme has 5 locations here in the Triangle. Find the one closest to you here.

• The 2013 version of Farm to Fork will take place on Sunday, June 9th. The annual picnic celebrates local food and local farms. Get all the details here.

• Looks like there is a new “restaurant touring” concept coming to our market called DishCrawl. Kind of like a pub crawl, but for food. In one night, you’ll get to sample food from 4 different restaurants. Cost is $45 per person. Get all the details here.

• The Western Wake Farmers’ Market will host a Farm-to-Fork dinner on Thursday, June 13th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa. The evening will feature a multi-course dinner prepared by Chef Scott Crawford using all locally-grown ingredients from the farmers at Western Wake. Even the farmers themselves will be at the dinner. That’s cool! Tickets are $100 and include beer (Full Steam) and wine (Sip). Get your tickets today.

Food Bank Corner 

• The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is launching their Stop Summer Hunger Campaign this week and the big kickoff is next Saturday, June 1.  If you’d like to support the effort by walking, here is additional information.  

Final Thoughts

• Here’s a cool little resource for you. If you find yourself out in RTP looking for a place to dine, look no further than this nifty little listing of all the eating establishments in and right around RTP.

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 17, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News 

•  The Bull City is about to become The Q City. It was announced this week by multiple media outlets that former partners Greg Hatem and Ed Mitchell would be opening two new, but separate, barbecue restaurants in downtown Durham within weeks and within a mile of each other. Mitchell is opening ‘Que at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus in the new Diamond View III complex that is under construction past the left outfield of the Durham Bulls baseball park. Meanwhile Empire Eats owner Greg Hatem is going to open a second location of The Pit on Geer Street and Rigsbee Avenue. Both restaurants are looking to open in the August/September time frame.

Wake County Restaurant News 

•  This could very well be the longest “opening soon” restaurant story in recent memory...but it appears as if the wait is over...sort of. Back in October 2011 I wrote that it “looks like things are starting to move forward with The Garland at 14 W. Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. While it is too early to talk about an opening date for Raleigh's next Indian cuisine, we can tell you that the initial phase will feature a walk-up window, with the final phase adding a dining room and outdoor seating. The Garland will be in the former location of Martin Street Pizza.” It looks like that walk-up window is now open...at least temporarily. But we’ll continue to keep an eye on it.

• And speaking of downtown, the blog The Raleigh Connoisseur is reporting that this fall a doughnut shop called Donut Theory is planning to open in a space near the intersection of Saunders and South Street. Now that is a theory we can get behind! We’ll keep an eye on it. 

• The news blog New Raleigh is reporting that a new concept called Stanbury is moving into the former location of The Market Restaurant (938 N Blount St). Word is that the chef is from Admiral in Asheville and is looking to open June 15th. We’ll keep an eye on it.

• And with the warm weather, craft brewery Trophy has already expanded and opened their outdoor patio area. Trophy is located at 827 W. Morgan Street in the former Hamburger Hut location. It is owned by Chris Powers and David Lockwood (think Busy Bee Bar & Restaurant). Get all the details here.  

• WRAL reported last week that a new Planet Smoothie has opened up in the Mission Valley shopping center off of Avent Ferry Road in Raleigh.  Check them out here.

• And over in Cary, reader Diane Pisano turned us on to the fact that downtown Cary’s Academy Street Bistro has noted on their Facebook page that they are opening today. We haven’t 100% confirmed that (so call before you go), but it looks like everything is in place for this concept that is in the old Klara’s location at 200 S. Academy Street. Here is their Facebook page. 

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  Saw on a Yelp message board this week that Al's Burger Shack is opening in what was formerly the Chocolate Door on the very western end of Franklin Street in Chapel HIll. No word yet on an opening date, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

• My Twitter buddy @burgeoningbaker tipped me off to the fact that the Denny’s over in Durham (corner of Hwy. 54 and 751) has opened. That is all.  

Closings 

• Got word from reader Joe Roney that Bulkogi over in Wake Forest has been locked and darkened for the past couple of weeks and the food truck is parked in front with a "For Sale" sign.

• We also got word from follower Carole Walker that she saw a Facebook posting that the Amante Pizza on Falls of Neuse in Raleigh was closing.

• The News & Observer reported this week that the Berkeley Cafe at 217 W. Martin St. is staying open, but that it is losing the big 200-capacity music room on June 30 and that it will be converted into a retail store called Island Tobacco.

Food Trucks 

•  One down and three to go. The first of four Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos is in the books and the feedback was generally very strong. In fact, they’ve already announced that the truck count will climb from 42 to somewhere in the mid 50s for the next one on June 9th. That is when they will again start lining them up at the State Capital on Fayetteville Street (single file) and stretch out...forever! And, with electricity provided, no generators! Get all the details here. 

• If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They'll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today. 

Events 

•  The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce food and arts festival called East Meets West is this Saturday along Town Hall Drive in Morrisville from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. It will feature Morrisville-area restaurants, music, performances and a variety of visual arts. Get all the details here

• If you find yourself up near Hillsborough don’t forget that this weekend is the 31st Annual Hogg Day event. It takes place today and tomorrow. Get all the details here 

• Just a little heads up that Triangle Restaurant Week is scheduled for June 3-9, 2013. Get more details here and plan to eat out (a lot) that week.  

• The 2013 version of Farm to Fork will take place on Sunday, June 9th. The annual picnic celebrates local food and local farms. Get all the details here.

• Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut of any type per customer on June 7 in recognition of National Doughnut Day. No purchase is necessary, but you have to get 'em while supplies last. Krispy Kreme has 5 locations here in the Triangle. Find the one closest to you here.

• The Western Wake Farmers' Market will host a Farm-to-Fork dinner on Thursday, June 13th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa. The evening will feature a multi-course dinner prepared by Chef Scott Crawford using all locally-grown ingredients from the farmers at Western Wake. Even the farmers themselves will be at the dinner. That's cool! Tickets are $100 and include beer (Full Steam) and wine (Sip). Get your tickets today.

• Ashley Christensen is holding a couple of fundraising dinners and you could be the beneficiary along with Southern Foodways Alliance. According to the News & Observer's Andrea Weigl, the next Stir the Pot events are going to be held on May 19 and May 20. On Sunday, May 19, guest chef Steven Satterfield of Atlanta's Miller Union and Christensen will be cooking up a five-course meal with wine pairings at her flagship restaurant, Poole's Diner. The meal starts at 7 p.m. and costs $150 per person. On Monday, May 20, Christensen is hosting a potluck and film screening at CAM Raleigh, the contemporary art and design museum at 409 W. Martin St. Tickets cost $35. Guests are asked to bring a side dish or a dessert to share. Special guest and filmmaker Joe York will be on hand to show his work.  Further information is available here.

Food Bank Corner 

• Yelp NC Triangle and Eschelon Hospitality are hosting a party on May 19 to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. From 8-10 p.m. at Zinda restaurant in downtown Raleigh, the party will feature food samples from all five of Eschelon Hospitality restaurants, free cider, beer and wine as well as entertainment. The event is called Yelp Billionaires Club and is free and open to the public with a donation of two or more canned goods per person.

Final Thoughts

• Triangle chefs can now apply to compete in this year’s Fire in the Triangle cooking competition. The single-elimination, Iron-Chef style competition will be held at 1705 Prime in North Raleigh from July 8-Aug. 19. Chefs have to apply by June 1 to be among the competitors. The chefs who will be competing will be announced June 24. For the application, go here. For more information and to eventually book a reservation, go here. 

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 10, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  You did it, and I can’t thank you enough. I got word last week that we received not one, but two, Best of the Triangle Awards from the Independent Weekly for both Best Local Blog and Best Local Person to Follow on Twitter. A huge thanks to everyone that took the time to vote. It is very much appreciated! Check out the June 5 issue for all the winners!    

Wake County Restaurant News 

•   According to the News & Observer, Mohamad Kahlout, owner of Petra Grill in North Raleigh, has opened Euro Café at 2101 S. Main St. in Wake Forest. Think of it as a locally owned Panera where they bake their own pastries and use organic produce where they can. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check them out on Facebook here.

• To show you how slow I am at times, I didn’t even know until last week that Joel Lane’s, located in the Glenwood South district in Raleigh, had closed, thanks to a tip on a Yelp message board. That is the bad news. The good news is that it only took the former owners of DiveBar one week to reopen the space as Cognito Bar & Grill. Check them out on Facebook here. 

• According to the News & Observer, a second location of Chocolate Boutique has opened over in Morrisville near the new cinema in Park West Village. The original shop is in North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village. In proximity to Chocolate Boutique are WhichWich and Lime Fresh. They will be joined in the coming months by Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill and WG Kitchen and Bar. Get more details on Chocolate Boutique here.  

• A big shout-out and congratulations to my friends Mario Huante and Darcy Brennan, the dynamic couple behind Chef Mario’s Catering who just celebrated their 15th year in business. If you haven’t booked them to cater a breakfast, lunch, dinner or event, you are simply missing out. Check them out here. Congrats again to Mario and Darcy!   

• Our thoughts and prayers go out to the owners and employees of Cameron Village’s Sushi Gami restaurant that caught fire this past Wednesday causing damage to about half of the restaurant. Thankfully no injuries were reported. No word yet on when they might be able to reopen. We’ll keep an eye on it.  

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  Thanks to a little snooping around by the News & Observer, we learned that Zinburger Wine and Burger Bar, a gourmet burger restaurant coming to the Streets at Southpoint in Durham will open in August. Check them out here. 

Closings 

• The Herald-Sun reported this week that the independent restaurant Fresno Café on University Drive in Durham has closed. It was in the space that previously housed Bear Rock Café and before that Rick’s Diner & Catering (which moved further down Shannon Road).

• I learned from my Twitter buddy @burgeoningbaker that Alfredo’s Pizza Villa on Highway 54 in Durham closed last month. Thankfully the location in Chapel Hill’s University Mall is still doing a brisk business. Check them out here.

Food Trucks 

• Downtonwn Raleigh has seen nothing like this. And I can't think of a better way to say, "I love you mom" than taking her to the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo this Sunday. What a spectacle 42 (and growing) food trucks lined up the length of 3 football fields down Fayetteville Street will be. Get downtown this Sunday, May 12th  at 12 noon for this ginormous event! They'll start lining them up at the State Capital on Fayetteville Street (single file) and stretch out...forever! And, with electricity provided, no generators!  Get all the details here. If you miss this Sunday, look for three more rodeos to occur on June 9th, August 11th and October 13th. 

• The final food truck rodeo at Fairview Garden Center in Raleigh is this Saturday, May 11. It will feature 4-5 food trucks. Fairview is located at 8224 Holly Springs Road in Raleigh. Get all the details here.

• If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They'll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today. 

Events 

• Häagen-Dazs will hold a Free Cone Day on May 14 from 4 to 8 pm where customers can go to the shops at Northgate Mall or at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham to get a complimentary ice cream scoop. Get more details here.

• The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce will hold a food and arts festival along Town Hall Drive on May 18th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Called East Meets West, the event will feature Morrisville-area restaurants, music, performances and a variety of visual arts. Get it on your calendar and get all the details here.

• The 2013 version of Farm to Fork will take place on Sunday, June 9th. The annual picnic celebrates local food and local farms. Get all the details here.

• Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut of any type per customer on June 7 in recognition of National Doughnut Day. No purchase is necessary, but you have to get ’em while supplies last. Krispy Kreme has 5 locations here in the Triangle. Find the one closest to you here.

• The Western Wake Farmers’ Market will host a Farm-to-Fork dinner on Thursday, June 13th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa. The evening will feature a multi-course dinner prepared by Chef Scott Crawford using all locally-grown ingredients from the farmers at Western Wake. Even the farmers themselves will be at the dinner. That’s cool! Tickets are $100 and include beer (Full Steam) and wine (Sip). Get your tickets today.

• Ashley Christensen is holding a couple of fundraising dinners and you could be the beneficiary along with Southern Foodways Alliance. According to the News & Observer’s Andrea Weigl, the next Stir the Pot events are going to be held on May 19 and May 20. On Sunday, May 19, guest chef Steven Satterfield of Atlanta's Miller Union and Christensen will be cooking up a five-course meal with wine pairings at her flagship restaurant, Poole's Diner. The meal starts at 7 p.m. and costs $150 per person. On Monday, May 20, Christensen is hosting a potluck and film screening at CAM Raleigh, the contemporary art and design museum at 409 W. Martin St. Tickets cost $35. Guests are asked to bring a side dish or a dessert to share. Special guest and filmmaker Joe York will be on hand to show his work.  Further information is available here.

Food Bank Corner 

• This Saturday, May 11th, take a moment to participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers 21st Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Simply place your non-perishable food items by your mailbox or deliver them to your local post office. This is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Last year, over 70 million pounds of food was donated for food banks, food parties and food shelters across the nation; 300,000 pounds within the  Foodbank's 34 county service territory. For more information go here.

• Yelp NC Triangle and Eschelon Hospitality are hosting a party on May 19 to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. From 8-10 p.m. at Zinda restaurant in downtown Raleigh, the party will feature food samples from all five of Eschelon Hospitality restaurants, free cider, beer and wine as well as entertainment. The event is called Yelp Billionaires Club and is free and open to the public with a donation of two or more canned goods per person.

Friday Fun Food Facts - May 3, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•   Shiki Sushi in Durham has moved into their new space, right next door to their old space. My buddy Tim Coyne-Smith (aka The Mayor of Awesomeville) and I met there yesterday for lunch (we went at 11:50 to beat the crowd) and it was super nice. The new space is about twice the size of the old space and the menu has expanded as well. And according to the News & Observer, in the vacated space they are working on an Asian hot pot and lounge concept they expect to open in a few months. Visit them online here. 

Wake County Restaurant News 

•  The latest version of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit opened yesterday in Raleigh’s Brier Creek. Owned by Brad and Christy Evers, this marks the 13th North Carolina location and the 6th in the Triangle. Visit them online here.  

• In a piece in the News & Observer, we learned that a Raleigh institution since 1973, Sadlack’s Heroes, is looking for a new home. Located on Hillsborough Street across from the belltower, Sadlack’s and a handful of other businesses (including Jay Long's Buddha's Belly) have to relocate to make room for a new hotel/retail development. If you know of a suitable location, please let me know or reach out to Rose Schwetz, the current owner of Sadlack's .   

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• According to the News &Observer, Chapel Hill’s newest Irish bar, Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub, will have a grand opening on May 10th at 5 p.m. Fitzgerald’s is a family-owned restaurant based out of Charlotte. This, their second location, is at 206 W. Franklin St. in the space previously occupied by Kildare’s Irish Pub. Get a quick peek at what they are about in Charlotte.

• According to the Herald-Sun, it looks like downtown Durham is about to get another coffee shop, this one operated by Matt Victoriano. Called Intrepid Life Coffee & Spirits, he is planning to open his coffee shop and bar at 106 W. Parrish St. sometime in August. Our best to Matt.

• Thanks to my friends over at Cranky Diners, who provide great reviews of foodie things here in the Triangle, we were reminded that the new development on W. Franklin Street (140 West Franklin) in Chapel Hill will soon have their second “dining option” with the addition of Gigi’s Cupcakes. Check them out here.   

• And speaking of the 140 West Franklin Street, the TBJ announced this week that Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom has signed a deal to open an eatery on the plaza. Old Chicago used to have a location in Wake Forest, so this will be their first re-entry into the Triangle market. Check them out here. 

Closings   

•  Back in November, we told you that Louie & Charlie’s Grille & Tavern had opened in the former Kemp Seafood space on Highway 70 between Durham & Raleigh. Thanks to a tip from Abby Clobridge on Twitter, and confirmed with a little snooping around, it appears as if they have closed. 

Food Trucks 

• If you are a faithful follower of the area's food trucks, you'll definitely want to head out this Sunday, May 5th to St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Falls of the Neuse Road at 5 p.m. The mini-food truck rally will feature American Meltdown, Captain Poncho's Tacos, Chick-N-Que, Klausie's Pizzza and Sweet Traaditions as well as live music for their Sing-o-de Mayo event. Get all the details on their Facebook page here. 

• The final food truck rodeo at Fairview Garden Center in Raleigh is on May 11. It will feature 4-5 food trucks. Fairview is located at 8224 Holly Springs Road in Raleigh. Get all the details here.

• Can you say Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo? Can you say four dates? Can you envision food trucks lined up the length of 3 football fields down Fayetteville Street? Mark your calendars for May 12th, June 9th, August 11th and October 13th. On those dates, they'll start lining them up at the State Capital on Fayetteville Street (single file) and stretch out...forever! And, with electricity provided, no generators! Get all the details here.

• If you run so you can eat, here is the event for you. The Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo. Set for October 20th, over 700 runners have already signed up. They’ll have a half-marathon, a five-mile run and a 1-miler. But the best part, they are all followed by a Food Truck Rodeo, Beer Garden, Kids Zone Experience and tons of fun. Register today. 

Events 

• This Saturday is the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. And if you find yourself stuck in the Triangle, and not in Kentucky, don’t fret. There are lots of parties to attend to celebrate the annual event and WRAL has you covered. Check out their listing of Kentucky Derby festivities.

• The annual Brew Durham Homebrew Festival will be this Saturday, May 4 with more than 50 beers to taste from local home brewers plus a special one-time-only beer from Durham's Bull City Burger and Brewery. Food will be provided by Mateo, Monuts Donuts, Toast, Geer Street Garden, Dos Perros, Loaf and Daisy Cakes. There are two tasting sessions: 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased online here. Get all event details here.

• The North Raleigh location of Neomonde Café & Market is holding their annual Spring Festival this Saturday, May 4th on Strickland Road. They will have events and festivities all day and geared toward the entire family - music, dancing, food samples, wine tasting, face paining and so much more. Get all the details here.

• Karyn Rivera reminded me this week of a couple of local festivals coming up that feature a ton of food options (as well as crafts and entertainment). Apex Peakfest on May 4th and Artsplosure May 18th & 19th in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh.

• Looking for a way to thank the teachers in your life for a job well done!?! Send them over to the nearest Chipotle location for a Teacher Appreciation event on Tuesday, May 7th where they will enjoy a BOGO deal on all entrees. Thanks teachers for all you do!

• The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce recently announced a food and arts festival that will be held along Town Hall Drive on May 18th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Called East Meets West, the event will feature Morrisville-area restaurants, music, performances and a variety of visual arts. Get it on your calendar and get all the details here.

• The 2013 version of Farm to Fork will take place on Sunday, June 9th. The annual picnic celebrates local food and local farms. Get all the details here.

• The Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) will host a Farm-to-Fork dinner on Thursday, June 13th at the Umstead Hotel & Spa. The evening will feature a multi-course dinner prepared by Chef Scott Crawford using all locally-grown ingredients from the farmers at WWFM. Even the farmers themselves will be at the dinner. That’s cool! Tickets are $100 and include beer (Full Steam) and wine (Sip). Get your tickets today.

Final Thoughts

• A huge congratulations to our friends over at The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina for securing a $45,000 grant from Walmart to provide funding for five of their Kids Cafe locations. And a HUGE thank you to each of you that took the time to give them a vote. Pat yourself on the back, you've made a huge difference in people's lives!

• And congratulations to Durham’s Five Points area for being included in Food & Wine magazine’s 10 Best Foodie Streets in America. Durham was one of 10 cities featured. The magazine highlighted Pizzeria Toro, Mateo Bar de Tapas, Cave Taureau, Toast and Whiskey. Congrats to Durham! Check out the article here.