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.