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.