Friday Fun Food Facts - June 7, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  TerraVita WILL happen again this year, and that is great news. Dubbed as one of Andrea Weigl’s “must do” events, TerraVita got a huge assist from the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitor’s Bureau this year and they have now set the dates for October 10-12, 2013. Go ahead and mark your calendar now...trust me! Tickets go on sale online on July 12 here.

Wake County Restaurant News 

•  After an unconventional “soft opening” we got word this week from the Triangle Business Journal that the Garland officially opened this past week. The restaurant will serve dinner only on Tuesday through Saturday nights and will introduce lunch and late-night options in the coming weeks. The dining room is still being renovated, so for now, service remains “through the window.” Check them out here.  

• While not 100% confirmed, we feel secure in telling you that the former Hot Box Pizza location on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh will become the newest location for Tijuana Flats here in the Triangle. With locations already in Raleigh and Cary, and one on the way to 9th Street in Durham, this will be the 4th Triangle location. Check them out here.   

• Here's another good rumor, New Raleigh hinted this week that Klausie’s Pizza would be opening a brick and mortar location in the former Draft location on Glenwood South (and before that, Hi-5). We’ll keep an eye on it and give you updates as we get them. In the meantime, track Klausies down here.  

• And speaking of pizza, and downtown Raleigh, New Raleigh also turned us onto the news this week that Donato’s Pizza is moving into Seaboard Station. No word yet on their time frame, but we’ll keep an eye on it. Check them out here.

• The News & Observer is reporting this morning that D’Andreas’ Deli, Grill & Bakery, a New York deli that boasts fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps made with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, has opened a second location in Holly Springs. The deli is located at 114 Grand Hill Place, next to Target. They will have a grand opening event featuring food and giveaways this Saturday (June 8) from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check them out here.  

• Just got word this week that the three Triangle-area locations of Pei Wei Diners (Falls Center, Cary and Brier Creek) are unveiling a new look and new tastes with refreshed interiors, new fare and light portions of menu favorites. Get more information on Pei Wei here.  

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• According to the Herald-Sun, plans have been filed for a proposed second Zaxby’s restaurant to be built in southern Durham on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway near Walmart, McDonald’s and the Valley Creek Center. No word yet on an opening date.

• The Herald-Sun is also reporting that another location of Moe’s Southwest Grill is planned to open downtown early next year in the Diamond View III building overlooking the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. It will be in the same building as Ed Mithcell’s Que barbecue restaurant. We’ll keep an eye on it.

• If you are looking for some Salvadorian food, you are in luck. The Herald-Sun is reporting that there’s a new restaurant called El Portal Salvadoreno at 821 N. Miami Blvd. in Durham. It is near Miami Boulevard’s intersection with Holloway Street, across the street from Durham Fire Station No. 3.

• Back on May 24th we told you the former Tedesco’s location on East Franklin Street was being renovated and would become a "mixed" casual Korean concept. This week the same Yelp message board is reporting that it will be called Mixed. Again, we’ll continue to keep an eye on it and look for an open date.

Closings   

• Not exactly a closing, but apparently an opening that will likely not happen. According to WRAL, the folks behind Extravagant Fare Catering and who had planned to open Bull City Diner (at 3314 Guess Road over in Durham) have landed in a bit of hot water. Check out Monica Laliberte’s investigation here.

Food Trucks 

• The second Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is upon us and the truck count has climbed from 42 to somewhere in the mid 50s for this Sunday, June 9th from 12-5. Get there early on Sunday to avoid the lines. Remember, they 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 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 

• Krispy Kreme is giving away one free doughnut today (June 7) of any type per customer 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.

• On June 12th, Triangle Raw Foods is hosting a Indiegogo Party at Cocoa Cinnamon over in Durham to share samples and tell you a little more about the future TRF kitchen/café at Cocoa Cinnamon. Check out their Facebook event page here.

• Also on June 12th, the folks over at Piedmont Restaurant in Durham have teamed up with Locals Seafood to offer their first ever Seafood Special Dinner. The evening will feature 4 amazing courses and the cost is just $45. Call for reservations at 919.683.1213. Get more information on Piedmont Restaurant here and on Locals Seafood here.

• Foster’s in Chapel Hill is 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.

Final Thoughts  

• First, a huge shout-out to all of you that took the time to vote in the Indy Week Best of the Triangle contest. We were humbled to bring home not one, but two First Place Awards - Best Local Blog and Best Local Person to Follow on Twitter. You guys are amazing! Thank you so much. Check out all the winners here.  

• A huge shout-out to the Stoke & Smoke BBQ truck that took home the Grand Champion award at the Kannapolis, NC Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ competition. They competed against 60 teams and have received an invitation to the American Royal in October. Keep up with them and sample their award winning fare here.