Friday Fun Food Facts - July 26, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  The second location of Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour opened yesterday on Person Street next to PieBird in downtown Raleigh. The original, temporary location on Wilmington Street remains open and won't close until August 31st. Like the original store, the new store serves up locally made ice cream in cups, cones, sundaes and floats. It will initially be open Thursday through Sunday. Check them out on Facebook here.
    

Wake County Restaurant News 

• Got word last night from my friends over at Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza and Camos Brothers Pizza that a new restaurant called Latin Quarters (also owned by Richard Camos) is slated to open early next month at Six Forks & Sawmill in the old Soloman's building (next to Camos Brothers Pizza). Latin Quarters will feature cuisine from South American countries such as Cuba, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, etc. We will let you know when they open.  

• Got a heads up from my buddy David McCreary (aka Lunch Boy Says) that Corbett's Burgers & Soda Bar is now open at 126 Kilmayne Drive in Cary. The restaurant serves fresh burgers ground daily and more than 200 varieties of bottle sodas. For more information, visit them here.   

• Thanks to a tip from Twitter follower Lee Langston, we got word that there is a sign up at the old Mare / Vino location in Morrisville's Grace Park that says Cuchina di Milano. As Langston points out, hopefully the third time is the charm.  

• In the rumor bin, we saw on a Yelp message board that a reader had noted a post on Chowhound that there is a 'Coming Soon' sign for Swad Indian Restaurant in the space next to Neomonde in North Raleigh. We'll keep an eye on it.  

• Next Monday, July 29th will be the official opening of Crank Arm Brewery. The brewery is located on Davie Street in the heart of the warehouse district. Get all the details here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• It is time to 'veg-out' at Chapel Hill's Tracy's New York Deli. Scott and Tracy have just introduced a whole slew of new vegetarian and vegan options to their menu and they are holding an "open house" to introduce you to the new offerings. Stop by anytime August 8-10th and receive 25% off. The deli is open for breakfast and lunch. Check them out here.

Closings      

• Got word from reader Jacquelyn Atlas that the Bada Wings location in Carrboro has closed their doors. A note on the door indicates that the tax man came knocking. The Raleigh location remains open.

Food Trucks 

• Look for the much-anticipated return of Will & Pop's Food Truck on July 28th at Full Steam Brewery from 11 am until 6 pm. On their Facebook page they noted that, ""We're back with all new menu and new staff. Same great Will and Pop's, ready to fill your bellies!" See for yourself here.

• One of the largest food truck events in the area is hosting its third (in a series of four) event on August 11th. The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo will change things up a little bit for this one. Unlike the previous two (which were held from 12-5), this one will be held from 4 until 9 p.m. Love it! Check out all the details here.

• Got a reminder from my friends over at Pie Pushers that the next Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo will be held on Sunday, September 1st from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m. Mark your calendars now and 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 

• Here is a fun event happening tonight (July 26th) that my buddy John Huisman told me about. Put on by Larry's Beans and Foundations it is called "The Hard Coffee Throwdown." It will pit bartenders and barista's against each other coming up with the best concoctions. And here's the best part - you decide who the winners are...that is, if you attend! Get all the details here. Register for the event here.

• Who doesn't like a good birthday party? And when the celebrant is a cup cake shop, does life get any better? That's right, The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery is celebrating turning 6 and you are invited to stop by this Saturday afternoon (12-5) for treats. Get all the details here.

• Speaking of sweet goodness - what is the one thing better than ice cream? "Nothing" is a great answer, but the correct answer is free ice cream! And this Saturday, from 2-5 pm the Whole Foods over in Raleigh will be scooping up free samples (and toppings) for your pleasure. Stop by tomorrow. Get all the details here.

• She has done it again. The News & Observer's Andrea Weigl has put together a very comprehensive list of foodie events coming up in the Triangle. Get your calendar out and take a peek!  

• Here is a delicious event to put on your calendar - and you better sign up soon if you want to attend! It is a pop up dinner put on by the folks over at Triangle Raw Foods. The 5-course dinner will take place on Thursday, August 8th at Anvil Gallery (715 N Person St, Raleigh) at 7 pm. The cost is $35. Sign-up and get all the details here.

• Tickets are on sale now for TerraVITA Food & Wine Event scheduled for October 10-12, 2013 over in Chapel Hill. This is one of the Triangle's "can't miss" food events. Get your tickets today here. And get more information on the event here.

• The second annual Raleigh/Durham Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event will be held at the Durham Convention Center Saturday August 17 from 10am-4pm. The event is open to the community, and caters to those who avoid multiple allergens, such as gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, grains, etc.  Admission is $10 per adult; kids 13 and under are free. Get all the details here.

• Curt Johnson and his team over at the Carolina Railhawks are bringing back the popular Taste of the Triangle event on Saturday, August 3rd. The event begins at 5 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. match against FC Edmonton. Food and "futbol" - does life get any better? The cost for unlimited samples from local restaurants and breweries is just $15. Get more information on the event here and purchase tickets here. 

• The fifth annual Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week will happen this year from August 19-25th. Mark your calendars now. You know the drill by now, but in case you forgot or are new to this event, restaurants feature 3 course prix-fixe dinners for $20 or $30 all week. It is a great chance to check out some new restaurants, or visit your old favorite! Check out their new site here for all the details.

• Here is an event you probably want to get on your calendar - the Wide Open Bluegrass festival September 27 & 28 at Raleigh's Red Hat Amphitheater. In addition to the amazing music line-up (with Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickel) there is a massive two-day street festival which will be highlighted by the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship. Get all the details here.

• Thanks to a tip from the News & Observer, we learned that the World Beer Festival returns to Durham on Oct. 5 in a new location: the old Durham Athletic Park. Tickets went on sale this past Thursday for All About Beer magazine subscribers who get the coveted first chance to get VIP passes that typically sell out in the pre-sale days. Tickets go on sale to the general public July 24 at 10 a.m. The event will feature two sessions: an afternoon tasting from noon to 4 p.m. and an evening tasting 6-10 p.m. General admission is $45 and VIP tickets -- with a food buffet, special beers and a private hospitality area -- are $75. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner   

• The West 94th St. Pub in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in Durham is holding a "Grill Master Cook-Off Competition" this Saturday, July 27 to raise money for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. Contestants will be required to cook chicken and corn on-site with their own seasonings and spices. There is an optional bonus category in which contestants grill their own specialty items. For information or to get involved, call 919-403-0025 or send an email to kbpaw_21@msn.com.

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 19, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  They are back! In August 2012 we reported the sad news that the popular food truck Will & Pop’s was ceasing operations...but only temporarily. Well, look for their much-anticipated return on July 28th at Full Steam Brewery from 11 am until 6 pm. On their Facebook page they noted that, “"We're back with all new menu and new staff. Same great Will and Pop's, ready to fill your bellies!” See for yourself here.  

Wake County Restaurant News 

• Downtown Raleigh is going to get another brewery on July 29th when Crank Arm Brewery starts slinging their first craft brews. The brewery is located on Davie Street in the heart of the warehouse district. Get all the details here.  

• And if that is not enough beer for downtown Raleigh, the folks over at New Raleigh turned us onto another micro-brewery headed our way - Union Square Brewery. No word yet on an open date, but they are having a “tasting” of sorts on August 24th. Keep up with them on their Facebook page here.

• Karyn Rivera (a Triangle Food Guy client) provided me with a quick update on new openings over at Park West Village in Morrisville. She noted that Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is now hiring (which means the opening is very close). She also noted signs up for Wine Guys Bistro & Bar as well as Big Daddy’s Burgers. Lots going on over there.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

•  The former J&J’s Deli in Chapel Hill’s Timberlyne Shopping Center will have a new tenant in about a month according to the Herald Sun. The Pita Grill will take over that space and will offer a menu with a more Mediterranean flair with gyros, salads and wraps. We’ll keep an eye on it.  

• A Yelp reader noted that The Roxy over in Durham was closing. According to their Facebook page, it is now going through a 4-6 week transformation and will re-open as Triangle Pint & Plate as they have partnered up with the folks over at Triangle Brewing Company. We’ll keep an eye on it.  

• My good friend Lisa Reichle informed me of something that could probably only happen in Chapel Hill. The former Hot Dogs & Brew location on Franklin Street has closed and will reopen as Hummus Café. Could these two concepts be any more opposite? Hummus Café touts itself as the “Home of the Falafel and Shawarma” and will also serve up gyros and paninis. We’ll keep an eye on it.

• We have an update on Skewers Bar & Grill thanks to the folks over at the Herald Sun. Skewers will be a new variation of The Bread & Kabob and will remain at 1013 W. Main Street in Durham. The concept is shooting for an August opening.

• According to the Herald Sun, the Phoenix Bakery has opened in downtown Pittsboro and is serving pastries throughout the day (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), according to owner Jodi Hackney. She is also working on getting a high-end cake service up and running, and expects that to happen in the next few weeks. The bakery is located at 84 Hillsboro St. Check them out on Facebook here. 

Closings      

• Thanks to a tip from reader Jillian Warren (and I confirmed by stopping by), the Bavarian Brathaus on Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham has closed their doors. Warren spoke with someone there on her last visit and they indicated they were hoping to find a space in North Raleigh. We’ll keep an eye on it.

Food Trucks 

• One of the largest food truck events in the area is hosting its third (in a series of four) event on August 11th. The Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo will change things up a little bit for this one. Unlike the previous two (which were held from 12-5), this one will be held from 4 until 9 pm. Love it! Check out 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 

• Looking for a good “foodie” event this weekend? Check out the Taste of Moore Square and City Market event this Saturday, July 20th from noon until 8 pm in downtown Raleigh. The event will pack in family fun, food, beer, wine and music - a little something for everyone. Participating restaurants include Tir Na nOg Irish Pub, Bida Monda Laotian Restaurant, Battistella’s New Orleans Restaurant, Woody’s American Sports Bar, Vic’s Italian Restaurant and Zydeco. Get all the details here.

• Tickets are on sale now for TerraVITA Food & Wine Event scheduled for October 10-12, 2013 over in Chapel Hill. This is one of the Triangle’s “can’t miss” food events. Get your tickets today here. And get more information on the event here.

• Not to be shown up by Durham, the Raleigh version of Dishcrawl, which puts on restaurant crawls, is hosting a Moore Square eating tour on July 24. RiAnica Allen-Jones says they will partner with four independent restaurants. Tickets are $45. Get more details here.

• Also on July 24th, Guglhuph over in Durham is hosting another one of their Specialty Dinners beginning at 7 pm. This one will feature pasture-raised pork from Green Button Farm in Bahama and beer from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. The cost is $55 and reservations can be made here.

• Here is a fun event that my buddy John Huisman told me about. Put on by Larry's Beans and Foundations, it is called "The Hard Coffee Throwdown" and on July 26th it will pit bartenders and barista's against each other coming up with the best concoctions. And here's the best part - you decide who the winners are...that is, if you attend! Get all the details here. Register for the event here.  

• Curt Johnson and his team over at the Carolina Railhawks are bringing back the popular Taste of the Triangle event on Saturday, August 3rd. The event begins at 5 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. match against FC Edmonton. Food and “futbol” - does life get any better? The cost for unlimited samples from local restaurants and breweries is just $15. Get more information on the event here and purchase tickets here. 

• The fifth annual Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week will happen this year from August 19-25th. Mark your calendars now. You know the drill by now, but in case you forgot or are new to this event, restaurants feature 3 course prix-fixe dinners for $20 or $30 all week. It is a great chance to check out some new restaurants, or visit your old favorite! Check out their new site here for all the details.

• Here is an event you probably want to get on your calendar - the Wide Open Bluegrass festival September 27 & 28 at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater. In addition to the amazing music line-up (with Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickel) there is a massive two-day street festival which will be highlighted by the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship. Get all the details here.

• Thanks to a tip from the News & Observer, we learned that the World Beer Festival returns to Durham on Oct. 5 in a new location: the old Durham Athletic Park. Tickets went on sale this past Thursday for All About Beer magazine subscribers who get the coveted first chance to get VIP passes that typically sell out in the pre-sale days. Tickets go on sale to the general public July 24 at 10 a.m. The event will feature two sessions: an afternoon tasting from noon to 4 p.m. and an evening tasting 6-10 p.m. General admission is $45 and VIP tickets -- with a food buffet, special beers and a private hospitality area -- are $75. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner   

• The West 94th St. Pub in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in Durham is holding a "Grill Master Cook-Off Competition" on July 27 to raise money for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. Contestants will be required to cook chicken and corn on-site with their own seasonings and spices. There is an optional bonus category in which contestants grill their own specialty items. For information or to get involved, call 919-403-0025 or send an email to kbpaw_21@msn.com.

Friday Fun Food Facts - July 12, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  It is coming back out of the ground. After a devastating fire back in December, downtown Raleigh's Hibernian Pub began the rebuilding process this past Monday. Look for an opening by the end of this year. That is great news and congratulations to Niall Hanley! Follow the progress here.

Wake County Restaurant News 

•  Thanks to my friend Chuck Hackney I was reminded that UnVine'd Wine Bar & Tapas will swing open their doors tonight (July 12) at 4 p.m. They are located at 201 W. Chatham Street in Cary. Get more details here.  

• We got word from reader Lorri Ercolani this week that Serena's Restaurant will open tomorrow (Saturday, July 13th) in the Stonehenge Market Shopping Center (7474 Creedmoor Rd.) in North Raleigh. This marks the second location for the Sicilian influenced gastropub. The original location is on South Miami Blvd. in Durham. Check them out here. 

• Thanks to a tip from the News & Observer we learned that the Town Side Café, which opened back on April 8th on Town Side Drive in Apex, will hold their grand-opening event this Saturday (July 13th) throughout the day. Get more details off their site here. 

• We got a little bit more information on the new juice bar called Cold Off The Press that is coming to downtown Raleigh next Monday. It will be in the space next to Bolt Bistro on Fayetteville Street. It will be operated by Amir Sadeghi, son of Bolt's David Sadeghi, who has spent the last year researching healthy juices and cold press juices. The location will open July 15 at 7:45 a.m. Check it out here (and place orders as well).   

• Pogo, a vibrant new downtown eatery, opens July 18 on the campus of Marbles Kids Museum. Pogo will serve both lunch and dinner, featuring seasonal fare prepared with local, farm-fresh ingredients. The restaurant will open in a newly renovated and expanded space and will offer ample patio seating. Tom Meyer, owner of Farmer's Table Restaurant Group, will operate Pogo. Tom also owns The Q-Shack in Raleigh's North Hills, Sprout Café at the NC Museum of Life and Science in Durham and Green's restaurant at UNC Hospital. Get a sneak peak at them here.

• The VIP ribbon cutting event for Jimmy V's Osteria + Bar is on July 23rd and will feature Master of Ceremonies Derrick Whittenburg and hopefully Mayor McFarlane. So look for the regular opening very soon after that. Check them out here. 

• We also got word from a Yelp message board that GoodyBox Cupcakes is days away from opening a retail operation in Morrisville at 9573 Chapel Hill Road in the Park Place Shopping Center. Check them out here. 

• Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour, the "temporary" ice cream shop on Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh announced this week that they will open a second, more permanent location on Person Street next to PieBird. Look for it to open sometime in the next month. The original location on Wilmington Street will close on August 31. Check them out on Facebook here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• According to the Herald Sun, a lease has been signed for a Panera Bread restaurant to open at the Shops at Erwin Mill, a group of renovated buildings on the western side of Ninth Street in Durham.

• The second restaurant for the new 140 West Franklin development in downtown Chapel Hill was announced this week according to the Herald Sun. A sushi bar and Asian fusion restaurant called Spicy Nine is planned to open next year. Tony Zikitsreth, who also owns Sushi Thai Raleigh, Sushi Nine and Sushi Love, is the owner and his son, Michael, will manage this new store. Spicy Nine will join Lime Fresh Mexican Grill (already open), Gigi's Cupcakes (end of August) and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom (early 2014).

• A little bit further down Franklin Street, the Herald Sun reported this morning that Mixed Casual Korean Bistro has opened in the location that previously housed the Italian restaurant Tedesco's. It is named after the restaurant's signature dish, which allows you to choose different vegetables, meats and sauces, and then mix everything together before eating. Check out this cool concept here.

• Thanks to a tip on a Yelp message board, we got word this week that a new Indian restaurant called Curry Point Express is opening in RTP near the intersection of Miami Blvd. and Highway 54. Touted as "fresh, fast Indian" it is expected to open this week. Not much up yet on their website. 

• And another reader on Yelp noticed a Craig's List posting about a new restaurant in Durham called Skewers Bar & Grill. It will be located at 1013 W. Main Street across from Papa John's. No additional information is available at this time. 

Closings (Just temporarily...thank goodness!)       

• If you are looking to swing by the Carolina Coffee Shop in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill, you'll have to wait until they are done with renovations on August 1st. Thanks to the Herald-Sun for giving us this heads up. Keep up with them on Facebook here.

Food Trucks  

• 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 

• Tickets went on sale today for TerraVITA Food & Wine Event scheduled for October 10-12, 2013 over in Chapel Hill. This is one of the Triangle's "can't miss" food events. Get your tickets today here. And get more information on the event here.

• Today is Chick-fil-A's ninth annual Cow Appreciation Day. For today only (July 12th), if you (and your friends) dress up like a cow, you get a free meal. Get all the details here.

• Not to be shown up by Durham, the Raleigh version of Dishcrawl, which puts on restaurant crawls, is hosting a Moore Square eating tour on July 24. RiAnica Allen-Jones says they will partner with four independent restaurants. Tickets are $45. Get more details here.

• Here is a fun event that my buddy John Huisman told me about. Put on by Larry's Beans and Foundation it is called "The Hard Coffee Throwdown" and it will pit bartenders and barista's against each other coming up with the best concoctions. And here's the best part - you decide who the winners are...that is, if you attend! Get all the details here. Register for the event here. 

• The Red & White Food and Beverage Festival will be returning for a second year on Tuesday, October 29 from 6-9 p.m. The festival will be made up of restaurant owners, chefs, wine & spirit reps, winemakers, breweries, food bloggers and many more who are NC State alumni. Space is limited and booth placement is on a first come first serve basis. Interested vendors can email kelly@thestateclub.org for more information. 

Food Bank Corner   

• The West 94th St. Pub in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in Durham is holding a "Grill Master Cook-Off Competition" on July 27 to raise money for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. Contestants will be required to cook chicken and corn on-site with their own seasonings and spices. There is an optional bonus category in which contestants grill their own specialty items. For information or to get involved, call 919-403-0025 or send an email to kbpaw_21@msn.com.

Final Thoughts

• If you own a restaurant, or know someone who does, and are looking for a good cause to get behind, here is one my friends over at Black & Veatch are putting on - the Heat Stroke Invitational to benefit Royal Family Kids. Visit their site here or call Greg Bunn at 919.462.7403 for more details and how to help.   

Friday (Monday) Fun Food Facts - July 1, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

•  Alright folks, time to put your money where your mouth is (or wants to be). As you know, I’m a huge supporter of local concepts and here is one you can make happen with a small contribution, but you’ve got to act now! Triangle Raw Foods Kitchen / Cafe is seeking funding to make their dreams a reality. They just unveiled the café name - Café L.O.V.E. (Live Organic Vegan Eats). If you love local, please consider supporting this venture. Get more information on Triangle Raw Foods here. 

Wake County Restaurant News 

• We noted this a couple of months ago, but it has been confirmed now with a few more of the details filled in. Chef Ashley Christensen (Poole’s, Beasley’s, Chuck’s, Fox & Joule) is planning to open Death & Taxes, a new wood-fired oven restaurant, and Bridge Club, an event space, in downtown Raleigh later this year in a renovated building at 105 Hargett Street. Sunny Gerhart (formerly of Poole’s and Watts Grocery) will be the chef. Look for an opening in late 2013.  

• I have received invitations to a couple of VIP events at two establishments that are planning July openings in downtown Raleigh. The VIP event for Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar is on July 23rd (so look for the regular opening very soon after that) and for Pogo (the new restaurant at Marbles Museum) on July 16th (opens to the public on July 18th). Get ready for these two new establishments!

• The Triangle Business Journal confirmed what we told you months ago, there is definitely a Dave & Buster’s coming to the Triangle - and more specifically to Cary Towne Center and it will open sometime this fall. If you are not familiar with Dave & Buster’s, think of an adult version of Chuck E. Cheese. Check them out for yourself here.  

• Heard from reader Katie Page that Sushi Lulu opened in the Shoppes at Bedford at 3607 Falls River Avenue (in the former home of Bedford Sushi). You can see some of their menus on their website here. 

• Got word from the local blog New Raleigh that the Garland has started serving lunch. Get by and check them out. They are located at 14 W. Martin Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh. 

• According to WRAL, a new Mexican restaurant is in the works in Wake Forest called Tlaquepaque Mexican. It will be located in the old O'Charley's location, across from the old Carolina Smokehouse Grill. No word on when they are going to open. 

• Sip Wine & Bistro Bar over in in Holly Springs has opened. Check them out on Facebook here.

• Speaking of eastern Wake County, got word from David McCreary (author of the blog Lunchboy Says) that  Sweet Leaf Café opened last week in Fuquay-Varina. The locally owned eatery serves pastries, soups, salads, wraps, espresso and hot tea. It's located at 1313 N. Main Street in the former Quizno's location. Check them out here. 

• New Raleigh is reporting that Undergrounds, a new coffee shop, has opened in the North Carolina History Museum. They are serving up Raleigh Coffee Company beans.

• New Raleigh is also reporting that a new juice bar called Cold Off The Press is coming to Fayetteville Street area of Downtown Raleigh. No other details are available at this point, but we’ll check back in on this one. 

• Sunset Slush of North Raleigh opens today (July 1) at Pinecrest Pointe Shopping Center on Leesville Road. The shop features over 24 flavors of premium Italian ice made with real fruit and hand scooped ice cream from local farmers in North Carolina. Check them out here.  

• Chatham Hill Winery, which closed its tasting room and wine-making operation in Morrisville in late April, reopened last week in a new building in downtown Cary at 8245 Chapel Hill Road. Get all the details here.  

• Crafty Beer Shop is moving into the old Hayes Barton Furniture Company location in Five Points over in Raleigh (Fairview Road). The shop will specialize in North Carolina craft beers as well as beers from around the world. We’ll continue to keep an eye on it. 

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• Bull City Burger & Brewery tweeted last week that they took one more step toward opening their sister restaurant, Pompieri Pizza, by signing the lease at the historic Fire Station #1 at 102 City Hall Plaza. They are looking to open sometime this fall. Get more details here.  

• Two partners behind the wine-focused, fine dining restaurant Six Plates Wine Bar are planning to open a more casual restaurant in southern Durham called Mattie B’s Public House according to the Herald-Sun. It will be located in the former Alfredo’s location in the Hope Valley Commons shopping center and will serve beer, pizza, burgers, wings, sandwiches and gourmet potato chips. Look for a mid-August opening.  

• Also over in Durham, the N&O’s Greg Cox is reporting that Fares Hanna, owner of Gregoria’s Kitchen, had initially hoped to rebuild after the Cuban restaurant was closed by a fire in January. But now he’s looking for a new location, without much luck so far. We’ll keep an eye on this story.  

• And an oldie over in Durham has received a face-lift. According to the Herald-Sun, the Red Lobster restaurant has been remodeled with a new design, expanded seating for larger parties, and while they were at it, a remodeled menu as well. The restaurant is located at 4416 Chapel Hill Blvd.

• And we mentioned it last week, but we now have a targeted open date for the new Topper’s Pizza location in Chapel Hill (former Gumby’s location) thanks to the Herald-Sun. They are looking at a September grand opening.

Closings      

• The Skinny Dip in the Shoppes of Kildaire in Cary closed last week. Looks like the one over in Raleigh at Quail Corners remains open.

• Got word this week in an email that Broad Street Cafe in Durham has closed their doors. Their last day was yesterday.

• This is sort of a closing, but more about a next chapter. It is now confirmed that Klausie’s Pizza will temporarily cease their food truck operation in order to focus on opening their brick & mortar location (still widely believed to be on Glenwood South) and once that is done, a bigger and better mobile unit. So take a quick breather and get ready for bigger and better!

• And in other “not really a closing” stories, we got word from reader Diane Pisano that the folks behind Larry’s Beans will not be coming to downtown Cary with their Lawrence Coffee Bar after all. But word is that the town of Cary is looking for another tenant for that space. 

Food Trucks 

• The only way things could get better over at popular food truck KoKyu BBQ is if there were TWO trucks...and apparently that is in the works according to a hint they dropped on Twitter. We’ll keep an eye out for the second truck making its way around the Triangle! See for yourself on Twitter here.

• The Durham Bulls will host the inaugural DBAP Food Truck Fest on Wednesday, July 10. Throughout the Bulls vs. Charlotte Knights game that evening, eight trucks (Only Burger, Chirba Chirba, Parlez-Vous Crepe, Sweet Stacey Cakes, BaguettAboutIt, Porchetta, The Humble Pig, and American Melt Down) will be on the Diamond View concourse within Durham Bulls Athletic Park (i.e. you must have a ticket to the game to partake...). 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 

• It is out. The listing of chefs for the Fire in the Triangle chef’s competition (July 8 through August 19th) has been released and the events are selling out quickly. Check it out here to see who the chef’s are and to get your tickets now.

• Don’t make the same mistake twice...If you hesitated on joining in on the fun with the first Dishcrawl event in Durham, you are in luck. They have scheduled an encore event on July 9th in Durham’s Five Points neighborhood (4 restaurants in one night for $45). You heard it here first, this will sell-out as well. Jump on it here. 

• The Red & White Food and Beverage Festival will be returning for a second year on Tuesday, October 29 from 6-9 p.m. The festival will be made up of restaurant owners, chefs, wine & spirit reps, winemakers, breweries, food bloggers and many more who are NC State alumni. Space is limited and booth placement is on a first come first serve basis. Interested vendors can email kelly@thestateclub.org for more information.

• You've got just under a month to get your costume together for Chick-fil-A's ninth annual Cow Appreciation Day. On July 12th, if you (and your friends) dress up like a cow, you get a free meal. Come on, you've done dumber things. Get all the details here.

Food Bank Corner   

• The West 94th St. Pub in the Woodcroft Shopping Center in Durham is holding a “Grill Master Cook-Off Competition” on July 27 to raise money for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. Contestants will be required to cook chicken and corn on-site with their own seasonings and spices. There is an optional bonus category in which contestants grill their own specialty items. For information or to get involved, call 919-403-0025 or send an email to kbpaw_21@msn.com.

Final Thoughts

• Happy 4th of July week to all. I hope that means time to relax and appreciate all we have in this great country of ours. With that being the case, I’ll next post on Friday, July 12th. Until then, happy eats!