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.