Friday Fun Food Facts - August 2, 2013

Triangle Restaurant News

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

Featured Restaurant News

• While I'm excited to be heading to the mountains of North Carolina next week, I am bummed I will miss this event. Imagine hanging out with and enjoying a meal prepared by Ashley Christensen (Poole's, Beasley's, Chuck's, etc, etc., etc.) and Matt Kelly (Vin Rouge, Mateo Tapas) in George Bakatsias' (Bin 54, Parazade, Vita, Kipos, etc., etc., etc.) gorgeous lake-side gardens in Durham. What an evening! The event (to support the documentary film Farmer Veteran) will happen on Saturday, August 10th and at last check, just over 40 tickets remained for the $150 experience. Get all the details here.

Wake County Restaurant News 

•  According to New Raleigh, the Rockford on Glenwood South in downtown Raleigh, which closed on July 1 for renovations, will reopen on Monday, August 5th. Check their website out here. 

• Got word this week from Chad McIntyre that The Market (a combination grocery store, market, restaurant and catering company) continues to move toward the opening its new location over on Franklin Street in downtown Raleigh, but will be doing so without the partnership with Green Planet Catering. We'll continue to watch this and let you know as Chad gets closer to opening. Check them out here. 

• Speaking of the old Market location on Blount Street, New Raleigh is reporting that Stanbury will open any day now. Stanbury will specialize in modern American cuisine with a menu that will change daily and be dictated by local and seasonal ingredients. Keep up with their opening announcement on Facebook here.

• Back at the beginning of July we told you about Crafty Beer Shop
  moving into the old Hayes Barton Furniture Company location in Five Points over in Raleigh (Fairview Road). Thanks to good friend Gordon Brown, we have learned that they are now open. The shop specializes in North Carolina craft beers as well as beers from around the world. Cheers to Gordon! 

• This past Thursday marked the opening of the second location of Trali Irish Pub and Restaurant. The newest location is in Grace Park in Morrisville. Get all the details here.

• August 11th will mark the opening of the Triangle's third location of PDQ, a fast casual restaurant specializing in chicken tenders, salads, sandwiches, fresh cut fries and hand spun milkshakes. The newest location is right at the intersection of High House Road and Davis Drive in Cary. Get more details here and on their Facebook page here.

• Thanks to a tweet from Blake Paro, we were reminded that we are getting very close to the opening of the fourth Triangle location of Village Deli and Grill. The newest location will be in Lake Boone shopping center in the former Barking Cow location. The latest post on their Facebook page suggests an August 6 opening, but we encourage you to check their Faceook page here before heading over or check out their website here.  

• The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Clyde Cooper's Barbecue has found a new home - just around the corner at 313 S. Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh. The move will take place sometime in November and will only result in the restaurant being closed for 3 days. The new digs will very closely resemble the current restaurant. We'll keep you posted on it as we get closer.

• Saw in the News & Observer this morning that the Garner Towne Square Chick-fil-A is closed for renovations. The fast-food chicken restaurant located at 2720 Timber Drive is expected to reopen Aug. 9.

Durham, Orange & Chatham County Restaurant News 

• We told you about this a couple of weeks ago, but the Herald-Sun is now reporting that a new Mediterranean food restaurant called Hummus Café has opened at 169 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill in the space that previously housed Hot Dogs & Brew.

• On a recent walk down Chapel Hill's Franklin Street, reader Jacqueline Atlas confirmed a rumor I had heard - Trilussa La Tratorria on Chapel Hill's West Franklin Street has closed. The new news (and confirmed by the Herald-Sun) is that a new placed called Mozzarella has opened in that spot. It describes itself as Italian Fusion. Get more details here.

• On that same walk, Jacqueline noticed that East Franklin's Korchipi (which replaced Tomato Jake's, which took over Franklin Street Pizza & Pasta) had changed its name to Chopsticks & More - apparently a reflection of a new menu that was released in early July.

• A huge shout-out and congratulations to Vimala's Curryblossom Café as they celebrate their 3rd birthday with a huge 3rd Anniversary Celebration beginning at 6 p.m . this Saturday (August 3) and lasting until mid-night. Get more details here.

• According to a post on a Yelp message board, apparently Pomegranate Kitchen, which is currently over by Straw Valley Cafe on 15-501, is planning a move to an area behind the Durham Farmer's Market. Check out their facebook page here and their regular site here. We'll keep an eye on it.

• Looks like the Brightleaf Square area in downtown Durham is getting a new breakfast and lunch spot called Serrano Delicafe. They are currently in the middle of their soft opening schedule, but the official "grand opening" is Monday, August 5th. Located on Main Street, look for real, all-natural deli meat (with cured meats from Spain and Italy) and Joe Van Gogh coffee to headline their menu. Get more details here. 

Closings (None!!!)      

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 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 

• Curt Johnson and his team over at the Carolina Railhawks are bringing back the popular Taste of the Triangle event this 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. 

• If you like live rock, country, blues and bluegrass music as well as mouth-watering barbecue, then head on over to Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre this Friday and Saturday for the Beer Bourbon and BBQ Festival. In addition to the barbecue and music, there will be cigars, beer and premier bourbon tastings and seminars. Tickets start at $55. Get all the details here.

• Over in Durham this Saturday (August 3rd) from 3 'til 9 p.m., Durham Central Park will become a reflection of all things great here in the Triangle. Experience local artists, crafts, musicians and of course, local cuisine via food trucks at Summer in the City. Get all the details here.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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   

• Triangle CANstruction will be "camping" all over the Triangle on August 2nd in downtown Raleigh as part of the First Friday Gallery Walk.  Eight teams will create an 'Amazing Race' of unique structures camped throughout our community, making a united stand to 'Stop Summer Hunger.' Watch them being built or vote for your favorite on their Facebook page here. 

Final Thoughts

• As was mentioned earlier (I hope you were paying attention), I will be out of town next week getting a little "mountain time." With that being the case, there will be
  NO Friday Fun Food Facts next week. See you when I come back down out of the mountains! Thanks for reading!