Foodie News: A chance to win free chicken biscuits for a year

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Hills announced this week that Standard Beer + Food, a locally-owned and operated restaurant in Raleigh, will be opening in the North Hills Innovation District (NHID). Standard will occupy one of the two standalone food and beverage buildings with large dedicated outdoor dining space. The new restaurant will feature an interior of 5,600 square feet and more than 15,000 square feet of outdoor gathering space – the most of any other North Hills space to date. Visit Standard here.

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken, which was founded in Durham, announced this week that it will celebrate the opening of its 10th Triangle location at Cary’s Waverly Place (575 New Waverly Place by Whole Foods Market) on Saturday, Jan. 27. Rise Cary will donate 20% of grand opening day sales to Penny Road Elementary School in Cary and Peak Charter Academy in Apex. Additionally, a limited-edition sticker will be given to the first 200 customers, and hold a number of drawings for free Rise food and prizes, including free Rise for a year for one lucky winner. Grand opening day festivities kick off at the store opening at 7 a.m. on Jan. 27. Visit them here.

Reader Linda Stevens reached out to let me know that Che Empanadas, known for their handmade, Argentinian-style empanadas and pastries, is set to open a second location. It will be in the Duraleigh Corners shopping center in the former Papa’s Pizza & Wings spot (5800-111 Duraleigh Rd.). Their original location is in the Transfer Co. Food Hall. No word yet on an open date. Best to follow them on Instagram here for the pending announcement. Congrats to Anabel and Mark Rossbach.

Down in Clayton, Heather Overfield Lindeen shared that Green Banana Restaurant, a new Honduran concept, held their grand opening this past weekend. They are located at 11471 US-70 Business in Clayton. Check them out on Instagram here.

Over in Durham’s Brightleaf Square, it looks like any day now, possibly any hour now, before we get to enjoy the opening of Sanford-based Fonda Lupita, which Eater magazine named as one of the best new restaurants in America in 2021. In fact, they may already be open in soft mode, but nothing has been announced on social media nor their website. But you can call (919) 294-4773 and inquire. Might be best to follow along on Facebook for the pending announcement. If you simply can’t wait, head on down to Sanford (1952 S. Horner Blvd.) and get your fix!

And Twittter (or X) buddy @burgeoningbaker brought it to my attention that Sam’s Bottle Shop in Durham is closing Feb. 11 after nearly a decade in business in its current location (nearly 80 years total according to Indy Week if you include all of the various iterations of the family business). Indy Week also added that they will have a couple of closing parties this month and there is still plenty of time to stop by and have one last pour!

Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

RALToday brought it to our attention that Burial Beer, with a location in Raleigh at the Transfer Co. Food Hall, is celebrating 5 years in Raleigh on Saturday, January 20th. Festivities begin at 2 p.m. and last until 11 p.m. The day’s activities are highlighted by Local Makers Market (2-6 p.m.); Long Leaf Swine BBQ Pop Up (5-8 p.m.); Performance by Organ Failure in the Transfer Co. Ballroom (7-9:30 p.m.); and Nostalgic Hits with DJ Sellout (9:30-11 p.m.). Visit Burial here.

The annual Triangle Restaurant Week event is set to run next week, January 22-28. During the event, participating restaurants within Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas will offer a special 2 or 3-course prix fixe menu ($20, $25, $30,$35, $40, $45, $50) each day they are open. See the list of participating restaurants here.

My buddy Neha M. Shah, director of the Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau, shared that the annual Farm to Fork Picnic, celebrating local food and local farms, will take place Sunday, June 2 from 4 to 7 p.m., again at Fearrington Village. Get details and tickets here.

Hard to believe, but tickets went on sale this week for the 9th Annual Dinner in the Meadow which will take place on September 15, 2024 on a grassy knoll at Meadow Lane Farm, in bucolic Franklin County, offering beautiful pastoral views and clear, starry skies. Some of the region’s most sought-after chefs will be preparing delicious dishes using ingredients from local farms and food artisans. It is an annual fundraiser for the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2014 to support and cultivate small farms in our region of North Carolina. Get tickets and all the details here.

No doubt we live in a wonderful corner of the world. But here are some things to remember and not forget. Right now, one in five people in central and eastern North Carolina don’t have enough to eat. The Food Bank provided over 88 million meals to families and individuals last year. The Food Bank’s partner agency network has reported up to a 60% increase in neighbors visiting for food assistance. The need is real and right here in our backyard. Consider helping in 2024. See how here.