Foodie News: Heavenly Buffaloes to open second location

RALEIGH, N.C. — The excitement level reaches a feverish pitch in the Triangle come March - especially in Chapel Hill, home of the reigning men's basketball national champions. But the excitement this March may not just be just about basketball, but about the addition of the second location of Heavenly Buffaloes in the former home of Sandwich on Franklin Street. According to the News & Observer they have set a target open date which coincides with the ACC Tournament (March 6-11). The Chapel Hill location will be much larger than the original Durham "shack" and will be more of a traditional restaurant, including a dining room with seating for 73. Let's keep our fingers crossed it all goes as planned.

Osteria G opened at 5160 Sunset Lake Road in Apex in the former Little Hen spot on Thursday. Check out the menu and other details on their website here.

Got word from Lisa Jeffries that Saigon Grill & Bar on Glenwood South will close after dinner service on Saturday night and will re-open on Thursday, March 1st with a totally new authentic Vietnamese menu. More details next week.

In Raleigh's Brier Creek, Your Pie, a fast casual pizza concept, opens today at 4233 Corners Pkwy. This will be the brand's second Triangle-area store owned by father-son duo John and Jack Fladeland. The other location is in Cary. The brick-oven pizzeria offers a customizable, down-the-line experience and has more than 50 stores nationwide.

Over in Morrisville, reader Ami Patel informed us that Singas Pizza is coming to Lower Shiloh Way near the WalMart. Straight out of New York, the concept operates 15 locations in the tri-state area. No word yet on an open date.

In Cary, reader Scott Eaton notified us that Mazaa Indo-pak Halal Cuisine has closed and will be replaced by Everest Nepali Kitchen. It is located in the Harrison Pointe shopping center near the intersection of Harrison Avenue and NW Maynard Road. No word yet on an open date.

Friend Tina Coynesmith brought it to my attention that after 37 years, Filippo and Sylvia Tornetta of Sal's Pizza in Chapel Hill are retiring. This Monday (Feb. 26) will be their last day. The good news is they have sold the restaurant to a long-time employee who will keep things, for the most part, as they are. We do know, however, that they will move across the breezeway at 2811 Homestead Road into the former coffee shop space. Our very best to Filippo and Sylvia!

Also in Chapel Hill, reader Cassie Spracklen notified us that popular Greensboro burger maker Hops Burger Bar is bringing its gourmet burgers to 140 West Franklin St. in the former Lime Fresh Mexican Grill space. According to employees in Greensboro, they are scheduled to open the first of March. Those not familiar with Hops, based out of Greensboro, should note that Trip Advisor named them the best burger spot in the nation in 2015!

Over in Durham, Blaze Pizza opened their fourth Triangle location yesterday (Feb. 22) at 5320 McFarland Drive, just out in front of Home Depot near the intersection of 15-501 and Interstate 40. They also have locations in Morrisville, Garner and Holly Springs. If you follow them on any of their social media platforms, you can enjoy free pizza today (Feb. 23) from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Also in Durham, Amber Watson at Bites of Bull City informed me that craft beer store and neighborhood bar, The Glass Jug, has reopened in their new space at 5410 Hwy 55. The move was just a few doors down within the Greenwood Commons shopping center, but now gives them an on-site microbrewery and beer garden in the back which allows for outdoor seating and regular food truck visits! Congrats to Katy and Chris Creech.

And one last Durham note, fast-casual restaurant concept, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, opened its second Durham location yesterday (Feb. 22) at 3812 N Roxboro Street near Duke Regional Hospital. The opening joins Freddy's first Durham location at Patterson Place. Check out Freddy's here.

Reader Scott Eaton notified us that Bruegger's Bagels on Route 401 in Garner has closed.

And dates have been set (at least initial dates) for the Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo and Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos.

Art Sheppard, the Wandering Sheppard, noted that the date has been set for the next edition of Rodeo on Rosemary over in Chapel Hill. This year it will take place on April 22 at 12 noon featuring 15 of the best trucks in the Triangle.

Two great sites to keep up with your favorite food trucks. Street Food Finder is one, and another, aptly named, is Roaming Hunger.

Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom and Sam’s Quik Shop will host the 6th Annual Bull City Food and Beer Experience on Sunday, Feb. 25. The event features 30 restaurants paired with 30 breweries spread throughout all three DPAC floors featuring unlimited samplings and the Harris On Stage Experience showcasing local food trucks with the help of County Fare, a daily food truck rodeo opening soon.

March 17 is the date for the second annual Food Shuttle Garden Gallop 5K to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Growing School Gardens program (better known as the Sean is Faster Than Gordon race). If I can do it, you can do it! Come on out and support a great cause.

Durham Magazine, Chapel Hill Magazine and Chatham Magazine return with their popular culinary event, Taste, to take place April 18-22 highlighting culinary talents. The event will feature over 30 of the area’s top chefs at four unique events throughout the week.

And looking ahead a bit, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina will host a culinary event called Thrive NC set to take place at downtown Raleigh’s City Market on May 10-11. The two-day event will highlight the fact that 1.5 million people in the state struggle to buy affordable and fresh foods. A highlight of the event will be a two-day food festival featuring top chefs from 50 North Carolina restaurants serving food and drink samples against a backdrop of live music each night. Tickets will go on sale in February.

And the 2018 version of Farm to Fork expanded to three events over several seasons and tickets to all three just went on sale. The fun begins with the first event on June 3, the perennial favorite Farm to Fork Picnic, where the area’s best farmers and chefs are paired. Then on Sept. 16 they’ll host a pop-up dinner featuring Jacob Boehm of Snap Pea Underground & Catering. And the series will conclude on Dec. 6 with John T. Edge and a celebration of Southern food on Chapel Hill’s Lavender Oak Farm. You can buy ticket to each individual event, or all three.

Go ahead and mark your calendars and get your tickets for the Food Bank’s Chef’s Feast at Fearrington Village coming up on March 22. Four renowned chefs will prepare and serve favorite recipes through four courses in an intimate environment. Guests will enjoy beverage pairings, an opportunity to bid on unique auction items, and learn more about what the Food Bank and its partner agencies are doing in the community for those facing food insecurity.