Foodie news: How to get free cookies, plus big BBQ news (April 29, 2022)
Is Darryl’s making a comeback? The News & Observer reported this week that current owner William “Marty” Kotis definitely has Raleigh at the top of his future expansion plans. The N&O noted that Darryl’s was founded in 1971 by Angus Barn co-founders Thad Eure and Charles Winston, with restaurant namesake Darryl Davis. The founders left the company at separate times as Darryl’s was sold to larger restaurant groups. At its height there were 39 locations, including five in the Triangle alone. The Hillsborough Street location was the last in the area to close, and did so in 2003. Visit Darryl’s in Greensboro here.
Wake County Restaurant News
With the weather warming up as we inch closer to summer, we got a reminder this week that The Redneck BBQ Lab is on schedule to open this summer in North Hills as The BBQ Lab. Their first location opened in Benson in 2016 and has appeared on the Food Network’s “Chopped.” Its new location will serve BBQ, new menu items, Sunday brunch, and a twist on traditional small plates. Keep up with announcements on their Facebook page here.
Also in Raleigh, RalToday shared an update. Warm cookie delivery company Tiff’s Treats is set to open June 4 in the Village District. To celebrate its grand opening, the shop is giving away one dozen cookies to all new subscribers. Sign up for free cookies here.
Down in Fuquay-Varina, reader Chris Creighton shared a couple of quick updates. The first one is The Gyro Spot at 1005 E. Broad St. which will be serving up authentic Greek food. And the second bit of news is a Wing It On going into the new out parcel building in front of the Walmart on E. Broad Street. This will be their second Triangle location, as there is one on Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street. No word on an open date for either. Visit Wing It On here.
This is fun (and tasty!). The folks at Morning Rolls (think cinnamon rolls!) in the Quail Corners shopping center in Raleigh are having a contest for kids to tell them why their mom is the sweetest. After reading all the entries, they will choose a winner that will win a free breakfast or lunch for the entire family! Share this with your kids! Visit them on Facebook here.
Some exciting news from the folks over at Cary’s Catering by Design. Owners Philip and Amy Lin have started a nonprofit foundation with the goal of bringing Howdy Homemade Ice Cream to the Triangle. If you are not familiar with Howdy, it was established to train and mentor young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities using smiles and amazing ice cream. In order to make this dream a reality, they are holding their first fundraising luncheon on Thursday, May 5th at the Courtyard by Marriott in Cary. Get details on the luncheon here, and learn more about Howdy Homemade Ice Cream here.
Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News
Carrie Brogren shared via her Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group that Carrboro’s Belltree Cocktail Club is up and running with a “soft” reopening schedule for the next two weeks, leading up to a grand reopen on May 6. Meaning they will have limited hours, 5-10pm this week, and a scaled down menu. Re-familiarize yourself with Belltree here.
And thanks to a post by Ian Enverga to the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies group we learned that a “sweet tea” spot called Romanz Tea is coming to the corner of Mt. Moriah and Erwin in Durham. Best to follow them on Instagram for updates/announcements.
Closings/ Cancelations
Reader Stephen Head shared the news that Dharani in Morrrisvile has closed their doors. That said, the new management has plans to reopen that location (1000 Lower Shiloh Way, Morrisville) under a new brand. Stay tuned.
And not a restaurant (but we have so many “foodies” among our followers)….Vanessa Guirguis shared that Whisk Carolina (a store for cooks, foodies, chefs and gadget lovers), located in the Waverly Place shopping center in Cary, is closing their doors, including the cooking classes, June 11th. So you still have some time to get by and/or attend a class. Get their closing schedule and details here.
Food Trucks
OK, pay attention. Some changes to the Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule. The are just two dates for 2022 rodeos and they are as follows – June 12 and Sept. 25. There is NOT one this weekend. The rodeo is set up on downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street featuring a half mile of food trucks and restaurants spread out over 10 city blocks. Details here.
The remaining Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo 2022 schedule is as follows: June 5, Sept. 4 and Oct. 30. Mark your calendars. Get all the details here.
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.
Events
Great Grapes in Cary’s Saltbox Village is continuing their 20th Anniversary Party Series with the next event on April 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will feature lobster (provided by The Lobster Dogs), beer (Fullsteam) and wine (15 Seafood-friendly, spring-weight wines). Get all the details and tickets here.
North Raleigh’s Lafayette Village will host the 2022 Wine Cheese and Chocolate Festival this Saturday, April 30 from 1-6 pm. There will be live music and vendors in the courtyard. Explore the unique shops as you sample wines, cheeses and chocolates throughout this beautiful, locally-owned shopping village. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the event. General admission tickets are $39.99; VIP tickets are $99. Visit their Facebook event page here.
On May 1 the folks over in Pittsboro will gather under the stars for Local on Lorax: A Farm & Art Dinner from 6-9pm at The Plant at 192 Lorax Lane in Pittsboro. It is a pop-up dinner with a super-local twist gathering area farmers, chefs, restaurants, craft beverages, and visual and performing artists for a good time. Tickets are $125. Get all the details here.
The folks over in Cary are proud to announce that Fest in the West, western Cary’s signature event, is back at Thomas Brooks Park on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are two stages with entertainment featuring some of the best talent in the Triangle. Food trucks will be in three areas, a centrally located beer garden and a fun Kids Corral with activities for families along with a petting zoo. Mark your calendar and get all the details here.
Thanks to the folks at RalToday, we were reminded that Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard is hosting a Spring Music Fest on Saturday, May 14 from 2-10 pm. Join the Brewyard for a night of shopping from local vendors, sipping on cocktails and cold brews, and music performed by NC bands. Get all the details and tickets here.
The folks at Bites of Bull City shared the great news that The Glass Jug’s third annual Hops & Blues Fest returns this year on Saturday, May 21st from 4-8 p.m. at Glass Jug Beer Lab’s RTP location (5410 NC-55). Note: the event is capped at 250 people, so get your tickets early. The $45 ticket price gets attendees unlimited samples from the best IPA and hop-forward beer makers in the area along with live music from some of the best local blues musicians: Brett Chambers & The Usual Suspects and The Pheobees. Along with The Glass Jug, other brewery reps on site include Aslin, Resident Culture, New Anthem, Wilmington, Commonwealth, Triple Crossing, Funguys, Durty Bull, Wooden Robot, Grimm, Equilibrium, and Southern Grist. Get tickets here.
The second annual Bubbles and Brisket is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 from 2-6 p.m. at Smoky Hollow in downtown Raleigh. The event is a collaboration of chefs, pit-masters, wine producers, sommeliers and brewers, pairing sparkling bubbles with a variety of cooking techniques and side dishes that feature everyone’s favorite: brisket. Early Bird Tickets on sale for the month of April are $65/person. On May 1, tickets are $75/person. Get all the details and tickets here.
After a 2-year hiatus, Dinner in the Meadow will return as attendees will be gathering in the meadow again on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The dinner sells out each year, so you are encouraged to get your tickets early. Get all the details here.
Like beer? Excellent. Visit Raleigh has established a Raleigh Beer Trail that gives you a passport to get stamped at the 30+ breweries in the Raleigh area, from Wake Forest to Raleigh to Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. Once you’ve filled up your passport with stamps, you send it in to receive prizes. Nothing like being rewarded for drinking! But as always, please drink responsibly. Get the details here.
Food Bank Corner
You can make a difference every month! Despite a record amount of food being distributed to individuals, seniors, children, veterans, and families of all kinds who are facing hunger last year, the food bank is still not meeting the increased need in the 34 counties the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves. Their partner agencies on the front lines are still reporting a sustained 35% increase in need over pre-pandemic levels. They need your reliable support to nourish all their neighbors in need. Sign up this January and your 1st monthly gift can be matched up to $2,500! Start giving today! #NoOneGoesHungry
Sean Lennard, a Raleigh native, has been around the Triangle food scene for...well, a long time, but professionally since 2002 with the the Triangle Food Blog, formerly known as Friday Fun Food Facts, in 2008. You can find his blog here. And you don't have to wait until Friday for updates as you can follow Sean throughout the week on Facebook and Twitter.
