Triangle Foodie News: Whole hog barbecue joint opens in Durham

RALEIGH, N.C. —

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This is pretty cool. Julie Terry out at RTP, was the first to inform me about a new dining option right in the middle of the Triangle. The Farmery is now operating a restaurant out of a 1968 Airstream kitchen at The Frontier in Research Triangle Park. The coolest part is that many of The Farmery's ingredients are sourced directly from shipping containers located across the Triangle that have been converted into crop boxes. They are currently open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, but expect to begin offering breakfast options soon. You can find them at 800 Park Offices Drive in Research Triangle Park.

We told you about this back in January (everything but the new name), but the Triangle Business Journal reported this week that the entity taking over the former Tyler's Taproom location in Raleigh's Seaboard Station will be called Oak & Dagger Public House. As reported, it will feature a full-on brewery surrounding diners on all sides. The TBJ reports they will also open a bottle shop. Look for a Spring opening.

The News & Observer reported that downtown Raleigh's Person Street Pharmacy will begin offering a breakfast menu (and opening an hour earlier) next Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Changes coming to downtown Raleigh's Napper Tandy's was one of the worst kept secrets toward the end of 2015. But it is now confirmed that Napper Tandy's is no longer. It is now Tremor Bar and Grill, still located at 410 Glenwood Ave..

Last week we told you that the doors were temporarily closed to downtown Raleigh's Cafe de los Muertos (at 300 W. Hargett St.) after the NC Department of Revenue encouraged them to do "a little remodeling." Well, apparently they have kissed and made up and things are back to normal. Stop by and pay them a visit!

Thanks to the keen eyes of the EatRaleigh blog, it looks like there is a bakery making plans to move into the former Zydeco space at 208 Wolfe St., near Big Ed's in City Market. Thanks also to Ashton Mae Smith for bringing this to my attention. Stay tuned.

Last week we told you that the north Raleigh location of Duck Donuts had opened. As if that is not enough sugary goodness for one corner of the Triangle, this week folks on Yelp were reporting that Baker's Dozen Donuts has opened at 123 Plantation Square behind Triangle Town Center near First Watch.

Not sure how we missed this, but a new authentic Jamaican restaurant has opened at 3901 Capital Blvd. in Raleigh called Mum's Jamaican Restaurant. Thanks to Janika Reid for reaching out to me. Also loved that her email was signed, "One Love!"

Friend Darcy Huante, and co-owner of Chef Mario's, tipped me off to the fact that Michelangelo's Pizza on Harrison Avenue in Cary has closed. And according to banners that are hanging up, it will be replaced by Randy's Pizza. Although we don't have any word on an open date. We will keep you posted. Thanks Darcy!

Literally just got the press release that tonight, 'Barbecue Man' Wyatt Dickson and chef/partner Ben Adams, teamed up with Green Button Farm's Ryan Butler, will open Picnic. It is just dinner Friday (Feb. 5). Lunch and dinner service starts Saturday (Feb. 6). Picnic is a modern roadside barbecue joint where authentic whole hog barbecue - smoked slowly over oak - will share the plate with Adams' seasonal Southern sides and desserts. They are located at 1647 Cole Mill Road in Durham.

The Chapel Hill Magazine broke the news that the much-anticipated Pizzeria Mercato opened this week at 408 W. Weaver Street. Mercato is operated by Gabe Barker, son of James Beard-award-winning chefs Ben and Karen Barker, former owners of Magnolia Grill in Durham.

And then there were two. It is official, Cocoa Cinnamon opened their second location this past week at 2627 Hillsborough Road in Durham.

Got word this week that the good folks at Big Bundts & More Bakery (currently located at 5504 Durham / Chapel Hill Blvd) are moving into new digs in March. They will be moving to 721 Broad Street, occupying the street-level space in the ADF building. Look for the move to take place in March.

Only Burger, the Durham-based food truck and restaurants, will start serving breakfast on weekdays at its American Tobacco location (529 Blackwell St.) starting next week on Feb. 10. The breakfast menu will be available 7:30-10:30 a.m. Monday-Friday.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Lucky Chicken, the Peruvian-style restaurant with locations already in Cary and Clayton, has expanded with a third location now open in Durham's the Shops at Northgate near Northgate Mall, close to the Sky Zone entertainment center. Check out the Lucky Chicken here.

Got word this week that the Johnny Carino's in Raleigh's Brier Creek has closed.

Also, as previously reported, Michelangelo's Pizza on Harrison Avenue in Cary has closed.

Chapel Hill's Al's Burger Shack announced via Facebook this week that they will debut their food truck, Al's Burger Truck, this Saturday night (Feb. 6) at The Kracken, a cool little bar out Highway 54 just west of Carrboro at Dodson's Crossroads.

Not exactly new, but not sure he got any mention here when he opened at the end of last year, so we wanted to throw some love to Arlton Cangelosi, who you may already know (I haven't had the pleasure of trying out his truck). He operates Mr. A's Beignets providing authentic beignets and coffee with chicory of New Orleans. You can usually find him at 400 N. Salem St. in Apex, Wednesday through Saturday 8am - 1pm.

Holly Springs is hosting a small Food Truck Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center (300 W. Ballentine Street) as part of the 4th Annual Community Arts Festival. The rodeo will feature Stuft, Big C Waffle, and Olio & Aceto.

Thanks to a tip from Felicia Perry-Trujillo, I was reminded that the Triangle Wine Experience, which benefits the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, is Feb 4-6.

Feb. 20 is the date for the 6th Annual Care to Share Gala to benefit the Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center. It will be held at the Kerr Scott building in Raleigh. The event features a chef challenge in addition to the auction.

Over in Cary at The Umstead, you can learn a little with the one you love at this season’s Artisan Confections pastry event on Feb. 7 featuring the Durham Distillery. Join executive pastry chef Evan Sheridan as he bakes his way through gin and chocolate, and hear how this organic distillery combined art and science to create world-class gins and liqueurs. It begins at 3 pm and tickets are $65 inclusive of tax and gratuity and can be purchased by calling 919-447-4050.

The 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held on April 10, but tickets are already on sale. Visit the DPAC ticket center to avoid service charges.

Durham Magazine and Chapel Hill Magazine will sponsor the third annual TASTE: A Celebration of Food & Drink, happening from April 21 to 23, 2016. The event will feature more than 30 top local chefs and establishments in Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh. A portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Durham Branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. They have some great early bird pricing now too!

SEEDS announced this week that their Fork Less Traveled, a chef dinner series that pairs Durham chefs with local farms and beverage purveyors, will kick off this season on March 13 and will feature Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint. The series is one way they support Durham garden-based programming.

A huge thank you to all that helped support the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina’s Holidays Meal Drive. They reached their goal of providing 2.4 million holiday meals this season by raising over $485,000 in online donations prior to December 31! We are so very thankful and deeply humbled by the outpouring of support. Thank you for your partnership to help provide hunger relief in our region!

Unfortunately the need continues. If you are looking to fulfill a New Year’s resolution to get involved in your community, I encourage you to take a look at the Food Bank. Find out how you can volunteer here.