Triangle Foodie News: Oak and Dagger opens in old Tyler's location

RALEIGH, N.C. —

Featured Restaurant News

This isn’t exactly “restaurant” news - but it is part of the journey of what will eventually become a larger concept that will include dining. Just yesterday Oak & Dagger’s Research Library (i.e. bottle shop) opened where Tyler’s bottle shop used to be in downtown Raleigh’s Seaboard Station. Progress continues toward the rest of the project - Oak & Dagger Public House. Stay tuned.

Over at North Hills we got word this week that Sam’s Pizza and Salads suddenly closed last weekend. That was quickly followed by the news that Pieology Pizzeria, which just opened on Hillsborough Street, would open their second Raleigh location in that space. Renovation has begun, targeting a July opening.

I get a lot of questions from readers. Probably one of the more frequent questions is regarding the restaurant space located directly behind Crabtree Valley Mall (former Crabtree Tavern, Tavola... among others). Back in December we told readers it would become the newest location of San Marcos Mexican Restaurant out of Danville, VA. Got word this week that they are about three weeks out from opening! If you haven’t been by recently, it looks amazing! Let’s hope the food is as good as the decor!

Got word from reader Steven Moore that Ledo’s Pizza in Cary has opened. They are located at 982 High House Road in the Lowe’s Shopping Center. This looks like the first North Carolina location (unless you count Rock Hill, SC as part of NC).

Cary’s location of Sassool will hold its grand opening celebration on Mother’s Day, May 8, from 1-4 p.m. Sassool’s second location, which opened in December, is located at 1347 Kildaire Farm Road in the Shoppes of Kildaire (Trader Joe’s).

Also in Cary, got an update on a Yelp message board that the Noodle Boulevard has opened at 919 N. Harrison Avenue. They took the place of the short-lived Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies, and Java Jive before that.

Up in Wake Forest, got a note from a reader that there is some activity 1248 S. Main Street in the former Fig Wine Bar location for Italian Trattoria by Bruno, which we assume is associated with Bruno’s in Wakefield. Stay tuned.

Saw in the Herald Sun that the latest edition of City Barbecue will open tomorrow, May 7, at their location in Durham at Southpoint Crossing between McDonald’s and Ruby Tuesday.

May 24 is the date that Giorgios Bakatsias has pegged for the opening of his newest venture - Boheme, according to the Triangle Business Journal. Boheme will open in the Straw Valley space near the intersection of Interstate 40 and 15-501 at the Durham / Chapel Hill border. It will be open for dinner and brunch on the weekend.

Beyu Caffe is in the process of moving into their new, larger space at 341 W. Main Street in downtown Durham. They still haven’t announced their soft opening - but it should be any day now.

As noted above, Sam’s Pizza & Salads in North Hills has closed.

The RDU Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) food truck members will be at The Salvation Army of Wake County’s Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope location (1863 Capital Boulevard in Raleigh) on Monday, May 9 from 5 to 7 pm. The event will be a dinner food truck rodeo, where a percentage of sales and tips earned will be donated to Salvation Army program, Project CATCH (Community Action Targeting Children who are Homeless). Attendees are also encouraged to bring a canned good to donate. The food trucks that will be here are Baozi, Chick-N-Que, Cocoa Forte, Gussy’s, Philly’s, Sweet Traditions and Will & Pop’s.

With the warm weather returning, it also means the return of the Food Truck Thursdays in Knightdale. Every Thursday from April through June, the town will host a new truck at Knightdale Station Park for lunch and dinner. Just look for it from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. near the amphitheater (rain or shine - shelters are covered).

For a listing of ALL food truck events, head over to Art’s page, The Wandering Sheppard, on all things food truck related here.

Tickets to one of my favorite annual events, Farm to Fork, have gone on sale. The event this year will be held on the weekend of June 3 through June 5.

The Piedmont Dinner Series continues on May 25 as Piedmont's Greg Gettles and The Boot's John May will host a late spring bbq in partnership with Locals Seafood. The multi-course dinner is $65, plus $20 for wine pairings.

The Boot’s chef John May has also teamed up with the folks over at Starpoint Brewing for a four course prix fixe dinner paired with a craft brew at each turn on Tuesday, May 17. It is $50 per ticket.

I saw in the News & Observer that Vino!! Wine Shop and 458 West B&B are hosting Pittsboro’s first ever Wine Festival on May 21. The event will happen rain or shine from 1-4 p.m. at the bed and breakfast’s front lawn and porch. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Only 100 tickets will be sold for the event. Attendees will get to taste wine from seven vendors, savor appetizers and cheese from Goat Lady Dairy and enjoy door prizes and live music. Tickets can be purchased online here.

This year's edition of the Raleigh Food & Wine Festival, a four day event, will be held May 19-22.

Ok, this is a bit of a stretch to include, but it's too fun/funny not to include. It is the 2016 Doughman event being held in Durham on May 28. What is it? It is a "foodie" event that combines the elements of a triathlon with competitive eating. 4-member teams basically down a delicious treat from a Durham establishment which is then followed by a bike, run or "water activity" challenge of varying distances.

Arguably the area's biggest "foodie" event, TerraVita, recently announced the dates for this year's festival - September 28 through Oct. 1. The Chapel Hill-based festival, now in its seventh year, offers exceptional dinners, tasting events, after parties, chef demos as well as the "Sustainable Classroom" - educational experiences featuring renowned chefs, authors & national media. TerraVita concludes with a Grand Tasting on the Green featuring over 65 chefs, artisans and beverage producers for tastings, live chef demonstrations and cookbook signings. TerraVita's ticket launch and full schedule will be released in mid-June.

The Letter Carriers Food Drive is back for its 24th year - and will be on Saturday, May 14. It's easy! Pack a bag of food and set it by your mailbox. Your letter carrier will do the rest! Check out the list of most needed items here!