Triangle Foodie News: Restaurants rally to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew

RALEIGH, N.C. — The latest on restaurant openings, closings, food trucks, foodie events and more in the Triangle and beyond.

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, thousands of our neighbors are without food, water and basic supplies. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is poised to deliver life sustaining food, water, and non-food essentials to the thousands affected. You can support the Food Bank's efforts by making a donation today. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide five meals. Please help the Food Bank serve those who have been seriously impacted by this storm. Find out here how your donations and/or time can help in those efforts.

On Saturday, more than 20 local businesses have agreed to give a percentage of their proceeds to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina. The Rally and Relief event will give those proceeds to the North Carolina Community Foundation's Statewide Disaster Relief Fund. Some of the participating restaurants include Busy Bee, Garland, Bida Manda, Capital Club 16, and Piedmont.

London Bridge Pub, located at 110 E. Hargett St., is adding a kitchen, Raleigh Public Record reports.

Sola Coffee started a $112,000 renovation project this week that will include a new seating area to the popular north Raleigh shop, according to Raleigh Public Record.

We are getting closer to the opening of Lou Moshakos' latest venture, Vidrio, a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar. There was a big social media push this week looking to hire staff. It will be located at 500 Glenwood South in the same building as the Carolina Ale House, their sister restaurant.

The folks over at Rocky Top Hospitality (Dean's, Twisted Fork, The Daily Planet Cafe, 1705 Prime, etc.) have launched a new venture, Southland BBQ Catering. There is no store front, delivery to homes and businesses will be available seven days a week.

Got word from WRAL that Tropical Picken Chicken in Wake Forest (2010 S Main Street) is moving a quarter-mile up the road next to Bella Pizza at 109 Capcom Avenue, Wake Forest. Their grand opening in the new location will be Nov. 4. In the interim, they remain open at their original location until Oct. 30 and will be giving away free lunch certificates from now until the grand opening.

And WRAL reported this week that Parkside Restaurant in downtown Raleigh will begin offering brunch this Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham is getting two new dining options. First up, from the folks behind Tyler's Taproom, comes Maybelle's, a BBQ and biscuit concept. Aimed to meet the needs of breakfast diners all the way through dinner, Maybelle's will offer scratch made biscuits, eastern North Carolina pulled pork BBQ, ribs, brisket and sides. Look for them to open Dec. 1.

And second, Wedgies Sandwiches is also coming to the American Tobacco Campus in early December. The beloved Southern Pines pizza crust focused sandwich shop will open its second location on the ground floor of Diamond View III. Owned by a former golf pro, Wedgie's aims to bring its promise of "Bite Me & You'll Love Me" to Durham's hungry and discerning diners.

Sera Cuni and Susan White, the owners of Root Cellar Café & Catering in Chapel Hill, will open a second location in Pittsboro in the new Penguin Place at Chatham Park. Look for a stronger focus on dinner and more outdoor seating when they open toward the end of summer 2017.

The Duke Chronicle reported that Jumba Juice is coming to Ninth Street and will be on the first floor of the Solis Ninth Street apartments and will be the first Triangle area location. Look for it to open before the end of the year.

Got word first from reader Stephen Wall that Crisp on Glenwood South has closed.

David McCreary informed me that Edna Morales announced that after a four-year run she is closing her namesake Edna's Cafe & Cocktails located at 135 S. Main St. in downtown Fuquay-Varina.

The Raleigh Durham Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) will hold a food truck rodeo in Carrboro on Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Hall grounds.

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

If you haven't heard...the State Fair is here! Now through Oct. 21 you can enjoy their “Eat Lunch at the Fair” deal. Here’s how it works. Come to Gate 9 (only) after 11:30 a.m. on weekdays, pay $10 cash for a lunch card to get in, get your grub on at any fair vendor and exit out the same gate by 1:30 p.m., and you get your $10 cash back. Sign me up!

The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering in Chapel Hill is holding its fifth annual Porkapalooza on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature 12 small plate courses celebrating local pork, including roasted suckling pigs; beer cheese fondue with local sausages; fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese, beer-braised crispy pork belly and tomato jam; poutine with sweet potato fries, Seven Springs country gravy and Ashe County cheese; and bacon marshmallow s’mores. The dinner also includes Fullsteam beer pairings. Save $10 by ordering tickets by Aug. 31.

Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 are the dates for 3rd Annual Triangle VegFest this year in Raleigh. Saturday’s events will be at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh from 1-5 p.m., and Sunday’s events will be held at the McKimmon Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

On Oct. 16 in Carrboro, grab a locally-made pottery bowl, enjoy a hearty meal of soup, sandwiches and dessert and help TABLE provide food aid to area children all while enjoying live music and a silent auction at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Tickets are $15-$50.

Also on Oct. 16 in Chapel Hill, A Tasteful Affair will take place at the Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. There will be food and beverage purveyors like Chirba Chirba, elements and others competing for awards with judges like UNC’s Sean May and Miss North Carolina McKenzie Faggart crowning their favorites. Tickets are $75-$125.

Jennifer Noble Kelly sent me information about PICNIC, North Carolina’s newest whole hog barbecue joint, and its’ farm partner, Green Button Farm, hosting their inaugural NC Barbecue Revival at the farm this fall, Oct. 28-30.The three-day weekend will be chock full of classes, discussions, feasts and pig pickins’.

On Nov. 6, the folks over at Acme will bring back the fourth edition of Salt & Smoke Festival to beautiful Rock Quarry Farm on Highway 54 just outside of Carrboro. This is becoming quite the event, as over 500 people attended last year.

The 12th Annual Garner Rotary Club OysterFest will be held the evening of October 20 at the Fidelity Business Park in Garner. Monies raised at the event are used to fund college scholarships for area high school seniors. The menu includes "all you can eat" oysters, seafood bisque and clam chowder, catfish fingers, chicken fingers, popcorn shrimp, pulled BBQ, coleslaw, potato salad, French fries, dessert and drinks. A cash bar is also available. Tickets are $30 in advance from a Rotarian and $35 at the door.