Triangle Foodie News: Sassool opens second location

RALEIGH, N.C. —

Wake County restaurant news

Lisa and Mounir Saleh, and their two oldest daughters, Noelle and Simone, just yesterday opened a second location of Sassool Mediterranean Cafe in Cary’s Shoppes of Kildaire, just a few doors down from Trader Joe’s. So excited for them and their success!

Well this is sad and exciting all at the same time! The original owners of Maximillian’s Grill over in Cary have sold their restaurant to two of their employees – Will and Margie Hennessey. The restaurant originally opened in 1991 and moved to its current location on Chapel Hill Road in 2002. The Schiffer’s last day will be Dec. 31 and then the Hennessey’s plan to close the restaurant for updates for about a month, before reopening on Feb. 1. Check them out here. Our best to Michael and Gayle Schiffer as they ride off into the sunset of retirement…at the beach!

Out in Morrisville, thanks to the keen eyes of reader Lee Langston, we learned that construction has started on a building at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Carrington Mill Blvd. According to permits, it looks like 35 Chinese Restaurant is behind the new activity. No word yet if it is the same owners that used to be on Kildaire Farm Road. We'll keep an eye on it. Thanks Lee!

We told you about this back in September, but reader Michelle Hillison informed me this week that Brad Barbour’s Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, originally hoping to open in December, will open the first week in January in Cary’s Preston Corners in the old Caribou Coffee location.

Also in Cary, we are getting closer and closer to the opening of The Mayton Inn, a new boutique hotel coming to Academy Street in Cary by the same folks (Colin and Deanna Crossman) behind the King’s Daughters Inn in Durham. But more exciting to me will be chef Jeff Gomper’s menu from The Verandah. I’m getting a sneak peek at it in January, so the opening can’t be far off!

Reader Rebecca Calhoun tipped me off to the fact that there is a new comfort food restaurant in Litchford Village Plaza in Raleigh called Milow’s.

James Borden’s Raleigh Public Record blog uncovered a fun update near the intersection of Six Forks and Wake Forest Road. A takeout only restaurant called Gorilla Grille Carry Out is moving into the Shell gas station at 210 E. Six Forks Road. No word on a timeline nor whether it will impact the Dunkin’ Donuts currently operating there.

A quick update from the folks over at The Twisted Fork in north Raleigh, thanks to a posting on Yelp. They noted that things are moving along nicely with the reconstruction as well as a few new features to the restaurant. They also noted they are still shooting for a January re-opening. Stay tuned here.

Also on Yelp, it looks like the Carolina Wings Company in Stonehenge Shopping Center has closed, but will re-open in January under new ownership as Stonehenge Tavern. We were able to confirm a corporate registration with that name in October with the Secretary of State’s office. Stay tuned!

Down in Garner, got a press release that Blaze Pizza will open its newest location at 140 Cabela Drive next Thursday, Dec.17 at 11 am. This marks the second Blaze Pizza location in the Triangle and statewide.

The taste of Argentina is coming to the Triangle, more specifically southwest Durham, in a matter of days. Makus Empanadas, located in Durham’s Hope Valley Commons shopping center, is shooting for a Dec. 21 opening of their brick and mortar operation. Congratulations to brothers Hernan and Santiago Moyano and Ricky Yofre! Thanks to the update from our friends over at the blog Bites of Bull City.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week (following the announcement over in Garner) that Blaze Pizza will open its next location over in Durham at Patterson Place, near the intersection of 15-501 and Interstate 40. At this point, we don’t have a timeline.

None to report! (which is a relief after last week’s announcements)Keep eating local, folks!

Who else is missing food truck rodeos? Well, Knightdale ain't scared of a little cold, especially when it is for a good cause. Rudolph's Holiday Rodeo will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13 from noon - 4 p.m. at the Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater and will feature 15 food trucks! Twenty percent of sales will go to Meals on Wheels just in time for the holidays! There will also be a truck decorating contest and rumor has it a big ol' bellied fella in a red suit might show up! .

The Guglhupf Bakery & Cafe’s 7th Annual Weihnachts Christmas Market is this Saturday (Dec. 12) from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will feature a patio filled with local vendors selling unique handcrafted gifts, live music, tasty German street food and plenty of spiced Glühwein!Get all the details here.

Things are gearing up for the 2016 version of Triangle Restaurant Week. It will be here before we know it. The next rendition will take place Jan. 25 through 31. Start planning your week now.

The 4th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience will be held next year 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.

No child or family should go hungry during the holidays, and with your help, they won't! That's the power of your giving when you contribute to the Food Bank's Online Holiday Meals Drive. $35 will feed a child for two months. $120 will provide enough food to sustain a family through the winter months. $210 will provide more than 1,000 piping hot holiday meals to local families. Every dollar donated provides five meals! Help them reach the goal of providing 2.4 million meals before Dec. 31 and ensure that no one goes hungry this holiday season.