Foodie News: Boylan Bridge Brewpub to close, new concept coming

RALEIGH, N.C. — This Sunday, May 19, is the last chance to bid your farewell to Boylan Bridge Brewpub’s 10-year run as we know it. The weather will be perfect and the view is one of the best of the Raleigh skyline. The good news is that they will be transitioning into a brand new concept, but those details won’t be unveiled until the last pint is served. Any details you need can be found here.

We are getting close to the opening of Asali Desserts & Cafe, which will be located in Cary's MacGregor Village. Owners and husband-wife team Hanadi Asad and Jamaal Ali will be offering homemade Mediterranean treats such as kunafa, baklava and lady fingers, hummus and pita, and other small plates, along with a full-service coffee and tea bar. Look for an announcement soon about their opening date, but likely around the end of May, first of June.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Ryan and Jennifer Kolarov of Raleigh's Neuse River Brewing Company are just months away from adding a restaurant to their brewery. The new concept will be a European-style café with a North Carolina flair and featuring fresh ingredients from the state. The couple plan on adding the kitchen and plating station behind the existing bar and will be bringing in Steven Jankowski, who was the executive chef at the Governor's Mansion in South Carolina under Nikki Haley. Along with the French-inspired menu, the Kolarov's plan to bring in a stocked bar to be able to serve mixed drinks.

WRAL shared the news this week that CAVA, the Washington, DC-based Mediterranean fast-casual and culinary brand, is excited to announce that their newest restaurant in Cary will open on Monday, May 20. This will be the brand’s seventh location in North Carolina, and third in the Raleigh Metro area, joining CAVA Cameron Village and CAVA Chapel Hill.

And the folks at the ITB Insider informed us that Just Salad will soon be making its way to the Marketplace at Lake Boone joining the other dining options including Buffalo Brothers, Vic’s Italian Restaurant and Pizza, WhichWich, and Guasaca. Permits indicate they will be moving into the space right next to Guasaca that was previously occupied by HealthSource of Lake Boone Trail, a chiropractor’s office. They have locations in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Hong Kong, Dubai and soon, Raleigh.

Got the announcement that Stem Ciders will celebrate the opening of The Northern Spy, a bottle shop and restaurant, with a local grand opening fête on Thursday, May 23 from 4-8 p.m. This is a free neighborhood block party featuring local producers, purveyors and community friends. Highlights of the evening will include: live music, free pulled pork sandwiches by pitmaster Wyatt from PICNIC, ice cream cider floats by The Parlour and $5 dollar specialty draft cocktails. The bottle shop, restaurant, and bar will be open for guests to order from and peruse. The Northern Spy is located at 2812 Erwin Road in Durham.

The News & Observer reported this week that starting next spring a new restaurant will open in Terminal 1. The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority approved a contract Thursday for Raleigh Brewing Tavern, which will feature beers from Raleigh Brewing Co. The restaurant will also serve Port City Java coffee and both sit-down and carry-out meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The tavern will be operated by Uptown Airport Group, the company that has run the Char-Grill and Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina in Terminal 1 since 2014.

Amber Watson over at Bites of Bull City shared the news this week that the Lilly’s Pizza location in Durham was closing. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the original location in Raleigh is alive and well. And there will be a new pizza concept under new ownership opening soon in that Durham spot. Jaime Greaves would be taking over ownership and renaming the restaurant Peabody Pizza Place.

Got word from Michael DePersia of National Restaurant Properties that CrossTies Bistro & Beer Garden in Carrboro has permanently closed. The Station will remain open for nightly live music.

The folks over at EatRaleigh reported that the couple behind the amazing Filipino market and restaurant Bitter Melon in Angier have decided to retire, and will be closing shop on May 26. There is still time to get by!

Go ahead and mark down the dates for 2019 for the Durham Food Truck rodeos — they are: June 16, Sept. 1 and Nov. 3!

And the dates for the 2019 edition of the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo have been released. They are Sunday, June 9 — noon-6 p.m.; Sunday, August 4 — 3 p.m.-9 p.m. ( Evening Rodeo ); and Sunday, Oct 6 — noon-6 p.m. All are held along Fayetteville Street. Get all the details here.

Thanks to a note from Mark Ginsberg, I learned that the Knightdale Food Truck Thursdays is getting ready to kick back up for the season. The event is held the third Thursday of the month from April through October at Knightdale Station Park for lunch AND dinner. Get all the details, truck schedule and more here.

Saturday, May 18 is the date for the 14th Annual Carolina Pig Jig, a BBQ cook-off at the NC State Fairgrounds and part of the Got To Be NC Festival. The event runs from 11 a.m. until the BBQ runs out. All proceeds go go to the Masonic Home for Children.

In fact, the entire Got To Be NC Festival is next Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19 at the NC State Fairgrounds. The event features a full carnival with more than 30 rides, food vendors and games of chance. On Friday and Sunday, thrill seekers can take advantage of an unlimited-ride wristband for just $20. Additionally, North Carolina food companies, breweries and wineries will be sampling and selling some of the most delightful flavors North Carolina has to offer in the Homegrown Marketplace from Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mark your calendar for May 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. and make your way over to Pittsboro for their Farm & Art Dinner, where they will celebrate Chatham’s culinary artistry, visual and performing artistry, and appreciation for small family farms. Main Street Pittsboro will welcome friends, guests and family to a table in the center of Hillsboro Street to discover, acknowledge, and honor the skills of local chefs, farmers, and artists in this fundraiser to continue the mission of revitalizing the historic downtown district.

The Durham Strong Fundraiser for May 19 has been canceled, BUT there is another event that same day at the Transfer Co. Food Hall - Dunkin’ for Durham. It will take place on the 19th from 4-7 pm and will feature chefs from across the Triangle and beyond gathering to support their Durham brothers and sisters in the restaurant industry by hosting a food festival.

The Apex Latino Festival will take place on Saturday, June 1 from 3-10 p.m in downtown Apex. Celebrate the Latino culture with children’s arts and crafts workshops, local Latino art exhibits, a culinary event, Latin American dance, music performances, and an authentic arts and crafts bazaar. Purchase a passport to sample tasty authentic food and dessert delights from over 12 different Latino Countries.

The annual Farm to Fork Picnic returns to Fearrington Village in Chatham County on June 2 from 4-7 pm. Visit the beautiful grounds of Fearrington Village, where dozens of the area's best chefs, farmers, artisan producers and beverage providers will create a dizzying array of delectable dishes highlighting the bounty of the season. The Picnic also features fun activities for children, live music, and surprises for the whole family. Tickets for adults are $100.

On Saturday, June 8 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. the Town of Cary will host the Pimento Cheese Festival where food trucks will line Academy Street to serve their regular menu, along with new dishes featuring a southern delicacy: pimento cheese! Enjoy live music at the Downtown Park, grab a drink from local breweries, and taste some of the best pimento cheese samples from local restaurants. You can even test your skills in the pimento cheese sculpting contest.

Taste celebrates the vibrant Durham-Chapel Hill culinary scene with a festival of food & beverage events, June 26-30, 2019. All told, the event features 5 premium culinary events. New for this year, they are offering back-to-back nights of their signature Grand Taste Experience at the Durham Armory - with each night featuring over 30 great local restaurants. The week also boasts a 1920s themed Speakeasy Nightclub at a secret location, a 6-Course Southern Feast Dinner at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and a Boozy Brunch at Clouds Brewing. Get all the details and tickets here.

One of my favorite annual events released details about their event dates and when tickets will go on sale. The 10th anniversary edition of Terra Vita Food & Drink Festival will take place in Chapel Hill Oct. 16 - 19, 2019. Tickets go on sale July 11, so put that date on your calendar to snap up the quick sell-outs!

Also on Saturday, June 8, Raleigh will play host to their own International Food Festival held in downtown on the Raleigh City Plaza. Last year nearly 17k people attended the day full of dance performances, bands and food from around the world from noon until 10 p.m.

The folks over at Pompieri Pizza are expanding their annual Lambrusco Fest this year - extending it over 6 days! Lambrusco Fest was a one day festival, but this year they are changing up with events happening over six days. They will have pasta and parmesan dinners as well as specials featuring prosciutto and balsamic and fun things! Get all the details on what is being offered each day (some events are already sold out!).

Forget the hassle of a trip to the grocery store for your next food drive... “Shop” with the Food Bank through our Virtual Food Drive and maximize your donation times ten! For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide $10.00 worth of food or five meals. Over half a million people in the 34 counties we serve struggle with food insecurity. You can make a difference in your community by hosting a Virtual Food Drive for your friends, family members or coworkers. Get all the details here.

Sean Lennard covers the Triangle food scene on his site Triangle Food Blog.