Foodie news: Popular food truck FatBoys Kitchen to open Raleigh location

Tudi Jackson of Ladyfingers Catering reached out to let me know that their latest venture, Ladyfingers Market & Eatery, will open this Monday, November 15th at Sojourn Glenwood Place (3710 Exchange Glenwood Place). The Market offers Ladyfingers’ signature fresh-frozen meal solutions, select grocery dry goods, bakery and dairy products, household necessities, bottled craft beer and fine wine. The Eatery offers artisanal sandwiches, fresh deli salads, a savory array of breakfast options and baked goods, a coffee bar and by-the-glass craft beer and wine. And of course, they still have their “gourmet to go” location on Whittaker Mill and all their catering services. Stop by on Monday and check it out. Get all the details here.

Twitter follower @Jchray noted a new sign going up for fast food seafood restaurant Skrimp Shack in the Lowe’s shopping center at the corner of High House and Cary Parkway in Cary. They have locations up and down the east coast from Florida to Virginia. This will mark the third Triangle location, with one already in Durham and another in Holly Springs. No word on an open date. Check them out here.

Also in Cary, reader Chris Creighton sent me a note letting me know that Combo Pasta has opened at 311 Ashville Avenue in Cary (near Danny’s BBQ). Pair your favorite pasta with a variety of sauce options and other toppings. They also have specialty dishes along with salads, subs and a kids’ menu. And they have gluten-free options! Get to know them here.

Also, just outside of Raleigh, heading into Garner at 4205 Fayetteville Road, Chris Creighton notified me that San Blas Seafood & Bar is moving into the former Grandson’s Buffet spot. You will have to stay tuned on this one as we couldn’t find an online presence for them.

And one final update from Creighton (he should start a food blog in the Triangle!), sending the great news that FatBoys Kitchen, a very popular food truck (actually, trucks), will be opening a brick and mortar location at 4511 New Bern Ave. in the Walmart Shopping Center. They are known for their burgers, seafood and more. No word yet on an open date. Check them out here.

Down in Holly Springs, reader Scott Eaton shared news about two new spots in the Block on Main (300 S. Main Street, Holly Springs). First up is JT’s Creamery, featuring handcrafted ice cream, is already open and in soft-open mode. And Bep Vietnamese Kitchen, a locally owned restaurant that will offer authentic Vietnamese street delights from iconic Phở selections, variety snacks including crusty Bánh Mì, and an enormous selection of Boba Tea. Look for them to open by the end of the year. Check out JT’s here and Bep’s Facebook page here.

Out at Boxyard RTP, Fullsteam Brewery is now slinging cold brews and square pizza! They will “officially” be open Thursday, November 18th (follow them on Instagram) for some sneak peak pourings. And did I mention they will have square pizza…with a nod to Teddy Diggs from Coronato Pizza for his guidance on that. Check out Fullsteam’s Boxyard site here.

Over in Carrboro, Carrie Brogren with Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies brought it to my attention that the Speakeasy in Carrboro is holding their grand opening this Saturday, Nov. 13! The Speakeasy is in the former spot of the Speakeasy at Tyler’s at 100 E. Main St. in the heart of downtown Carrboro. Jump on their Facebook page to get all the details.

And reader Ryan Sweeney gave me the update that it looks like a spot called Mexi-Cali, featuring street tacos and a burrito bar, is moving into the former Sansui Sushi Bar & Grill spot at 4325 Apex Hwy. in Durham. Ryan indicated that there is a brand new paint job and signage. We were unable to find an online presence for them, so stay tuned. Thanks Ryan!

The Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo in November is…..ON!! This Sunday, Nov. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeos aren’t just a great place to eat great street food, they also support Durham Central Park! These events raise thousands of dollars every year to operate, beautify and improve the park. There are more than 25 food and beverages trucks signed up for their very first rodeo in more than a year and a half! Get all the details here.

Thanks to a post on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page, we saw that on Nov. 21 the Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture and Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation will host the first-ever THANKS + GIVING FOOD TRUCK RODEO from noon-4 p.m. at Legion Road. There will be about 15 food trucks, about 15 local non-profits, a DJ, and good community vibes. Get ready to give, grub, and be grateful! Get all the details here.

Looking to find your favorite food truck (or stalking them and simply don’t want to have to admit it)? We understand. Find them on Street Food Finder here.

Voting is open in the WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards, presented by M&F Bank. Finalists have been announced in over 130 categories. Vote now on for the Triangle’s best businesses through Nov. 21. There is an entire section on Food & Drink, so vote for your favorites!

Now through this Sunday, Nov. 14, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is hosting the 2021 Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. This is a great time to support all your favorite places—and discover new ones. During the week, restaurants offer lunch and dinner specials and/or 3 course prix-fixe options. The challenges of the past year and a half have greatly impacted the restaurant community, so let’s continue to show love and support for our downtown restaurants. Visit their event site here. See a complete list of participating restaurants here.

Carolina Brewery is hosting their Annual Oyster Roast this Saturday, November 13th from 3pm to 8pm at their Pittsboro Brew Pub located at 120 Lowes Dr #100, Pittsboro, NC 27312. The event includes free admission with oysters served and sold by the half-dozen and dozen– steamed house oysters provided by Carolina Brewery and freshly harvested North Carolina oysters provided by Ryan Berthea from Oysters Carolina. Wash down delicious oysters with Carolina Brewery’s core beers as well as a brand new beer on tap, their “Steamer Beer.” Check out their Facebook event page here.

Is your mouth still watering awaiting the opening of chef Katsuji Tanabe’s forthcoming A’Verde in Cary? Well, we have good news for you. Katsuji will be previewing A’Verde’s menu on Friday, Nov. 19 from 6-9 p.m. at Vidrio in Raleigh. Tickets are $75 and include a family-style dinner with ten of A’Verde’s dishes plus paired cocktails. Get all the details and the event link here.

Thanksgiving pre-orders have begun at Boulted Bread in downtown Raleigh (614 W South Street). Can you say Buttermilk Muscadine Pie….or Pumpkin Pie…or assorted pastries…or freshly baked bread? Make Boulted part of your Thanksgiving tradition beginning this year! Check out their Thanksgiving offerings here.

Thanksgiving is on the way and Southern Harvest is proud to provide heat and eat meals, made with love from their family to yours. This year’s menu includes a la carte smoked whole turkeys and turkey breasts, as well as two meal options. 10% off with code: THANKS. Get all the details here.

The folks at Empire Eats have some great Thanksgiving options in store for you. First up, Sitti and Gravy are both offering Thanksgiving take-out packages. Check out Sitti here and Gravy here. And The Pit (both Raleigh and Durham locations) are serving their traditional family-style Thanksgiving dinner again this year available for dine-in or takeout. Check out The Pit’s offerings here.

Double your impact on Thanksgiving this year! Thanksgiving is only two weeks away – and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is getting busy! Because of the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, and the rising cost of food, many of our neighbors are struggling this year. They are having trouble making ends meet and the holidays will only add to the pinch as heating bills soar and kids miss school meals during holiday break. Fortunately, there’s a chance now to make twice the difference for families facing hunger this year. Compassionate friends are matching all donations up to $600,000 to help our neighbors have a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving. Your gift today can provide two times as much food to families in our community.