Foodie News: NC State Fair lunch pass, La Farm Bakery news and more

Triangle restaurant news from Triangle Food Blog that not everyone knows. Impress your co-workers at the water cooler!

La Farm Bakery announced this week that they will return with their pop-up bakery to Fuquay-Varina on Oct. 26. They had opened in 2021, but for less than a year. They now make their return with a renovated space, additional parking and long-term goal to open a full-scale store in the distant future.

This location will offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and an expanded menu offering – both hot and cold sandwiches, cakes and a larger assortment of signature European artisan breads and pastries, including the signature La Farm sourdough bread and addictive White Chocolate Baguettes. Once again, La Farm will offer a full Counter Culture Coffee program. It will be located at 1900 Broad St. and will mark their fifth location in the Triangle area. Visit them here.

Wake County Restaurant News

The NC State Fair is here! And while there is a ton to do, this is a food blog, so we must stay focused on the food. I’m happy to share that the Weekday Lunch Pass is available again this year.

Here is how it works: Visit Gate 9 off Trinity Road, or Gate 1 off Hillsborough Street ONLY after 11:30 a.m. on weekdays. Purchase a lunch card at the gate for $10 with cash (cash sales only). Buy your lunch from the many fair food vendors on site. Fair food vendors take cash. ATMS are available inside the fairgrounds.

Return the lunch card by 1:30 p.m. to the same gate you entered on the same day purchased the card for a full $10 cash refund. If you leave later than 1:30 p.m., then you forfeit your $10. The card is good only on the day purchased. This program is only for adult admission, no food is included.

And hockey season is back! Again, we are a food blog, so staying focused on the food. New this year to folks attending events are the PNC Arena will be: The BBQ Lab, Gonza Tacos Y Tequila, and The Optimist coffee house. Returning you will find: Blue Bell ice cream, Buena Papa Fry Bar, Buffalo Brothers Pizza & Wing Co., Chick-fil-A (with an expanded footprint and new menu offerings), Happy + Hale, Nutty Bavarian, PDQ, Primo Hoagies and Shake Shack. And coming soon will be Sweet Carolina, offering assorted candies and sweet treats. Get all the details here.

On Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, RalToday shared that Winston-Salem-based Incendiary Brewing Company is now open (612 W. Morgan St.) at Bloc (83). The 2,300-sq. ft. downtown taproom had its soft opening over the weekend and offers specialty IPAs along with other craft brews. The new spot is open Monday through Sunday. Visit them here.

RalToday also shared that the couple behind the popular foodie Instagram account RaleighFoodTrap will open NC’s first The Yard Milkshake Bar in the new Seaboard Station development. With a grand opening projected for 2024, sweet tooth enthusiasts can expect over-the-top specialty milkshakes with over 32 flavor choices. The concept has 27 locations across the United States. Go ahead and get familiar with them here.

A new coffee spot called Beow’s Books & Brews will be opening later this month at 8111 Creedmoor Road, Suite 153, in Brennan Station. A second location will be opening in February in Falls River Towne Center at the site of the old 24/7 fitness. Get to know them here.

Over in Holly Springs reader Eric Brenner tipped us off to the news that the folks behind Osteria G (Joe Reinis and Ashley Startek) have purchased the land next to Homegrown Pizza (Linksland Drive) and are planning for a steakhouse with a private event space upstairs and a cigar bar lounge too. It is early in the process, but we will keep you posted as it progresses. For now, visit Osteria G here.

If you are in the Lake Boone area and looking for a “fast food” option you might come up short, at least for now. Reader Chris Creighton let us know that the McDonald’s has been leveled and is being rebuilt. Additionally, the Chick-fil-A there is temporarily closed while undergoing renovations. You’ll also remember we reported earlier that there are two new dining options coming to the Lake Boone Trail shopping center Chicken Salad Chick, Duck Donuts and The Butcher’s Market.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

Chapelboro was the first to share the news this week the date that Chapel Hill residents and visitors will be able to get Raising Cane’s chicken on Franklin Street. The Chapel Hill location of the popular chain restaurant, which is known for its chicken fingers, is set to open its doors on Tuesday, Nov. 7, according to its business listing on Google and a post from one of its managers. This will be the Triangle’s first location of Cane’s. Get to know them here.

Yung Nay’s much anticipated La Montaña located next to his Iza Whiskey & Eats at 370 E Main Street in Carroboro is in soft open mode. The concept was created by Yung Nay, Chuan Tsay and Samantha Garcia as a dedication to each of their fathers who died within a year of one another. “La Montaña,” which translates to “the mountain,” is a nod to the mountains their fathers climbed to give them better lives. With a range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, their menu will feature a pho rice porridge, seafood diablo and an extensive selection of curated cocktails. Call first to make sure they can accommodate you. Might be best to keep up with their grand opening announcement on Facebook here.

In Durham, Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Skrimp Shack, a fast-casual chain out of Virginia, is reopening its Durham location at 3600 N. Duke St. with the grand opening set for Oct. 18. Back in May, the location announced on social media it was closing “for some renovations and new developments.” The franchise location is under new ownership. Skrimp Shack has 24 locations across Virginia and North Carolina, with other Triangle-area locations in Cary and Holly Springs. Visit Skrimp Shack here.

Down in Pittsboro, Vino Wine Shop is currently closed while they work on moving downstairs and renovating the space that was formerly Roy Underhill’s old Woodwright School. Stay tuned for their grand opening date! Follow along here.

UPDATE: The West End Kitchen grand opening originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12 was POSTPONED. We don’t have a new date just yet, so stay tuned. They are moving into the former Angelina’s Kitchen space on Rectory Street in Pittsboro and are describing their eatery as a chef-driven gastropub where they plan to offer breakfast and lunch. Get to know them here.

Closings

The good folks over at Harvest 18 in Durham shared yesterday that after a great 10-year run owner Jason Smith has decided to focus on his family and Cantina 18 (Raleigh’s Village District) for a while. Their last service will be brunch this Sunday.

In Raleigh, RalToday shared the news that Fine Folk will close its doors at the end of October. Take a final visit or two before it closes off Capital Boulevard and keep your eyes peeled for an end-of-service hurrah before the end of the month.

Learned from reader Ryan Harrison that Wine & Beer 101 Gastropub in Wake Forest has closed. Apparently the landlord is bringing in a new tenant, but that hasn’t been announced yet.

Food Trucks

The final Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo of the year is Oct. 29 from 12 to 4 p.m. Here is the link.

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.

Events

The 2nd annual Fall For Five Points Festival is happening this Saturday, Oct 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Raleigh’s popular Five Points neighborhood. They will close down Fairview Road between NOFO and Glenwood Avenue for a fun-filled neighborhood street party with good music, yummy food, and activities for the whole family. Get all the details here.

Neighborhood bar and Southern kitchen, Whiskey Kitchen, will hold their second annual Ardbeg Wee Beastie Sauce Boss Competition on Oct. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Whiskey Kitchen will partner with Ardbeg for this free, fun, and collaborative event on their patio in downtown Raleigh. Each participant’s sauce must include Ardbeg Wee Beastie Single Malt Whisky as an ingredient. These BBQ sauces will be paired with Whiskey Kitchen’s smoked pulled pork served from Ardbeg’s smoker. Whiskey Kitchen is located at 201 West Martin St. in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Visit Whiskey Kitchen for more details.

The 7th Annual Oak & Smoke BBQ, Bluegrass and Beer Festival returns to Knightdale this year on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 12 to 8 p.m. It is held at Oak City Brewing at 616 North First Avenue in Knightdale. Get tickets and all the details here.

Kitty Kinnin reminded me that the NC Wine Festival will take place this year on Saturday, Oct. 28, at beautiful Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. For over 20 years the North Carolina Wine Festival has been bringing you local North Carolina wineries, artisans, music, food and fun! Buy tickets and get all the details here.

The folks over at Acme are bringing back Salt & Smoke on Saturday, Oct. 28. This year’s event will be held at The Barn at Sonark Media (located just off of Old 86 in Hillsborough). If you are not familiar with the event, it is a full afternoon and evening of live music, whole hog barbecue, raw oysters, roasted clams and plenty of the right beverages to wash it all down – local beer, wine and cocktails. And if you get your tickets now, through the end of this month there is a $25 discount for all tickets purchased (just use the code FINALLY when checking out). Get all the details and tickets here.

This is really cool. Raleigh’s Brookside Bodega is hosting a family-friendly campout on Nov. 4 at Haven Farm, a wedding and special event venue in Knightdale. Tickets are now on sale for the campout, which includes activities for the whole family. The family-friendly campout is BYO-tent but includes catered dinner and breakfast, s’mores, live music and more. Get tickets and all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

Think you can’t make a difference in someone’s life? Think you don’t have enough money to make a difference? Would you believe me if I told you that as little as $1 equates to 5 meals through the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina!?! It is true. Nearly 510,000 people face hunger across our 34-county service area. And thanks to your generosity, the Food Bank provided over 81 million meals to families and individuals last year! Make a donation today!