— If you know me, you know two of my favorite things are good beer and good ice cream. Well, do I have news for you? Down in Fuquay-Varina I saw on the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Revitalization Association Facebook page that Pints Ice Cream & Beer held their grand opening this week at 512 Broad Street. Yes, you read that right. Ice cream and beer! I’m seriously considering moving to Fuquay. They clearly have been reading my diary. Get by and check them out soon.

Wake County Restaurant News

Reader Morgan Hinch-Wood shared the news that The Pickled Onion Restaurant will open a second location out Glenwood Avenue (behind CarMax) in the former Luxury Box location at 8511 Cantilever Way. No word yet on a timeline. Their other location is on Wakefield Commons Drive.

Just down Glenwood in Crabtree Valley Mall, the ITB Insider shared the news that a permit has been issued for the installation of a Krispy Kreme Kiosk that will be located on the first floor by Gleeco. No word on timeline.

This is kind of interesting. Up on the Dorothea Dix campus there is a new café that recently opened - aptly named Dix Café. The curious thing is that it is being run by the state, specifically the Department of Health and Human Services (which occupies space in that same building). I have been unable to locate a web presence, but a photo of their menu snapped by reader Tom Hemp looked pretty good - hand-crafted sandwiches, salads, burgers, smoothies and more.

Over in Morrisville this has been a long-time coming. Back in late 2016 I got an email from reader Rob Swaringen that a G.58 Cuisine was opening in the building at corner of Chapel Hill Road and Carrington Mill Boulevard. Shortly after that, there was a VIP dinner for special guests, and then...nothing. Silence. Fast-forward to July 2018 and they have officially opened - Morrisville has a new fine dining Chinese restaurant! They opened for lunch the middle of last month, and are now open for dinner as well. Rob (who has since moved from the area but was back in town) was the one that first notified me - thanks to Rob for staying on top of this!

Over in Cary, the News & Observer reported this week that Fenton, the large mixed-use development along the Cary Town Boulevard at I-40 that will be anchored by Wegmans, announced that Atlanta-based chef Ford Fry will open his Tex-Mex restaurant Superica. With a location in Charlotte (and another one the way), this will be their third North Carolina location and is expected to open in 2020.

In Apex, reader Dan Heir notified us that Romeo’s Pizza is on the way to 800 W. Williams Street in the Peakway Market Square plaza. This will be their first North Carolina location. No word on a timeline.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that Merritt’s Grill is opening a second location (August 20), but one a little hard to get to unless you are a student at UNC-CH. Later this month they will open in the basement of Lenoir Hall on UNC’s campus. While this location will only be open for weekday lunch service, hopefully you can still get Merritt’s on game days at Kenan Stadium this fall!

Closings

Reader Kelli Padgett notified us that the Toppers Pizza location on Ronald Drive in Raleigh has closed. That was their only Triangle-area location.

Food Trucks

The RDU Mobile Food Association is hosting their annual Tacopalooza on Aug. 19 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Knightdale Station Park. Participating trucks so far include: Qspresso, Holy Mole, Poblanos Tacos, La Republica, El Rey del Taco, Boricua Soul, Tacos Las Gringas , Medley, Hot Chix, Bandido’s, 13th Taco , JAM Ice Cream and Cocoa Forte.

The dates have been set for the Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo and Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeos.

Events

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, produced by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary from August 13 - August 19. This week long dining extravaganza showcases the culinary talent in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Over 40 restaurants will be offering specials. Participating restaurants will offer delectable, three-course prix fixe dinners for either $20 or $30 per person, depending on the venue (tax and tip not included). As a special amenity to downtown employees and other daytime downtown visitors, some restaurants will be offering $5 and $10 lunch specials.

Ok, here it is again. And I tell you EVERY year, but I will repeat it again. DO. NOT. MISS. THIS. EVENT. You can just thank me later. The dates have been set for the 9th annual TerraVita Festival over in Chapel Hill. Those dates are October 17-20. Things will kick off Wednesday, Oct. 17, with the East Meets West dinner (first year at The Carolina Inn) and ends on Oct. 20 with the Fall Fête on The Green in Southern Village.

Sunday, Aug. 26 the date for Families Moving Forward's Kids for Change End of Summer Celebration at Durham Central Park from 3-5 p.m. featuring budget-friendly food trucks and lots of fun entertainment. Admission is free.

The NCRLA Chef Showdown is an annual statewide culinary competition sponsored by the NC Department of Ag. that will result in a final competition on Monday, Aug 27 in Charlotte. The final event is in conjunction with the first night of the industry’s Restaurant & Hotel Expo.

The 2nd annual Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market Brewfest is happening on Saturday, August 25, with a 12 pack of local brewers and fermenters bringing product to sample and sell. Look for: Botanist & Barrel, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Bull City Ciderworks, Dingo Dog Brewing, Fullsteam Brewery, Haw River Farmhouse Ales, Mystery Brewing, Oak & Dagger Public House, Raleigh Brewing, Starpoint Brewing, 3rd Degree Brewhouse, and Vecino Brewing. The address is 201 S. Estes Drive Chapel Hill. (University Place next to Silverspot) and hours are regular market hours, 8am-12.

And one of my daughter's favorite events has set the date for their 2018 edition - the Mac and Cheese Throwdown is scheduled for Sunday, September 16th from 5pm until 8pm at 214 Martin. They've had a great response from some "mac makers" and have some new contestants this year. So far, it looks like the lineup is Relish, Oak and Dagger, Wandering Moose, Dram and Draught, US Foods, The Mac House, Southern Charred, NOFO and the chef from 214 Martin. My daughter and I will be judges again this year!

On Saturday, Sept.8th from 12-5 p.m. Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be host to Tacos ‘N Taps featuring all you care to taste beer and tequila along with the area’s best tacos and Mexican food.

The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering announced that they will host their annual Porkapalooza Festival at their new Pittsboro restaurant on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. To celebrate their seventh year, the celebration will offer small plate creations, featuring locally raised pork from Hickory Nut Gap and Sharp Family Farms, served casually indoors and outdoors, rather than a traditional seated dinner. Their Pittsboro location is at 35 Suttles Road in Penguin Place in Pittsboro. Tickets for Porkapalooza are $50, which includes all food, entertainment and a souvenir pint cup.

The 2nd annual Sip + Savor, featuring 30 restaurants, 30 wineries and live music, will take place at the DPAC on Sunday, October 14 from 4 - 7 p.m. The event is an exclusive opportunity to sample the Triangle's top restaurants paired with famed wineries from across the world. There will also be live music, desert and bubbly on the DPAC stage. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Get tickets and all the details here.

Food Bank Corner

As a part of the Stop Summer Hunger initiative, generous friends of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina will match every gift – dollar for dollar. Please help them reach their matching goal of $135,000. For every $20 you give, the Food Bank can provide 200 meals!

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