Ed Mitchell is back. Well, almost. He is opening a location in Raleigh's Brier Creek that will also be combined with a food truck, Ed Mitchell's Q on Wheels. Similarly, the brick and mortar location will be called Ed Mitchell's Q at the Creek. No exact date on an opening, but website suggests it will be before year's end.

Wake County Restaurant News

You know about the plans for a J. Alexander's coming to Raleigh's Crabtree area. No word yet on the open date, but the website is saying 2016. And there is speculation that there might be a second J. Alexander concept, Stoney River Steakhouse, coming to the area as well. Stay tuned!

Got word this week that Chicago-based Potbelly Sandwich Shop will open its first Triangle location in Raleigh before year's end. But that is all we know at this point. They haven't released the location.

In Cary, got word from a reader that Gonza Tacos Y Tequila continues their growth, this time taking over the former Barberitos space in Waverly Place. No word yet on an open date.

In case you missed it last week, the long-awaited replacement for Mimi's Cafe near Cary Towne Center has an opening date. , the acclaimed French-inspired bakery café, will swing open their doors on July 12.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

It happened! Both Mothers & Sons and Lucky's Deli have opened! The two joints, located right next to each other on West Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham, are the creation of Mateo owners Matt Kelly and Josh DeCarolis along with Drew Brown.

And opening just in time for Father's Day (this Sunday, June 19) is the latest addition to the Chapel Hill dining scene – Chronic Tacos. They officially open this Sunday in the Meadowmont shopping district, a few doors down from Brixx Pizza and across from Cafe Carolina and Firehouse Subs. Congrats to Sean and his team!

Also, the guys behind the Jersey Mike's locations in Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill North and Elliott Road) have announced they are opening a third location just across the county line in Durham in the Falconbridge Shopping Center. This location will be just a few doors down from Mardi Gras bowling alley. Congrats to Charlie and Clint on their latest endeavor.

And a quick update on something we told you about back in May. Living Kitchen has plans to open a second Triangle-area establishment later this year in Chapel Hill's new (and currently still under construction) Village Plaza on Elliott Road adjacent to Whole Foods. The News & Observer reported this week that they are targeting a November opening.

Closings

The Triangle Business Journal was the first to report that Cameron Village's Faire restaurant had closed their doors. No word yet on what Eschelon Experiences will do next.

Food Trucks

This Sunday is Durham's Annual Father's Day Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park. It will feature over 50 local food trucks from 12 to 4 p.m. Local beer will also be available for purchase (a great Father's Day gift idea! Just sayin').

Every Friday through August 5, Raleigh's Triangle Town Center will host food trucks at its new "Creekside Wind Down" series. Stop by the mall's Creekside Cafe food court entrance from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. to grab a bite, listen to live music and enjoy a local brew from Compass Rose Brewery.

With the warm weather returning, it also means the return of the Food Truck Thursdays in Knightdale. Every Thursday from April through June, the town will host a new truck at Knightdale Station Park for lunch and dinner. Just look for it from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. near the amphitheater (rain or shine - shelters are covered). The town posts a schedule of trucks on tis website.

Events

Carolina Ale House in downtown Raleigh is hosting their 2nd Annual The Spirited Pig Summer Shindig event Saturday, June 25. It is a spirits, beer and BBQ event featuring six local breweries, a variety of spirits including TOPO distillery and live music. Tickets are $35 and guests will receive a souvenir tasting glass on the day of the event. Event proceeds will go to Stop Hunger Now.

The good folks over at the Downtown Raleigh Alliance announced this week the dates for the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. It will be held this year August 15-21. Go ahead and mark your calendar.

Arguably the area's biggest "foodie" event, TerraVita, recently announced the dates for this year's festival: Sept. 28 through Oct. 1. The Chapel Hill-based festival, now in its seventh year, offers exceptional dinners, tasting events, after parties, chef demos as well as the "Sustainable Classroom" – educational experiences featuring renowned chefs, authors and national media. TerraVita concludes with a Grand Tasting on the Green featuring over 65 chefs, artisans and beverage producers for tastings, live chef demonstrations and cookbook signings. TerraVita's ticket launch and full schedule will be released in mid-June.

Food Bank Corner

For many of us, summertime means family vacations and cookouts with friends and neighbors. But instead of trying to decide where to go on your next trip, imagine having to decide between putting gas in your car to go to work or buying groceries for dinner. Instead of getting supplies for the barbecue, imagine standing in line at the food pantry because your paycheck didn't last through the end of the month. For the families of nearly 300,000 children in our service area, this is the difficult situation they will face this summer when school is closed. The Food Bank's Stop Summer Hunger Campaign aims to provide meals and groceries to children and their families over the summer months. Through July 31, they are committed to providing 3.3 million meals.

Sean Lennard covers food news on his blog, Triangle Food Blog.