Barbecue lovers rejoice + a new look in the North Hills :: WRAL.com

Barbecue lovers rejoice as we prepare to welcome Tom Meyer’s latest endeavor. For those who have been around for a while, you know Tom as one of the original founders of The Q Shack. And now his Southern Harvest Hospitality Group (say Sprout Café at the NC Museum of Life and Science; Legal Grounds Café at Duke Law School and Southern Harvest Catering) is opening a new barbecue joint in Meben called Knucklehead BBQ. Celebrating Knuckleheads and Meatheads everywhere, they will open at 401 East Center Street in Mebane in late November. And trust me, it’s ridiculously good and worth the trip! It will feature several smoked BBQ meats (brisket, pork shoulder, turkey, chicken and brisket sausages) along with a variety of delicious side dishes such as hoppin’ johns, succotash, collard greens and delicious mac and cheese. They donate 5% of their sales to support local and state charities, with the first 120 days of charity proceeds going towards relief and recovery in Western North Carolina. It might be better to follow their progress and the pending announcement on Instagram here.

Wake County Restaurant News

Go Raleigh! The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that RH Raleigh Gallery in North Hills is opening this morning (11 a.m. Nov. 1). RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) boasts a 3-story, 60,000-square-foot store featuring the company’s contemporary design collections, as well as a restaurant and bar on the third floor. Up the grand staircase to the third level, the rooftop restaurant has a wine bar and outdoor terraces with live olive trees, a glass roof and sliding doors. The European-style restaurant seats 140 people and offers brunch, lunch and dinner in addition to an extensive wine list with wines from Europe and America. Check out their website here and you’ll definitely want to experience it and apply it to your rotation!

Raleigh Magazine broke the news this week that South Carolina-based The Bomb Bar is opening its first North Carolina location on November 16 at Gateway Plaza (2409 Crabtree Blvd.) near downtown Raleigh. Think of it as a superfood ball (superfood balls). packed with nuts, seeds and nutrients) that turns your regular smoothie into a hearty and nutritious meal. They’ll also offer Jubala coffee and healthy food like acai bowls and avocado toast made with Boulted bread. Start getting to know them here.

Found out this week that Eggs Up Grill is opening next Monday (November 4th) in Raleigh at 6820 Davis Circle (near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Millbrook Road). To celebrate the opening, the first 20 people to dine at the restaurant on Mondays will receive free breakfast for a year (once a month for the first year). Franchisees Pankaj Parmar and Tahir Kakar plan to open 10 locations in that market, with a second slated to open in the Falls River area next year. Visit them here.

Durham, Orange & Chatham Restaurant News

The News & Observer has reported that Honeygirl Meadery will hold a grand opening for its new tasting room at the American Tobacco campus in Durham on Saturday, November 16. The new digs will feature a tasting room, two bars and an outdoor patio. Enjoy samples and specials from James Beard Award-winning Chef Ricky Moore of Saltbox. Find out all the information about the tasting room here.

My buddy (and fast becoming my Chapel Hill/Durham correspondent) Glenn Gillen spotted a sign for Giu-Kaku Japanese BBQ on the corner of Foster Street and Hunt Street, right by Durham Central Park (in The Vega condominium building). It’s not even listed on their website yet, but the sign is on the building. This will be their third location in North Carolina and their first in the Triangle. Check them out here.

Glen Gillen also reported that folks on the Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies Facebook page are reporting that A Little Gelato is now open in Durham next to La Racette Bakery (4823 Meadow Dr.). They serve handmade ice cream, sorbetto, handmade chocolate and freshly baked bread. Check them out here.

And we move on to the next chapter in the life of Fullsteam Brewery. A pioneer of Durham craft beer, Fullsteam has closed its Rigsby Avenue location (last day was October 31) as part of a move to a new taproom at the American Tobacco Campus, which will occupy approximately 9,000 square feet on the first floor of the historic boiler house (located between the iconic water tower and ATC smoke pipe). The venue will have a welcoming entrance, with a restaurant on one side and a casual bar on the other, creating both indoor and outdoor spaces. They will also introduce a new dining concept, with more details to be announced soon. It is expected that the construction of the new drinking hall will take about a year. They will continue to brew and serve customers at their Boxyard RTP location, while production will move to Fortnight Brewing Company in Cary, allowing Fullsteam to scale their operations and meet growing demand. Follow along here.

Food trucks

The final Durham Food Truck Rodeo of the season is THIS Sunday, November 3rd from noon to 4pm in Durham Central Park. Gand all the details are here.

Want to find your favorite deli (or chase them and just don’t want to admit it)? We understand. Find them at Find street food here.

Events

The 7th Annual Carolina Brewery Oyster Roast is TOMORROW – Saturday, November 2nd from 1-8pm at the Pittsboro Brewery. This highly anticipated event will benefit the North Carolina Coastal Federation and Outer Banks Forever. Admission is free, and fresh-steamed or raw oysters will be available for purchase by the half dozen or dozen. Oysters sourced from our own Ghost Fleet Oyster Co. in North Carolina, will be served by the oyster farmers themselves, offering an authentic farm-to-table experience. Get all the details here.

Also on Saturday, November 2nd, the Chinese American Friendship Association – CAFA NC will host the 4th Annual Taste of China Chinese Food and Culture Festival – in downtown Cary at 410 S. Academy Street. Stop by to experience a day filled with rich flavors and vibrant traditions of Chinese culture. The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m To learn more, visit their Facebook event page.

Sassool’s 6th Annual Humus Mix Off is just around the corner, so get out your recipe box and submit your best dish over the weekend of November 15-17. The top three winners will compete for the final vote at a gala event at FigMint Farms on December 7. Get all the details here.

Seabird (Wilmington) Chef/Owner Dean Neff will team up with Priti Waas of China in Durham for a dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 20, specifically designed to help industry colleagues in Western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helen. (They are also hosting a dinner in Wilmington on October 15th). Tickets cost $150. Tickets for the Durham event can be purchased here.

Food Bank corner

The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun! For community members facing food insecurity, eating together during the holidays can be especially challenging. Thanksgiving is exactly a month away, but the number of unemployed is rising and the prices of expensive products are not decreasing. More than 560,000 people are currently experiencing food insecurity in our 34-county service area—almost 111,000 more than last year! And as a result, 1 in 7 people in our region are not sure where they will get their next meal. Your support this holiday season can make a big difference during the busiest time of year for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina! Every $10 you give can provide 50 meals and help more children, families and seniors in food-insecure households.