July 7, 2014 · 8:58 am

Peach Day at Western Wake Farmers’ Market – Saturday July 12th!

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The Western Wake Farmers’ Market in Cary is hosting  “Peach Day” this Saturday, July 12th. Market hours are 8am – noon. In addition to the usual great weekly offerings the market will highlight peaches on Saturday with samples, market recipes, chef demonstrations and children activities. Hope to see you there!

Peach Day Highlights
  • Chef John Childers of The Umstead cooking demos using peaches
  • Hillsborough Cheese Co.  peach chèvre for sale
  • Locals Seafood recipe for shrimp and peach kabobs
  • Angelina’s kitchen recipe for Greek-style peaches
  • Fun activities for the children

westernwake

Wester Wake Farmers’ Market
1225 Morrisville Carpenter Roady – Cary, NC (map)
http://westernwakefarmersmarket.org
twitter: @wwfm
facebook page: Link

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July 3, 2014 · 11:18 am

Sol Tacos ~ Gourmet Southern Tacos with Local Ingredients

Sol Tacos

When summer rolls around I can pretty much live off tacos. Thankfully my friend Art over at the Wandering Sheppard shared the news earlier this spring about a great new food truck  called Sol Tacos. It’s a gourmet food truck that serves southern inspired tacos using soft hand made tortillas filled with locally sourced southern organic ingredients that compliment classic Mexican street food.

The truck is based out of Cary and operated by chef Andy Schaumann (follow him on twitter @Sol_Tacos). Schaumann has a long history of working in great restaurants having most recently worked at well the known Vivaci in North Hills. You can tell he pours his heart & soul into his business and it really comes out in the culinary creations he serves from the truck.


When I first visited the truck the daily tacos being offered included a Buttermilk Fried flounder taco with cilantro sour cream, lettuce, and citrus radish salad. Other offerings include a blackened chicken nacho taco and the cheddar chuck burger. I’m a big fan of the fish taco but look forward to trying the chicken nacho taco next!

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A new addition to the taco menu this 4th of July weekend is a special pork taco made with local beer braised pork, pickled okra, hot banana peppers, chicharones, and western BBQ.

Sol Tacos

Sol Tacos also features a selection of creative sides that rotates seasonally. This week’s side items include local sliced heirloom tomatoes from birdland farms with lime aioli, maldon sea salt, balsamic, and olive oil. Another new offering is the “personal nachos” with organic corn chips, ground chuck, black beans, shredded cheese, queso dip, tomato salsa, sour cream, hot sauce.

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You can find the bright green Sol Tacos truck this fourth of July weekend all over the Triangle. Starting on Thursday night (7/3) at Deep River Brewing in Clayton, Friday (7/4) at Knightdale Station Parks fireworks celebration, Saturday morning (7/5) at Apex Farmers Market, & then Sunday (7/6) at Raleigh Brewing Company. To keep tabs on where the truck will be next and visit their monthly calendar here.

Sol Tacos 
website: http://www.soltacosnc.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soltacosnc
twitter: @Sol_Tacos

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June 24, 2014 · 9:34 am

Yellow Dog Bread Hosts Latte Art Throwdown June 26th

yellowdogtnt

Yellow Dog Bread Company in downtown Raleigh is set to host this month’s Triangle “Thursday Night Throwdown” (TNT) latte art competition this Thursday at 7:30pm. During the event local baristas will compete head to head creating beautiful latte art that will be evaluated by a panel of three judges. The public is invited to attend an enjoy the show. Jenny Bonchak of Slingshot Coffee Co. and Chef Scott Crawford from the soon to be Standard Foods have been announced as judges. A third “mystery judge” will be revealed on Thursday night.

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AJ Viola Creating Latte Art

The purpose of these friendly competitions is to cultivate a coffee culture that respects presentation and quality coffee drinks and provides an opportunity for the local coffee community to come together and have some fun! They are also entertaining to attend. In addition to free/pretty lattes (attendees can drink the lattes created during the competition), there will be House made baguette pizzas and local beer from Raleigh Brewing.

Latte Art

Latte art is typically judged based on four criteria: balance and symmetry, use of space, color contrast and definition, and overall impression.  The judges compare the appearance of drinks based on these factors and decide which barista will move on to the next round. After several rounds of competition, the field is narrowed down to two baristas to face off one last time to crown the ultimate champion of the evening.

Yellow Dog Bread Co. ~ Raleigh, NC

If you haven’t been to one of these events I highly recommend you stop by Thursday night to check out Yellow Dog Bread and watch some of the throwdown. If you share any pictures on twitter of instagram be sure to tag them with the hashtag #TriangleTNT. Thursday’s throwdown is open to the public, free to attend and just $5 to compete.

Yellow Dog Bread Co.
219 East Franklin Street – Raleigh, NC (map)
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yellowdogbread
twitter: @yellowdogbread
instagram: @yellowdogbread

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June 18, 2014 · 2:58 pm

Triangle Fourth of July Fireworks 2014

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Triangle Fireworks 2014

Below is a list of places you can see fireworks in the Triangle to celebrate Independence Day 2014. Please note the actual date for each event as some towns celebrate before/after the fourth of July. There is a link next to each event listed that will take you to the event website for additional information. If I missed an event leave a comment below and I will be sure to update the list. Thanks and have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Fireworks in the Triangle 2014

A.E Finley YMCA (North Raleigh) – Info
A.E Finley YMCA Finley Freedom Festival June 29th 6:30-9:30 with music, games, and inflatables. Featuring several great local food trucks and Fireworks finale at dusk!

Brier Creek (Raleigh) – Info
The fireworks on Friday July 4th can be viewed from the parking lots at Brier Creek Commons and Brierdale Shopping Center. Fireworks begin at dark. Look for Food Trucks Deli-icious, Valentino’s, and Jam Ice Cream which will be parked at 8401 Arco Corporate Drive in Brier Creek on the 4th.

Cary – Info
Celebrate at Koka Booth Ampitheatre 3-10pm July 4 with music & fireworks. Music by the NC Symphony capped off with an incredibly spectacular fireworks display. Tarps, blankets & chairs allowed within venue gates; staking and tents are not permitted. Concert is FREE and open to the public.

Chapel Hill Kenan Stadium – Info
Fireworks at Kenan Stadium. The gates open at 7 PM July 4th. Family friendly activities including live music by Bull City Syndicate and watermelon eating contest. Fireworks at 9:30 PM

Clayton – Info
The Clayton Parks & Recreation is hosting their annual July 4th Celebration on Friday, July 4th at the Municipal Park on Stallings Street in Clayton. Activities begin at 4:30pm with family field events, a Basketball Skills Competition, Free Ice Cream and Watermelon, a Cornhole Tournament and live music. Get sprayed down by the Clayton Fire Department (a kid favorite!) Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

Durham – Info
Durham Bulls Baseball games on July 2 & 3rd and the USA Baseball games on July 4th & 5th will feature fireworks after the games. Tickets are required for the games, but on the 4th of July gates will open for general admission at the end of the 7th inning. The dynamic fireworks show will begin immediately following the game.

Franklin County – Info
Fourth of July Celebration at Louisburg High School Friday July 4th. Games, inflatables, music, food, and fireworks. Free admission. Gates open at 5:30pm.

Fuquay Varina – Info
Music, kid’s games and fireworks at Fuquay Varina’s South Park – 820 N. Main Street. July 3rd, gates open at 6 PM.

Garner – Info
Lake Benson Park – NC Symphony & Carolina Soul will perform. Gates open at 5pm and will have fireworks after dark July 3rd

Holly Springs – Info
Saturday July 5th Independence Day celebration at Snugg Farm Park 5-9:30pm. Musical entertainment, Food vendors, Inflatables and games, Fireworks, Face Painting and Other Games, Cornhole Tournament. The fireworks show is slated to begin at 9:15 p.m.

Knightdale – Info
Knightdale’s First Annual July 4th Celebration will be held on the evening of Friday, July 4th at Knightdale Station Park. Featuring fireworks, family activities, food trucks and music from The Embers The event will begin at 5pm and conclude with the fireworks, at 9:15pm

Morrisville – Info
Kick off your Independence Day celebration with a fireworks display in Morrisville Community Park Thursday July 3rd. Bring your blankets, chairs and snacks to enjoy the spectacular show. Music and activities will begin at 7:30pm; the Fireworks display will begin at dark, approximately 9:30pm.

Raleigh – Info
All day celebration Friday July 4th noon-11pm with 20 bands playing 3 stages, beer/wine tent, kids rides and games, street performers, eating contests, food and art vendors. Fireworks will light up the sky over the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts AND The Redhat Amphitheater starting at around 9:30 pm.

Wake Forest – Info
Fireworks Spectacular on Thursday, July 3, at Wake Forest High School, 420 W. Stadium Drive. Gates open at 5:30. Beach music by Band of Oz at 6:30. Admission $5. Children under 6 free.

Zebulon – Info
The Carolina Mudcats will hold fireworks displays on Thursday July 3rd, Friday July 4th, and Saturday July 5th at Five County Stadium. Gates will open at 6 p.m. each night for the 7:15 p.m. games, with fireworks and patriotic music to follow the games’ conclusion.

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June 18, 2014 · 7:00 am

Cary Food Truck Rodeo Sunday June 22nd

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Chatham Street Chowdown – Cary, NC

I know Food Trucks have been at events in Cary before, but this is exciting because this event will be the first official “Food Truck Chowdown” hosted by the town. The fun goes down Sunday June 22nd 12-4:30pm on W. Chatham Street in downtown Cary. 15 local trucks are scheduled to feed the hungry crowd. Beer from Fortnight Brewing and wine from Chatham Hill Winery will be available for sale as well. Live Music by Russ Thompson 12-2 followed by tunes from Jacob Lutz 2:15-4:15

The list of scheduled food trucks is impressive and I highly recommend checking it out for a fun afternoon out with the your family. You can read more about the rodeo here: “Chatham Street Chowdown“.

Want More Food Truck News ? Follow This Guy!

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Food Truck Guru
The Wandering Sheppard

As readers of my blog you know that from time to time I like to share news and features about local food trucks, but to keep up to date on ALL the latest food truck news I recommend you also follow my friend and local food truck guru The Wandering Sheppard. He publishes a weekly roundup of all the best weekend food truck events and shares daily food truck news and updates on twitter at @RUWandering.

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