June 1, 2023

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51º | Cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:25 a.m. | Sunset 5:17 p.m.

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🥬 It’s easy eating green

The Beyond Bulgogi bowl at Happy + Hale.

Food like this is nobody’s understudy — it’s the star of the show. | Photo by @happyandhale

Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Raleigh, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.

Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, vegetarian and vegan bites across town. From juicy burgers to scrumptious vegan desserts, here are 25 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in Raleigh.

100% vegetarian/vegan eats

Pure Vegan Cafe, 8369 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh | This juicery and eatery is 100% vegan. Try this: Rainbow burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, sweet chili sauce, and beet powder.

The Fiction Kitchen, 428 S. Dawson St., Raleigh | This 100% vegan kitchen has everything from Eastern NC-style barbecue to chicken and waffles.

Element Gastropub, 421 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Enjoy vegan fare like the Fobster Roll (made with trumpet mushrooms) and smash burgers.

A vegan cinnamon roll from Cinnaholic. — Satisfy your sugar cravings with a vegan treat from Cinnaholic.
|
Photo by RALtoday

The brunch bunch

Cinnaholic, 1028 Oberlin Rd., Ste. 236, Raleigh | Start your day with sweets. This vegan bakery only uses dairy-, lactose-, and egg-free ingredients.

Irregardless Cafe, 901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh | In 2019, OpenTable named this spot one of the top 50 vegetarian restaurants in the country.

Casual eating

Anise Pho, 222 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | This Vietnamese restaurant serves vegetarian- and vegan-friendly dishes like banh mi and pho noodle soup.

Happy + Hale, multiple Raleigh locations | A local spot to grab salads, smoothies, bowls, and more. Try this: Beyond bulgogi bowl filled with vegan Korean barbecue meatballs, jasmine rice, veggies, and yum yum sauce.

Sassool, 9650 Strickland Rd., Raleigh | This local spot specializes in homemade Lebanese-Mediterranean cuisine. Try this: Zaatar pizzette + fava bean salad.

15+ more recs this way

Asked

Have you eaten at a local vegan or vegetarian restaurant recently?

A. Yes
B. No, but I have considered it
C. No

Let us know

Events

Thursday, June 1

Timely Connections Series | Thursday, Jun. 1 | 5-7:30 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Alexandra Odom will speak about the history of the Black Press in the 20th century + depictions of love and relationships in Black-owned print publications in the 1980s.
Jazz at the NCMA | Thursday, Jun. 1 | 7 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh | $35 | See Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum and Grammy-nominated R&B vocalist Chanté Moore perform live.
Dead & Company | Thursday, Jun. 1 | 7 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh | $100-$211 | See this rock band on The Final Tour.

Friday, June 2

“Hands on a Hardbody” | Friday, June 2-Sunday, June 18 | Times vary | Raleigh Little Theater, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh | $22-27 | Armed with nothing but hope, humor, and ambition, 10 hard-luck Texans fight to win a new truck.
Greek Night | Friday, Jun. 2 | 8-11 p.m. | Taverna Agora, 326 Hillsborough St., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy live entertainment, including belly dancing and bouzouki music, while dining on an authentic Greek meal.

Saturday, June 3

Raleigh’s International Food Festival | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | City Plaza, 443 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Explore food, desserts, wine, and beer from 50 countries and enjoy dancing + music.
Haven Farm’s Grand Opening | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | 8521 Buffaloe Rd., Knightdale | Free | Celebrate the grand opening of Haven Farm’s new garden, gift, and apothecary shop with activities like yoga, a petting zoo, and wood burning.

Sunday, June 4

Pride Flow | Sunday, Jun. 4 | 10-11 a.m. | Moore Square, 301 S. Person St., Raleigh | Free | Join Current Wellness for a donation-based yoga class to celebrate Pride Month; all proceeds will support the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Bowstring’s Luaufest | Sunday, Jun. 4 | 12-5 p.m. | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, 1930 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh | $0-$100 | Enjoy a day of island drinks, barbecue, pizza, live music + shopping.

100+ June events

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Network

Midtown Raleigh Alliance announces new Emerging Midtown program for young professionals

Silhouettes against the Raleigh skyline.

The Emerging Midtown program is $250 for MRA members. | Photo provided by Midtown Raleigh Alliance

The Midtown Raleigh Alliance is set to launch the Emerging Midtown program, featuring monthly sessions geared toward dynamically educating and mentoring young professionals. Running August through March 2024, topics range from “Maximizing your Marketability” to “Media Savvy” to “Evaluating Continuing Educational Opportunities” and more.

The cost of the program includes lunches at each session, plus a free drink + appetizers at each networking social.

Pro tip: Participants from non-member companies that become MRA members within 90 days of the program start will be refunded $250.

The talented steering committee of local professionals represent a broad scope of industries, including legal, media, banking, commercial real estate + development.

Interested in meeting the steering committee and learning more about the program? The Program Launch Event & Info Session is coming up on Thursday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Level7 Rooftop Lounge in North Hills. The event is free, but registration is required.*

Engage, enhance, and empower, RAL

News Notes

Coming Soon

Blackbird Books and Coffee, a new book shop that will serve specialty coffee and host community events and workshops, is opening in City Market. Blackbird is currently crowdfunding to get the shop up and running as soon as possible (it’s looking like this summer).

Biz

Raleigh Founded co-founder Jason Widen is opening multiple flex-space co-warehouses for entrepreneurs in services, food, and e-commerce. The first Blue Co. Warehousing facility, located on Pylon Drive, will open this July with another to follow in September. (Triangle Inno)

Community

Celebrate the start of Pride Month with Pride First Friday this Friday, June 2. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is hosting a block party on Fayetteville Street featuring live performance art and music, 50+ local vendors, and the unveiling of the new public art installation, “Rainbow River.” Plan your day.

Kids

The North Carolina Museum of History is hosting a Family Fun Fest this Saturday, June 3. From 12-4 p.m., journey through the exhibit “North Carolina A to Z” with NC-themed activities, demonstrations, and performances for the whole family.
Looking for a way to keep the kiddos active all summer long, rain or shine? Enter: Kids Bowl Free, a national program that connects you with local bowling alleys like Buffaloe Lanes North and Stars and Strikes where kids can receive two free games of bowling each day. Learn more and sign up.*

Drink

Pop the bubbly. East End Bistrot’s Champagne Terrace opens Tuesday, June 6. Guests will be able to enjoy a curated menu of champagne, sparkling cocktails, and light bites in the restaurant’s lower garden.

Raleighite

Local chef Sera Cuni — the owner of Cafe Root Cellar in Pittsboro and Root Cellar Cafe & Catering in Chapel Hill — won Food Network’s “Supermarket Stakeout” this week. Chef Sera showcased her quick thinking and culinary skills to complete assigned themed dishes and wow the judges. Congrats, chef.

The Word

Harissa. This flavorful, versatile spice goes with just about anything, featuring a burst of heat from aleppo peppers. Pro tip: Try it sprinkled over these foods.*

Try This

🥕 Explore our Raleigh recipe box

Roasted root veggies can be enjoyed during any season. | Photo by RALtoday

Grab your apron. We’ve rounded up 13 of our favorite recipes by local chefs, bartenders, and readers to build a Raleigh recipe box filled with delicious dishes and drinks.

Eat

Creamy okra, corn, and quinoa chowder | By reader Allison W.

Sassool’s butternut squash salad | By Sassool Cafe

Pecan-crusted salmon | By Tom + Rachael Sullivan (“Meals She Eats”)

Pimento mac and cheese custard | By Chef Ashley Christensen (Beasley’s Chicken + Honey)

Pumpkin chili with turkey, white beans, and green apples | By reader Dawn K.

Roasted root vegetables | By Chef Sean Fowler (Mandolin)

Strawberry pavlova | By Chef Coleen Speaks (Hummingbird)

Drink

“Benny & the Gins” | By Chris Powers (Young Hearts Distilling)

“Knock Knock” | By Kaylah Saffro (Mandolin)

“Mr. Sweet Potato” | By Kacey Liebes (Kingfisher)

“Sleigh Bells” | By Chris Powers (Young Hearts Distilling)

“Winter Boulevardiers” | By Chris Powers (Young Hearts Distilling)

Zero-proof Moscow mule | By Ritual Zero Proof

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Anne

From the editor

This is my last newsletter for RALtoday, so I’m in my feels. I’ve truly enjoyed writing to you every day, exploring the ins and outs of Raleigh, and getting to know many of your friendly faces. You can browse my author page for a recap.

Now for the good news. I’m transitioning into a new role within 6AM City, the company behind RALtoday — meaning I’ll still be around, just in a different way. City Editor Cat will continue taking RALtoday to even greater heights with the help of a new editor (I can’t wait for you to meet her).

Much love, and warmest regards — Anne

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