Crabtree Valley Mall will soon be welcoming a new element to the property that’s the first of its kind in the United States. This exciting new addition is a Krispy Kreme kiosk which resembles the brand’s iconic green and white doughnut box! The unique Krispy Kreme kiosk, which will serve the doughnut company’s favorite varieties, is scheduled to open late August 2018. The kiosk will be located on the first floor of Crabtree Valley Mall near Macy’s and the mall’s promotional court.

The end of August means back to school and we have some tips for surviving the transition from the pool to the books. From "Dinners Done Easy" to back to school shopping, our clients have everything you need to prepare for the new school year!

The RDU Mobile Food Association (RDUMFA) is pleased to announce the date of their second annual Tacopalooza food truck rodeo and competition, August 19, 2018 at Knightdale Station located at 810 N First Ave., Knightdale, NC 27545. Join Tacopalooza for a taco-filled day from 12 PM to 4 PM.

Skip the #latergram, why not post in the moment? We know, we know. Posting during events can be stressful! But when it comes to promoting an event, live tweeting, InstaStory, InstaVideo, Snapchat and Facebook Live are all tools that should be used. While we don’t want to promote people being sucked into the digital world and not enjoying the moment, from a business standpoint, it is essential.

Celebrate National Book Lovers Day on August 9th with the #TabletopTeam. If you're a book-lover like us, then sit back and enjoy this blog post about some of our favorites!

Did you know that under European law Sangria must be made in Spain or Portugal and have less than 12 percent alcohol by volume? Thankfully, we live in North Carolina! Try these two recipes from Il Palio at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill.

Our founder Kristen Baughman recently had the honor of judging the North Carolina State Farmers Market's 2018 Peach Dessert Contest. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! Kristen served on a panel of four judges who each tried more than 20 recipes to determine the top three winners.

Social Media is more than just a tool for promoting your business. It's a portal in which customers can get to know more about your company, as well as an opportunity for you to show your true colors. But social media isn’t only about you, you can use it to directly connect with your audience. #GetToKnowYourCustomersDay in July 19th and in order to celebrate, we are going to take a quick look into how you can become in-tune with your customers through social media.

The International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC), in partnership with The J.M. Smucker Company’s Away From Home division, are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the Food for Good Award, which honors nonprofit organizations whose work with food is making significant contributions to improving lives in the communities they serve.

The Bistro at Topsail is the proud recipient of Wine Spectator's 2018 Award of Excellence. Only seven restaurants in coastal North Carolina are recipients of this 2018 award, while globally only 2,453 restaurants achieved recognition.

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, creator and host of the annual NCRLA Chef Showdown presented by Got to be NC Agriculture, announced the 21 chefs selected to compete in its third annual cooking competition. We are so excited for our client, chef Teddy Diggs, who has advanced in the competition! He will be representing his newest concept, Coronato, which is slated to open in 2019.

Stacey Sprenz, our professional photographer, concocted (or should we say, con-cocktailed) a delicious mojito recipe just in time for #NationalMojitoDay on July 11th and it will have us believing we are lounging on a beach for the rest of the day. Dive in, cocktail lovers!

It's National Ice Cream Month, and Andia's Homemade Ice Cream is excited to participate in the national "I Pledge for Ice Cream" Project that will run every Sunday from 12pm to 2pm for the remainder of July 2018. During these set hours, any child 12 years of age or under who recites the Pledge of Allegiance will be rewarded with a free scoop of ice cream. This special project is a way for children to practice their patriotism during the most patriotic month. The month-long promotion will be held at Andia's Homemade Ice Cream at 10120 Green Level Church Rd., #208, Cary, NC 27519.

Chef Teddy Diggs is excited to announce the creation of Coronato, his new Roman-style pizzeria concept slated to open in early 2019. Diggs is currently on the search for a permanent location in North Carolina's Triangle region and is planning to host pizza pop-ups for the public until the grand opening of Coronato.

Head Fire Maker Christopher Prieto of Prime Barbecue is excited to announce that he will be appearing on Food Network's Chopped Grill Masters, with the first episode of the show airing on July 31, 2018. The episode Prieto will appear on is scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT. Each chef competing is repping their region's barbecue style to battle it out for the $50,000 grand prize. Tune in and watch Prieto battle it out with other top grill masters from around the country.

41Hundred at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel is excited to announce Kevin Smith as their new Executive Chef. Located at 4100 Main at North Hills St. in Raleigh, 41Hundred is the new concept inside of the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel. Under the guidance of Chef Kevin, the restaurant and lounge offers simply sophisticated, international cuisine featuring shareable plates like oxtail poutine and Korean BBQ wings, as well as an innovative beverage program offering items like popsicle cocktails.

Andia's Homemade Ice Cream recently hosted a "Community Celebration Day" on May 20, 2018. This special day was owners Andia and George Xouris' way of thanking their patrons for their unwavering support since the shop's opening in July 2017. In just three short hours, the event successfully raised more than $450 for the non-profit partner, the Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation.

Did you know that May is National Strawberry Month? Many restaurants and bars celebrate by incorporating the seasonal fruit into their food and drinks. Our clients are integrating strawberries in their recipes in new and unique ways. Use the recipes in this blog to take advantage of this fresh summer fruit!