Port City Foodies Newsletter: Grilled cheese and chili crisp in this week's food news
Allison Ballard
Welcome to the weekly Port City Foodies newsletter brought to you by me, StarNews reporter Allison Ballard. This weekÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s news covers a lot of the Wilmington area's diversity when it comes to food. Restaurants are represented ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ“including a local favorite Italian eatery ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ“ but we also have news about local bakeries, cool groceries and even food trucks, some of which are mentioned in this monthÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s roundup of openings and closings. Take a look below.Ìý
WhatÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s new and whatÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s closedÌý
It isnÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™t always an easy task, but IÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ve been trying to keep readers and foodies informed about which food-and-drink businesses are coming and going with a monthly roundup of openings and closings. The most recent one includes a special food truck section, because there are quite a few new ones on local roads serving up Asian fusion, or beignets.
That also includes the Cheez Boss grilled cheese food truck. You can tell its Wilmington origins from the menu that includes the Cape Fear (a grilled caprese) and the Wrightsville, a Philly style grilled cheese. The business been travelling around, but it's back this area for good, says the owner.ÌýIt looks like there will be more mobile happenings to include next month, too, with the announcements that to their NOLA food truck and that MeMa's Chick'n & RibsÌýwill be serving their comfort food from a food trailer while they renovate a restaurant space in Porters Neck at 8232 Market St. Stay tuned.
More:Food trucks & coffee shops: 18 restaurant openings and closings in the Wilmington area
Goodbye cupcakeÌý
Speaking of closings, we also recently learned that Pink Baking Co. will be closing at the end of July. In recent months, the bakery has been only taking custom orders, especially for wedding cakes.ÌýBut I know many people remember when it opened (as Hot Pink Cake Stand) and was one of the areaÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s first cupcake shops. The owner still makes cakes in some of the creative flavors devised during those early days.ÌýÌý
More:One of WilmingtonÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s original cupcake shops is closing
Chili crisp and pasta nachosÌý
Some readers might not know that the StarNews revamped the Sunday section six months ago. If you havenÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™t checked it out, you can learn more here. In addition to articles about local history, people, developments and our environment, thereÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s also a weekly dining feature where we cover everything from favorite Italian dishes to unique restaurants like the Panamanian CevicheÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s near Wrightsville Beach. Ìý
This Sunday, you can learn more about the Asian grocery that most locals call Saigon Market. In fact, I would guess that most foodies in the area have been to the shop and checked out the truly vast array of the products available, including the trendy and popular chili crisp condiment. The business celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.Ìý
More:After 30 years, this Asian market still serves global flavors to the Wilmington community
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