People are hungry for the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a time for chefs, restaurant owners and staff to cook their best grub for customers ready to try it.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week runs through July 26
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The gastronomic celebration comes as cyclosporiasis spreads across North Carolina, especially in Wake County
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Restaurateurs say they are taking precautions with food handling, sourcing and making substitutions to keep the parasite out<\/p>\n
Except there are concerns about an unwelcome guest crashing the party: Cyclospora.<\/p>\n
The illness is wreaking havoc in Wake County and causing a lot of unwanted trips to the restroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the smorgasbord of options await as cyclosporiasis spreads across North Carolina.<\/p>\n
There are concerns because there are 270 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in Wake County, according to the county government.<\/p>\n
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has documented\u00a0307 cases in the state as of Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cases in five states \u2014 Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia \u2014 have been tied to Taco Bell restaurants outside of North Carolina.<\/p>\n
The NCDHHS is working with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to identify potential sources of cyclospora. The agriculture department has taken the lead on tracing the original supplier or source.<\/p>\n
Cases in North Carolina have been linked to foods like parsley, cilantro and lettuce, but no single source has been identified, officials said.<\/p>\n
Despite the threat of an invader, owners like Parkside Restaurant\u2019s Todd Henderson are rolling with the punches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been fantastic,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n
There are fresh-off-the-grill meals, some discounted or created specifically for a themed showcase. Henderson said he captures the perfect ingredients for customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat this does is give our chefs a little bit of a chance to get outside the box of our menu to shine a little bit, offer some specialties and some things that they like,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n
Parkside is a Raleigh staple. Henderson said he wants the city to bring its appetite as the restaurant celebrates its 10th anniversary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sentimental and historic, and it makes us all kind of remember that and get back together.,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n
Except restaurateurs want to keep the cyclospora parasite out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBest thing that we can do is source locally,” Henderson said. “We source our produce from a local certified purveyor … right across the street from the North Carolina Farmers Market, and they source from local farms.\u201d<\/p>\n
He is using substitutes like summer gazpacho and cucumber crunch salad without lettuce.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we get it, we do everything we can. We’re really doubling down on washing, rewashing, washing our hands,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described cyclosporiasis as an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. People can become infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces. The timeframe from exposure to sickness can range from two days to two weeks. Symptoms can include diarrhea and explosive bowel movements.<\/p>\n
Hannette Alawar is a bartender and server at the Element Gastropub. Alawar said she isn\u2019t letting the infection hijack their locally sourced plant-based menu and operation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already take care precautions. We already keep up with current events so if there is a chance of anything, maybe slipping in, it doesn\u2019t not get past the kitchen,\u201d Alawar said.<\/p>\n
Beyond the fear of infection, Alawar said Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is a point of pride.<\/p>\n
\u201cRestaurant Week, in my opinion, gives all of the locals a real chance to just accentuate and have their best dishes shine,\u201d Alawar said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She said you miss out on all the bites you don\u2019t take.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, people want good food, and we have good food,\u201d Alawar said.<\/p>\n
Raleigh Restaurant Week runs through Sunday, July 26.<\/p>\n
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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