Two global superstars sampled the Triangle dining scene over the weekend, getting a taste of Glenwood Avenue and some of North Carolina’s best barbecue.
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The stars converged in the Triangle over the weekend, with major summer concerts and GalaxyCon going on in downtown Raleigh.
The first celebrity stop came from all-time great hype man Flava Flav, part of hip hop group Public Enemy, which opened for Guns N Roses Thursday night at Carter Finley Stadium.
Friday morning, Flava Flav stopped by Glenwood Avenue’s new Cuya Cafe. Cuya Cocina chef Kevin Ruiz posted a picture with Flava Flav, posing with his signature clock medalian, at Cuya Cafe.
“And it’s only Friday,” Ruiz said in the post.
Meanwhile, one of the most famous people in the universe appeared at GalaxyCon over the weekend and shouted out an acclaimed barbecue joint. The great William Shatner was one of the event’s headliners and spent nearly a minute praising the smoky delights of Prime Barbecue.
“Prime Barbecue, do you guys know?” Shatner said, then holding his face seemingly in amazement. “It should be a destination. You should come to Raleigh, go to Raleigh, nevermind the people, nevermind…what else happens in Raleigh? Good things happen in Raleigh, I think I was here for a horse show. But the barbecue! Fantastic last night.”
Prime had catered a private event for GalaxyCon and presented Shatner with a tray of its smoky goods. Owned by pitmaster Christopher Prieto, Prime is known as one of the best Texas-style barbecue joints on the East Coast, collecting accolades and praise from media outlets, barbecue experts and the Michelin guide.
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Shatner seemed sad to be departing the Triangle, knowing his next stop is not likely to have barbecue quite so good.
“I’m here all afternoon, and then I leave because I know where I’m going,” Shatner said, wrapping up his GalaxyCon talk. “I hate to leave the barbecue here, though.”
The folks at Prime Barbecue said they’ll never forget serving the famed actor.
“Last night was one of those moments we will never forget,” Prieto said in an Instagram caption of a photo of him and Shatner. “We had the honor of serving barbecue to Mr. William Shatner and his friends at GalaxyCon. Blessings like these remind us what an incredible journey this barbecue life has been.”
This year, Triangle restaurants have seen several other notable celebrity drop-ins.
In March, rock god and Led Zeppelin front-man Robert Plant stopped by Whiskey Kitchen in Raleigh for dinner and a few drams from the top shelf. A few years earlier, he was able to convince Garland to reopen for a little while for a late night snack.
And this month, fresh off the wedding of the century, Donna “Mama” Kelce dined at North Hills’ French restaurant Coquette.
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