With the arrival of chef Josh Petty three months ago, Cape Fear Coast Seafood market owner Brian Hepler and his staff continue to expand their culinary repertoire.

An expansion that included an outdoor patio and the sale of both wine and beer took place last July. Now, Hepler and Petty, the former chef at Sweet & Savory Café, are working with John Oliver Evans, owner of Funky Fresh Food Truck, to bring dinners to the market as well.

Petty says that working with Evans is beneficial on several levels. First, it’s allowing both him and Hepler to learn the ropes of running a food truck, something they are both possibly interested in pursuing. Second, the partnership is beneficial to both businesses as a means of bringing the community together to enjoy the products they have to offer.

“This is really about three guys coming together to provide the community with a great opportunity to enjoy delicious food, beer and wine in a relaxed setting,” said Petty. “And meanwhile, we’re learning from one another and helping one another grow our businesses.”

The festivities kick off this weekend with a Sundown Garden Party at 6 p.m. on Friday. Petty and Evans will be preparing what they call an upscale American back yard barbeque. There will also be live music beginning at 7:30 p.m. and a beer and wine tasting.

“We hope to have events each Friday for now,” said Dara O’Neill, an employee of the market. “We will feature straight-from-the-boat seafood menus with local fixin’s and organic produce.”

Petty will also work with Evans on a series of Pop-Up dinners that are scheduled for Tuesdays through July. These dinners will showcase some additional items not typically found on the Funky Fresh truck. Petty added that once temperatures cool down towards the fall, he hopes to expand to offering weekend brunches as well.

See Cape Fear Coast Seafood’s Facebook page for full details on all upcoming events.

Cape Fear Coast Seafood is located at 8130 Market St. in Porters Neck.

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