Latest news with #ChrisMcLaurin
Eater
23-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Popular Durham Pop-Up Lutra Brings Its Big Buns to Brunch
Chef Chris McLaurin has amassed a loyal following in the Triangle for his baked goods since popping up as Lutra Bakery in early 2024. He recently announced that Lutra will become a counter-service restaurant in the American Tobacco Campus in Durham by the end of 2025. McLaurin's pop-up bakeshop offers sweet and savory buns with flavors like strawberry lavender, pistachio lemon, cinnamon vanilla, and pepperoni. The forthcoming brick-and-mortar will offer more variety with breakfast and lunch offerings like biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, salads, and sandwiches. McLaurin, a Chapel Hill native, says he started Lutra with a focus on buns because they reminded him of his childhood. 'It makes me this of Saturday mornings, watching cartoons,' he says, 'My mom made Pillsbury buns, but she would put an orange glaze on them. I always loved those.' Prior to starting Lutra, McLaurin was the chef de cuisine at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh, before it closed in 2023. Since Lutra launched, McLaurin has sold over 10,000 buns to hungry fans. If you want a taste of Lutra before the American Tobacco Campus opening, McLaurin is popping up with a brunch series at Indian restaurant Cheeni from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sundays at 202 Corcoran Street, Suite 100, Durham. Look for sweet and savory buns, granola bowls, breakfast sandwiches, bread pudding, and more. Sign up for our newsletter.
Axios
15-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Lutra Cafe & Bakery will open permanent spot after successful pop-up
Lutra Cafe & Bakery will open a permanent location in downtown Durham's American Tobacco Campus later this year after a successful run as a pop-up. Why it matters: Lutra, known for its sweet-and-savory morning buns, is now the second venture after Isaac's Bagels to graduate from the pop-up window at Queeny's, a bar and restaurant in downtown Durham, into their own space. Lutra's baked goods can also be found at several farmers markets and coffee shops throughout the Triangle. Zoom in: Lutra was created by Chris McLaurin, the former chef de cuisine at Poole'side Pies. When Poole'side closed in 2023, McLaurin took it as a sign to go all-in on opening a bakery in Durham — an idea he had been toying around with for years. The original focus of Lutra has been a rotating mixture of sweet-and-savory buns, inspired by memories of his mother making orange buns during his childhood. The morning buns have proven popular with flavors like orange and brown butter rosemary, and seasonal offerings like king cake for Mardi Gras. What to expect: The new space will give Lutra the capacity to expand its menu to even more pastries, like soft pretzels, and a sourdough bread program. It also plans to add a breakfast and lunch menu, with items like sausage-egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwiches, eggs Benedict and salads, as well as a weekend brunch menu. Location: Lutra will be located at 312 Blackwell St., suite 102 in the ATC's Noell Building.
