dining

Look Who’s Cookin’: Diana Bratton

A fun Q&A with some of the state’s up-and-coming chefs as well as culinary superstars. Photography by Janet Warlick   DIANA BRATTON Café 1217 & Taco Mama / Hot Springs Hometown: McAllen, Texas. Are you a formally trained chef or an on-the-job-trained cook? Both. Where were you trained? I was formally trained at El Centro […]

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Look Who’s Cookin’: Anthony Valinoti

A fun Q&A with some of the state’s up-and-coming chefs as well as culinary superstars. Photography by Sara Edwards Neal   ANTHONY VALINOTI (Online Exclusive) DeLuca’s Pizzeria  / Hot Springs Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Are you a formally trained chef or an on-the-job-trained cook? I’ve had no formal training. I was a Wall Street guy […]

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Notable: Rick’s Beignets

Named one of the South’s best beignets by Taste of the South  magazine. Photography by Cindy Momchilov   travel to N’awlins for Mardi Gras? That’s OK. Get a taste of The Big Easy at Rick’s Beignets. Owner Rick Rogers’ food truck features sweet and savory menus. The sweet menu features beignets — prepared based on […]

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Look Who’s Cookin’: Omar Barry

A fun Q&A with some of the state’s up-and-coming chefs as well as culinary superstars. Photography by Janet Warlick    OMAR BARRY (Online Exclusive) Omar’s Uptown / Jonesboro Hometown: Banjul, Gambia and Jonesboro, Arkansas Are you a formally trained chef or an on-the-job-trained cook? Yes to both. Where were you trained? I started young in […]

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Look Who’s Cookin’: Gilbert M. Alaquinez Jr.

A fun Q&A with some of the state’s up-and-coming chefs as well as culinary superstars. Photography by Cindy Momchilov   GILBERT M. ALAQUINEZ JR. Forty Two / Little Rock Hometown: San Antonio, Texas. Are you a formally trained chef or an on-the-job-trained cook?  An on-the-job trained chef. Where were you trained? The school of hard […]

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Notable: Excaliburger

“I believe in ‘Do one thing and do it well,’” Kyle Pounders said, as he prepared his famous Excalibuger. “My end goal is to have a [location with a drive-thru] with healthy options.” Photograph by Cindy Momchilov   journey has not been smooth, thanks to the purchase of a food truck that wasn’t quite road-ready; […]

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Notables: Lassis Inn

Open for more than 100 years, Lassis Inn is a legend unto itself. Photo by Ashlee Nobel   Washington purchased the business in 1990 and continues the tradition of serving tasty fried fish and the appropriate southern accouterments, because, well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Washington, whose friendly, to-the-point personality is softened by […]

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Notable: The Clean Eatery

A conversation with Ryan Merritt-McGehee is an educational experience. Photo by Sara Edwards Neal   a nutritionist and a certified personal trainer, so as you can imagine he eats “clean.” And he wants others to as well, that’s why he founded The Clean Eatery. Located in Stratton’s Market, the walk-up offers some of the tastiest […]

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Dining Spotlight: The Faded Rose’s Vibrant History

The food scene in Little Rock has come a long way in the past four years, so much so it’s nearly unrecognizable. Photos by Greg Henderson, publisher of Rock City Eats   just 2½ years of operating Rock City Eats, we have covered the opening of a few dozen new places — not to mention […]

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Notable: Paizi’s Gyros

A lot of food trucks come and go, but you know yours is doing something right when your customers beg you to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Photo by Janet Warlick   summer, Hari and Ilona Paizi decided they had kept their loyal fans waiting long enough, and opened the doors of Paizi’s Gyros in Fort […]

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Notable: Chunky Dunk

According to the Chunky Dunk: A Milk and Cookies Truck Facebook page, “a cookie a day keeps the doctor away, especially if you add ice cream to it.” Since owner and head baker, Sara Slimp, has a degree in social work, it’s probably OK to assume this is sound medical advice. Photography by Ashlee Nobel […]

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Dining Spotlight: Steak Done Well — Mister B’s

Photography by Sara Edwards Neal   Bruce Barnes has worked in northwest Arkansas kitchens for 35 years, including a 10-year stint as the owner of Herman’s Steakhouse in Fayetteville. For 34 of those years, his wife, P.J., has worked beside him. Together, they and their staff create a dining experience at Mister B’s Steakhouse in […]

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