Nothing says the holidays like great friends, fun gatherings and, especially, good food, lots and lots of good food — food that is only served once a year, food to enjoy in honor of the occasion, food one just cannot say no to. It is glorious.
Just like the cold reality of returning to school or work routines following the holiday season — how long until Spring Break, anyway? — the reality of returning to a sensible eating routine can hit the soul like a cold, biting January wind.
Fear not, dear reader, for options abound in central Arkansas to get you back on track tastefully.
Before we look at some local establishments and their fresh, chef-inspired and, dare we say, healthier menus, here is some real talk: when it comes to behavior changes, New Year’s resolutions are not worth the party favors handed out at a watch-the-ball-drop party and are discarded almost as quickly.
Research findings, such as those recently published by insideoutmastery.com, are clear on this point. Just under one in four Americans make resolutions — including the get-healthy variety — and less than one in 10 successfully keep them. In fact, of those making a resolution almost a quarter do not last a week, and 64 percent have abandoned all hope by the end of 30 days.
An even stranger quirk about the custom is that people participate while apparently expecting not to be successful — 43 percent, according to this poll, predicted they would quit by February — making resolutions the scratch-off tickets of self-improvement strategies. Perhaps that explain why resolution-making is highest among the overly optimistic youth (59 percent of people ages 18 to 34) or parents being towed by their overly optimistic kids (parents being 1.6 times more likely to make resolutions than adults without children). We world-wizened people over 55, by contrast, are more than three times less likely to mess with the process in the first place.
The reason for this high failure rate is fairly self-explanatory: change is hard, much harder than merely proclaiming a champagne-fueled oath to the calendar. When it comes to matters of diet and exercise (spoiler alert) it actually takes effort and conscious attention to head for the gym or deviate from one’s less-than-desirable eating habits, all the time swimming against the urge to just stay in one’s lane.
There are multiple versions of the same idea out there that pronounce how long it takes for a new activity to become habit — anywhere from 21 days to six weeks, depending on who you ask. While this generally does not hold scientific water, human individuality being what it is, behaviorists say it is not entirely balderdash either. Do something faithfully for a period of time, they say, and if nothing else, there appears to be a placebo effect where, as creatures of habit, human brains click onto the routine that has been created.
If, for the sake of argument, that time-to-habit is 60 days, doing something positive on the regular for that time, given an honest effort, should demonstrate some benefit. While two months sounds like a long time, the average human will live to see 924 of them, so there is time to work with. Thanks to the restaurants that follow here, resolution-makers also have the resources to make eating healthier one of the tastiest tasks of self-improvement to tackle in 2024.
TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE
A beloved Arkansas outlet owned by the inestimable Keet family of restauranteurs, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe has built its loyal following on the concept that eating healthier does not have to come at the expense of flavor. It has done so not by reinventing the wheel necessarily, but by adhering to age-old truths about fresh ingredients and thoughtful preparation that many other places have sacrificed in the name of convenience.
“Our food is not processed; it is real food prepared fresh daily,” Tommy Keet said. “Not coming out of a bag allows for better, nutrient-dense food, including lean meats and healthy side choices that don’t see the inside of a fryer or microwave.”
When most people think eating healthy, salads figure somewhere into the equation, and Taziki’s offers several varieties that are as effective in staving off boredom as hunger.
“Our salads are filling and a great way to eat healthy,” Keet said. “The Mediterranean salad consists of fresh-cut romaine, spring mix, red onions, roasted red peppers, marinated garbanzo beans, pecan pieces, feta and diced tomatoes. It is served with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, which is absolutely delicious.”
Tommy’s brother, Jake Keet, said even the appetizer menu offers healthy choices, such as Taziki’s famous hummus, which is available with pita chips or fresh veggies for dipping. He also said much attention has been paid to the menu to accommodate customers with various dietary concerns.
“We try our best to be extremely cautious about allergies,” he said. “Gluten-free guests love our staggering number of options. Any feast or salad can be made gluten-free. Vegetarian guests can enjoy our veggie feast alongside our pimento cheese, hummus dips or a cup of our delicious tomato basil soup. Vegan options are more limited, but we do have some options.”
One key element to sticking to any new routine is variety, especially in the early stages. Here again, Taziki’s stands out with its almost endless customization of dishes and entrees that deliver healthier options packing a lot of flavor, consistent with the Mediterranean diet. Jim Keet, the patriarch of the family, suggested one of the restaurant’s most popular fish options as a tasty way to stick to any sensible meal plan.
“Our salmon is not only healthy, but delicious,” he said. “We select a high-grade salmon and prepare it with the perfect blend of seasonings to make it the highest quality. Our skilled staff is passionate about ensuring it is always consistent and delectable.”
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe
Little Rock, Conway, Bentonville,
North Little Rock and Fayetteville
CITY SILO TABLE + PANTRY
One of the newer entrants to Little Rock’s dining scene, City Silo opened in August. The Memphis-born concept has quickly established a Little Rock following thanks to its comfortable ambiance and fresh, delicious food.
“The response has been fantastic,” said Matt Runnells, operating partner and co-owner. “The community has really embraced us. We’re seeing the same regulars constantly, and they’re bringing friends in. I think we started off as a great vegan option, but people see on the menu that we have sandwiches with chicken or breakfast items that have eggs, and it’s taken off.”
Scott Tashie, co-owner with his wife, Rebekah, agreed, saying inclusiveness of diners has been the foundation of the concept, and its growth has been solidified by the freshness and quality of the food.
“If you’re gluten-free, if you’re vegan, if you’re vegetarian, if you eat meat, we want you to be able to come into our restaurant and feel comfortable,” he said.
City Silo’s menu allows for clean, healthier options all day long. Runnells recommended first-timers try the customizable sunshine breakfast burrito, also available as a bowl, and the chopper salad, which he recommends finishing off with some avocado and tempeh, a soy-based protein. Carnivores should check out the Memphis chicken (try the spicy version), tacos and burgers so good, they draw people from the beef version to try the portobello and beet walnut varieties.
Whatever diners choose, Tashie promises a healthful and satisfying meal, thanks to City Silo’s commitment to clean eating.
“What we preach with our restaurant is eating clean means more than just, ‘I have to eat vegan,’” he said. “Eating clean means knowing what you’re eating, knowing how it’s prepared, knowing what ingredients are in there and enjoying good-tasting food. That’s what I grew up eating, and that’s how I want to cook, knowing where my food’s coming from, knowing things are fresh and knowing this was put together just this morning. With our menu, everything is pretty much right in front of you.”
City Silo Table + Pantry
17701 Chenal Parkway, Suite C, Little Rock
BLACKBERRY MARKET
Another relatively new face in central Arkansas dining is Blackberry Market, which is owned by the husband-wife team of Peter and Whitney Lobiner. The restaurant is situated in the bustling Argenta neighborhood of North Little Rock.
“My sister created and operates this concept in the Chicago market,” Peter said. “We’ve watched her do that, gone up during holidays and helped during some of the busy times. We always enjoyed it, and we always thought it was different enough that it felt like it was missing in central Arkansas.”
The business opened to rave reviews and has stayed busy thanks to the made-from-scratch fare.
“Everything in the bakery case is made in-house, 100 percent of that,” Peter said. “Pretty much the only thing in the whole building that’s not made from scratch in-house is the bread we use on our sandwiches. Other than that, we’re making from scratch every sauce, dressing, every dish, mix. Everything else is happening in the store.”
Customer favorites include the hearty breakfast burrito and a healthy array of fresh salads and sandwiches throughout the day.
“If you’re coming in for lunch, we’ve got a mix-and-match so you can try more than one thing,” Peter said. “You can combine half a sandwich and half of one of our salads or a bowl of soup. A half-salad and a soup is definitely a light but filling and very healthy lunch option.
“We also, scattered across the whole menu but especially in the market case, have lots of gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options. We try to be a place where people can show up with all different kinds of dietary restrictions, and we can accommodate that. We take that really seriously.”
Another excellent part of the business’ offerings are the hand-crafted barista specialties. Peter, who comes to the venture after years with Starbucks Coffee Co.ww applies that experience to the drink menu, which features top-quality coffee and expertly prepared beverages.
“I was in a Starbucks store for about half my career, and then the second half, I was a district manager, which I loved, but one of the things I missed was having my own four walls to be able to host my community,” he said. “I’ve loved being back in a store, I love having a team of employees that I’m working with every day, and also just having a place where I can host my old friends and the new friends that I’ve made as customers here.”
Blackberry Market
315A Main St., North Little Rock
STERLING MARKET
With his wildly successful Fidel & Co. Coffee Roasters, Fidel Samour redefined coffee in Little Rock. Now, he has expanded his community-first mentality into Sterling Market, located nearby in the city’s fashionable East Village neighborhood.
“We wanted [Sterling Market] to be a place that highlighted the talent that we had come to know in both of our executive chefs,” Samour said, “but also to feature places that are doing things that are sustainable and then just good business practices in general as far as farms and suppliers.”
Community is at the forefront of Sterling Market, and the months since the business opened has seen several groups utilize the space, as well as business people in the neighborhood holding meetings over lunch.
“The space inside is a different vibe than the outside, but they both lend themselves to having folks gather and come together and just celebrate community,” Samour said.
The menu reflects this “come one, come all” ethos with wide-ranging fare to suit any taste. Scratch-made using the highest quality ingredients available, the selections ranges from quick bites to more substantial entrees, all expertly prepared.
“We do have a little bit for everybody,” he said. “At Sterling Market, there are options that use more leafy greens, ancient grains-type foods where people can still stay on track with whatever fitness goals and healthy eating goals they have, or if they want to indulge and have a slice of pizza, we do that too. Everything — salads, sandwiches, the whole gamut of our dressings — is made in-house. Nothing artificial or weird.”
Samour recommended in particular the Little Gem salad, a customer favorite packed with smoked chicken, greens, grated egg and tossed in house-made salad dressing. For something a little more substantial, he pointed to the sandwich menu.
“Our burger developed some notoriety during the Beef Council’s Burger Week; it was rated one of the fan favorites,” he said. “The smoked chicken sandwich has been the unsung hero of the menu, so to speak, because all people have to do is try it once, and then they keep ordering. That is a fan favorite.”
With less than a year under its belt, the steady stream of customers attest to Sterling Market’s reputation as a strong new option for downtown dining.
“We have, thankfully, received a positive welcome into people’s rotation of restaurants as we’ve opened,” he said. “We’re pretty happy with how folks are receiving us in the community.”
Sterling Market
515 Shall Ave, Little Rock
