Around the Rock: Table 28 Continues to Impress

My views from this week…
For a restaurant that’s been around less than a year, Table 28 sure has settled in quite nicely to our food community. Another impressive dinner has me convinced chef Scott Rains belongs in the company of Little Rock’s top fine-dining chefs. There’s no denying his expertise and overall high level of execution inside the kitchen. For first timers, I highly recommend the quail lollipops, mashed potatoes, fried Brussels sprouts, grilled asparagus and the Tongue and Cheek.
My heart is full after finally checking out Lassis Inn, the iconic hidden gem located just outside I-30 near Roosevelt. The restaurant is old, with booths as small as you’ll ever see. But there’s a ton of character, and most importantly, also some delicious fried catfish and Buffalo ribs. I opted for the latter, mostly because the opportunity to eat fish ribs was far too compelling to pass up. Glad I did. The mild, freshwater white fish comes off the bone (yes, imagine eating a real rib) with ease and is quite tasty. The folks at Lassis take frying seriously, and it certainly shows. Everything I ate, including the catfish, ribs, hushpuppies and fries were fried to perfection. And did I mention they sell 40-ounce beers?
It was great to see a steady flow of customers at last Wednesday’s Westover Food Truck Meet-Up. The weather was warmer, the sun was still out and the trucks brought their A-games. I had Southern Salt’s delicious vegetarian BBQ sandwich, a delicious meatless alternative packed with crispy tofu, onions, bell peppers and spicy cabbage. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to order this sandwich again.
Did you miss our piece on The Faded Rose’s weekly crawfish boil? If so, please check it out. We had a blast watching the entire process unfold.
Congrats to chef Matthew Bell of South on Main, winner of a very prestigious award. Recently, I had the honor of presenting him with the “I Ate Liver and Enjoyed It” Award. Past winners include: no one. Chef was recognized for his work with liver and onions, which included homemade biscuits and a tasso gravy.
Go to El Palenque and tell me that’s not the best burrito in Little Rock. Specifically, I’m talking about the shrimp burrito, which is filled with plump shrimp, rice, beans and grilled onions.
And the news…
On Friday, Brown Sugar Bakeshop is celebrating its 5th anniversary, offering up a bake sale to include: the ultimate baker’s dozen (buy 12 cupcakes, get the 13th free), 3 cookies for $5, and complimentary punch with light appetizers for dine-in customers.
The next Southern Gourmasian cooking class will be on April 9th (6-8:30 p.m.) at The Ridge at Chenal (5400 Chenonceau Blvd). The three-course menu includes: homemade mozzarella with roasted veggie crostini, slow roasted wild salmon with potato gnocchi and chocolate bread pudding with Loblolly Ice Cream. Cost is $50 per person. For more information, contact Thanh Rasico at 350-7112 or ThanhRasico@gmail.com.
On Friday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m., join chefs Marie and Butterfly of Solfood Catering for Vegetarian 101, a cooking class offered at Eggshells Kitchen Co.
Mark your calendars for Local Lime’s Siembra Azul Tequila Dinner, set to be held on April 8th at 7:00 p.m. This 4-course dinner will cap out at 50 guests, so if you’re interested, jump on this one.