News
The Root is close to breaking ground on its long-awaited expansion plans. Owner Jack Sundell tells me the work will start either this Monday or the Monday after. The Root is using ten repurposed shipping containers to greatly expand the dining room and kitchen areas, which will allow for a brand new dinner service. The expansion is paid for by two grants The Root won over the past 18 months.
Also from The Root comes this partnership with Loblolly Creamery. The two are teaming up to pioneer SoMa 4th Fridays. It’s a neighborhood social for the South Main community that will take place on the fourth Friday of every month. For this 4th Friday (Feb. 26), The Root will be serving a special breakfast menu for dinner, and both Loblolly and the Root will extend their hours. Other community businesses will be open their normal hours including South on Main, Raduno, Midtown Billiards, and Community Bakery.
Another major move for Brown Sugar Bakeshop this week. The bakery announced it is closing its pop-up location at The Food Truck Stop @ Station 801 and is moving to North Little Rock. Brown Sugar’s new address is 4621 JFK Blvd. in the Park Hill district. This new location will feature drive-thru service. Opening day has not yet been announced. In addition, Brown Sugar will make deliveries around town and will soon have a new dessert truck for mobile events and catering.
Capital Bar and Grill isn’t the only Little Rock restaurant going strong for National Pie Month. The Pizzeria at Terry’s Finer Foods has also been featuring a pie a day during February, and some of them look downright exotic. So far, The Pizzeria has put out a lemon ginger mascarpone pie, white chocolate pie on a pretzel crust, and a pear tartlet with blue cheese whipped cream. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for the latest pie on the menu.
Little Rock-based PK Grills has greatly increased its potential customer base by partnering with The Home Depot. You can now find the aluminum PK Grills for sale on The Home Depot’s website. PK Grills has been around since the 1950s and is located in Little Rock’s East Village neighborhood.
Nominations are in, and it’s time for you to vote for Little Rock’s best service professionals in our yearly Rock City Eats poll. Make sure your favorite is represented.
Have you eaten at Chicago’s Phillys & Gyros yet? If not, check out our Underrated Places feature on the University Ave. gem.
Capital Bar and Grill has a new menu from both the kitchen and restaurant for you to enjoy. If you don’t feel like reading all the way through it, let me just say that the words “duck pot pie” make an appearance.
If you can’t make it down to Hot Springs to experience it for yourself, make sure to check out our feature on the historic Ohio Club on Central Avenue.
Events
February 18th Roxy’s Twisted Sandwiches Soft Opening – New Central Arkansas food truck Roxy’s Twisted Sandwiches will make their opening official by setting up shop at Flyway Brewing in North Little Rock.
February 23rd Stone’s Throw February Beer Dinner with Southern Gourmasian – The monthly beer dinner is back, the five course dinner with beer pairings is always a hot ticket. Call 501-313-5645 to reserve; $50 for one, $90 for two.
February 23rd Lee Edwards Bar Invasion – Former Yellow Rocket Concepts beverage director Lee Edwards is coming back to Little Rock for a guest bartending shift at South on Main on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Edwards will be teaming up with head barman David Burnette for the evening.
February 27th “ArkanSO” Craft Beer Dinner – SO Restaurant and Bar is creating a five-course dinner paired with six craft beers for a special evening. Make sure to call to make your reservation. 501-663-1464
March 5 Putt Putt Pub Crawl benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas – The Putt Putt Pub Crawl will take place in the in the River Market on March 5th from noon until 4. Nine River Market bars will have putt putt holes in their establishments along with Dos Equis drink specials. Entry is $25 a player and includes an event t-shirt, koozy and sunglasses. Sign up here.
March 10th Tiki Night at Trio’s – Trio’s Restaurant will host Tiki night featuring craft Tiki cocktails,pupus and other island themed treats, special musical guests and prizes for most fun costumes. Cost will be $30 and will require reservations (available soon) in the Trio’s Pavilion from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
March 15th Rock City Tailgate at Gary Hogan Field – We are gathering some of Little Rock’s finest food trucks to watch the Little Rock Trojans take on the UCA Bears in baseball. List of trucks and details coming soon.
April 1st 19th Annual Food & Foam Fest – Annually one of the state’s best beer festivals, this year’s Food & Foam Fest will feature samplings from 350 craft beers from Arkansas and around the country. Tickets are already on sale.
April 2nd 8th Annual B Street Rib Off – This fantastic competition will be the biggest yet, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society of Central Arkansas. Early bird registration is open until March 4th.
Specials
Take a look at the February specials from Trio’s Restaurant here. Trio’s has a number of featured items that look fantastic, including a San Francisco cioppino and a tri-tip chimichurri.
Yellow Rocket restaurant are offering a special dish in February at the following locations:
- Big Orange – Frito Chili Pie Burger and Lucie’s Shake
- Local Lime – King Crab and Shrimp Enchiladas with Poblano Pepper Sauce
- ZAZA – Fiji Apple and Endive Salad
kBird’s weekly meat special for this week is Chiangmai sausage, pork rinds and laap mueang (chopped pork w spices). This dish is made with spices owner Richard Glasgow hand-picked during his trip in Thailand.
