If you have ever been to a cooking competition, you know that by and large, it is just a bunch of folks under tents huddled around grills and smokers with not a lot of things to do. It was certainly the case with the annual PK Grills Cookoff at War …

I have longed believed in the impact of culture on economic development, that is why two years ago when I started hearing rumblings about some serious efforts to build El Dorado as the cultural center of South Arkansas I had to go see those initial building blocks. It certainly wasn’t …

The city’s best annual food festival is back this weekend in West Little Rock. The 35th Annual International Greek Food Festival is Friday through Sunday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. All of your favorite food and activities are back from previous festivals, including some new menu items: Gyro salad: A …

If there is a food-related expansion requested more than any other it is for a Trader Joe’s grocery store in Little Rock. We now have a strong confirmation that they are in the early stages of acquiring contractors and laying out plans for the first ever location in Little Rock. …

We’ve known for months now that Ciceley McDowell was bringing her excellent Ceci’s Chicken and Waffles back to Little Rock from Conway. Now, we have all the details about the move. McDowell is opening Ceci’s in the former Shark’s Fish and Chicken at 6606 Colonel Glenn Road near Kroger, and …

Whatever else you have going on this week, you won’t want to miss Rebel Kettle’s third birthday party on Saturday. Beer and Loathing in Little Rock is back for a third year, featuring beer yoga starting at 10 a.m. and the main party kicking in at 11 a.m. Rebel Kettle’s …

One thing I have learned in 6+ years of covering the local food scene is if a space is going to make it they have to evolve. This is the case with any business, but it is especially true in the restaurant world. Tastes change, chefs come and go, and …

A series of changes is coming to Nichols’ Smokehouse BBQ in Sherwood. The barbecue restaurant is merging with Woodland Bakery and Bistro beginning May 14. The two will operate under the Nichols name, and the menu will reflect many customer favorite dishes from both restaurants. Woodland was already operating out …

It’s been more than a year since the last new brewery opened in Central Arkansas. In that time, more than a dozen breweries have opened up around the state, with most of those coming to Northwest Arkansas. The stall has prompted some to wonder if the “craft beer bubble” has …

Time for another edition of Truckin’, our food truck roundup. News This weekend is the Raymar Food Truck Fest in Bryant. The festival features 9 trucks along with inflatables and yard games. Admission is free, just pay for your food at the trucks. The Railyard is launching their May Sunday …