Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

In this week’s Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at Loma in uptown Rogers talking with Chef Daniel Hernandez, but first!?! Food News!! Lasang Pinoy is FINALLY open in Rogers! Sidecar in Fayetteville fully opens TODAY! Happy anniversary to a Bentonville staple! We hear from the co-owner of Doomsday Coffee about their soon-to-be-opened Springdale store Grove Food Truck Park opens this weekend! El Sol in Fayetteville to shut their doors Burger King on College in Fayetteville closes Onyx in Springdale opens their doors for good next week! Get your tickets for tomorrow’s Dish event benefitting the expansion of Arkansas Children’s Northwest! LOMA Executive Chef Daniel Hernandez is from Mexico City and made his way to the states to work construction. He very quickly found his way into a kitchen in Missouri, where he started in the dish pit... he worked his way up to the line, and eventually to running the whole thing, and that took over a decade. He eventually found his way here to Northwest Arkansas, and he’ll tell you how he got here. And if you’re a Gen-Xer like me, you’ll love to hear what his first job was, and you may have actually done it yourself back in the day. Chef Hernandez describes his food, and we’ll walk through some menu items. Also, what was it that hooked him in to cooking?? Listen wherever you listen to podcasts or watch on YouTube!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to Jerrmy Gawthrop, co-owner of Wood Stone Pizza and formerly of the Greenhouse Grill. But first? Food News! Lasang Pinoy is about to FINALLY open in Rogers Get out your records- Sidecar is about to open in Fayetteville Dining in the Dark in Fayetteville? Yes, at the Mockingbird Kitchen! Act fast! Doomsday Coffee opens in Springdale (we think)! A new pop-up opens in Springdale at the Spring Kitchen K-Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot opens in Rogers soon. Win dinner for four! Still a chance to get your tickets to Dish benefitting the Arkansas Children’s Northwest expansion! Jerrmy Gawthrop has quite the background. The co-owner of Wood Stone Pizza grew up working in the restaurant scene in NWA and started front-of-house. Then he got pulled into the kitchen, and that’s where his education truly began. Eventually he would open the Greenhouse Grill, and sleep there. And that’s where he started the Roots Festival with others. Roots built into more than a music festival, as they brought award-winning chefs to Fayetteville a part of Roots. It was great until it wasn’t. Jerrmy will tell that story. And where did he get the idea for Woodstone Pizza? It was while cooking on a street in a competition – crazy story. And what did they find when they acquired the uptown Woodstone? Even crazier. Yeesh And by the way, do you remember the Most Interesting Man in the World beer ads back in the day? Fayetteville’s version just might be Jerrmy. Watch on YouTube, or listen wherever you listen to podcasts.

On this special edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we have the privilege of supporting a great cause, the expansion of Arkansas Children’s Northwest. They’re holding a big fundraiser called Dish, where you’ll be able to try dishes from 25 restaurants. It’s an amazing opportunity as you’ll be able to try restaurants that you might not have had the opportunity to get to. Tickets are $100 and you can get your at archildrens.org/dish. We talk to event chair Kelly Comer in this episode and she’ll tell us more about the event, entertainment, the silent auction. Please like and share!

In this week’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at Bauhaus Biergarten in Springdale, talking with original co-owner Chef Jennifer Hill Booker, and new co-owner, Chef Rafael Rios... Plenty to get to there, but FIRST?!?! FOOD NEWS!! More beverage news today!! There’s a new 7Brew in Springdale that’s the first of its kind. Doomsday Coffee will be opening soon in Springdale. A Fayetteville favorite, Dodo Coffee, is back in business. Part taproom/part boutique Terracotta opens in Bentonville, according to the Bentonville Bulletin. Happy anniversary to Columbus House Brewery, New Province Brewery, and Orthodox Farmhouse Brewery. The new Ruth’s Chris in Rogers is HUGE and has everything. Bauhaus Biergarten in downtown Springdale opened in October of 2022 to co-owners Chef Jennifer Hill Booker and Daniel Hintz... Recently, Daniel left Bauhaus, and Chef Rafael Rios of Yeyo’s took his spot... You’ll hear the story of how that went down... And what does Chef Rafael know about German food and culture? His answer might surprise you. With new ownership comes new ideas and menu items, we’ll hear about those... And the beer... no domestic beers there... it’s German and European beers only... we’ll hear about their beer plans as well. Finally, a few quick notes. We recorded this before Chef Rafael was named a finalist for best chef of the south by the James Beard Foundation, so there’s no mention of that. We also didn’t record a Mike Engleman Home Pro Tip of the Week this time. We got lost in conversation during a break and lost track of time, so I totally boffed that one... BUT, Chef Jennifer did do one last September, so we’ll use that one. She did it over Zoom, so it’ll sound different. It was audio only, as we didn’t do video last September. And, if you watch on YouTube, you’ll see people pass through the picture. We set up right by the bathroom... believe it or not, it actually was the best spot to set up.. We talk to Chef Jennifer Hill-Booker and Chef Rafael Rios, next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, we’re in downtown Springdale at Menya Kitakara with owner & chef Inggit Rianto... but before you talk to him?!?! Food News! As I’m sure you know, Bentonville has 2 finalists for James Beard’s Top Chef in the South. Brightwater hosted a magic seminar, kind of. The Savoy Tea Company will be closing its doors Onyx opens a walk-up window for their soon-to-be-opened coffee/chocolate shopin downtown Springdale Inggit Rianto is from Indonesia, but came to the US to goto the University of Arkansas. He had been in the corporate world for a good while before getting the itch to open a restaurant with his wife. How did he learn to cook? He’ll tell us. They’d opened Ramen Nara in Rogers, and it had been open for a blink of an eye before covid hit. He’ll tell the story of how they stayed open during that time. He got the itch to open a new Ramen place in Washington County, and he’ll tell you how downtown Springdale won out the services of Menya Kitakara. Speaking of Kitakara, how did they land on that name? We hear it all and much more with Inggit Rianto from Menya Kitakara next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

On this special edition of The Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we welcome Celebrity Chef Tiffani Faison to Choctaw Casino- Pocola, where she’ll be hosting a restaurant takeover at Seven Ponies on Friday (4/4) at 5:00 and 7:30 and Saturday at 5:00 and 7:30. Few tables remain, so get to ChoctawCasinos.com and get yours. Tiffani lived in Oklahoma during her formative years and talks about that. Tiffani loves doing these events and will tell you why. We also talk menu for the event, and if you’re going, go hungry. I’ll be at the Friday 7:30 seating with Mrs. Flavors of Northwest Arkansas and hope to see you there! See the menu below! First Course Popover “Salad” Blue Cheese, Watercress, Spinach & Red Romaine Lettuce, Candied Nuts, Pickled Raisins Second Course Chicken and Spring Vegetable Croque Monsieur Ranch Mornay, Crispy Ham, Herbs Third Course Smoked Pork & Shrimp Mojo Smoked Pork Belly, Mustard & Pickle Jus, Braised Greens Mojo Marinated & Grilled Shrimp, Black Bean Crema, Cilantro Cucumber Salad Forth Course Chocolate Silk Pie

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at BV65 talking to Executive Chef Scott Redington, but before we get to Scott?!?! Food News!! Brightwater & Bentonville hosted the World Food Championships. You’ll hear from the winner and others. Core Brewing is re-opening their tasting room today. Crisis Brewing is at a crisis point for room. Hear their expansion plans. You can help the Prelude Breakfast Bar Spring Kitchen Company opened over the weekend The Larder is open at The Ledger Homegrown at the 8th Street Market has announced a grand opening date Onyx has opened 2 new coffee shops at the Walmart campus, and one is open to the public! BV65 Executive Chef Scott Redington got into the food business as a suggestion from a family member. He started cooking on the line at a restaurant in his hometown of Salt Lake City. He had a boss tell him once that he wasn’t going to make it in this business... Good thing he’s stubborn because that’s why here in Northwest Arkansas all these years later. He’s been up and down the western half of the US, but has been in Bella Vista now for a while as the Executive Chef for the restaurants under the Bella Vista POA, who’s newest property is the BBQ restaurant known as BV65.. He’s newer to BBQ, but his pitmaster Flavio Valverde isn’t, and they’ve come up with a delicious menu (especially those smoked pork belly tacos). Listen and watch wherever you get your podcasts!

On this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we head to Gentry and talk to the current and former owners of the Wooden Spoon, but before we get to them?!?! FOOD NEWS!! A brand new Pickleman’s opens in Springdale Gaskin’s on Emma Executive Chef Sam Walker gives details about their Chef Cycle Fundraiser for No Kid Hungry. It’s an all-star lineup! You can get your tickets HERE. Parlor Donuts are coming to Rogers Takashi Hibachi & Sushi has officially opened a brick and mortar in Centerton Benny’s Bagels will be opening where a popular pizza place used to live. You come for the dessert, and stay for the meal. That’s been echoed in Gentry for over 20 years when talking about the Wooden Spoon. Cam and Jane Klassen started the restaurant 20+ years ago, in their mind, as sort of an obligation- you’ll hear that story. You’ll also hear about the building that the restaurant’s in. Part of it came a VERY long way. Cam tells us that story. 4 years ago, Justin and Emily Allen bought the Wooden Spoon from the Klassens. The Allens had no restaurant background, but it didn’t much matter at the time. You’ll hear the story about the transition, and the emotion involved once the wheels started to turn. We talk to Justin and Emily Allen, as well as Cam and Jane Klassen about one of our region’s favorites, the Wooden Spoon, and that’s next right here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this week’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas, we’re in Rogers at Heirloom at the 1907 talking with Co-owner and Chef Jason Paul, but before we get to him?!?! (*FOOD NEWS!!*) We are anniversary-heavy this week! Happy 75 years to Maxine’s in Fayetteville! Happy 54 years to Patrick’s Hamburgers in Springdale! Happy 29 years to Susan’s Restaurant in Springdale! Happy 8th to the Odd Soul, while enjoying a beard trim with Jeffro! Update on Apt. 7 in Fayetteville. Spice & Tea Exchange Opens in Bentonville Mezzaluna Pastaria gets BIG designation Homegrown in opening in Bentonville soon! A few CSA Shares still available at Cobblestone Farms. Thai Spice opens in Springdale. Get your Waffle Hut breakfast in a new spot in Rogers! Stoic Brews opens to serve gluten-free beer in NWA! Heirloom at the 1907 is a reservation-only tasting menu restaurant in the Onyx building in downtown Rogers. We talked to co-owner and Executive Chef Jason Paul, who along with his partner Danielle, have built something unique to our area. If you’ve not been, you’re just not quick enough. Let’s just say this- if Taylor Swift were playing the AMP, you might have an easier time getting a ticket. BUT! Chef Jason has a tip for you on that front. They don’t seat many, and if you get a reservation, the seat is yours for the night. Though it’s a tasting menu, it has many courses- sometimes up to 10! Chef Jason is from Arizona, and got his first kitchen experience in a restaurant when he was 14, and it was all because of a book signing. It’s a great story... The kitchen where he worked at that age? It just so happened to be in the nicest restaurant in the Phoenix area... He’ll explain. And what’s it like to work in a Vegas kitchen under the age of 21? Jason’s got the deets. Finally, how did he end up in Northwest Arkansas? The way MANY people do. We talk to Chef Jason Paul from Heirloom at the 1907, next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we hear from Corey McCain and Reese Roberts of Leverett Lounge and the soon-to-be Sidecar in Fayetteville... But first?!?! FOOD NEWS!! In this week’s food news, Muselet moves into the former Bentonville Provisions space, we have a new cut-to-order cheese shop coming to Fayetteville, Maxine’s Taproom is having a birthday throwdown, Onyx will be opening another location, and so will Confident Coffee, there’s a new coffee/beer/food joint in the works in Bell Vista, Bonchon Chicken is coming to Rogers, more news on the Fat Chef, Thai Spice will open their new location this weekend, Rein Sushi & Hibachi is officially in their not-so-terrible two’s, The Cave Barber Shop in Springdale is opening a bar next-door, and a local taco shop closes. Leverett Lounge is owned and run by local restaurant veterans-slash-husband and wife team Corey McCain and Reese Roberts. You’ll want to hear how Corey won over Reese after she rebuffed him... but it’s not as epic as their wedding, which they’ll talk about. Maxine’s owners Hannah Withers and Ben Gitchel started and owned the place for a good while, but then sold to Corey and Reese... Hear the story behind that. And the recipes... the KFC, The Mel’s Diner, the Hello My Name is Inigo Montoya, You Killed My Father, Prepare to die- that’s a menu item, and there’s more... Also, they’re starting a bar underneath Café Rue Orleans called Sidecar, they’ll give us the low-down. A few quick notes on this one: I was sitting by a wall, so I’m a little echo-ey (I should have known better).. Also, the kitchen gets loud towards the end of the interview, as they should, so be prepared. Finally, just a little explicit language in this one, but nothing my wife hasn’t heard. Please like and subscribe to the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas on YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!