Food Bites: Rock City Kitchen, Cypress Social, and Big Orange All Celebrate Birthdays
We have no shortage of food news throughout Arkansas, so each week, we’ll be providing you with a snapshot of the goings-on inside the culinary world, from events to specials to restaurant openings to awards. Do you have news to share? Please email our food editor, Kevin Shalin, at [email protected].
Cypress Social is celebrating its first birthday with five days of festivities, starting Wednesday, August 18 and running through Saturday, August 21. The restaurant will be serving up some special dishes and classic cocktail favorites. That includes all night $5 bites (Cypress Burger Sliders, Peppadew Cheese, Arancini Balls) and $5 bar specials (Shooter McGavin Frozen Cocktail and Hand-Selected Rose). There is also a 16 oz. Ribeye Special, complete with complimentary birthday cake for the table. Call at 501-916-2670 to book your reservation.
Big Orange turns ten and the restaurant is celebrating the entire month of August. Expect brand new food and drink specials, reflections on favorite memories, epic giveaways, and more. For the August specials, they’re bringing back an old favorite and debuting a new shake. The Fried Chicken Picnic Burger’wich features Southern fried chicken, green tomato-cabbage slaw, Arkansas heirloom tomatoes, spicy Tabasco mayo, and dill pickles. The Birthday Cake Shake contains a whole slice of Funfetti Cake from Cinnalightful, Yarnell’s Vanilla Ice Cream, and birthday sprinkles. In addition, the beverage team created a very specialbirthday cocktail – ‘Party Bomb’ featuring Hayman’s London Dry Gin, Peach Liqueur, Cappelletti, Amaro Nonino, simple syrup, lemon, and a prosecco float.
Rock City Kitchen is celebrating its first anniversary in style, offering a special of 2-piece chicken and 2-piece fish for $8.20 on August 20 at 1816 W. 7th.
The Avenue at The Waters Hotel in Hot Springs is having its grand re-opening, complete with a new look and a new menu.
Looks like Kawaii Boba House is opening a second Conway location. And they are hiring.
On that note, keep an eye out for two new food trucks in Conway: The Breakfast Tray (2600 Dave Ward Drive) and Afrobites (709 W 6th St). While I can’t vouch for The Breakfast Tray yet, I can tell you that Afrobites serves up some amazing African food. This is their second truck and I’ve eaten at the Little Rock one several times.
The Forevermost Market at Forevermost Farms in Rose is officially open. At the market, you’ll find a vast assortment of meats (raised right there at the farm), as well as local goods like Loblolly Ice Cream, Truth Sauce, fresh flowers, honey, fruits and veggies, stained glass, and much more. Please go follow their Facebook page to see all the wonderful things going on at the farm.
Rabbit Ridge Farms has Breakfast at the Farm on Saturday, August 28 from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Here are the full details.
Congrats to Terrell Leavell who is the new owner of Alley Oops.
Unfortunately, long-time favorite, Grady’s Pizza and Subs, has permanently closed its 10901 N. Rodney Parham location. The 12thStreet location remains open.
Our leader over here at AY Magazine, Heather Baker, got this month’s bucket list started at Three Fold.
Chef Todd Gold recently received the ACF Presidential Medallion.
Don’t forget about the cooking classes at Eggshells Kitchen Co. Here are a few upcoming ones to put on your schedule.
Chef Margie Raimondo has her Sugo di Pomodoro available to order and pickup at Urbana Farmstand (2400 Kerrie Drive in Little Rock).
The Ford Seasons Catering (formerly Bereavement Catering) now offers full service catering for bereaved families, corporate and charitable events, family celebrations, weddings, and more.
Arkansas Burger Week is going on right now and it seems pretty darn cool. Check out their Facebook page and take a gander at all the participating restaurants. I can get on board with $7 burgers.
Mark your calendars! The 10th Anniversary Main Street Food Truck Festival in downtown Little Rock is on Saturday, October 2 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. It’s great to have festivals back.
Heifer International’s Feast in the Field is a celebration of drinks, dinner, and entertainment that raises funds for Arkansas farmers. Guests will enjoy a farm-to-fork dinner made with ingredients from local farmers. The event will be held at the downtown campus in Little Rock, with proceeds benefitting the Heifer USA program. Tickets are $250 per person and will be available for purchase in September.
Make sure to add Ribfest to your schedule. It will be held on Saturday, September 25 from 4-7p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. Click here for ticket information.
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