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 kshalin@aymag.com.

 

kBird, the beloved Little Rock Thai restaurant, is shutting down for now. Owner Richard Glasgow posted that he is rethinking his business model. They’ll still be cooking Thai food, but the plans are to move to an advance ordering system with family-style meals instead of single-order. The restaurant should be back in the next month, and you’ll get to try some lesser-known dishes.

 

Stone’s Throw Brewing has released its first canned beer ever. The Little Rock favorite is producing four-pack pints of its Shamus Oatmeal Stout and its Pear Guavara Pear Cider in cans year-round now.

 

Speaking of Stone’s Throw, there are going to be several fun events this week at its Stifft Station pub and its MacPark BrewPub. On Thursday, Stone’s Throw is bringing back Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. at the Stifft Station location. Get ready with your friends to win some prizes. On Friday, Stone’s Throw will be holding New Brew Friday, releasing a new brew at 4:30 pm at its MacPark taproom.

 

If you’re up in Northwest Arkansas, drop by Puritan Coffee & Beer. The popular spot has expanded its capacity, almost doubling its indoor seating. Make sure to grab a craft beer Sunday-Saturday from 7:30am-11pm.

 

In the mood to cook? Eggshells Kitchen Co. has some great classes available. There’s a class on making hors d’oeurves for Easter, cooking paella and more. There are even some kids’ cooking classes. Make sure to jump on these quickly. All of the March classes, except the Easter hors d’oeurves class, which is on March 31, are sold out, and some of the April classes are sold out. All classes are $65.

 

The Oasis at Undercroft, a tropical-themed pop-up bar, will be open in Bentonville through April 30. Check it out!

 

YGFBFKitchen has opened a new location at 800 4thAve. in Conway. Hours are Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

If you’re celebrating Lent this year, TGI Friday has your back. Every Friday during Lent, the TGI Friday on Lakewood Village Drive in North Little Rock will be holding Fish Friday Lent specials.

 

Minute Man holds a special place in the hearts of many Central Arkansans. It’s winning new fans with a relaunched restaurant in Jacksonville, and now the local favorite is introducing a new Space Shuttle-themed food truck. Minute Man is also planning a new physical location in Little Rock. We’ll keep you updated.

 

Folks in Jonesboro will have a new spot to indulge their burrito cravings. Chipotle is opening their first location in the Northeast Arkansas city.

 

OrthoArkansas has launched the Ortho Eat and Go food truck lot. Food trucks will be operating at OrthArkansas’ south lot, located at 800 Fair Park Blvd. in Midtown Little Rock, from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. Ortho Eat and Go will take place on the second and fourth Thursday of the month.

 

Allsopp & Chapple has additional events planned for April and May, including a four-course Easter Dinner on April 4 and a four-course Mother’s Day dinner on May 9.

 

You will not find a bigger supporter of our food truck scene than the folks over at Brandon Moving & Storage, opening up their parking lot each week to a host of food trucks with a prime spot at 10505 Maumelle Boulevard. Here’s a full schedule already for March.

 

Beginning March 1, Minute Man will be launching the “Buy One, Give One” initiative, in an effort to reduce hunger in Arkansas. For every meal that customers purchase from the mobile unit, the company will donate a meal to a community in need. As soon as the truck hits 500 burger meals sold, it will then donate 500 meals. Once Minute Man hits its goal, Officer Tommy Norman will be announcing the date, time, and location of the give portion of the campaign. Be sure to follow across all social media channels.

 

Exciting news from Cypress Social–$1 Oyster Tuesdays.

 

Speaking of exciting news, Crawfish Season is back at The Faded Rose.

 

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild has created “Symphony of Flavors,” a virtual fundraiser featuring Central Arkansas chefs and musicians. Dinner will be served on Thursday evenings throughout April. Ticket buyers are invited inside local chef kitchens to watch and learn how to prepare gourmet meals, as well as enjoy musical interludes by some of ASO’s various musicians and groups. Ticket prices include delivery of goodies, wine and recipes curated by each night’s featured chef. Participants can choose to purchase ingredients and cook along with the chef, as they will receive the recipe and menu the day before airing. Videos of the demonstrations will be available to ticket buyers online for two weeks following. Tickets go on sale on March 1st at ArkansasSymphony.org/flavoror call 501-258-6149. All four demonstrations cost $200 and a single demonstration is $75. Ticket buyers will be emailed a link to join the demonstration, which begins at 7 p.m.

 

Did you know that Boulevard Bread Company (Heights location) offers cocktails classes? “Learn the history of your favorite spirits, how to make the perfect cocktail, and enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and friends with Boulevard Bistro Bar Manager Ben Singleton.” Each class features three cocktails. All classes are on Saturday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. and the bar will be open afterwards. Cost is $70 per person. Next classes: April 10 (Prohibition Era Inspired), May 15 (Agave Spirits), and June 12 (All Things Rum).

 

Here’s another cocktail making class. This one is at Rock Town Distillery.

 

Aaron Meals is a great, new charity to get behind. One hundred percent of every dollar given is used to provide food, clothing, blankets, shoes, and other necessary items to those in need. The organization’s mission is to identify food trucks and independent meal preparation entities, purchase meals from them and provide those meals to groups and organizations that provide them to those in need. They also purchase clothing and warm bed material from Goodwill or similar organizations. You can help by not only donating money directly to their site but also by participating in the “pay it forward” program. Here, customers buy a meal for someone else as they pay for their own meal at a food truck. Look for decals on participating trucks’ windows.

 

The first Arkansas Chef Competition will be held on April 20-22 in Wilson. This event will promote and encourage young Arkansas-based chefs who are looking to advance their culinary careers. Six contestants will be selected to compete based on their application and submitted essay/video. The contest will feature a signature dish competition and include a two-course signature dish tasting menu (appetizer or salad and entrée). Winners will receive a cash prize as well as an opportunity for an apprenticeship with the Wilson Culinary and Hospitality Program. For more information, visit eatatwilson.com/chefcompetition.

 

Folks who utilize Trio’s Facebook ordering now have a perfect opportunity to donate to Plating Change, an initiative that is teaming up with local restaurants (like Trio’s) to help feed the hungry. Just click on the link and purchase a specially prepared meal that will be delivered to one of many deserving groups in Little Rock (after the restaurant accumulates 200 orders). Recipients include Jericho Way Homeless Resource Center, Buffington Towers, Philander Smith College, and From His Throne Ministries, among others.

 

READ MORE: Who’s Hungry: AY Magazine Readers’ Restaurant Poll Winners