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.
The capital city has another java joint. Last week, BREW YAYA Coffee + Roaster opened its new Little Rock location, which is inside the Regions Center downtown. BREW YAYA’s original location is in Cabot.
Minute Man celebrated its 1 year anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 11, in Jacksonville.
For some news you don’t see every day: The Farmington Magnolia Coffee House location is closing in October, with plans to reopen in the future as a fish and chips restaurant.
“We may not have been on the right side of the road for breakfast, but we sure are for dinner,” a Facebook post reads. “We look forward to continuing serving Farmington for several more years, even if it isn’t coffee. We plan on opening two to three weeks after closing Magnolia.”
The Magnolia Coffee House location in Prairie Grove will continue to operate, business as usual.
Faulkner County has a new food truck roaming the streets. Wat the Waffle, which advertises gourmet Belgian waffles, registered a Facebook page last week and has been active at Greenbrier Collision Center and First Presbyterian Church in Conway over the past few days.
Hispanic Heritage Festival is set to arrive this weekend, Sept. 18, from 1 to 7 p.m. The event will be held at Plaza Frida, and promises “traditional food, music, dance, merchants and more.”
On that note, the Hispanic Heritage Month Art and Food Festival is Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in North Little Rock’s Argenta Plaza.
Doc’s Coffee + Creamery is now open in Pickles Gap.
Potluck Food Rescue’s annual fundraiser Driving Away Hunger is on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at The Rail Yard in Little Rock.
The final Cabot Food Truck Frenzy of the year is this Thursday in downtown Cabot, which is coinciding with the inaugural Firehouse Film Festival. The food trucks in attendance for the event are: Nach’yo Nachos, Say Cheese Food Truck, The Croissanterie, PopPop & YumYam, CJ’s Cajun Station, The Prickly Pickle, CJ’s Grace Place and Disadattato Italian Ice.
The “wildest” event of the year is back again; Wild Wines at the Little Rock Zoo is this weekend. VIP night kicks off the occasion on Friday, Sept. 17, which is followed by the “Mane Event” on Saturday, Sept. 18. The festivities start at 6 p.m. on both nights, and tickets are still available.
Football season is back, and that means it’s time to once again hit up any of JJ’s Grill’s locations to “flip for your burger” during NFL games. Your server flips a coin, and if you make the right call — be it heads or tails — your burger’s on the house. There’s only one rule: “You need to call it. They can’t call it for you. It wouldn’t be fair.”
Ciao Baci’s fall menu is out! See for yourself here.
Blue Jeans and Bubbles is coming to Little Rock’s SoMa district in October, benefitting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas.
In case you missed it, AY is giving away another $600 worth of gift certificates — this time to Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse and Oceans at Arthur’s. Find out how to win here.
Tune back in next week for the next taste of Arkansas food news.
READ MORE: Hometown Heroes: John and Renee Bethel of Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
