Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, we’re in Bentonville at Turnbuckle Farm with the dynamic duo of Melissa & Adam Milsap, who have a great story to tell, but before thy do?!?!
FOOD NEWS!
Gaskins Trattoria officially opens TODAY! We’ll hear from owners Lisa Provencio-Jones and Bert Jones.
4 Benton County restaurants will be on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives next month!
La Cabanita will soon open in downtown Springdale. We’ll hear from one of the owners.
KAI will take Wasabi’s former spot on Dickson Street in Fayetteville.
The new La Familia Taco drive-thru in Farmington is CRUSHING.
Siloam Springs is getting Indian Food!
Made Market in Rogers made an announcement over the weekend. We’ll tell you what it is!
A local restaurant group has diversified their portfolio in a big way. We’ll tell you about Red Light Retreat and who owns it!
A Woodstone Craft Pizza Chef can win a BIG contest with your vote.
Happy 5 years to Rendezvous Junction Brewing Company, as they turned 5 this weekend!
Speaking of Rendezvous, in this week’s Flavors Flashback, we go back to last year’s podcast with them and hear about Owner Mike Peerson health problems before they opened. They were worse than you could imagine.
Adam and Melissa Milsap grew up in Springfield, Missouri, got married there and started urban farming there in what wasn’t a good place. In fact, it was the 2nd worst area in Springfield, and at times could be dangerous. You’ll hear the story about how the community and the city gathered and rallied for them to be able to change the area into a farm! And how did they end up in Northwest Arkansas? It’s hard to leave a place you love, especially one that’s been home for your whole life. They’ll tell the story. They’ll talk about how they found their land in Bentonville-or Bentonvista as they call it. And on the food side? We’ll hear what they’re growing, and also? They have a Chef-driven food truck on-site, and it’s popular. I think I know why, as I had an all-local egg and chorizo biscuit from there and it was an absolute flavor-bomb. Chef Simon talks about that in the food segment, as well as chef dinners there. In the creek. True story, and you’ll hear all about it from them next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.  

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at the Vagabond Coffee Bar in Bella Vista talking with co-owner/operator J.W. Gerike and his awesome story, but before we talk to him?!?
FOOD NEWS!!
We’re heading into the final weekend of Fayetteville Restaurant Week
Art of Wine is this Friday and bigger than ever!
The Muse is a new cocktail bar in downtown Fayetteville.
If you’re a good salsa-maker, do I have a competition for you at Brewski’s!
Longtime Herman’s Ribhouse stalwart has opened Possum Creek Bistro food truck
There’s a new restaurant at Prairie Creek Marina. We’ll tell you about Yaya’s Waterside!
Bella Vista has a new bottle shop! We’ll hear from the owner of the Little Bear Café.
Dum & Grill is up and rolling in Bentonville.
There will be 2 new restaurants in the new Visionaries building in Rogers.
Bites & Bowls is downsizing in Springdale.
Los Compas Margaritatown is going back to their roots... soon.
Kung Fu Tea’s location in Rogers is for sale.
A pizza place on Dickson Street has shut down.
Happy anniversary to La Favorita in Siloam, The Blind Bear in downtown Springdale, and Pizzeria Ruby in Johnson!
Speaking of Pizzeria Ruby, in this week’s Flavors Flashback, we go back to our podcast with them last October where they talked about getting the doors open 5 years ago. Sidenote for you, there’s some salty language in this Flashback, so earmuffs for the kids!!!.
Speaking of Covid, that changed the career trajectory for JW Gerike. By trade, he was a physical therapist in Ft. Worth, but Covid hit, and his hours weren’t conducive to family life. Hear him talk about why he picked coffee. What were his first steps? Have you seen his 1979 Peugeot Coffee Van? Funny story about how he acquired that. At least he can laugh about it now. Speaking of, once getting established, he got some pretty cool gigs in Texas, including supplying coffee on a movie set. You won’t believe which one. And then, the move to Bella Vista. How did they find it, and why did they make the move? And finally, after a very popular trailer at Tanyard Creek, they open a storefront. Some great stories coming your way in this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!

In this Special Edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at the Walton Arts Center with Events Manager Whitlee Douthitt talking Art of Wine! There are some new elements to this year’s event, which is happening THIS Friday from 7-9:30.
We kick it off with the record number of vendors this year- you won’t BELIEVE the number!
There are retail opportunities that include getting a flash tattoo, take a tintype photo and more.
Plus, if you’re like me, you didn’t get close to seeing the whole event last year. You can download the new Art of Wine app, and you’ll be able to see where you are, what what’s available, because let’s be honest, the Walton Arts Center is huge, and you can get lost easily. You can also win during the event! You can get the app here: https://art-of-wine.vercel.app/. 
Finally, Whitlee tells you where to get your tickets, and what the cost of the tickets goes to.
It’s all on this Special Edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

In this Special Edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas, we sit with Experience Fayetteville's VP of Marketing & Communications, Brannon Pack. We talk all things Fayetteville Restaurant Week, including those offering prix fixe menu's, who's offering half-off, who's being creative and some of our favorite offerings (and more). 
To see who's participating, and what they're offering, go here: https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/restaurant-week 

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re in Bentonville talking to Rebecca & Jay Davitt, the owners of Stoic Brews Alternative, but before we hear from them?!
FOOD NEWS!!
We hear from Mallory Files, who sold Ozark Charcuterie & Wine Bar in Fayetteville and grand opened Ozark Charcuterie in Rogers in back-to-back days.
Pearlsnap Picnic grand opened in the Jones Center.
Vagabond Coffee grand opened at the Sugar Creek Shopping Center in Bella Vista. We’ll hear from owner J.W. Gericke!
HTeaO is open in Lowell!
Jack in the Box is coming to Rogers (somewhere at some time?)?
McAlister’s is coming to Farmington.
Saltine Bakery & Kitchen will open in South Fayetteville SOON.
Happy 2-year anniversary to Butter & Bloom Cake Shop! Their anniversary menu-WOW.
Happy 28 years to Iron Horse Coffee Company!!
In today’s Flavors Flashback, Mallory Files tells us what it was like to go viral back in 2024!
Rebecca and Jay Davitt started Stoic Brews Alternative back in March of 2025. For those that don’t know, Stoic brews gluten-free beer, and all their food is gluten-free as well. Rebecca has been on a gluten-free diet for a decade and Jay wanted to brew beer. Rebecca didn’t want to do it until she found out that she could do it gluten-free, and with her food science background, a monster was created!
Speaking of which, Rebecca struggled with imposter syndrome. She’ll tell you why.
Also, how did they find such a great spot? It’s the old Pedaler’s Pub, and they’ll tell you that story.
Finally, you don’t know what you don’t know. They’ll talk about being ill-prepared to go through the emotions of seeing people have their first beer in over a decade because of gluten allergies and tear up. They go over that and so much more, on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

I usually forget to do this here but wanted to make sure to ask you to subscribe to the podcast and rate it. I know that some watch on YopuTube and some listen. Every subscription and like helps. We appreciate it very much. In this week’s edition, we talk to Kentedra Kentrice, also known as Keke. She owns and operates Kou’Sins Social Lounge in Bentonville, where we’ll talk all things hanging, food and bev, but first??
FOOD NEWS!!
We have 3 grand openings this week!
Ozark Charcuterie grand opens their Rogers location on Thursday. We’ll tell you what time!
Big Biscuit grand opens their Rogers location.
Pearlsnap Picnic brings a coffee shop to the Jones Center. You’ll hear from the owners.
Bauhaus Biergarten reopens!
AQ Chicken House is fully open!
Isabella’s Bakery opens in Lowell- we’ll tell you about the spot
Playa Bowls is coming to Rogers. We’ll tell you where!
This year’s Art of Wine is going to be HUGE! We’ll tell you how to get tickets.
Fayetteville Restaurant Week is just around the corner.
Get the 127th Tontitown Grape Festival on your calendar!
Happy 11th anniversary to MJ’s Pizzeria!
Speaking of MJ’s, in today’s Flavors Flashback, we go back to June of last year to our interview with Chef Miles James. He talks about an article that changed his life.
Kentedra Kentrice, or Keke, moved to Northwest Arkansas to work for Walmart after working for them in the Atlanta area. Once here, she realized that Bentonville was missing something. A place where you can go out, not have to pay an arm and a leg, and just hang with some good food and drink. She talks about her professional past, her FIRST profession (you’ll never guess), and what happened in the week leading up to opening Kou’Sins. There was some panic involved and she’ll talk about how she got the doors open, and that’s on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

Well hello there, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast. I’m John Engleman- thanks for being here! This week, we’re in downtown Rogers at Nola’s Pantry where we talk with owner Alicen Rumsey and her daughter Melanie Keller, but before we sit with them?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Theo’s has announced that they’re closing their Rogers location. The artist formerly known as Bistro 16 in Springdale has announced that they’ll be moving in. We hear about it from both owners.
Speaking of Theo’s, their owner is now the operator on The Leroy in Fayetteville. We’ll hear what that means.
The AQ Chicken House soft opens today. We’ll hear about perfecting recipes with a few of their co-owners.
Dixieland Crossing in Rogers had 2 new restaurants open this week!
BITE at the Ramble in Fayetteville happens this Friday!
Vagabond Coffee has announced the grand opening date for their brick and mortar!
Happy 79th birthday to a true mainstay, Venesian Inn!
Happy third anniversary to the Mad Rooster Beer Company!
We’ve gotten word of when Fossil Cove’s new spot in South Fayetteville hopes to open!
Happy two-year anniversary to Gaskins on Emma! Hear why they originally didn’t open their doors on time in today’s Flavors Flashback! Absolute madness!
Speaking of Gaskins, they’re only a few weeks away from opening Gaskins Trattoria in downtown Springdale!
Emilia’s Kitchen in Fayetteville has closed. We’ll tell you why.
Alicen Rumsey started Nola’s Pantry because of a hot sauce. Well, not really, but it prompted something in her, and she grew the idea further to open a specialty food store. That’s not what it is now, but Alicen will explain that pivot. Speaking of that, if you look on their menu, you’ll see influence of Alicen’s daughter Melanie, who you’ll also hear from. Finally, Alicen is a tweaker – no, not that kind, but she’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of... tweaking. That and MUCH MORE is next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this week’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we took a different direction – a little out of the norm for us. We talked to Nick Ferguson, an Englishman who lives in Pea Ridge, and owned and operated restaurants and bars in Vietnam. It’s going to be story time, but before we hear from Nick?
FOOD NEWS!!!
AQ Chicken House announced when they’ll be opening.
Vagabond Coffee opened their first brick and mortar. We’ll tell you where it is.
The Protein House in Rogers is officially open!
A popular chain opened a spot in west Fayetteville.
Handel’s Ice Cream opened in Fayetteville last week. We’ll hear from the first person in line, and she’ll tell us what time she got there!
Taziki’s will be opening in Rogers soon! We’ll tell you how you can eat there for free!
Dodo Coffee will be opening their new building next month!
A smoothie/protein shake chain is opening in Fayetteville soon.
Happy anniversary to the Vault Bar in Fayetteville and Ryn in Bentonville!
Jaclyn’s Kitchen has officially closed.
We’ll tell you when Do it Yum’s last day at the 8th Street Market is.
Nick Ferguson shot me a Facebook message last August from Vietnam. Said that he was moving here after owning and running restaurants over there. He met his wife in college in England, and she went to Bentonville High School. You’ll hear him talk about working for English pub landlords, to opening a vegan brunch spot in the mountains of Vietnam, and much more, and that’s in this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re in Rogers at the new Chuo Izakaya, talking to some seasoned vets- Owner Darwin Beyer, Head Chef Colin Stewart and Beverage Director Shaun Traxler. But first?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
The James Beard Awards were held on Monday night. Onyx was a finalist for Best Bar in the US, and Jason Paul of Heirloom was a finalist for Best Chef of the South. You’ll hear & see what happened.
Handel’s opens in Fayetteville on Thursday, and they’re doing something special for it. We’ll hear from one of the owners!
Chicken chain Huey Magoo’s is coming to NWA. We’ll tell you where.
Homegrown is officially coming to Fayetteville. We’ll tell you where it’ll be.
We’ll tell you about a food drive in Bentonville at Sun Painted Farm.
Happy first birthday to Archie’s Sandwichery. That was QUICK!
A Dickson Street mainstay is closing.
A Tex-Mex chain closed nationwide over the weekend, and their Rogers location
In this week’s Flavors Flashback, House 1830’s Binh Hoang talksabout placing a premium on front of house hospitality.
Chuo Izakaya has been a long time coming for Co-Owner Darwin Beyer. In his pursuit of building a Japanese Tavern experience in Northwest Arkansas, he was able to surround himself with some exceptionally experienced folks, including Head Chef Colin Stewart and Beverage Director Shaun Traxler. We’ll hear from all three about how they got to Chuo Izakaya, we’ll hear about the menu, including what’s new, and we’ll also hear about the sickly creative drinks coming from Shaun. Lastly, they’re starting something new there, and you’ll hear about it here, first. And that’s on this week's edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

In today’s episode 140 of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk with Henry Francis of Evergreen Pasture & Provisions- what a story they have... but before we sit with Henry?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!!
Emma’s Market & Bottle Shop is open in downtown Springdale! We’ll hear from the owners.
Dave’s Hot Chicken opened in Rogers to a HUGE line, and a guys taking he Reaper Challenge. Bless him!
The gluten-free bakery Dempsey Bakery opened Monday in Fayetteville. We’ll tell you about it!
According to the Fayetteville Flyer, Gusano’s is coming to the East side of Fayetteville. We’ll tell you where!
Today’s your last chance to win some fine whiskeys, benefitting Lifeline NWA.
A new dumpling and ramen restaurant is coming to Rogers!
Happy 14th, Fossil Cove!!
Foghorns in Springdale has closed their doors.
In Today’s Flavors Flashback, we hear from Owner & Executive Chef of Mezzaluna, Soerke Peters. In 1990, he was the executive chef for the World’s Fair in Russia and Siberia. The stories in that podcast are some of the best that we’ve ever had... one of the best ones was about his plane ride from Munich, Germany to Russia.
Henry & Kylee Francis own Evergreen Pasture & Provisions. They started by selling their beef at the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market and were overwhelmed by the response they were getting. Since then? They’ve opened a storefront in the gorgeous Berryville Square, where they sell regional goods including some from local producers. And now? Delivery to most of Northwest Arkansas, with all coming shortly. We’ll hear how Henry and Kylee met, how they ended up in Berryville, and how you can get your product on their shelves. That’s next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.
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