Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

*Special Edition* No Kid Hungry Dinner at The Jones Center- Gaskins on Emma Executive Chef Sam Walker

In this Special Edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re talking to Sam Walker, Executive Chef at Gaskins on Emma as he prepares to host his EPIC No Kid Hungry dinner at the Jones Center.
He’ll talk about the event, the 20 chefs involved in the undertaking of the event, and the mission of No Kid Hungry.
Also, we’ll tell you how to get tickets- they’ve already sold half, so with the event being 2 weeks away, you need to get them now!

Brightwater- Executive Director Chef Marshall Shafkowitz

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we speak with Executive Director of Brightwater, Chef Marshall Shafkowitz, but before we talk to him?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Black Apple Cider has been acquired! We’ll hear the plans for the brand from Scarlet Letter Beverage Company Founder & CEO Dr. Jesse Core!
A Michelin Recommended restaurant from Dallas is soft opening in Bentonville. We’ll tell you how you can get reservations to Written by the Seasons!
Wesner’s Grill will be on a TV show this summer!
AY Magazine gives us an idea of when Bentoville will open.
Big Bo Karaoke is coming to Bentonville. We’re talking menu with one of the owners.
The Naturals have some new menu items. We’ll tell you about them!
The Fayetteville Strawberry Festival has announced their particulars.
Happy 10th anniversary to Honeycomb Kitchen Shop and third anniversary to Orthodox Brewing.
On this week’s Flavors Flashback, we’ll hear the origination story of Mermaid’s from Chef Todd Golden.
Man, does Brightwater Executive Director and Chef Marshall Shafkowitz have some stories. Originally from New York, he’s been all over. His family restaurant got him interested in food at a young age. Quitting a corporate gig and getting a broken heart in his mid-20’s got him to love food again and find passion in it, which eventually spawned his love for teaching with help from something that his mother told him. Finally, he’ll tell us about his journey to Northwest Arkansas, and his love for it. That’s on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

Siloam Syrups – Angela Bolt

Welcome this this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast! I adore everything about today’s podcast. The company, the product, the owner and her story as we’re talking today with Angela Bolt from Siloam Syrups... but before we get to her?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Two local spots made the James Beard Awards Final 5 in two categories, and they’re both in the same building in Rogers!
A No Kid Hungry dinner was announced for Springdale. We have the details.
More news about the Kilroy Public House in Rogers!
Chuo Izakaya is officially open!
Taqueria El Cuervo has officially moved.
There will be multiple food options in the new development going up by Gully Park in Fayetteville.
7Brew is coming to the UofA
We have the results of the Black Howler Beer Chili Cookoff from the weekend!
Happy anniversary to Crisis Brewing and Terracotta. Both are partying on Saturday. We have the deets.
Another Dining in the Dark at Mockingbird Kitchen. We’ll tell you where it originated from and how it started in NWA!
What a story Angela Bolt has. Born and raised on the west coast, you’ll love the story about how she learned how to cook. You’ll also hear about the familial influences in her life and are with her today. How did she get into the food and beverage business? That’s a good story and has to do with family. Speaking of which, how does one go from Oakland to Siloam Springs? It’ll make sense, I promise. Also, a scary health situation and the story of Angela having to put her life on pause and the village that got her through it. Finally, those yummy syrups... Delish. We talk to Angela Bolt from Siloam Syrups next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

Townie, Oven & Tap, Superfine Sweets Shoppe – Luke Wetzel & Mollie Mullis

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, we’re in Bentonville with Luke Wetzel and Mollie Mullis talking Townie Burgers, Oven & Tap and Superfine Sweets, but before we do?!?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Chuo Izakaya finally opens in Rogers THIS WEEK! Owner Darwin Beyer talks about getting the doors open.
The HUB in Bentonville re-opens THIS WEEK! General Manager Shawn Curtis gives us the schedule!
My new crush Taqueria El Cuervo is moving THIS WEEK!
Jaclyn’s Kitchen at Prairie Creek officially opened LAST WEEK!
Down the Bayou has announced when they’re opening. Not THIS WEEK.
Moffs Pizza wants to move into a brick-and-mortar building, and you can help!
Angelino’s Italian Restaurant in Siloam will be closing. We’ll tell you when.
Big anniversaries this week with Guess Who, Feed and Folly, and Handel’s Ice Cream in Rogers.
I’ve been following an Arkansas Pastry Chef who had a big week last week at a big competition!
The Black Howler Beer Company Beer Chili Cookoff is this Saturday!
Luke Wetzel and Mollie Mullis have been business partners for about a decade now, and the story of how they met is hilarious. It started with a job interview and a phone call – also, persistence paid off. When Luke decided that he wanted to open Oven and Tap, there was never a question about who would be a part of it with him. They both talk about the lessons learned when opening their first place.
 I’ve always wondered this about ice cream shops –how do they pick out their ice cream flavors for Superfine Sweets Shop?
Finally, what led to Townie Burgers and what’s next?
We hear from Luke Wetzel and Mollie Mullis next, on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas. Please like and subscribe! Available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts!

Michoacana – Arturo Rodriguez

Hi there- hope you had an outstanding St. Paddy’s Day and didn’t indulge TOO much... Welcome to this week’s Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast. I’m John Engleman- thanks for being here. This week, we’re in Rogers at Michoacana Ice Cream, where there’s much more than Ice Cream, and owner Arturo Rodriguez? A very colorful past-life in LA.. but before we get to that?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Cura Osteria in downtown Rogers has given us a grand opening date... kind of
Scoops Ice Cream is open in downtown Springdale, but not without injury!
Parlor is open in The Ledger.
Dice Goblins’ Café is officially open!
Not a bad day to open the Fermentary Brewery!
Goodcents is open in Fayetteville.
Jaclyn’s Kitchen re-opens this week in a new location!
Trash Ice Cream has their eyes in Fayetteville.
Downtown Fayetteville is getting a new brewery.
Casa Alejo will be opening a 3rd spot!
Fayetteville’s Golden Corral is officially closed.
Panda Express is coming to Springdale. We’ll tell you where.
A chili cook-off? You had me at “A”. This time at Black Howler
Maxine’s Tap Room turns 76, Michoacana and The Odd Soul turn 9, and Stoic Brews turned 1!
Michoacana Ice Cream Owner Arturo Rodriguez is originally from Columbia, but came to the US to work with his brother in LA. He eventually got into broadcasting and built his own broadcasting school which happened to be at the same location for CNN in LA. He was on the same floor as Larry King, and some VERY famous guests would get lost and end up at their school accidentally, including one singer that might’ve been the most popular in the world at the time. Arturo will tell that story.
So how does one go from having a popular broadcasting school in LA to Northwest Arkansas? That’s another story, and of note- cows don’t listen to radio... You’ll hear what that means. Finally, Michoacana- known for their homemade ice cream, but becoming known for their food as well... You’ll hear about that from owner Arturo Rodriguez of Michoacana Ice Cream in Rogers on this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

Cellar on B Street- Yulia Batalina and Paolo Piraino

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, I’m John Engleman- thanks for being here, and happy early St. Patty’s Day. In this week’s edition, we’re in Bentonville, talking with Paulo Piraino and Yulia Batalina, the owners of The Cellar on B Street, but before we get to them?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
We now know when Ria Pizza opens in downtown Rogers.
1834 Tavern Lafayette opens in Fayetteville soon... VERY soon.
The Purple Cow opens in Rogers!
Benny’s Bagels opened last week in Fayetteville.
Honed In Sharpening now has a brick-and-mortar.
Capriotti’s opens in Springdale.
Goodcents announces when they’ll be opening in Fayetteville.
A third Chipotle is coming to Fayetteville.
Bethel Brew has news about their Farmington location.
News on Bucks of Asia in Fayetteville.
Happy 30th Anniversary to Susan’s Restaurant in Springdale! They’re giving away something sweet today!!
Third Space Coffee turns three!
Rein celebrated their 2nd anniversary!
Chefs in the Garden is slated for May 19!
In this week’s Flavors Flashback, we hear from Blu Fresh Fish Marketplace’s Barry Furuseth. He cut his teeth in selling fish in DC, San Francisco, and LA, and then talks about moving to NWA.
Have you ever wanted to open a bottle shop in your own house? Paulo Piraino and Yulia Batalina are certified sommeliers, and that’s what they did. It’s called The Cellar on B Street, which has a wine club and carries specialty foods.
Before The Cellar on B Street, they started a wine and dinner pairing company that they’ll talk about. It gets VERY specific. They come from different countries and have different paths for getting into wine, which is what connected them. They’ll tell us that story. Now married and expecting, they’ll tell us how they ended up in Northwest Arkansas for the second time and stayed. That’s on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

Macadoodles – Roger Gildehaus

Happy March, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast – WE HAVE SOME STORIES for you today with Roger Gildehaus from Macadoodles in Pineville and Guess Who in Bentonville, but first?!?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Orthodox Farmhouse Brewery is for sale. We’ll tell you why.
Fossil Cove will be adding a second location in Fayetteville; so will Wicked Wood Fired Pizza.
There are two new dessert spots coming to the Pinnacle Hills Promenade.
The Fermentary opens their taproom soon!
If you’re a matcha or latte fan in Bentonville, your favorite new spot opens Saturday. We’ll hear from the owner of the Caffeine Bar.
A longtime Fayetteville spot will close its doors at the end of May.
Few seats remain for the No Kid Hungry fundraising dinner at The Hive Saturday night.
We’re doing our first LIVE podcast this week! We’ll tell you about it!
BITE NWA has added 2 events this year, and one is around the corner. We’ll tell you about it!
We celebrate the anniversaries of three Fayetteville spots: Mockingbird Kitchen, Baked by Kori and the Feral Pig!
We’ll hear what the winner of the Natural State Beer Company’s First Annual Chili Cookoff had in his chili!
Roger Gildehaus started in retail right out of high school and at the age of 24, worked his way into becoming a Walmart store manager. Sam Walton hand-picked Roger to be the store manager of a prototype Walmart in Pine Bluff, and you’ll hear the story of how that happened. Roger worked his way up to being a VP in the company, and that’s when he started Macadoodles in Pineville, Missouri. He’ll tell you what sparked him to open at the border- and it’s not as obvious as you might think.
Also, Roger tells the story about why Guess Who in Bentonville isn’t named Macadoodles... So many stories in this episode... We talk to Roger Gildehaus of Macadoodles on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.  

Louise @ Thaden Field – Caleb Carter

Hello all, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, I’m John Engleman, thanks for being here.
Yesterday marked two years since I published my very first Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast. Thank you so much for joining along the way as these past 2 years have been and amazing journey and a true professional passion. I’m super-fortunate to be able to do this... Truly, thank you.
And I was also lucky to be able to sit down with Executive Chef Caleb Carter of Louise at Thaden Field. But before we talk to him?!?!
(*FOOD NEWS*)
We kick off Food News with BREAKING NEWS!!
We know who is moving into Levi’s Gastropub’s old spot in downtown Rogers! We’ll hear from the owner/executive chef!
Yankabilly Smokehouse has reopened as Yankabilly on the Creeks. We’ll hear from them about the change!
The Kitchens at Olive and Barley are open- we’ll tell you about the shared kitchens and hear from one of the owners.
Whole Foods in Rogers opened to a packed house!
Fry Bentonville is officially open!
Sooie, a new bar on Dickson will open soon.
Smalls Sliders is coming to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville!
Siplab will be opening soon in Bentonville.
Happy 55th anniversary to Patrick’s Burgers & happy 7th anniversary to The First Seat!
Find out who won the 24th Annual Brewski’s Chili Cookoff and hear what they had to say about it.
Caleb Carter is a Bentonville guy, having been raised there and working his way through the business there... He started in fast food, but then got the best chef-u-cation from some of the best chefs in Northwest Arkansas... He talks about that and some changes coming to Louise at Thaden Field, and much more... That’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

Wright's Barbecue – Jordan Wright

Greetings, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast. I’m John Engleman- appreciate you being here however you watch or listen. This week, we talk with Jordan Wright of Wright’s Barbecue, and as you might imagine, what a story he has! But before we get to him?!?!
(*FOOD NEWS*)
Onyx Coffee Lab in Rogers is named best coffee shop IN THE WORLD!
Parlay on 8th is officially open! We’ll have them describe themselves.
The Rogers location wasn’t a fit for Mermaids
Whole Foods opens TODAY in Rogers!
We hear about 2 news places coming to downtown Springdale on Bien the Know.
We’ll tell you how to get your tickets to No Kid Hungry, is tickets are selling FAST.
We go back to out 12/11/2024 episode with Rein Sushi & Hibachi for this week’s Flavors Flashback
Jordan Wright was a backyard BBQ king for a good while. He had a successful career in sales and communications at one of the big northwest Arkansas companies and caught the bug in a bigger way at a popular BBQ spot in Austin. He tasted some things that weren’t in Northwest Arkansas at the time, and maybe not even the state. That’s changing, as Wright’s has 4 spots in Northwest Arkansas, one in Little Rock, with 2 more central Arkansas locations coming soon. Jordan talks about learning BBQ, building Wright’s in the early days, current day, and what the future holds and that’s next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.  

Natural State Beer Company- Mark Smith & Dan Clous

In this week’s Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re talking with Mark Smith and Dan Clous of Natural State Beer Company, but before we get to them?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!!
The Hive at 21C made a prominent national magazine. We’ll tell you what magazine and why they’re in there!
Speaking of The Hive, they’re now selling tickets for their No Kid Hungry Fundraiser. We’ll tell you how and where to get them.
Zelli Pasta has a new home! Co-owner Mitchell Owen will tell us what’s different about it.
Desi Fusion opened in Springdale on Monday. We’ll hear from owner Lucky Sadthra about their fare.
NYC Express Deli opened their second location- their first in Benton County. We’ll tell you where!
The soon-to-be AQ Chicken House had folks over yesterday for graffiti. Kind of. We’ll explain.
We MIGHT have a grand opening date or week for Ozark Charcuterie & Wine Bar’s cheese and wine shop in Rogers.
Brewski’s and Natural State Beer Company have Chili Cookoff’s soon!
If you’ve been missing Renzo’s Italian Steakhouse, there’s now a way to have it!
Happy anniversary to Bella’s Table and Dodo Coffee!
In this week’s Flavors Flashback, we’re talking about hairy pasta! True story.
Mark Smith and Dan Clous met in a home brewing club here in Northwest Arkansas. Their love for a unique certain style of brewing eventually led to them getting into business with each other.
They talk about how they found their peaceful and serene spot to build their brewery. Once you’re there, you don’t feel like you’re a quarter mile from I-49. Soon after opening, they had to survive covid. You’ll hear how they did it, and they were able to because of their location.
Also, Dan had to leave NWA for a few years, and you’ll hear why. Oh, and that Chili-cookoff. Taproom manager Haley Arnell will give you the lowdown. And finally, the beers. We had a live-to-tape taste-test, and I do NOT regret it. That’s all next here in the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.