Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

Marsouls- Jordan Conley

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!
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Now to this week’s episode- we’re at Marsouls in downtown Rogers, talking with owner and founder Jordan Conley. We taped this JUST as Bikes, Blues and BBQ was rolling into town,  so you’ll hear a few rumbles. But first?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Mellow Moose Burgers is back at the World Food Championships. We’ll hear from Owner/Chef Adrian Lem.
Townie’s Burgers & Bevvies is finally open. General Manager Adam Brewer tells us about the process to get the doors open!
Parlay on 8th is going in at the old Hollar at 8th Street Market. We’ll tell you all about it.
Oktoberfest NWA is back in downtown Rogers this weekend!
BV65 has changed into a brunch spot in Bella Vista!
The Melting Pot is coming to Rogers!
Chicken Headz is moving!
Founder and owner of Marsouls Jordan Conley grew up VERRRY influenced by his grandmother’s cooking. After spending some time away from home as an adult, he came home during covid and had a new dream in the form of a culinary love-letter to his family heritage, and most notably his grandmother. You’ll hear about their buildout in what was once a gas station, you’ll also hear how they handled the tornado... Finally, he’ll talk about the food, and grandma’s quality control. She’s not shy about it, I’m told. That’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

Top Chef 2025- Competing Chefs

Hear from the Top Chef NWA competing chefs: Chef Bill Martfeld from Lasang Pinoy, Chef Sara Guevara from the Walmart AMP, Chef Jesus Rodriguez from San Miguel Mexican Grill & Bar, and the defending champion, Chef Roni Mathis from the Arkansas Food Innovation Center at the Market Center of the Ozarks. 
They'll talk about why they're competing in Top Chef NWA this year, and a few may just flat-out tell you what they'll be cooking for the competition. 
Get to know these awesome people on this bonus edition of the Flavors off Northwest Arkansas podcast!

Kilroy Public House- Justin Malonson, Kyle Reidy, and Brandon Norrell

On this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we head to beautiful downtown Siloam Springs, where we’re at the new Kilroy Public House talking with owners Justin Melonson, Kyle Reidy and Brandon Norrell... but before we get to them?!?!
FOOD NEWS!
The Fayetteville location for Confident Coffee opened last week. We’ll hear from owner Amber Dietrich
AQ Chicken House will open in downtown Springdale instead of Elm Springs. Hear why from co-owner Tom Lundstrum
Casa Magnolia announced that they will close
There’s a new BBQ spot in the Har-Ber area! We’ll tell you about Smith & Betts
Fayetteville’s Dollar Slice Club has a new concept and name
Top Chef NWA is around the corner. We’ll tell you how’s competing and how to get your tickets!
The Kilroy Public House is now open in downtown Siloam Springs. They offer sensational Irish fare, drinks and a cozy atmosphere. Chances are, if you’ve been a wedding recently, you’ve had their food as Co-Owner and Executive Chef Justin Malonson also owns and operates the popular Sous Chef Catering Company. In fact, he didn’t buy the space to be a restaurant. He’ll tell you what his initial vision was. Also, what’s going to be the most popular item on the menu? Well, it won’t be on the menu for starters. Finally, and most importantly, Justin is very much into a non-profit where he spends what little time he has working to feed others. He explains that and so much more, next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

Re-Think Food, No Kid Hungry & Fayetteville IRA- The Hive’s Micah Klasky & Leverett Lounge/Sidecar’s Reese Roberts

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to a couple of do-gooders who are hell-bent on helping others. We’ll hear from the Hive’s Executive Chef Micah Klasky and Leverett Lounge/Sidecar co-owner Reese Roberts about their awesome, amazing missions, but first?!?!
FOOD NEWS!
We were at the Miracle League Burger Competition. We’ll hear from the winner who got the Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships.
We’ll tell you about the 10th annual Frisco Inferno in downtown Rogers for Bikes, Blues & BBQ!
Confident Coffee opens their Fayetteville location today!
Downtown Fayetteville is hosting the 3rd annual Falltoberfest this weekend
Faymosa will open soon on the Fayetteville Square
Theo’s in Fayetteville will have its former chefs help prepare their 20th anniversary dinner. We’ll tell you who’s participating and where to get tickets! 15% benefits the Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance.
Speaking of the amazing Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance, you’re about to hear much more about it from Reese Roberts. They work to take care of the people in the Fayetteville restaurant industry who have been laid off, or not able to work. She’ll tell us how it started and what their future looks like.
Also, we sat down with Micah Klasky to talk about food waste, and how we go from waste to nourishing those that need it most. Did you know that we waste over 40% of our food? Micah talks about a program called Re-Think Food that he’s introducing to our area. Also, Chef Cycle sign-up has opened again, and it benefits No Kid Hungry. He’ll talk about why this year is more important than ever, and why fewer hungry kids will be seen. He’ll explain what that means, next, in this do-gooder’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

Arkansas Football- Athletics Executive Chef Tim Walsh, Director of Football Nutrition Brooks Gillerlain, and Captain/Defensive Tackle/BBQ Pitmaster Cam Ball

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to University of Arkansas Athletics Executive Chef Tim Walsh, Director of Football Nutrition Brooks Gillerlain, and Captain/Defensive Tackle/BBQ Pitmaster Cam Ball. We hear from them all, but FIRST?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!!
A true Battle of the Bartenders happened in Bentonville on Monday night.
If you haven’t, get your tickets for Sunday’s Miracle League Burger Competition!
A mac and cheese cookoff in Fayetteville in November? YES. We’ll tell you how to enter and judge!
Happy anniversary to the Creekside Taproom in Siloam Springs!
A new Irish Pub with amazing food opens Saturday in Siloam Springs. We’ll tell you about the Kilroy Public House!
The Viet Buffet in Rogers is SO CLOSE to being open.
Dodo Coffee is making moves!
Ever wondered what it takes to feed a division 1 college football team in the SEC? I wondered it too, so I reached out to the University of Arkansas football team, and they were gracious enough to set me up with folks who answered that question in full. Also, what’s their favorite meal? How hard it is to schedule meals on the road? You’ll hear about odd food combinations, food sourcing, and their take on sweets. Finally, team captain Cam Ball talks about his barbecue past and his barbecue future. One note for you, this was recorded during training camp, so you’ll notice a few earlier references... and that’s coming up next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

The Odd Soul- Jeffro Brown

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to Jeffro Brown of the Odd Soul in bustling downtown Springdale, but before we talk to Jeffro?!?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Rewired Fest is coming to NWA, and The Hive’s Micah Klasky is collaborating with one of the creator’s products. We’ll hear from Chef Micah.
Cobblestone Farms is having their big fundraising dinner tomorrow night, and some tickets remain. Wait until you hear the all-star lineup of chefs for this one!
We wrap the World Champion Squirrel Cookoff, and have some great video if you watch on YouTube!
Confident Coffee has announced their opening date for their Fayetteville location.
Daddy Smackin Wings is moving from Russellville to the Hill. We’ll tell you where.
A longtime Fayetteville restaurant has closed for good.
Happy anniversary to both Ozark Charcuterie and Wine Bar and Marley’s Pizza!
Jeffro Brown is as Springdale as the city itself. In fact, his family can be traced back in Springdale to the early to mid-1800’s and were probably there even earlier than that. Since high school, he’s and more jobs that most guys have had girlfriends, while continually going back to one job like he was getting back together with an ex-girlfriend over, and over again... He’ll tell that story... He’ll also tell us how he almost accidentally blew his head off at one job... We can all laugh about it now..
Jeffro spent some time in Europe, where he learned, he loved, and eventually came back to Springdale where he employed what he learned overseas behind a bar... He’ll tell us where he started and what he worked his way up to.
Finally, the Odd Soul... How did he get involved? How has it evolved since it opened? He’ll talk about adding pizza to the menu and how it’s become VERY popular in downtown Springdale...
We hear from Jeffro Brown of the Odd Soul, next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

*Bonus Episode* World Championship Squirrel Cook Off- Joe Wilson

We have a bonus edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast for you today, and THIS one will be a memorable one. Tomorrow is the World Championship Squirrel Cookoff, and we interviewed the head of the whole thing, Mr. Joe Wilson. Joe is a master storyteller and talks about previous winners, previous entries and other events taking place tomorrow at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center. He’ll also talk about you chances to sample some tree-chicken!
It’s free and open to the public. It’ll get crowded so parking will be hard to come by. Joe will tell you where to go!
Hope to see you there!!!

Bentonville Brewing Company- Katie Boykin & BITE NWA Ticket Giveaway

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to Katie Boykin, co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Bentonville Brewing Company... Also?? It’s the big BITE NWA ticket giveaway episode... But before we get to those?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!!
Hawk Moth Brewing has an update!
A former Conifer manager is opening her a spot in Fayetteville. We’ll tell you about Handshake.
Moonhouse has announced their grand opening date in Fayetteville.
Bienvenue flipped to Bistro 16. Quickly.
The Mermaid’s team is re-opening in Fayetteville, but it’s not quite a restaurant. We’ll explain.
Our buddy @reesewithnospoons took a poll and the results? Not great.
The River Grille Steakhouse has another Dining in the Dark coming! We’ll tell you when.
WE GIVE AWAY A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND OF @BITENWA. Watch the drawing!
The folks at Bentonville Brewing Company have been through a lot. Remember when you were in your 20’s and moved apartments every so often? That’s kind of how Bentonville Brewing started. In fact, Bentonville Brewing wasn’t always in Bentonville. You’ll hear that scar tissue from Co-Owner and COO Katie Boykin. She’ll also talk about how she was able to keep the staff paid during covid, and there were some genius ideas that very much helped. Finally, what about that beer? Katie will talk about the first beer they ever brewed commercially, and talk about their staples, including their Homewrecker IPA and Space Goose Hazy IPA, and a beer that won a big national award!
We’ll talk with Katie Boykin next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

*Bonus Edition* BITE NWA- Event Manager Tatum Murray

John talks about how you can win tickets to BITE NWA. Also, BITE NWA announced their lineup last week of who all will be participating, we talk about some of them, and that includes some that haven’t opened yet! You’ll be able to try them out before they even open their doors. Also, you’ll find out where to park this year, where to go, and of course, where the party is.
We talk with Tatum Murray of BITE NWA next on this bonus edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!

Junto Sushi- Donovan Johnson

On this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we have a story of perseverance as we interview Junto Executive Chef, Donovan Johnson. That’s a man who’s been through a lot, but before we get to him?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Botanical Live in Fayetteville has now turned into two different spots that have two different themes. We’ll hear from one of the others, @fnoway
The Barber opens Friday!
The Fox Trail Distillery is transitioning their tasting room. We’ll tell you what they’ll be doing
You can now take Stoic Brews home!
Greenhouse Aleworks has their new home in downtown Rogers.
Speaking of downtown Rogers, happy anniversary to Tusk & Trotter’s second location!
The doors are open at Blue Ember Smokehouse in Rogers! We’ll hear from GM Chance Sneathern.
Keep your eyes out- WE HAVE BITE NWA tickets! We’ll be telling you how to win them this week!
The Collective in Fayetteville soft opens with entrée’s tonight.
Los Compas Margaritatown is selling their food truck.
KDK’s Chicken and Waffles are moving into a brick and mortar.
Folklore Ice Cream grand opened in the Fayetteville Square.
Junto Sushi opened in the Motto Hotel in Bentonville a year ago, almost to the day. Chef Donovan Johnson has been there from the start, and it was a hard road for him to get there. VERY hard. It was a road paved with addiction, rehab, relapses, and cooking around northwest Arkansas... One of his earliest jobs in his teens in Mountain Home might have been his most important. It helped shape his professional cooking preference and through it all, he never lost sight of it or let it go. That’s one of the many things that helped get him to where he is today.
He talks about it in detail, and the scare that sparked his turnaround. How did a guy from Mountain Home who had always cooked in Fayetteville gain the favor of a James Beard Award winning chef that has worked in a Michelin-star restaurant? We hear from Junto Executive Chef Donovan Johnson next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.