Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

Happy New Year!!! In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to Natural State Rabbit President & CEO Brian Bonk. He runs what’s basically 2 companies in one – selling rabbit meat for food and the biologics side where parts of the rabbit are used in medicine and other things. Also with us are rabbit evangelists Mike Robertshaw and Meredith Butler of Pizzeria Ruby... but first!?!
FOOD NEWS!!!
Black Apple Hard Cider closed at the start the year
Crabby’s in Rogers also closed at the start of the year and are offering refunds for gift cards sold during their December promotion.
KDK’s Chicken & Waffles in Fayetteville will open later than planned.
Hear when the Botanical in Fayetteville will open! Also, Artemis next door is soon-to-open!
Rendezvous Junction Brewing is holding a chili cookoff. We tell you how to compete in it.
Buster Belly’s old location on Dickson is getting a new tenant.
On this week’s Flavors Flashback, hear the horror that was the week leading up to the opening of Gaskins on Emma.
Natural State Rabbits resides in downtown Rogers and is the largest supplier of rabbit to restaurants in the country. They’re also a biologics company. They use parts of rabbits for medicine and other things around the nation and the world. It’s a pretty amazing story and FULL of history as the company started in 1911. We had the conversation at Pizzeria Ruby, as their relationship with Natural State Rabbit started before it was even called that. In fact, there was no Pizzeria Ruby at that point, and they were operating a food truck! How they got connected is a fun story. By the way, we were feasting on rabbit tenders during the interview and they were so good. I’ve recently become a fan of rabbit – if you haven’t tried it yet, think chicken but grass-fed and leaner. It’s SO GOOD.
They’re offering OUR listeners and followers 15% off their starter variety box, just use “FLAVORS” as the discount code at nsrabbitmeat.com. That includes free shipping, or you can hop over to downtown Rogers and pick it up if you’d like.
We hear from Natural State Rabbit President & CEO Brian Bonk, and Pizzeria Ruby’s Mike Robertshaw and Meredith Butler in today's edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

Welcome to the End-of-Year Special of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!!
Juuuuuust when you thought there wouldn’t be a podcast today (amirite?!?!). It’s been a series of technical snafus the past few days, but it’s finally done!
In this End-of-Year Special, we picked out some of our favorite stories of the year. We couldn’t do them all, because the episode would be too long and consequently, I found out that I didn’t have enough storage to make the episode any longer anyway.
We didn’t include Food News in this episode, either. I didn’t want to make it a focus of the episode, but some news came down that we couldn’t just put off.
I got word that Black Apple Hard Cider will be closing their taproom for good after today. That’s right, the last day will be today, December 31, 2025. Get out there if you can!
Fridha’s Mexican Kitchen and Mezcal officially closed their doors for good last night (12/30). They’ll transition into a catering business, mobile bartenders and event space.
Jaclyn’s Kitchen announced today that they’ll be opening at their new location at Prairie Creek Marina on March 1.
Black Crown Social closed their doors, and it’s for an exciting reason. They’re growing and they’re moving to a bigger spot. It’s currently under construction. No word on where the spot is or when it will open
We round out 2025 with stories from Junto, MJs Pizzeria, San Miguel Mexican Grill, Lasang Pinoy, Marsouls, Sassafras Winery, The Odd Soul, Pizzeria Ruby, KYYA, The River Grille, Eleven at Crystal Bridges, The Stonebreaker, Erin Rowe, The Venesian Inn, The Hive, Leverett Lounge, Heirloom at the 1907, The Wooden Spoon, Menya Kitakara, New Province, Goat Lab, Bocca, R.G. Mason & Carson Apple Brandy, Chefs Matthew Cooper and Rafael Rios, Dot’s Hot Chicken, Uptown Kitchen & Taphouse, Atlas the Restaurant, Onyx Coffee Lab, Casa Alejo, Bistro 16, Bentonville Brewing Company, UA Football player and pitmaster Cam Ball, Kilroy Public House, Rendezvous Junction, Callisto, Nosh Nola, Geraldi’s & Pizza Navona, Baked by Kori, Mockingbird Kitchen, Bloom Cheese Collective and Archie’s Sandwichery.
Available on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and welcome to this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, as we’re in Bentonville talking to Kevin Girkins, owner of the super-popular Archie’s Sandwichery, but first?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
We learned yesterday that a popular spot will be closing its doors at the start of the New Year.
Desi Fusion has announced when they’ll close their Ft. Smith food truck and open their brick and mortar in Springdale!
Potbelly Sandwich Works opens in Springdale, and owner Tiffany Montgomery talks about building two restaurants at once!
PJ’s Coffee has started construction in Rogers.
Few tickets remain for Sunday night’s restaurant takeover by Super-chef Marcus Samuelsson. We’ll tell you what he’s making!
This week’s Flavor’s Flashback is one of my favorite Mike Engleman Home Pro Tip’s of the Week of all time and it comes from Darwin Beyer at Meiji in Fayetteville.
Kevin Girkins got in the restaurant business initially because his dad caught him red-handed doing something illegal. Seriously. It’s a funny story.
He’s from Austin and moved to Northwest Arkansas to help build and run a popular franchise in Bentonville. It took a fortuitous turn at his next stop which gave him the confidence to start his own spot, which is what he eventually did with Archie’s.
Why a sandwich shop in Bentonville? Kevin will tell you why. Also, where did the name Archie’s come from? There’s a portrait on the wall at Archie’s that’ll explain it. We talk with Archie’s owner/operator Kevin Girkins next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at Lasang Pinoy, with owner Maria Smith and her brother, executive chef Bill Martfeld – But you start how we start it around here...
FOOD NEWS!!
Chick’n Headz opened in Bentonville
Fuego Tortilla is now open in Fayetteville
Crisp & Green opened their second location. We’ll hear from owner Tony Airoso.
Potbelly’s opens in Springdale this week
Pizza Lotties will be opening in 2026 – we’ll tell you when!
Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson will be preparing you a lavish dinner before the New Year if you act fast!
Feroz the Afghan Restaurant will open next year. We’ll tell you when and where!
Hideaway Pizza is coming to NWA!!
Downtown Rogers is holding a restaurant weekend. We’ll tell you when!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Puritan Coffee & Beer!
In this week’s Flavors Flashback, you’ll hear the hilarious way that co-owners and spouses Trae and Weisi Basore met!
Lasang Pinoy Owner Maria Smith owns and runs a family restaurant. Her brother Bill Martfeld is the executive chef, her husband will work there sometimes, her mom is always there. It’s their home away from home. Maria and Chef Bill talk about being born in the Philippines and their path to Rogers. They’ve been EVERYWHERE, and you’ll hear the stories. Also, though they’re just over a year old, they were affected by the Rogers tornado. You won’t believe that story. And the food. If you’ve not had it, you’ll be in for a treat when you go. They JUST released their new menu. You’ll hear what’s brand new on the menu, and what’s a staple... and it’s all next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.  

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at the Bloom Cheese Collective in Fayetteville talking with the supremely energetic co-owner Ali Kay Hammer Cameron, but first!!!
FOOD NEWS!!
Handshake opens at the Fayetteville Public Library. We’ll tell you what to expect!
Firecat Coffee opens in South Fayetteville.
Cronut Donuts are opening their 3rd spot in south Fayetteville
The 12th Annual Nog-Off was a supreme success at Maxine’s Taproom.
Crisp & Green is opening in Fayetteville- we’ll tell you when.
Potbelly’s Sandwiches is opening in Springdale in spitting distance from Crisp & Green (if you’re good at that sort of thing).
Monte Ne Inn is close to the off-season. Go get your family-style chicken, pronto!
The Honeycomb Kitchen Shop added the Honeycomb Wine Shop.
Tonight is Occupy Odd Soul night in downtown Springdale. Come donate a pizza with me!
Ria Pizza is coming to DTR!
Happy Anniversary to Vetro 1925 and Envision Nutrition- y’all are getting old!
This week’s Flavors Flashback takes us to the River Grille where we hear about bootlegging in the early days (true-ish story).
Ali Kay Hammer Cameron entered the cheese world initially due to locational happenstance.  She lived near a cheese shop in Dallas that she fell in love with and eventually worked there. She’ll tell us about her budding love affair with cheese, and how she became a certified cheese professional...
After some time in North Carolina, she and her husband Brooks moved to Fayetteville to be closer to family, and build a family of their own... What made her want to start a cheese shop here? She tells the story about what it was that made her decide to do it.
Also, when putting together a cheese shop, what’s the most important part of it? And what cheeses do you start with? Finally, they have some big plans for 2026, and she lets us in on a fun one... that’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas, we’re in Fayetteville at Mockingbird Kitchen talking to co-owners Chrissy Sanderson & Leigh Helm, but before we get to them?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
The Compton Hotel opened their three food and bev concepts, with Sestina, The Eddy, and Field Notes. We’ll hear about the concepts from Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road, Steve Palmer.
Hear how to win free tickets to Downtown Fayetteville’s Holiday Haul Brunch Crawl!
Speaking of Downtown Fayetteville, Maxine’s is hosting their 12th Annual Nog-Off. We’ll give you the deets!
The Fry will be opening soon in downtown Bentonville. We’ll tell you when!
Looks like we’re going to have three restaurant openings in January. We’ll tell you who’s close to opening their doors!
Happy anniversary to Kosmos Greek Café. It’s a BIG one!
We go back to last April for this week’s Flavors Flashback to hear from Nellie B’s about moving from California and learning about dirt road deliveries!!
This month is a very momentous one for Mockingbird Kitchen. Chef Chrissy Sanderson and Leigh Helm opened the restaurant a decade ago this month! They’ll talk about what it was like getting the doors open back then, and how they’ve been able to thrive this long.
They’ll also talk about having to turn on a dime because of Covid. In fact, they’ll tell us about the day it happened, what it was like having to deal with something that you can’t prepare for, and how the community stepped up for them. Some fun stories there.
Finally, the food. Upscale, approachable, fresh and scratch-made. I had my introduction to stir-fried farro with shrimp, and I’m an evangelist now- and that Mockingbird Pie? We talk about that and more next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this Week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas, we’re sitting down with the lovely Kori Stanton of Baked by Kori in both Rogers and Fayetteville – but first?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
We’ve got some openings to get to, more than usual, so let’s get to it!
Fayetteville Tea House finally opened!
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opened on Monday. I recommend the aged ribeye and a certain wine!
NWA’s first Potbelly Sandwich Shop opened on the Walmart Campus.
NWA’s first Sweetgreen also opened on the Walmart Campus.
You’ll be able to get Nellie B’s Bakery goods elsewhere now.
Handel’s Ice Cream is coming to Fayetteville.
NYC Express Deli is adding a location!
Chick’n Headz announced their grand opening date
Happy anniversary to Natural State Beer Company!
Sad news to report. Levi’s Gastrolounge announced that they’ll be closing their doors. We’ll tell you when.
Flavors Flashback to KYYA Chocolate’s Rick Boosey’s dangerous trip to Ecuador!
Kori Stanton wanted to be a lawyer when she went to college. After a few weeks working at a law firm, she decided that it wasn’t the route for her. After college, she and her husband moved to New York City where they would raise their family and be for several decades. That’s also where Kori started her baking business. And boy, she caught fire. Her cookies were the Snack of the Day on the Rachel Ray Show, and that was great – and not-so-great. Kori will tell us why.
Also, what was it like starting a bakery in New York City where spots are already so established? A hint here- it’s all who you know. Also, what was it like living in NYC during 9/11?
And lastly, how did they end up in Northwest Arkansas?? We talk with Kori Stanton from Baked by Kori next here on the Flavor of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, we talk to David Flores, owner/operator of Geraldi’s in Fayetteville and Pizza Navona in Farmington, but before we talk to him?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
Wine news first (of course) with Langman’s Winery & Restaurant opening in Centerton. We’ll hear from owner Jim Langman.
Viet Buffet in Rogers opens and then closes. We’ll explain.
There’ll be a new scratch Italian restaurant in downtown Springdale next year. We’ll talk to the owners (Hint: You know who they are).
Handshake has their grand opening date now.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opens their first Arkansas location next week in Rogers.
Big Whisley’s in Rogers has their grand opening this weekend!
Happy birthday to Loveless, Hot Vine and La Media Luna!
Downtown Fayetteville announces the Holiday Haul Brunch Crawl. We’ve got the details.
Downtown Springdale’s International Hot Cocoa Crawl is also around the corner.
Classic Flavors Rewind: Mezzaluna’s Chef Peters tells the story of feeding Gorbachev with limited time!
David Flores is the owner/operator of longtime Fayetteville staple Geraldi’s, and a newer spot in Farmington, Pizza Navona. He’s not from here, but he’s been here long enough that he’s an Arkansan now. He started working for Mr. Geraldi a long time ago when he had a Giraldi’s in Oregon, and he started at the bottom. Mr. Giraldi opened several more spots in several more places around the country, and David ended up at the Geraldi’s in Eureka Springs. He’ll tell you about what got him there. He eventually moved to the Fayetteville location and would later take it over. As for Pizza Navona, David will tell you why he chose Farmington over Benton County for its location. Also, we’ll talk menu and future plans and that’s next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re up in Bentonville at Nosh Nola inside the Bentonville Brewing Company, talking with owner Hayne Begley. This location won’t be his only spot for long as he’s opening another one soon, he’ll tell you about it, but first?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!
We have the results from the first ever Mac & Cheese Cook Off in Fayetteville at Brewski’s! We’ll hear from the winner.
Viet Buffet is ALMOST open in Rogers!
Potbelly and Sweetgreen are close to opening on the new Walmart campus.
Fuego Tortilla Grill has announced their opening date for their much-anticipated Fayetteville restaurant!
Pathway Café is coming to the area. We’ll tell you what it is, and what it means for the area!
The Bentonville Bulletin reports a new dog-friendly café is now open in Bentonville.
Chug Soda Shop is now back to soda truck-only.
Anime Café in Rogers has closed.
Hayne Begley started Nosh Nola after moving up from Little Rock. His first food truck was the Delta Biscuit Company, and it was a favorite in Little Rock. However, food truck culture there isn’t what it is here, so Hayne took the opportunity to move north, and away he went. How did he survive covid? With the help of celebrity chef Jose Andres... sort of. He’ll explain.
He’ll also talk about his food. Did you know that they have the top-of-the-line tater tots? They spent a good amount of time tater tot testing – it’s a real thing, and he’ll tell you why they have tots. Makes perfect sense.
And finally, he’ll be opening another spot next year. He’ll tell us where and much more. That’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!

Happy November and welcome to EPISODE 100 of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!!! I can’t believe we’re finally here!! I want to thank you all, and ask a small favor... Please tell a friend about us and our little podcast here. It’s growing and we’re thankful for everyone that listens and watches. Please subscribe and rate- can’t wait to see where this thing is at episode 200!
Today, we celebrate with tropical drinks behind an art gallery wall, as we’re at Callisto in Bentonville and talking with the VERY engaging Gabe Barrett, who is part-owner and the beverage director, but before we talk with Gabe?!?!
FOOD NEWS!!!
Brewski’s is holding a Mac & Cheese cookoff on Sunday. We’ll tell you how to enter!
Happy 1-year anniversaries to Magnolia House in Prairie Grove, Isabella’s in Bentonville, and Gelatissimo in downtown Rogers. One of them is having a HUGER giveaway!
Yankabilly Smokehouse and Casa Alejo are looking for new spots!
Viet Buffet in Rogers has announced their opening date!
We found where Chicken Headz is opening in Bentonville!
We’ll tell you where Desi Fusion is opening in Springdale
The Windwood Missionary Baptist Church on Township has a new future, according to the Fayetteville City Lifestyle Magazine
Last chance to get your tickets to the Kelham Wine dinner at Gaskins on Emma
Bentonville’s Callisto is a family affair. Gabe and Izaak Barrett came from the Phoenix area to start Callisto with their Uncle Braxton, who grew up in NWA. Gabe had an early introduction into what a speakeasy was, and it happened on accident on his 21st birthday. He’ll tell you the story. Also, if you’ve been there, you know that you enter through an art gallery called the Midnight Gallery. It was almost something else, and Gabe will tell us how the speakeasy entry would have been different. Finally, Gabe will get into some elaborate drinks, including how they make their own non-alcoholic rum. That’s episode 100, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.