Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

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 at one of the most popular breweries in our area, Rendezvous Junction Brewing Company in Rogers where we’re talking with Founder and Owner Mike Peerson and Head Brewer and COO Kenny Warden, but before we get to them?!?
(*FOOD NEWS*)
Mallory Files of the Ozark Charcuterie and Wine Bar BREAKS NEWS WITH US!!
The Cellar on B Street opened last weekend
Top Chef NWA took place on Saturday. We’ll hear from the winner!
Sugar Llama’s opened over the weekend in downtown Rogers. We’ll hear about their journey!
Happy Anniversary to El Rey Bar and Grill and Pleasant Counter!
We’ll tell you all about Bistro 16’s wine dinner and how you can score free tickets!
The iconic Herman’s Ribhouse is for sale. We’ll hear why.
The soon-to-open Sestina at the soon-to-open Compton Hotel in the Bentonville Square has named their chef!
Sassafras Springs Winery has a gorgeous new spot on their premises
The Dumont Creamery opened their doors in Bentonville this weekend
Wright’s Barbecue’s Johnson location is close... VERY close to being done.
Mike Peerson didn’t start Rendezvous Junction at their current location. In fact, it started at the old Foster’s Pint and Plate in Rogers... Of course, Foster’s closed and that left them without a home and without folks to drink their beer. Who bought it during that time? We’ve interviewed them on here, so it won’t be a surprise to many of you. In fact, Mike ended up taking one of his employees and now he’s the head brewer and COO of the company, Ken Warden, who we’ll be talking to as well. Mike and Ken will tell us how they got into beer, the successes and failures, and Mike talks about dying. Yes, he’s officially died and been brought back. Some great stories- thanks for being with us here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk with Meredith Butler and Chef Mike Robertshaw of Pizzeria Ruby, where we go over SO much, including some breaking news, but before we get into them??
FOOD NEWS!!!
It’s Top Chef Week, and I’m giving away a pair of tickets. Learn how to enter!
Three Arkansans will be competing at the International Championship Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua after qualifying in Prairie Grove this past weekend.
The owners of Mermaids have a new event venue in Fayetteville and will be opening a new burger joint in the Mill District soon!
Speaking of the Mill District, Arsaga’s has closed. We’ll tell you who’s moving in.
The Stonebreaker Hotel has a new executive chef.
Faymosa has opened in the Fayetteville Square.
Dave and Jenny Marrs will be opening a coffee and ice cream shop. We’ll tell you where!
Chef Mike Robertshaw and his partner Meredith Butler aren’t from the area... in fact, they met in Seattle and they weren’t from there either. Chef Mike will tell you about hanging out with some regulars at his restaurant there who happened to be in Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Meredith will tell you her pizza crush, who I will tag when I post this. How did they end up in NWA, and what did they do once they got here? That’s a good story. Also, they’ll talk about how they prepared for Pizzeria Ruby having never worked in a pizza spot before. And finally, they’re opening a spot called Pizza Lottie in Bentonville. MANY folks are curious about when it’ll open. Chef Mike and Meredith will tell you when!! One note for you, there’s some explicit language in this one, so earmuffs for the kids, OK?  Thanks for tuning in.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast!
Quick request off the top, if you have yet to subscribe, like or rate, please do me a favor and do so. It helps us grow and is a big help. Thank you!
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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!!!

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.