Arkansas has been selected, for the first time ever, as one of just five states to host a delegation of 16 elite Bordeaux Estates, which are classified Grands Crus (vintages from 2005 to 2020).   In association with Vino Distribution, wine lovers will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to taste 32 wines classified Grands Crus selected from all the major Bordeaux appellations, including Pauillac, Margaux, St Julien, St Estephe, St Emilion, Haut Medoc and Sauternes. The event, called “Bordeaux Rendez-Vous,” will take place at Rusty Tractor Vineyards on Tuesday, May 14, from 6:30 p.m. t ..read more

Family meals take on extra meaning at Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Greenbrier, where sisters Trish Nelson and Lavonda “Sissy” Ruple welcome customers to their family business.    Nelson, manager and server, joined the restaurant 30 years ago after graduating high school. Ruple, a server, began working at the restaurant full-time 26 years ago, but she said she has had a hand in the business since her parents, Lawrence and Bonnie Nelson, bought it in 1991.   “Everyone in the family has taken a turn working at Wagon Wheel,” Ruple said. “I started working full-time in 1998 when the com ..read more

We have no shortage of food bites throughout Arkansas, so each week, we’ll be providing you with a snapshot of the goings-on inside the culinary world, from events and specials to restaurant openings and awards. Do you have news to share? Please email our Online Editor Kilee Hall at khall@aymag.com.   Volstead Proper, located at 2205 Dave Ward Drive in Conway, will be holding soft openings beginning April 24 through April 26. Times vary. Click here for more details.   1677 Coffee Co., located at 9714 Hwy 107 in Sherwood, will be celebrating its grand opening beginning at 7 a.m. on Ma ..read more

Volstead Proper, located at 2205 Dave Ward Drive in Conway, will be hosting soft openings beginning Wednesday, April 24 through Friday, April 26. The new restaurant brings high-quality smoked meats that pair effortlessly with its top-choice drinks to the city of colleges.   “We’re going to be a hybrid between a casual and a fine, more so on the casual side,” said Colt Harmon, co-owner. “Our bourbon bar is going to be the signature focal point of the restaurant. Now granted, it’s going to pair really well with our food offerings, but we just feel like with that bar setting there, that will ..read more

The city of Fayetteville is holding its first-ever Strawberry Festival on Sunday, May 19, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the historic downtown square.   As a way to kick off summer, the Fayetteville Strawberry Festival will celebrate the Northwest Arkansas community and highlight local food, music and culture. The event is free.   What can festival-goers expect? Rymolene’s Pie Competition for home bakers of all ages Hounds Lounge Paw-ty Dog Parade with Second-Line Brass Band Arkansas Brewer’s Guild beer sampling with over 15 breweries Summer cocktails with Reigncane Vodka Seasonal menu i ..read more

We have no shortage of food bites throughout Arkansas, so each week, we’ll be providing you with a snapshot of the goings-on inside the culinary world, from events and specials to restaurant openings and awards. Do you have news to share? Please email our Online Editor Kilee Hall at khall@aymag.com.   Trucks, Taps & Tunes, a food truck festival to raise money for the Arkansas Foodbank, will be held at Park Plaza from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. Click here for all the details.   The Purple Cow is teaming up with Arkansas Foodbank to raise awareness about hunger relief ..read more

Park Plaza in Little Rock will host Trucks, Taps & Tunes, a food truck festival to raise money for the Arkansas Foodbank, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.   This lively culinary showcase will allow the community to enjoy some of the city’s best food, drinks and live music — all while raising money for the Arkansas Foodbank, the state’s largest hunger relief nonprofit.   “This festival is a great way to showcase Little Rock’s local culinary and craft beer scene while also supporting our broader community,” Second Horizon Capital Managing Partner and Co-Found ..read more

Both locals and those who drive through Greenbrier on their way to the Buffalo River and other destinations in north Arkansas might be acquainted with Ropers Restaurant, the kitschy, country hub that serves up steak, burgers and pizza.     Head server Candace Gifford, who will have worked at the restaurant 16 years in August, is almost as much of a fixture as the restaurant itself.    “The people I work for are amazing,” she said. “They’re so good to me. It’s so convenient for my family.”   A mother of two, Gifford applied for a position at the restaurant shortly ..read more

We have no shortage of food bites throughout Arkansas, so each week, we’ll be providing you with a snapshot of the goings-on inside the culinary world, from events and specials to restaurant openings and awards. Do you have news to share? Please email our Online Editor Kilee Hall at khall@aymag.com.   Delicious Temptations, located at 1120 N Rodney Parham Rd in Little Rock, will celebrate the grand reopening of its dining room on April 25.   Holland Bottom Farm in Cabot is open with plenty of strawberries to choose from. Click here for all the details.   Cross Creek Sandwich Sho ..read more

It’s that time of year again! Holland Bottom Farm in Cabot is open with plenty of strawberries to choose from!   In case you aren’t familiar, Holland Bottom Farm grows and sells a variety of fresh, home grown fruits and vegetables. From strawberries and watermelons to tomatoes, okra and homemade jams, the farm provides a great variety of produce.   At this time of year, however, the farm is extremely popular for its strawberries. We just took a look at the farm’s Facebook page and the berries look beautiful! As of the date of this publishing, April 8, there are no limits on the amoun ..read more