Little Rock-based ZAZA Fine Salad and Wood Oven Pizza Co. is celebrating its 16th anniversary this month! Co-founders Scott McGehee and John Beachboard opened the restaurant’s first location in 2008, and it’s been a neighborhood favorite ever since.   “We believe the best food starts with the best ingredients, a respect for classic methods, and a commitment to deliciousness,” Scott McGehee said. “Our commitment to from-scratch cooking is a reflection of the care we have for our food and our commitment to an excellent dining experience.”   To mark its 16th anniversary, ZAZA will host ..read more

It is hard to beat a barbecue shack when it comes to grub in Arkansas, and those who find themselves drawn to the food and atmosphere at Fat Daddy’s Bar-B-Que in Russellville are in good company.   Jennie Lumpkin, bar manager at Fat Daddy’s, got her start in 2008 as a server at Western Sizzlin’, where she was quickly promoted to front-of-the-house manager. She said her experiences as a customer at Fat Daddy’s led her to start working there nine years ago.   “I was a customer first and really enjoyed the vibe and energy of the restaurant,” she said. “I filled out an application, and F ..read more

Little Rock, you’re finally getting a traditional Korean BBQ spot! Flaming Hot Pot & Korean BBQ will be located at 310 S Shackleford Rd.   The new restaurant will offer food lovers a tasty all-you-can-eat experience, customized hot pots, and top-quality marinated meats that you can grill to perfection right at your own table. That’s right, it’s an interactive experience.   According to its website, the franchise prides itself on focusing on the details – “carefully curated ingredients, authentic, flavorful broths, tantalizing marinated meats, and a welcoming environment that enco ..read more

There are always great things to do in The Natural State, and AY About You has compiled some of the most exciting events in Arkansas this weekend. Also, listen to 103.7 The Buzz every Friday morning for Morning Mayhem to learn more about what’s going on during the weekend and more, featuring AY About You President and Publisher Heather Baker.     Thursday, May 9  What: JA Hall of Fame Gala  Where: Statehouse Convention Center Governor Halls I & II  When: 6 p.m.  The Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Gala will take place this Thursday evening in order t ..read more

The entertainment in Arkansas never runs dry, especially when it comes to music. The weekend’s lineup is full of live music all over the state, and AY About You has put together a comprehensive list of musical talent coming to venues near you over the weekend.   May 9 Charlotte Taylor at Town Pump in Little Rock  Gavin DeGraw with Kevin Garrett at The Hall in Little Rock Amy LaVere & Will Sexton at Stickyz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack in Little Rock Local Natives with UWADE at JJ’s Live in Fayetteville Cosmic Cream with Townhousefire & Frailsgate at George’s Ma ..read more

Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava announced her resignation on Wednesday, May 8, just two days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt resigned and soon after the resignation of the organization’s social media director.    In an Instagram post, Srivastava stated that her “personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”   “After months of grappling with this decision, I have made the choice to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023,” she wrote. “I am grateful for all the support from my family, my state directors, my sister queens, and the fans who have ch ..read more

Jennifer Maune, a finalist on “Master Chef: United Tastes of America,” recently accepted a job as a line cook at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Little Rock. The chef said she sought out the position so she would be better prepared to open her own restaurant, which she plans to do this fall.   “I spent eight years working in the front of house in restaurants years ago, and I’ve also washed dishes, bussed tables,” she said. “I got to be a part of the opening of a restaurant, so I saw that process come together, and I also, in culinary school, spent two semesters working on the line in the kitchen ..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 Online Editor Kilee Hall at khall@aymag.com.   Layne’s Chicken Fingers will be opening 10 locations in Arkansas, with the first one opening in Benton by the end of 2024. Click here for all the details.   Five Guys is opening a new location at 1229 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fayetteville, which is located in the Arena Village Sho ..read more

In the next five years, Arkansas is set to see 10 new locations of Layne’s Chicken Fingers, a Texas “born and breaded” famous chicken franchise with 16 restaurants open across the country and another 226 sold since it began franchising in 2021. The first location is expected to be open by the end of the year in the Hurricane Creek Village shopping center at I-30 and Alcoa Road in Benton.   The franchise owner, Jake Willett, made the decision to sign a multi-unit deal with the company after selling his Denver-based landscaping business to a private equity firm. Willett is on the hook to de ..read more

Comedy legend Martin Lawrence will be headlining his first tour since 2016, the “Y’all Know What It Is!” tour. And luck for us, Lawrence will be bringing the show to Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 8 p.m. with special guests Deon Cole and Benji Brown.   Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 17, with prices ranging from $49.50 to $129.50. The tickets will be available on ticketmaster.com or at the Simmons Bank Arena box office.   “Y’all Know What It Is!” is a one-hour stand-up show with all-new material w ..read more