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Joel DiPippa has some fun links for the foodies and drinkies among us.

First, the Omnivore 100, British blogger Andrew Wheeler's subjective list of 100 things every omnivore should try at least once. I'm not biting that I must try everything somebody somewhere eats routinely. Wheeler himself cuts you some slack. He suggests putting the list on your own blog or journal and bold-facing those you've tried and crossing out those you would never try. Post comments where appropriate. After the jump, Joel's annotated list: He says he's up to 62 of them.

Joel's up to 59 of The Imbiber's 100, a list of 100 drinks a blogger says you should try before you die. In honor of it, a Pisco sour illustrates. The list is on the jump following the eats.

SPEAKING OF DRINKS: Have you seen our new community blogger, Red Velvet Lounge? He's got a good post here on vodka snobbery.

Continue reading "Eat. Drink. Repeat." »

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The Arkansas Foodbank Network helps feed thousands of hungry Arkansas families each and every day.  And right now, you can help them out in two separate ways - that won't cost you a dime.

First off, there's the Chicken of the Sea Jingle Jam.  Folks all over the country are voting on who's doing a great job with the company's jingle.  Brent Walker's twin sisters have an entry in the contest - and if they win, the prize is a trip to Universal Studios in Hollywood.  But the bigger winner is the Foodbank, which would receive a whole truckload of food.  Check out the local entry here.

Then there's the Spread the Sharing promotion through Country Crock.  You go online here, share a story about a giving or sharing experience you've enjoyed, and a donation is made to America's Second Harvest.  Arkansas Foodbank Network is part of that big enterprise, by the way.

Just two ways to help quell the hunger of Arkansans with just a couple of clicks of the mouse.

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It's never too early to get into the holiday spirit.  One way to see what's hot in holiday decor is the Junior League of North Little Rock's Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes.  What does that have to do with food?  Friday night, you can enjoy the Home for the Holidays Wine and Cheese Party 7-10 p.m. at the home of Ron and Mary Lensing.  Nibbles will be provided by the Junior League from "Natural Temptations," which also happens to be the official cookbook of Arkansas.  Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door -- if they don't sell out. Call JLNLR at (501) 372-1436 or check out the event website.

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Watch and learn from one of Little Rock's top chefs this weekend.  Mike Selig from Vermillion is the guest chef at the Saturday installment of the River Market Cooking Club.  The class will be held 9-11 a.m. in the Bill and Margaret Clark room on the third floor of the River Market.  For $10 you'll get to spend two hours learning how to make dishes with Chef Selig and have a chance to try some of his remarkable creations.  Call (501) 375-2552 for more information, or check out the River Market website.

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600 wines, beers and spirits.  20 participating fine dining establishments.  Cool jazz and hot auctions.  It's time for the 1st Annual Ultimate Night Out Food and Wine Event.  Tickets are still available for your chance to enjoy great food from local eateries like Loca Luna, Cheers in the Heights, Rumba Revolution, and Bonefish Grill.  Proceeds from the $45 a head event go to Youth Home.  The big event is Thursday night from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Clear Channel Metroplex.  For more information, call Youth Home at (501) 821-5500 or check out the event website.

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It's time to talk about the centerpiece of the average American Thanksgiving menu -- the turkey.  We were wondering how you plan to bring your bird to the table.  Are you a traditionalist?  Do you bake your bird?  Brine it?  Deep fry it?  Do you hunt for your prize in the woods, in the freezer section, at your local deli or through a local restaurant?  Have a favorite baste or stuffing?  And is it stuffing or dressing that will accompany your culinary prize?  Here's a chance to share your secrets, fair or fowl, with other Eat Arkansas readers.

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Joel DiPippa did enough partying for 10 men this weekend. Another feast report:

With the new James Bond movie opening, friends came into town and we had to make an evening of it.

Chris took the lead in preparing a British style feast before we went to the movies prime rib roast, smashed potatoes, green beans cooked with bacon, a homemade horseradish sauce, and a yorkshire pudding. Of course, the au jus sauce followed to be drizzled over the steak, yorkshire puddings, and potatoes. It was filling, savory, and terribly bad for all of us.

I will admit that part of what makes a huge meal like this so satisfying is sharing it with about 10 of your closest friends and getting to all laugh and eat together. It really will remind you of the communal aspect of eating and the importance of good company as often as you can.

To accompany this fine meal, we also made some of Bond's signature drink The Vesper. As described in the Casino Royale novel, Just a moment. Three measures of Gordons, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until its ice-cold, then add a large slice of lemon-peel. Got it?

For purists out there, Gordon's Gin has changed its formula slightly since then and the original Kina Lillet was discontinued some time ago. We tracked down a bottle of the Lillet Blanc, a newer version with less quinine instead. The cloudy texture of the drink is from the shaking, if you want a clear drink you have to stir. It is a beautiful and sublime drink. It is crisp, clean, and easily quaffable. Despite being made of nothing but alcoholic components, there was no burn and a refreshing feeling. The lemon oil when liberated from the peel made a playful and enticing addition to the drink. After the movie, we started experimenting with Bombay Sapphire in the Vespers.

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Sometimes a guy just has to eat out. Particularly the morning after. Joel DiPppa writes:

I admit it, I am a fan of the nightlife in this town.  After a night out, sometimes, you wake up Saturday or Sunday and just want to get a filling and tasty meal in your stomach.  Instead of a normal brunch stop, I will often head to Casa Manana. 

Along with the salsas, the queso blanco is a great starter.  The salsas are tasty and each with their own character, and heat.  The queso is flavorful and smooth - a nice slow start to a good recovery lunch.  The burritos (pictured) are truly noteworthy.  They are stuffed full of any number of fillings and just hit the spot.  ALso, if you are wanting to get a quick reminder of the terminology in Mexican food, the menus at Casa Manana have definitions and explanations to job the memory.

Any other recommendations for a non-standard brunch or recovery lunch from blog readers?

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The venerable restaurant with locations in Conway and Russellville is likely known best for its cheese dip, sold in grocery stores all over Arkansas.  But there's a lot more to Stoby's than just dip and sandwiches.

This humble offering, the Hickory Burger ($6.85 with savory hickory sauce and Cheddar cheese, shown above) is part of the new Night Grill menu.  There are many, many burgers among the offerings -- including a Patty Melt and a Jamaican Jerk Burger (rather spicy), as well as Tex-Mex options like quesadillas and nachos.  But it's the eponymous Stoby sandwich that's the center of the menu.  Three meats, two cheeses, Stoby's special sauce, lettuce, tomato, all on your choice of bread and with chips and a pickle spear for $5.95.

What you might not know about Stoby's is the great bakery.  The restaurant has been known for its fabulous pies and cakes as well as its more savory offerings for years.  Now, across the lot from the Russellville location, you'll find PattiCakes, the Stoby's bakery.  Run by Patti Stobaugh, the bakery features everything from daily bread selections to wedding cakes, and the scent of bakery products cooking is enough to start you salivating before you ever make it to the door. 

Check out Stoby's and PattiCakes in Russellville along D Parkway.  You'll find a Stoby's menu at the store's website, or give them a call at (479) 968-3816.  And see what you'll find at PattiCakes at the bakery website.

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What's better than a cooking class?  How about a cooking class where you get to take home the dishes?  Lake Ouachita State Park will host a Dutch Oven Workshop on Saturday, November 29th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Reservations are required in advance.  Participants will have the chance to observe cooking demonstrations, enjoy tasting dishes, and take home a Dutch Oven of their own.  Cost is $25.  For more information, call Lake Ouachita State Park at (501) 767-9366.

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I agree with Joel DiPippa. Lamb chops are just good. And Kroger is offering them more often of late. (I might argue that butterflied, marinated [olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, rosemary], grilled leg of lamb is even better.)

Lamb chops just taste good.  There is an earthy complexity to their meatiness that is truly tasty.  And if you look for the mini-sized chops, you will save a little money and they are often easier to find than the full sized chops.

Another quick lunch at home:  A quarter of a small onion is sliced and dropped into a pat of butter with a smashed garlic clove.  Meanwhile, as the onions soften, a steamer is made from putting the colander on top of a pot of water with a few more smashed garlic cloves and Worcestershire sauce.  The green beans go into the collander to steam and the rice goes into the onions and butter for a pilaf.  The lamb chops got a quick dusting of salt and pepper.

The cast iron skillet gets up to heat and after about 10 minutes, the chops go down.  About 3 minutes later, the chops get flipped.  2-3 after that the chops come out to the cutting board for a rest.  The rice and the beans only have about 5-6 minutes left.

Plating to make it look nice - Rice in the middle, a nice covering of beans, and a few lamb chops that got a little more cracked pepper.

That is a nice lunch.

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News of a German deli and a Thai food vendor. They'll be opening soon in the River Market a news release says.

Give me a bratwurst and a Pad Thai, please.

Continue reading "Coming to the River Market" »

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A big conference coming to Little Rock this December is a chance to experience some culinary excellence in the Rock City.  The 2008 USA Rice Outlook Conference will be held December 7-9 at the Peabody Hotel.  In addition to a trade show and educational sessions focusing on key issues for rice farmers and the U.S. rice industry, several guest events are being held -- including a Rice "VIP" Event at the Capital Hotel with Chef Lee Richardson.  The Sunday afternoon gathering includes a Champagne welcome followed by a four course tasting menu.  Guests will receive a DVD of the tour and a collection of recipes sampled.  Cost is $85.  For more information, call (800) 888-RICE (7423) or check out the USA Rice Federation website.

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100 calorie packs are available in all sorts of food items now -- from cookies to crackers to chips to colas.  But are these easy and convenient packs a good idea, or just another way for retailers to suck dollars out of your pockets?  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has examined the topic.  What do you think?

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While you're heading to work or play today, consider making a visit to Ed's Custom Bakery in Conway. This morning starting at 8 a.m., a group of veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf Conflict and onward will be onhand to gather and share this Veterans Day.  These brave men and women served our country with distinction, and each year they gather at Ed's to share coffee, doughnuts, and memories with each other and with those who come to hear their tales.  Drop by and thank these brave souls if you get a chance today.  Ed's is off the Oak Street Exit (Highway 64) at 256 Oak Street, (501) 327-2996.

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Ah, fall, time to put away the light salads and such of summer and tuck in for winter's chilly wrath.  The leaves are turning, and with lower gas prices many are hitting the roads to view the laconic leaves and festive foliage.  After a ride up Highway 65 or Highway 7, it's the perfect time to knosh on a sandwich and a hearty bowl of soup.

And that's some of what you'll find at Neighbor's Mill and Cafe in Harrison.  The beautiful mill-styled building north of downtown and south of the Wal-Mart Supercenter is a great place to pull in and satisfy your craving for hot eats and hearty breads.  Every day there's something new coming out of the ovens, and it's worthwhile to stop by for lunch, dinner, or just to pick up a loaf and a cuppa to take you home.

A great deal for the indecisive is the soup and sandwich special ($5.89 for half of one of the day's featured sandwiches and a bowl of soup).  Pictured above are the Honey Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich on Bronze Wheat bread, with a cup of Asiago Cheese soup.  Served up with chips and a wedge of dipping bread, too, it'll cut the edge off the cold and off your hunger, too.

Another good choice -- the Salad Sampler ($6.89), with your choice of the Chicken Salad or Tuna Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad, your choice of one of the bakery's green salads and a muffin. More food than you'd get in a combo meal at a fast food restaurant at that price.

Neighbor's also offers Ozark Mountain Smokehouse products and a fine array of fresh baked breads, pastries, and such.  Open for breakfast, too, with thick gooey cinnamon rolls and hot pork products. 

Neighbor's Mill and Cafe is open Monday - Thursday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.  It's closed on Sunday, so if you're making a Branson run, drop by on the way up.  (870) 741-6455 or check out the menu and order yourself some bread shipped to the house at the restaurant's website.

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