Owners of popular local bars are bringing a new concept to Fayetteville. Located in the Uptown District is Northwest Arkansas’ newest premier beer garden, JBGB. JBGB is not the typical craft brewery or restaurant. Minds behind other local favorites — JJ’s, Pour House and more — have created a large outdoor gaming area that includes shuffleboard, baggo, bocce ball, ping pong, a wading pool and sand volleyball.

JBGB will showcase regional and national acts as a part of its summer concert series on Thursday nights now through September 14. Performances include Kellie Pickler, Josh Abbott Band, The Record Company and Chase Rice.

– Ann Claire Johnson, Ghidotti Communications

The first-ever Little Rock Vegan Fest is coming to Chester Street on June 24.

“Our main goal is to give vegans, vegetarians and veg-curious people what they’ve been waiting for,” said Maria Larios of Viva Vegan.“Something many people take for granted is going somewhere and being able to order anything off the menu. At Little Rock Vegan Fest our attendees will be able to eat, drink and buy items with ease.”

The festival also features vegans goods.

“Other vegan items include apparel, hair care, handcrafted wares, herbs, jewelry, fresh produce, kombucha, juices and much more,” said Larios.

— Maeghen Carter, Ghidotti Communications

Little Rock locals know and love Heights Taco & Tamale Co., one of many popular restaurants from Yellow Rocket Concepts.

The frozen mojito, Spring Fling, is a customer favorite. Brett Bassett, beverage director from YRC, tells us what makes the drink so darn good.

“The Spring Fling’s origin was derived as a complement to rich, southern Delta-Mex. What better way to escape the southern heat than with a Caribbean-inspired mojito? Make it frozen,” Bassett said. “Fresh mint syrup, lime juice and light rum have made this frozen cocktail a permanent sipper on the Heights Taco & Tamale cocktail menu.”

– Kathryn Heller, Ghidotti Communications

Don’t settle for boring salad. You’ve got the roundup of Little Rock’s top salads at your fingertips.

For the person who likes some of everything: Raduno’s Cobb Salad. Its honey dijon vinaigrette seals the deal for a salad you’re sure to come back for.

For the person who doesn’t like salad: Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill’s Chopped Salmon Salad. Thought a filling salad didn’t exist? Think again. You’ll crave it nonstop.

For the person who loves ranch: U.S. Pizza’s Salad Supreme. Is there a more classic dressing? U.S. Pizza has some of the best ranch you’ll ever taste.

– Alfred Warren, Ghidotti Communications

Biscuit lovers: we’ve got great news. Delta Biscuit Company is coming before the end of 2017. Owner Hayne Begley has been working on the concept and product testing over the past year.

“Our menu is going to be focused on traditional southern staples and, everyone’s favorite, the biscuit,” Begley said.

Begley hopes to fill a void in the Little Rock food scene.

“Not only is Little Rock missing a biscuit place, it’s missing a breakfast place,” Begley said. “We can do something different. But we can do something that’s both comfortable and new. That’s really what we’re trying to do.”

– Maeghen Carter, Ghidotti Communications

Mylo Coffee Co. announced plans of a new roasting facility. The Little Rock coffee shop hopes to greatly expand sales of their signature coffee beans.

“It’s going to be a space set up like a lab so we are able to experiment with roast profiles,” said owner Stephanos Mylonas.

The roastery is one of three Mylo projects.

“It’s also important for us to do it in this order. We completed the expansion, now we’re moving into the roastery while simultaneously renovating the Afterthought,” Mylonas said. “We’re treating the demands of each business separately and ready to make this step forward.”

– Maeghen Carter, Ghidotti Communications

Zetêo Coffee will debut a downtown Little Rock location in February.

“We saw this as an opportunity to bring a specialty coffee concept to the River Market district. This area is so cool and progressive but is surprisingly lacking any kind of vibrant coffee culture,” said Jon Mitchell, founder and co-owner of Zetêo. “We felt that the folks that live and work there really deserved something like what Zetêo Coffee offers.”

Zetêo is excited to provide a welcoming coffee environment.

“Our whole philosophy and approach revolves around making specialty coffee approachable for everyone,” Mitchell said.

– Natalie Ghidotti, Ghidotti Communications

Perhaps one of the most cherished Christmas traditions is dinner. If your loved ones are planning a classic Christmas dinner, what is the most Southern dish you could bring to the table? We asked local food expert and blogger Rex Nelson.

“Fried quail,” Nelson said. “My father was a big quail hunter, and we actually would have fried quail and grits on Christmas morning.”

However, you may have to look outside the grocery store.

“Quail hunting is almost a thing of the past in Arkansas,” Nelson said. “You probably would have to mail order the birds from a quail farm.”

– Kathryn Heller, Ghidotti Communications

Is it truly the holidays without endless hours in the kitchen and delicious food? When cooking for friends and family, what do you need to be prepared? Eggshells Kitchen Co. is the local expert on cookware and baking tools.

“A strong roasting pan and rack are wonderful for preparing the holiday turkey, lamb or chicken. Well-made chef’s knives and carving tools are a great help to make the prep work and serving of your holiday meals much easier,” said Lindsey Gray, owner of Eggshells. “Holiday cakes are turned into beautiful statements using decorative bundt pans or specialty cake pans.”

– Maeghen Carter, Ghidotti Communications

Bookends Café at River Market Books and Gifts (RMBG) now includes items from Cafe Bossa Nova, located in Hillcrest.

Menu items from Cafe Bossa Nova will rotate periodically. Currently available Brazilian-inspired items are Pao de Queijo, Salpicão and Yakisoba Bowls as well as various empanadas, breakfast pastries and more.

RMBG has also adjusted its hours to serve as a morning pit stop in the River Market area. RMBG is now open daily: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, 9 a.m to 5 p.m Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

– Kathryn Heller, Ghidotti Communications

The Quarters Cafe, just off downtown Hot Springs, is the new hot spot for a business lunch. Locals are already big fans, and out-of-towners will love the authentic Cajun and Creole cooking.

Everything on the menu has a Louisiana kick, from the New Orleans wedge with Creole croutons to the red beans and rice with New Orleans-style sausage. Quarters also serves as the perfect brunch and breakfast spot for morning meetings, featuring delicious options like beignets and chicken and waffles.

This local hole-in-the-wall Louisiana cookery is already loved by co-workers and guests alike.

– Kila Owens, Ghidotti Communications

The next time you take a client out or are joining coworkers for lunch, check out Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill. The downtown Little Rock restaurant will impress locals and visitors alike. Located on picturesque Main Street and close to another favorite, Bruno’s, Samantha’s has ample seating and is an easy walking distance to many businesses.

The lunch menu has a wide range of options from Parmesan salsa, to Greek salad, to grouper fish tacos and even porcini-dusted sirloin.

End with gelato or a leige (sugar) waffle to seal the deal on a perfect lunch and a great meeting.

– Kathryn Heller, Ghidotti Communications

Approaching the completion of newly added space, The Root Cafe in downtown Little Rock has been hosting dinner services on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

After winning $175,000 in grants and prizes, The Root Cafe decided to expand with eight shipping containers. Three containers will be designated for extra seating and the rest will nearly quadruple the kitchen size.

The new dinner menu reflects the cafe’s local emphasis on natural Arkansan meat and produce. Dinner will be served full-time after the opening of renovated space; expected to be completed at the end of the year.

– Kathryn Heller, Ghidotti Communications

From corner stands in the state’s capital to farmers’ markets in small towns, Cave City watermelons can be found statewide.

Cave City melons are not only Arkansas famous, but world famous as the town sign reads “home of the world’s sweetest watermelon.” Locals from the town of 2,000 will tell you the secret is in the soil, not just in the seeds!

The annual Cave City Watermelon Festival’s website has an official list of growers, but the only way to be sure it’s a legitimate Cave City melon is to check for the official sticker. Never a stamp! Yum!

– Maeghen Carter, Ghidotti Communications

Pressroom, the Bentonville-based restaurant and coffee shop, has relocated to a larger space.

Rob Apple opened the coffee shop downtown in 2011. After years of incorporating food into the menu and adapting, they realized they had shifted into a restaurant. The new space is designed to create an atmosphere where breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and cocktails can all be served and enjoyed. More restaurant-style seating is available, as well as workstations for those who are looking for the coffee shop vibe.

Pressroom has also launched a delicious summer menu featuring coconut macaroon granola and hamachi and cantaloupe ceviche.

– Kila Owens, Ghidotti Communications