Flavors of Northwest Arkansas

FlavorsOfNWA

A podcast about the burgeoning food and beverage scene in Northwest Arkansas. Includes Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, and surrounding areas.

  1. 7h ago

    Cura Osteria – Garyn & Mia Folden

    In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re with Garyn and Mia Folden. Yes, we interviewed them back in 2024, our 23rd episode ever, but things have changed, and now, they’ve finally got their own spot, Cura Osteria in downtown Rogers. But first?!?! FOOD NEWS!! Casa Alejo is about to open in Fayetteville. We’ll hear from them! A golden ticket to the World Food Championships was given out this weekend to the winner of Premier Chef NWA in Rogers. We’ll hear from the winner! SoFresh is officially open in Rogers! The Sundry Hotel in downtown Springdale is scheduled to open in early July. We’ll tell you about the restaurant coming in, and when it’ll open! Dot’s Hot Chicken and Viet Buffet have served their last meals. In this week’s Flavors Flashback, we’re talking to the Mayorga family about starting the first Casa Alejo in Springdale! Garyn and Mia Folden worked their way up and through the restaurant world with an eye and a goal to being where they are now. From how Garyn started cooking in Nebraska to meeting his wife Mia in NWA, to doing pop-ups, to getting an education in New York, and getting their first regulars in a 6-seat provisions store, and to finally having their own place now at Cura Osteria in downtown Rogers. We walk the path with them and find out what Northern Italian food is, and no, it’s not chicken parm, and that’s on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

  2. Oct 21

    MUSA Chocolatier- Stephanie Martinez

    In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re talking to the super-busy Stephanie Martinez who’s following her dream as an exceptional chocolatier at MUSA Chocolatier... But before we hear from her?!?! FOOD NEWS!!! Breaking news last night, as Archie’s Sandwichery announced that they’re expanding. He’ll tell you where! The Arkansas. Food Hall of Fame has some NWA Finalists! Two spots relocated and opened last week. We’ll get you up to date! Did you see what Bentonville’s Piehouse Bakery did for their first time in the World Food Championships?!?! The Arkansas State Chili Championships happened over the weekend. We’ll tell you what the winner gets and hear from him. It’s National Cheese Dip Day, and there’s a Cheese Dip War in Fayetteville. Half Baked Goodness is now open in Fayetteville. Cako is coming to Rogers! SoFresh opens tomorrow in Rogers! Mai Boba Place is closing their window. We’ll tell you when. Anniversary Time! Happy 16th to Tontitown Winery, happy 12th to Woodstone Pizza, and happy first year to Third Space Coffee! In today’s Flavors Flashback, we go back to our podcast with Kevin Girkins of Archie’s, and hear him talk about... expansion :) Stephanie Martinez is never sitting still (unless you ask her to be on your podcast). She started in the corporate world and had a HUGELY interesting job with American Airlines. She’ll tell us that crazy story. She came to NWA for a job, added a degree, and then hit the vendor world during Covid. A few jobs and rungs up the ladder later, she had the realization (as many of us do), that it was time to work for herself. How did chocolate enter the picture? She’ll tell you. Also, it’s a very meticulous process and she’ll walk us through it all, and that’s on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

  3. Oct 14

    For the Love- Melinda Williams and Baylee Summers

    Hi there, and 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 with Co-Founder Melinda Williams and Food & Beverage Director Baylee Summers, but before we hear from them?!?! FOOD NEWS!! The Catfish Hole announces expansion to Bentonville, but where? Brothers Meethouse closed their doors at the end of their shift last Friday. Arsaga’s is building out a space on Mount Sequoyah. We’ll hear when they plan to open. Written by the season gets some Michelin recognition. Nola’s Pantry is back open. We’ll tell you if anything’s changed. Hustle and get your tickets to Winetopia! Premiere Chef happens next weekend, and it’s going to send someone to the World Championships! Speaking of the World Food Championships, we’ve got a local establishment competing there now! Happy 17th anniversary to Feltner Brothers! Happy first anniversary to Wildberry Smoothie! They’re celebrating on Saturday! Happy first anniversary to Cellar on B Street! They’re also celebrating on Saturday! Speaking of Cellar on B Street, on this week’s Flavors Flashback we hear what happened when they decided to make a wine shop out of their sun room! For the Love started out of the gates running. Literally. That’s what the 3 neighbors were doing when they hatched the idea. Running together at night during covid. They were looking to make a difference in people’s lives and form community during a time where you couldn’t. Now they feed all 4 of our big cities- Springdale on Monday, Rogers on Tuesday, Fayetteville on Wednesday and Bentonville on Thursday. They’ve got some amazing stories about the people and situations they’ve found themselves in along the way. We hear from Co-Founder Melinda Williams & Food & Beverage Director Baylee Summers, and that's here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

  4. Oct 7

    Artisan Fine Wines- Laura Williamson

    In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk with local Master Sommelier Laura Williamson about her amazing story. She has the highest designation in the world in wine, and you won’t believe how rare it is to be a Master Somm, but before we talk to Laura?!?! FOOD NEWS!! Owner Russell Ingram tells us why Dot’s Hot Chicken in Fayetteville is closing. Bethel Brew has announced that they’ll be closing. We’ll tell you when. Gelatissimo Gelato came out on top at the World Dairy Expo. You’ll hear from Co-owner Ariel Husband about it! Onyx Coffee Lab will be going into a brand-new development in North Fayetteville! Tiny Tim’s Pizza was almost evicted from the Square in Fayetteville?!?! Get your tickets fast, as Evening at the Farm is about to sell out! The former OZ’s Smokehouse in downtown Rogers will have a new tenant soon! We’ll tell you about Vesper, the sister concept of the Callisto Cocktail Bar in Bentonville. Johnny Brusco’s is going to open early next year in Fayetteville. Hill City Popcorn is officially open in their new location in Tontitown! Sips Nutrition is now open in Farmington! Crave Cookies had a HUGE grand opening in Centerton! We’ll tell you who won in the four categories of the Frisco Inferno BBQ Cookoff. We have 5 anniversaries! Happy earthly rotation to Mexico Viejo, Red Barn Donuts, Warike 115, Big Heart Bread, and Confident Coffee’s Fayetteville location! Speaking of Onyx, in today’s Flavors Flashback, we hear from Co-owner Andrea Allen about building a new concept on another former farm. Hers. The only way that I can describe our guest today is that she’s incredibly unique. Since inception of the Court of Master Sommelier’s exam in 1969, less than 300 people worldwide have ever passed the exam. Laura Williamson was the 13th female to EVER pass the exam, and there are now only 24 female master sommeliers in the U.S. And where was she born? Bentonville, Arkansas. You’ll hear her story- how she got into wine, stories about traveling the world, and why she’s back in NWA, and that’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

  5. Sep 30

    The Leroy Sporting Lounge- Ted Belden & Todd Martin

    In this week’s edition of the flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we are at The Leroy in Fayetteville this week, talking with Owner Ted Belden and Operator Todd Martin, but before we sit with them?!?! FOOD NEWS!! We kick it off with some breaking news- and it’s sad news. Springdale’s Pleasant Counter is closing. We have the deets and you’ll hear from one of the owners. Isabella’s in Bentonville announced their closure on Monday, and they may have foreshadowed it on last week’s podcast. What’s up with Mama Tangs? Stephen Fiery Redd Curgan set another Guinness Record over the weekend! Hill City Popcorn opens in their new spot TOMORROW. Centerton is getting a new cookie shop, and you won’t want to miss this grand opening! We’ll tell you about Crave! Mugs & Merlot will be opening without the Merlot starting out, but there’s a good reason. We find out where the Obsidian Lion speakeasy will be located! Do you have your tickets yet to Evening at the Farm?!?! Happy 3-year anniversary to Perisseia Coffee! Happy 1-year Anniversary to Langman Winery! Falltoberfest is this Sunday on Dickson Street! Frisco Inferno is back this weekend in downtown Rogers! We hear about “Bloody-blood” in this week’s Flavors Flashback (yikes)! The Leroy on Dickson Street in Fayetteville hasn’t always been called the Leroy. It opened a few years ago as the Luh-roy... We’ll hear about the pronunciation change. Also, why a sporting lounge? Owner Ted Belden speaks to that and the inclusion of duckpin bowling there. More so than most places, there’s a diversity of clientele being that they’re in walking distance to campus and serve upscale pub food, and craft cocktails. We’ll hear how they work to cater to everyone. Finally, we get into the food and bev space, and we’ll hear about operating partner South by Northwest’s influence on the current menu and what that first gameday looked like, and that’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

A podcast about the burgeoning food and beverage scene in Northwest Arkansas. Includes Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, and surrounding areas.

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