Mark your calendars for this Friday, when Big Orange and Big Orange Midtown once again release their February special Lucie’s Rainbow Shake. The shake itself is a simple vanilla milkshake, but it’s the four-layer rainbow cake that sets it apart. Each color is found in the logo for Lucie’s Place, a Little Rock nonprofit that serves Central Arkansas’ LGBTQ homeless young adults. Those services include safe living conditions, bus passes, job training and counseling services. I’ve had the chance to work with Lucie’s Place for two years now, and the work they do to support and uplift some of the most neglected people in our state is worthy of praise. For the entire month of February, 100 percent of the proceeds from every Lucie’s Rainbow Shake sold at Big Orange and Big Orange Midtown will go to Lucie’s Place. Make plans to go Friday and to go many more times in February and support this awesome cause. Here’s our story from last year on Lucie’s Rainbow Shake.
Loblolly Creamery has several sweet events in the month of February:
- February 1-18 is “Be Our Gallontine,” and you’re going to want to invite a friend (or three) for this one. As the name suggests, Loblolly is offering a one-gallon sundae during the event. That’s ten scoops of ice cream, ten toppings and a cherry on the top. The Gallontine is $34, and you should absolutely pre-order this one, either by calling 501-396-9609 or visiting Loblolly’s website. Oh, and if you plan on trying this one all by yourself, leave me a message and I’ll bring the video camera.
- This Saturday, Loblolly is celebrating National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day with a special guest from Hot Springs. Will’s Cinnamon Shop will be at Loblolly’s scoop shop starting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Special menu items include cinnamon roll sundaes (OMG), cereal milk ice cream and cold brew coffee floats. The first 100 people in the door also get a free “Ice Cream for Breakfast” commemorative pin.
- Then for Valentine’s Day and the day after, Loblolly is creating a special “Dessert Smorgasbord.” This dessert for two features four scoops of Valentine’s Day ice cream, two macarons, two housemade s’mores, two champagne sodas and a take-home bag of Loblolly marshmallows. You’ll also get a special Loblolly Valentine. Each smorgasbord costs $30, though you can save $5 by pre-ordering online.
An update now to the story we brought you last week. Nori Menegaldo, famous materfamilias at Zaffino’s by Nori in Sherwood, is feeling good enough again to return to work, albeit briefly. Nori was back at Zaffino’s for a few hours yesterday to visit her staff and greet some customers. Nori had a painful scare last week when an abscess required emergency surgery at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. Her son, Zaffino’s manager Michael Fryar, says the surgery went well, and Nori has been recovering for the past week at home. With Nori’s work ethic, you can expect her back at Zaffino’s as soon as she’s able. If you have never met Nori, you can check out our profile of her here, and then you can go to Zaffino’s and meet one of the kindest women in Central Arkansas’ food scene for yourself.
In case you’ve forgotten, this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday (or “the big game,” as the NFL would have some businesses call it). There are dozens of restaurants planning events for this weekend, including Reno’s Argenta Café, Mehfil Indo-Pak Mughlai Cuisine, Brewski’s, Dugan’s Pub and many others. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.; make sure to make reservations or arrive early to get a seat.
After a tumultuous past few years, Gusano’s Chicago-style Pizzeria in the River Market has closed for good. We take a look at what led to the closing.
And this week, we went behind the scenes at Lost Forty Brewing to meet with cellarman Zac Thompson. Find out what four beers he thinks you should try next time you stop by the taproom.
