Congratulations to One Eleven at the Capital. The Capital Hotel’s culinary jewel was recently named one of America’s Best 100 Wine Restaurants for 2018 by Wine Enthusiast magazine. One Eleven’s wine list certainly sets a high bar for Little Rock, but Wine Enthusiast also noted the restaurant’s impressive collection of value wines. Sommelier Okan Bingöl told the magazine, “Quality dining isn’t reserved just for special occasions anymore, and the same holds true for wine. With the quality of wines available today it’s easy to explore and experience excellent wines without paying expensive prices. We’re finding that smaller producers are generating very high-quality wines that our customers are excited to try, and find both more interesting and approachable.” Personally, my favorite wine feature at One Eleven is their special wine fridge that keeps bottles individually pressurized, allowing you to try a high-end wine by the glass instead of spending on the whole bottle.
After months of moving and sorting through boxes, Rock Town Distillery is ready to celebrate its new digs in the SoMa neighborhood. The state’s only distillery is holding a joint 8th anniversary and grand opening party on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Rock Town will host free distillery tours until 5 p.m., and there will be food trucks in the parking lot for the party as well. But for me, I’m most excited about Rock Town’s 8th Anniversary whiskey release. This year, it’s a four-year-old, “bottled in bond,” 100-proof straight rye whiskey. “Bottled in bond” means the whiskey was distilled in one distillation season at one distillery by one distiller, aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof. Rock Town will be selling 375ml bottles for $50 at the event.
The Arkansas franchise of the popular national tour company Brews Cruise is up for sale. Owner Trey Moore is selling the franchise to pursue other business opportunities. Moore has worked to develop strong relationships with brewery owners and to develop his brand, and it shows. Arkansas Brews Cruise is in the top spot on TripAdvisor in nightlife. Moore is including a 15-passenger tour van that is already branded and wrapped. Those interested in acquiring the Arkansas Brews Cruise franchise should email info@arkansasbrewscruise.com.
Though the weather is scorching hot, there is no better time than right now for a foodie living in Arkansas. Tomato season is officially underway in the Natural State and should last for the next month or two. There are many ways to enjoy tomatoes in Central Arkansas. The best is probably to grab your own at your local farmers market; Hillcrest Farmers Market, Argenta Farmers Market and Bernice Garden Farmers Market should have a lot this weekend. And of course, Central Arkansas restaurants are putting out their popular tomato dishes again. Both Deluca’s in Hot Springs and Big Orange have their tremendous Caprese salads back on the menu, and Cheers in the Heights is again offering its fan favorite fried green tomatoes. Just make sure you take advantage as many times as possible, because tomato season never seems to last quite as long as you want it to.
If you are out and about this weekend, be sure to check out Pop Up in the Rock in Stiff Station. It a very unique event for Little Rock. This year they are transforming Stiff Station (Corner of Kavanaugh and Markham) into a street slimming, walkable district filled with food trucks, a Stone’s Throw tap room, and several merchants.
The Great Arkansas Beer Festival is this weekend, and it features three of the rarest beers in the world. Take a look at our preview of the festival in this week’s edition of Growlers.
That impossible-to-miss pink building on Bowman Rd. has some delectable treats inside. We checked out The Whimsy Cookie Company this week and found plenty to like.
RIP Damgoode Pies
November 20, 2023
