In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at Casa Alejo in downtown Rogers, where we hear great stories from the Mayorga family, but first!?! FOOD NEWS!! There’s a new date and new location for this year’s Top Chef NWA, benefitting the Rogers Public Library Foundation. Chuo Izakaya will be opening soon in Rogers. It’s owned by Meiji’s Darwin Beyer, who will tell us when he plans to open it! Cura Culinary will finally be back soon! We’ll tell you where and hear from them! Bienvenue will be flipping formats. We’ll tell you what’s coming in its place! Wildberry Smoothie Company opened Monday in Fayetteville. There’s a new Asian buffet at the old Eat My Catfish spot in Fayetteville. We’ll tell you about Osaka House! Savory Hibachi will open soon on MLK in Fayetteville! The work is done at the Springdale Pool Lounge. Owner Ross Jackson will tell us when it opens! Thai Cuisine in Bentonville looks to have closed. Remember, if you have a food news tip, just shoot it to me at the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas social media, or at FlavorsOfNWA@gmail.com!! Casa Alejo is a family restaurant run by brothers that grew up in the family business. Originally from San Luis Potosi in Mexico, the family emigrated to Searcy to work in the restaurant business. Brothers Said and Luis Mayorga had their first restaurant together in their adopted hometown of Searcy, and let’s just say that it didn’t go as planned, you’ll hear why. Of course, with age comes wisdom and the brothers will tell you their path to opening the first Casa Alejo in downtown Springdale and then Rogers. It’s quite the ride, including the torn-up road on Emma RIGHT when they opened!! Also, they’ll talk about family recipes and what the elders thought about birria, and Said’s fascination with finding places on and off-menu for waffle fries. It’s a funny story, but there’s also a good reason behind it. Finally- are they done, or are there more Casa Alejo’s on the horizon? We’ll talk with Said, Luis and Kacey Mayorga next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

Bentonville Restaurant Week officially starts on Sunday. We caught up with Visit Bentonville’s Natalie Stika to find out more on this bonus edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas. Learn how you can win free gift cards to some of Bentonville’s favorite restaurants and we highlight some of the deals that are going on for the week! Natalie’s got the deets. Also? John shares his favorite deal, and it’s the most GenX thing ever! Be sure to check out VisitBentonville.com to see the latest list of offers and get out and support local! As always, Tip you servers!!!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we interview at the oldest restaurant in Benton County, Wesner’s Grill, where talked to owners Jack Debner and Brandy Moreland, but before we hear from them?!?! FOOD NEWS!! If you can make a burger, you have a chance to compete with it at the World Food Championships! UnDeuxTrois has opened in Rogers! There’s a new buffet serving all-you-can-eat sushi. They’re also serving all-you-can-eat freshly shucked oysters, crab legs and mussels on the weekends! Great Harvest NWA is now open in Bentonville. Happy 9th anniversary to Bucks Emma Tap. The party is ON this weekend! Wesner’s Grill is indeed the oldest restaurant in Benton County, as they celebrate 70 years this year. Harry Wesner founded it on Walnut Street in 1955, and it’s had many ownership changes as well as a location change since. That said, it’s always been in downtown Rogers and maintained its charm and strong reputation. We’ll talk about its history and the history of its current location, as well as the menu – classic American diner food. That’s in this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

On this week’s Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we sit down with Onyx Co-Owner Andrea Allen at the new Onyx in downtown Springdale, but first?!? FOOD NEWS!! It’s Tontitown Grape Festival Week! We’ll tell you when you can get those famous spaghetti dinners! An update about Wright’s Barbecue’s Johnson location from Jordan Wright himself! We have a BIG update on the Fermentary Public House in Lowell! A popular cafein Devil’s Den is temporarily closed. It’s finally that time for Nomad’s Southtown. Great Harvest is about to open in Bentonville. The Barber Bar in Bentonville is making big progress and might open this month! Coffee has been a passion for Onyx owners Jon and Andrea Allen for a long time. They worked together at Arsaga’s in Fayetteville not even having an inkling of what they would build together. Andrea would eventually manage a few Arsaga’s coffee shops, where she would learn the business side of the trade, and then she and Jon would get an offer that they just couldn’t refuse. That’s when Onyx was born. Speaking of Onyx, Andrea will tell us about the name and why it fit what they were building. Also, you’ll hear her talk about their growth through the years and what’s coming. She’ll also tell the story of why their cafe Hail Fellow Well Met has such a special place in her heart. It’s a great story. Also a great story? How hospitality runs deep in her family. She’s got a few stories about that, and you’ll hear them here, on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.  

In this bonus edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, we talk with the 126th Tontitown Grape Festival Chair Clint Engle as he and his team are ramping up this year’s edition that kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday, August 5, 2025). He’ll go over some of the highlights, like live entertainment (which includes the Bellamy Brothers and Walker Montgomery) and food (the famous spaghetti dinners, grape ice cream, and more). You can also win a Ford Bronco Sport- Clint has all the details on this special edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to Elliot Hunt, co-owner and executive chef of Atlas the Restaurant in Fayetteville. We’ll talk to chef Elliot in a second but first?!?! FOOD NEWS! We have a LOADED Food News segment today, so pack a lunch because here we go! The Ropeswing Hospitality Group announces three food and beverage programs for the Compton Hotel in downtown Bentonville. We find out how much spaghetti is made for the Tontitown Grape Festival. Great Harvest Bakery & Café opens soon in Bentonville. Onyx Coffee lab opens a new location in Fayetteville. A new coffee shop is about to open in Highfill. We’ll tell you about Kaleidoscope Café. The Johnson location of Wright’s BBQ is having construction delays. We’ll tell you when they’re aiming to re-open. Smith & Betts BBQ is opening a second location. We’ll tell you where! Sugar Llamas is closed in Springdale, but they’re about to open at a new location. Pizzeria Ruby is holding delicious fundraiser next month and we’ll tell you all about it. Speaking of Pizzeria Ruby, they’re opening a new location in Bentonville called Pizza Lottie. A Parisian-inspired café will open soon in Rogers. You’ll hear about Un Deux Trois Café Fayetteville’s Wildberry Smoothie Co. opens soon, and they do more than smoothies! Fuego Tortilla Grill is coming to Fayetteville. If you have any food news or want us to check into something, just shoot us a note on Instagram or Facebook at Flavors of Northwest Arkansas or email us at FlavorsofNWA@Gmail.com. Elliot Hunt got into cooking by accident, and it’s taken him all over the country and globe. From working in kitchens in France, Ecuador, Australia and Chicago (and that’s just for starters), the Fayetteville-raised chef never stops learning and never stops travelling. In this episode, we hear stories from both long and short kitchen tenures both stateside and abroad. What was it like working for a Michelin star chef in France as an 18-year-old? What was it that kept him in Chicago so long? And why did he decide to come back home to Fayetteville? We talk to Elliot Hunt of Atlas the Restaurant on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re up in Rogers at the Uptown Kitchen and Taphouse talking with Co-owner/Operator Seth McDaniel... but before we hear from him?!?! FOOD NEWS!! 72 restaurants are participating in Fayetteville Restaurant Week. We’ll tell you how Black Apple Hard Cider is celebrating their 10th birthday on Sunday. The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market will have a Watermelon Fest soon. Happy first year anniversary to the Leroy! We’ll tell you how and when they’ll be celebrating it. Nomad’s Southtown will be open a bit longer. The newest Slim Chickens has opened at their first location. We’ll explain. Someone tried to make Richard’s Country Meat Market a drive-thru this weekend. Seth McDaniel was an information systems consultant for Hitachi for years. It kept him on the road constantly, and he got tired watching his kids grow up on a webcam, so he got out. What led him to wanting to open a kitchen and taphouse? It’s an interesting story and has everything to do with his travels. Seth had zero restaurant or bar experience, other than sitting on the other side of it, so he bought into a chain that was different. VERY different. In fact, it was only an unproven concept at the time. It included 100 beers on tap, and he ended up being one of the flagships for the chain, until he broke away from that chain. He’ll talk about that process and how he was able to do it. That’s how Uptown Kitchen and Taphouse was born. Seth will talk about its growth, and HIS growth in the restaurant business. In many cases, he had to learn the hard way and he talks about it next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this special edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk Fayetteville Restaurant Week with Sarah King of Experience Fayetteville and we get knee-deep into what’s being offered. There are 72 restaurants participating, offering prix fixe dinners, special drinks, discounts and more. If you plan on going to a Fayetteville restaurant during restaurant week, we’ll tell you some of our favorite specials and how to find what all 72 are offering this week. You can find more at ExperienceFayetteville.com.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re talking to Russell Ingram, co-owner of the very popular Dot’s Hot Chicken that recently made the change from food truck to brick and mortar. But first?!?! FOOD NEWS!!! We’ve hit the time of year where we get some temporary restaurant closures, especially in Fayetteville before the U-of-A gets back in session. Torchy’s Taco’s re-opens soon in Fayetteville after a remodel. Little Bread Company is taking the week off. Rick’s Bakery took some time off, but are back! Baked by Kori is taking the week off in Fayetteville, but open in Rogers. Fayetteville Restaurant Week is next week! Formosa has been closed for over a month but are supposed to come back soon. The revival of the AQ Chicken House is taking a pause. Happy 4 years this weekend to Rendezvous Junction Brewing! Big party there this weekend! Russell Ingram and his wife Sarah moved from Nashville to Fayetteville where she’s originally from. Russell has a chef background and learned hot chicken from when they made it as a special at a restaurant where he worked in Nashville. He grew to love it and didn’t like that he was moving to a place that didn’t have it, so he started his own- Dot’s Hot Chicken, and they hit the ground running! They opted for a food truck first.  They bought one that they had to drive back from outside of Houston, and the trip was SCARY. You’ll hear that story. Also, who is Dot and how many awards has her chicken won? Russell will tell us. They recently moved into a brick-and-mortar restaurant from the food truck. Russell will talk about that transition, and what that allows them to do that they couldn’t do in the food truck... and it’s all next right here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk to Chef’s Matt Cooper and Rafael Rios about being 2 of the 5 finalists for Best Chef of the South at the James Beard Awards. They made the trip to Chicago for the awards, and they’ll tell us about their trip, food trends here locally and nationally, and what’s next for them... but before we get to that!! FOOD NEWS!! Art of Wine is Friday night! Goat Lab Brewery is opening up a new concept in Fayetteville. A new cocktail bar opens in downtown Springdale TODAY! We’ll hear about the Blind Bear! Nomads Southtown is closing in Fayetteville. Hear what their plans are. A popular local fast food burger chain has closed their doors. Happy 3 year anniversary to Crème Ice Cream! Wright’s Barbeque has closed their Johnson location temporarily. We’ll tell you why. Outlaw Pizza Co. is now in a brick and mortar! We’ll tell you where! Conifer & Ryn Chef and owner Matt Cooper and Yeyo’s, Bauhaus Biergarten and Casa Magnolia Chef & Owner Rafael Rios were the first in Arkansas to make it to the final 5 in the Best Chef of the South category at the James Beard Awards, an unbelievable feat for them, for Arkansas and more specifically Northwest Arkansas.  They talk about their trip to Chicago, and the lead up to the awards. Keep in mind, the top chef of the south category includes 5 states and Puerto Rico... Chefs Rios and Cooper will tell us how other chefs reacted when they told them that they were from Bentonville. As mentioned earlier, they see some trends coming both for Northwest Arkansas and the rest of the country. They’ll tell us about those. And finally, what’s next for both chefs? You know that great restauranteurs and chefs rarely sit still... some big plans coming for both, and you’ll hear from them next, right here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

It’s officially the very popular Art of Wine week at Walton Arts Center! The event takes place Friday night from 8 to 11. We interviewed the Walton Arts Center Events Manager Whitlee Douthitt about the event. How many vendors will be there, what does the event benefit, and how can you get tickets? That’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast we talk with Kyle Alexander of R.G. Macon and Carson Apple Brandy, and their story goes back into the 1800’s in Bentonville. But before we hear from Kyle?? FOOD NEWS!! We’ll hear about the new steakhouse atop the Hotel Avail in Rogers, Oak Steakhouse. If you’re watching on YouTube, prepare for some gorgeous views The original Slim Chickens will reopen soon with a new concept. According the Axios NWA, the volume of craft beer sold by Arkansas breweries is dominated by NWA. Cobblestone Farms is looking for their next leader. The Feral Pig made it official last Sunday! Airship Coffee has opened on the Walmart Campus, we’ll tell you where and what to expect. Dodo Coffee has broken ground in Fayetteville. Happy Anniversary to the Venesian Inn and Gaskins on Emma! Back in the late 1800’s, R.G. Macon & Carson made Apple Brandy just off the Bentonville square, in a dry county where they couldn’t even sell a bottle legally. Believe it or not, they got so popular in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s that they were the first nationally known entrepreneurs from Bentonville. How big did they get? You’ll hear. What happened to them when prohibition hit? It’s quite the story. Kyle Alexander is one of the partners running Macon & Carson, and he knows their history better than anyone. He also tells us what’s going on with them today in this edition of Northwest Arkansas!

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at Bocca in Fayetteville talking with co-owner Mike Rohrbach and Executive Chef & GM John Harpool, but before we hear from them?!?! FOOD NEWS!! Bonchon has their grand opening tonight in Rogers! The Oak Steakhouse is opening in Rogers at the New Hotel Avail. Queen Donut’s opens this week in Fayetteville. Black Apple Hard Cider is having a BIG birthday this weekend! We talk to one of the owners of the soon-to-be new restaurant/brewery in Lowell, the Fermentary! The Botanical family is growing! King Burrito is headed back to Fayetteville Waystone Pizza has closed in Fayetteville. Mike Rohrbach was working away as co-owner of Flying Burrito and had no plans to open an authentic Italian restaurant. Enter his food salesman Keith Burmylo, who had different plans for himself and Rohrbach... You’ll hear how that materialized... it wasn’t quick... And how about Executive Chef John Harpool? He got into food almost accidentally when he was back home one summer break from the U of A. You’ll hear what prompted him. Incidentally, it made him a VERY popular roommate back in college... You’ll hear about his first food job and what propelled him into being the top dog in the kitchen AND front of house at Bocca. We talk to co-owner Mike Rohrbach and Executive Chef/General Manager John Harpool NEXT here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

In this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk with Chef Miles James- he of Ella’s at Inn at Carnal Hall, Inn at the Mill, James at the Mill, 28 Springs, and currently? MJ’s Pizzeria. We’ll hear from him shortly, but first?!?! FOOD NEWS! Not the night that we wanted here locally at the James Beard Awards. Chef Matthew Cooper’s new restaurant Ryn will officially open tomorrow! Archie’s Sandwichery opens soon. We’ll hear from the owner! Bloom Cheese Collective has started their soft opening week. We’ll hear when they open for good! Sicaru Coffee Roasters opened last week. We now have a Peruvian restaurant in Rogers. Queen Donuts should open soon in Fayetteville. Taqueria Guanajuato just opened in a new location. A new tea shop is opening soon in Fayetteville. Miles James grew up in Northwest Arkansas and went to the U of A. He got his first job in a legendary Fayetteville restaurant when he was 14, and from there, he was hooked. After college, he decided on culinary school and then learned from some of the top chefs in the northeast and around the world. Chef James has some great stories about that. Why did he come back to NWA? Opportunity, both professionally and personally. At the tender age of 26, he came home to open James at the Mill and Inn at the Mill in Johnson. His trajectory and life changed immensely because of 3 guests just having lunch one day. That’s when things truly took off. What a great story that is, and you’ll hear it from him. And finally, his current baby, MJ’s Pizzeria. He’ll tell the story about how it started, and how they survived Covid. Also, I couldn’t believe it when he said it, but next month will be a decade for MJ’s- 10 years! And something’s on the horizon for the place. Chef James will tell us that and much more, and that’s next here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!    

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at San Miguel Mexican Grill and Bar in Fayetteville talking with Jesus Rodriguez... but FIRST?!?! FOOD NEWS! Wu Zhao finally opens in Bentonville. We’ll hear from owners Barry Furuseth and Vincent Lim. The 9th Downtown Springdale Street Dinner took place Saturday night. Fossil Cove Brewing became a teenager! It looks like a local Indian food chain has closed. If you have a tip or have heard any food or beverage news, feel free to shoot me a note. Just look for Flavors of Northwest Arkansas on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. You can also shoot me an email at FlavorsOfNWA@Gmail.com. Jose Rodriguez emigrated from a small town outside of San Miguel in Mexico and made his way to Houston to get into the restaurant business. He started at the very bottom and made his way from absolutely nothing. He met the love of his life in Houston and now some 40+ years later, their kids have kids, and though he doesn’t know what the word “retire” means, his kids have taken over their 2 restaurants. La Hacienda, named after the restaurant in Houston where he learned the trade, and San Miguel, of course the resort town near his hometown (and there might be something new on the way). One of Jose’s sons, Jesus Rodriguez, grew up in Fayetteville as one of 6 kids, went to Brightwater, and now for the most part runs San Miguel... We hear from Jesus about how his family ended up in Arkansas from Houston... He’ll also tell us about growing up at La Hacienda, how and why he decided to go to Brightwater, and of course, we talk food. That’s next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re in Lowell for this episode at Goat Lab Brewery talking with owner Bill Adams and Promotions and Marketing Director Alex Keltner... but before we get to them?!?! FOOD NEWS!! Parlor Donuts is having their soft open week, We’ll hear from the owners about their Grand Opening! We have an update on Mermaid’s in Rogers. We talk to Jordan Wright of Wright’s BBQ about helping put together the first Bentonville BBQ Festival that happened Saturday! Sicaru Coffee Roasters will open soon in Fayetteville. We have the deets. What about Archie’s Sandwichery in Bentonville? We talked to the owner and have new details You can now have nitrogen ice cream in NWA! Tula is moving from the Fayetteville Square! A New Orleans coffee shop is coming to Rogers. Girls Gone BBQ will be closing soon. Sakura Poke Sushi & Grill is now open in Fayetteville. We’ll hear from them. Goat Lab Brewery in Lowell isn’t just a brewery. it’s a part of a complex that was inspired by owner Bill Adams time in the military while stationed in Germany. Of course, we all know about the Grove Comedy Club, but there’s more to the complex, and Bill will tell us all about it. Also, why Lowell? If you’ve been around long enough, you’ll remember that the Grove was initially in Rogers, so why’d it move? Finally, when getting Goat Lab together, Bill was extorted. He tells us what happened. It was a stressful time for sure. Watch on YouTube or listen to wherever you get your podcasts!

In this bonus edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, we cover the huge day yesterday for the Northwest Arkansas food community, specifically for those desiring easier access to fresh local food as well as food entrepreneurs who are looking for an inexpensive option for their food or drink production, as a very crowded Market Center of the Ozarks held their grand opening and ribbon cutting in downtown Springdale.   Emily English is the Director of Northwest Arkansas Food Systems and the Senior Program Officer with the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group and explains the difference between the 2 operators of the facility. Senator John Boozman was on hand and talked about the current plight of the farmer and how this facility could be an influence nationally. One of the most important topics when planning the Market Center of the Ozarks was the location- why downtown Springdale? We’ll hear from Arkansas Food Innovation Center Executive Director Darryl Holliday. If you’re a food entrepreneur, or are thinking about making your own product, we’ll tell you how to reach out! We’ll have a podcast with the Arkansas Food Innovation Center team later this summer, where we’ll get knee deep into the ideation and what it took for the Market Center of the Ozarks to come to fruition. Don’t forget, you can find us on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please subscribe, like and rate. If you’re new, check out our archives as we have over 70 interviews–mostly audio, but the past 3 months are video on YouTube. And if you’re going out this weekend, please tip your servers and tip them well if they deserve it. They count on your more than you count on them. Have a great weekend, we’ll see you next week.

On this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we have an interesting one- in fact, it’s been one that I’ve been curious about for some time. How do chefs get their knives sharpened? Do they send them off one-by-one? Do they do them themselves? We caught up with a local mobile knife sharpener to get the answers. We talk to Tyler Eck of Honed-In Sharpening. But before we do that?!?! FOOD NEWS!! Last week, the downtown Springdale Street Dinner picked their chef, and he’s set the menu. We’ll hear from Bienvenue’s William Mauk. The Park House Kitchen and Bar took on serious roof damage in last week’s storms. They’re having a Raise the Roof party – we have the details! There’s a new Italian restaurant in east Springdale. We’ll tell you about Palermo’s. We tell you about the cohorts that won Cureate grants this year The Market Center of the Ozarks opens this week! It’s the week of the Bentonville BBQ Fest. You won’t believe how many competitors are coming to this event! A new softserve/coffee trailer has opened at the 8th Street Market Happy Anniversary today to Meiji! Tyler Eck kind of fell into sharpening knives... it wasn’t what he originally wanted to do, but he was hoping that this would get him in the door to doing what he had originally wanted... Little did he know that sharpening is what he’d fall in love with. He sharpens more than knives- if it’s got a sharp edge, chances are he can sharpen it. He’ll tell us the list of what he sharpens... so far. And yes, you don’t have to be a professional chef or stylist to get you blades sharpened by Tyler, as he sharpened a few things for me... quickly. In fact, he does it during the interview. We talk with Tyler Eck of Honed In Sharpening, next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.

In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast we’re taking a bit of a left turn as we’re heading out to the Rogers Farmer’s Market where we had a bit of a roundtable, and we’ll get to that, BUT FIRST??? (*FOOD NEWS*) Pesto’s By Lance closed yesterday. We’ll hear from Lance. Both Renzo’s locations also close, but it might just be temporary Taqueria Lucha opened on Dickson Street last week The Apartment 7 Bar has opened in the space formerly known as WineU on 15th Street across the street from Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville. There is now a Rudy’s BBQ in Fayetteville Local Ice Cream is joining he Brick City Shops at Evelyn Hills Mermaids in Rogers is opening soon. VERY soon. France’s top Sommelier will be in Springdale at the end of the month! A local bartender competes against the top 30 in the nation We’ll hear about the new restaurant & bar at the New AC Hotel in Bentonville The Bentonville Brewing Company turns 10! Of course, we’re in Farmer’s Market Season here, and it’s a serious time of year for those that run them, and those that have booths. The Rogers Farmer’s Market got displaced by the tornado last year, but they’ve come back strong. Owner/operator Grant Wise took it over last year from his mother, carrying on the family tradition. But with that came new ideas, new marketing AND a new location – a very different one that’s paying off early... We hear from Grant, and two local vendors that basically plan their whole week around people “shoppin the shade.” If you don’t know what that means, you will shortly, right here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas...

Hope you’re thirsty! On this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, where we’re talking local BEER... local Beer with owner/operator John Lee of New Province Brewing Company, but first?!?! FOOD NEWS!!! Chef Rafael Rios has a grand re-opening at Yeyo’s at the 8th Street Market. We’ll hear from him. Akira Sushi and Hibachi opens in east Fayetteville. Owner Andreas Tan tells us what it was like leading up to getting the doors open. BBQ King in Bentonville has closed. The Honey Bean Ice Cream Company food trailer has moved! It’s all about honey, bees and beer Sunday at Orthodox Brewery. Café Lavande is officially open in Fayetteville. A new Poke Bowl and Sushi place will be opening in west Fayetteville. USip is setting up near UA, and a former NFL quarterback is one of the owners. New Province Brewery opened in Rogers in 2016 and was founded by Derek and Megan McEnroe. In 2022, the brewery was acquired by John Lee and a few partners. Before New Province, Lee owned and operated Rebel Kettle Brewing Company in Little Rock and built it from the ground up. He took a shining to brewing at a young age thanks to his first taste of a craft beer, and it’s one that helped start the movement nationally- we’ll tell you which one. How did he learn to brew beer? He didn’t intern anywhere. He didn’t work at any breweries before opening his own. He’ll tell you how he learned. And the lead up to opening that brewery? He tells us what he DIDN’T know and what his first day was like opening Rebel Kettle. After 4 years, he got out of the beer business and went back to his professional roots, which benefitted him greatly. You’ll hear the story. Finally, John bought New Province in 2022 and quickly looked to see what he had with an eye on expansion. He’ll get specific on some of their beers and some that are coming down the pike. It’s John Lee of New Province, next, right here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!