The downtown Little Rock U.S. Pizza outlet at 402 Louisiana St. has closed and the telephone number, (501) 374-5561, has been disconnected. “That location was [operated by] a licensee and she decided to close,” explains Drew Weber, U.S. Pizza’s chief operating officer. The restaurant opened in April 2008 as U.S. Pizza Salad Express, serving just about everything every other U.S. Pizza served except pizza, which it added to the menu by that August.
We recently unearthed the menu, which had been buried on our desk for several weeks, for Vina Express Homestyle Oriental Food, a drive-through/ take-out operation at 3612 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, in what had been a Rally’s. It’s open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; the phone number is (501) 834-6995.
Forty Two, the restaurant in the Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, transports the hungry to Budapest, Hungary, for its monthly Around the World Thursdays dinner, 7 p.m. today. Doors open at at 6:30; cost is $27.95 for the five-course tasting menu and “special cultural entertainment” and the restaurant requires reservations. Call (501)537-0042.
The Arkansas Culinary Federation’s Central Region Conference, meeting in Little Rock at the end of this month, includes the the Governor’s Culinary Challenge, 6:30-9 p.m. April 29 at the Capital Hotel, 111 W. Markham St., Little Rock. Ten Arkansas chefs - the hotel’s Joel Antunes, Peter Brave of Brave New Restaurant, Capi Peck of Trio’s, Mark Abernathy of Red Door and Loca Luna, Brian Deloney of Maddie’s Place, Stephen Burrow of the Clinton Presidential Center, Gilbert Alaquinez of the the Governor’s Mansion, Jason Knapp of Aramark at the University of Central Arkansas (the current Arkansas Diamond Chef) and, currently unaffiliated, Lee Richardson and Donnie Ferneau Jr. - “will each showcase their unique flavor,” according to a news release. Tickets are $100; proceeds benefit the Thea Foundation Scholarship Program. Visit governorsculinarychallenge.com.
Little Rock has joined Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle and Hampton Roads, Va., in Eatiply, an online “ meal-fora-meal” program in which, for every meal you buy, participating restaurants donate a meal to someone in need. Initially, 10 central Arkansas restaurants have signed up - Ciao Baci, Dugan’s Pub, The House, Loca Luna, Red Door, Revolution Room, RJ Tao, Sonny Williams’ Steak Room and Stickyz Rock ’N Roll Chicken Shack in Little Rock and Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen in Conway, with more to join up in late April. Visit eatiply.com.
“Made in the Market,” a series of cooking classes that will involve fresh, locally grown ingredients available at the Little Rock Farmers Market, returns to the River Market, starting May 7 with Leah Patterson leading a class on herbs. Classes take place 6-8 p.m. in the Bill and Margaret Clark Multi-Purpose Room on the third floor of the Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.
The rest of the current schedule:
June 4: “Making Pickles,” presented by Central Arkansas Library System, cook to be announced
July 2: Special presentation by Chris Stroup, executive chef, Pancetta Regional Kitchen & Wine Bar at the Little Rock Marriott (formerly Capriccio Grill in what had previously been the Peabody Little Rock)
Aug. 6: “Heart Healthy Cooking” with Chef Shane Henderson of food distributor Ben E. Keith, in partnership with the Arkansas chapter of the American Heart Association
Sept. 3: Rice dishes, presented by CALS, cook TBA
Oct. 3: “Soups with CALS”
Nov. 5: “Wild Game Supper,” presented by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Dec. 3: “Gingerbread House Making” with Chef Juan Villasenor of the Doubletree Hotel
Cost is $25. Call (501) 375-2552 to make reservations or, for additional information, visit rivermarket.info.
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Krispy Kreme will help you celebrate National Superhero Day April 28, offering a dozen free doughnuts (if you buy a dozen, of course) with a coupon you can download from HeroAppreciationDay.com. Valid at participating Krispy Kreme locations (including the one on Shackleford Road in Little Rock), while supplies last. (The [doughnut] chain is not requiring that you wear a cape or costume.) The idea is “to help its fans recognize and reward the unheralded heroes who live in our communities … police officers, firefighters, military, teachers, doctors, volunteers and many more,” explains Dwayne Chambers, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp.’s chief marketing officer.
Has a restaurant opened - or closed - near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 121 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72201. Send e-mail to: eharrison@arkansasonline.com
Weekend, Pages 40 on 04/18/2013