Robert Tju, co-owner of Sushi Cafe, says work is in progress, with a January target opening date, on the restaurant’s new, smaller second outlet, possibly to be called Sushi Cafe Hub, inside the Eleven Two Eleven Center on Cantrell Road just west of Interstate 430.
Arkansas Business reported this week that Russ McDonough, who had owned one fourth of Local Lime with Scott McGehee, John Beachboard and Ben Brainard, has bought out Herren Hickingbotham’s share of the other restaurants that McGehee and Beachboard own. That makes him an equal partner in Local Lime, the two locations of Big Orange and the ZaZa Fine Salad & Wood-Oven Pizza Co. in Little Rock and one-third owner of the ZaZa restaurant in Conway. “John and Scott and I are essentially equal partners in all five restaurants,” McDonough told the publication’s“Whispers” column. “Hopefully, I’ll add more value on the business side, certainly not in the kitchen.”
Michael Juiliano, aka Hot Dog Mike, continues to post his daily menu on his website, hotdogmike.com, which presumably he will continue to do once he has opened his Hot Dog Mike the Storefront, 402 E. Third St., Little Rock - which he is still listing as “soon.” Tuesday’s menu, for example, featured “an uncured, vegetarian-fed, all-natural, no-nitrates-added, no-MSG, gluten-free, antibiotic-free, minimally processed, no-artificial-ingredients, all-beef hot dog” for an extra buck over regular menu prices. “Sometimes I run out of things,” Mike notes. “ Actually it’s my goal.”
Sherwood caterer Two Sisters has opened a restaurant, Two Sisters Cafe, at 3110 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, offering full breakfast, and for lunch and dinner, says manager Nona Pruitt, sandwiches,soups, salads and a daily hot special, plus “tons of desserts - cookies, pies, cakes, cupcakes, ice cream; we also have espressos and take-and bake.” Hours are 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 819-0189.
More than 25 teams will compete in the Heights Neighborhood Association’s fourth annual Chili Fights in the Heights, Saturday along Kavanaugh Boulevard between North Taylor and North Polk streets in Little Rock’s Pulaski Heights neighborhood. Cooking begins at 2 p.m.; public tasting from 5 to 6:30. A tasting kit costs $4, and proceeds benefit Arkansas Foodbank Network. Call (501) 765-5838 or visit chilifights.com.
Participating Krispy Kreme outlets, as part of a promotion called “Krispy Skremes!,” will hand out one free Halloween-theme, Pumpkin Spice or Pumpkin Cheesecake doughnut on Halloween (Oct. 31) to customers who come in the door in costume. Usual disclaimers: “No purchase necessary. While supplies last. One doughnut per customer. Good on Oct. 31 only. Visit KrispyKreme.com/Halloween for participating locations.”
Faith Anaya of Kids Cook Arkansas will share creative recipes and give youngsters age 8 and up hands-on kitchen experience via WILDKids Cook!, a pair of fall cooking classes, 2-4 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 10 at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock. Sunday’s menu will feature pumpkin cookies, sweet pumpkin tarts and hot mulled apple cider; for Nov. 10, Remy’s Cheese Straws, sweet potato oven fries and Death by Chocolate cookies. Space is limited to 12 students; enrollment fee, $50, includes all the supplies and ingredients. Register online at wildwoodpark.org; for more information, call (501) 821-7275, Extension 259, or email angela@wildwoodpark.org.
Nov. 18 is the deadline to enter the second annual “Say It Ain’t Say’s” Sweet Potato Pie Contest (named for Little Rock restaurateur and community activist Robert “Say” McIntosh, whose specialties included sweet potato pies), Dec. 1 at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. The contest is open to any Arkansas amateur or professional baker; the first 10 entries from amateurs and the first eight from professionals will get in. Prizes go to first and second place in each category, and the overall crowd favorite will receive a People’s Choice award. Pick up contest rules and entry forms at the center or online at mosaictemplarscenter.com; call (501) 683-3593.
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 email to: eharrison@arkansasonline.com
Weekend, Pages 40 on 10/24/2013