You may recall about this time last year we reported on entrepreneur Gene Hickman's dream of reopening the former Sir Loins Inn, 801 W. 29th St., North Little Rock, as Sir Loins Steak and Lobster House. That dream bubble has apparently finally burst. A sign in front of the building advertises a "sell at any price" auction today. While working on the project, Hickman had run into a series of legal difficulties in Lonoke County involving theft-of-property allegations against a former Cabot home-building operation he owned.
Donnie Ferneau Jr. has completely moved his Good Food by Ferneau out of the Hillcrest church kitchen where he has been operating and expects, pending the delivery of a few pieces of equipment, to be up and running within a couple of weeks in the former Argenta Market space, 521 Main St., North Little Rock. In the meanwhile, he's taking care of regular customers and will cater a few private parties. He'll still focus on gluten- and sugar-free meals without processed carbohydrates -- "eating in chain restaurants and processed foods, you're not going to like our food," he says -- but particularly on weekends, "we won't focus so strictly on dietary guidelines and we'll have regular food" with "an ever-evolving menu" for sit-down and to-go customers. Hours will be flexible, but right now he's looking at being open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, but with a freshly minted liquor license now in hand, the full bar will stay open until 1 or 2 a.m. He'll have musical entertainment, and he's expecting to bring in the occasional guest chef and bartender. The phone number will remain (501) 804-8604; the website is goodfoodbyferneau.com.
Meanwhile, Ferneau's new partner, chef Travis McConnell, says he also expects to have his Butcher and Public up and running in that space on much the same time frame. He's selling some of his meats online via his website, butcherandpublic.com, which now lists 521 Main St., North Little Rock, as his business address. In addition to selling fresh meat sourced from local farmers and ranchers (while more expensive than what you'll pay at Kroger or Whole Foods, he notes, buying whole animals helps him keep costs down), he'll also be serving charcuterie and salumi (that's sausage that's either been cured, cooked or smoked). The phone number is (501) 410-7783.
The Pizzeria Santa Lucia Facebook page (facebook.com/pizzeriasantaluciaLR) on Aug. 25 carried this message: "Okay Pizzeria Fans -- we have been waiting on landlord approval for a few aspects of our oven-installation finish-out and today we got word to proceed as planned. This is fantastic news. Stay tuned for official opening date announcement ... not yet days away but definitely weeks away which is better than months!" The popular food truck is moving into brick-and-mortar quarters at Terry's Finer Foods, 5018 Kavanaugh Blvd. in Little Rock's Pulaski Heights, and has been anticipating the installation of a huge, authentic, brick-floor, wood-burning, 1,000-degree Mario Acunto pizza oven that came by sea from Naples, Italy. We got a "temporarily disconnected" message at the business' phone number, (501) 666-1885, but we'll keep you posted.
We reported a few weeks ago the approach of a BJ's Brewhouse at the southeast corner of McCain Mall, east of the Sears auto shop, 3941 McCain Blvd., North Little Rock. The North Little Rock Building and Housing Board of Adjustment will take up, at its Wednesday meeting, a request to allow signs on all four sides of the building. The board's staff has recommended approval, with the condition that the restaurant will have no freestanding or monument signs.
They're gonna be makin' a lot of bacon across the state over the next couple of weeks with three major bacon-related events:
• The Little Rock Bacon Fest, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, 2600 Howard St., Little Rock, will feature music, merchant booths, a kids zone with inflatables, a cooking contest for professional chefs and amateurs, a beer garden and a bacon-eating contest. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door, free for (one or two) children 8 and younger with a paying adult. You can be a VIP Taster Judge for $30. Call (501) 372-8341 or visit arkansasstatefair.com/events/2014/baconfest.
• The following week comes the second Rock Town Bacon Throwdown, 1-4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at War Memorial Stadium, West Markham Street and Fair Park Boulevard, Little Rock. Chefs and/or cooks from 10 restaurants will face off in a cook-off hosted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' Auxiliary's Aux Crew of young professionals in a benefit for the UAMS Patient Support Fund. The list, according to Erin Gray, director of volunteer services for the auxiliary, includes Scott Raines of Table 28, Elliot Jones from YaYa's Euro Bistro and folks from co-sponsors Damgoode Pies and The Fold. Tickets, $30, get you a sample of each dish (and a vote in determining the best one) and beverages. With purchase of an adult ticket, children 6 and under get in free. Call (501) 686-5656 or visit tinyurl.com/pnok833 or the Aux Crew's Facebook page, facebook.com/UAMSYoungAuxiliary.
• And don't forget the the second annual Bacon Bowl, 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 13 at the Lawrence Plaza Ice Rink & Splash Park (yes, they'll turn the water off), 213-299 N.E. A St., Bentonville. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate, which includes music, Petit Jean Meats samples and other foods and beverages. Call (501) 993-7502, visit BaconBowl.net and/or the Bacon Bowl Facebook page or email thebaconbowl@gmail.com.
Golden Eagle Distributors, Arkansas Craft Distributors, Budweiser, the Arkansas Fermenter's Association, Stone's Throw Brewery and Diamond Bear will be among the beer providers and food trucks, including Southern Gourmasian, Pie Hole and Awful Waffle, will be vending food for Zoo Brew, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 25 in and around Cafe Africa at the Little Rock Zoo, 1 Zoo Drive off Fair Park Boulevard, Little Rock. You must be 21 to attend. Tickets, $25, include a souvenir cup. Rain or shine. Visit tinyurl.com/nwkdbw7.
And speaking of craft brews, all seven of Northwest Arkansas' breweries -- Apple Blossom Brewing Co., Core Brewing and Distilling Co., Fossil Cove Brewing Co., Ozark Beer Co., Saddlebock Brewery, Tanglewood Branch Beer Co. and West Mountain Brewing Co. -- will be participating in the first anniversary of the Fayetteville Ale Trail, Sept. 15-18, with a series of events (to which, aside from purchases, admission is free) and giveaways. Find a complete schedule at tinyurl.com/o873kjp. The Fayetteville Visitors Bureau opened the Ale Trail self-guided craft beer tour in August 2013. Pick up a passport at the Visitors Center, 21 S. Block Ave., or at any of the participating breweries; have 'em stamp it at each brewery. It's free to participate but of course you have to pay for the beer. Call (479) 521-5776.
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, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send email to:
eharrison@arkansasonline.com
Weekend on 09/04/2014