TRANSITIONS

Kirin Garden Japanese & Chinese Cuisine is moving to 4000 Springhill Plaza Court, off East McCain Boulevard, North Little Rock, that most recently housed Super King Buffet.
Kirin Garden Japanese & Chinese Cuisine is moving to 4000 Springhill Plaza Court, off East McCain Boulevard, North Little Rock, that most recently housed Super King Buffet.

One of our sharp-eyed colleagues spotted signs announcing a new tenant for the former Super King Buffet, 4000 Springhill Plaza Court, off East McCain Boulevard, North Little Rock: Kirin Garden Japanese & Chinese Cuisine. The phone number on the sign, (501) 945-4802, is a holdover from the previous occupant and is not, or not yet, a working number.

Mark Abernathy, owner/executive chef at Loca Luna and Red Door, says weather issues have delayed planned renovations at Loca Luna, 3519 Old Cantrell Road, Little Rock, from April to June. The game plan is still to close the place, which is marking its 18th anniversary in May, for a couple of weeks for an exterior face-lift, the installation of a new outdoor seating area, some interior decor changes and a modification of the bar to add taps for more craft beers, plus more upscale cocktails "with house-made bitters and syrups, infused liquors and specialty items." The kitchen will get an upgrade. Abernathy is planning a menu that will include "new creative items, as well as repackaging many of our best-sellers that our customers have insisted we keep." An expanded test kitchen in the next-door Red Door will enable Abernathy to test more than 100 recipes. The changes are the tail end of a process that started several months ago, which so far, Abernathy says, has mostly involved areas "the public wouldn't notice -- infrastructure upgrades, new roofs, air conditioning/heat repair and new equipment."

We reported a few weeks ago that Lulu Chi was revising her menu for Oishi Hibachi & Lounge, 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., in Little Rock's Hillcrest. That menu change is complete. Mostly she added dishes, although she has cut a few, slightly skewing the menu toward Chinese and a little bit away from Thai. Check it out at the Facebook page, tinyurl.com/kgaak55. Hours are now 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. daily and you can have your food delivered via Chef Shuttle. The phone number is (501) 603-0080.

We've heard there is a "gone on vacation" note on the door at Hardin Farms and Market, 15235 U.S. 165, Scott, but customers are wondering if it's permanently closed. The last official entry on the Hardin's Facebook page is from Jan. 3: "It's the last day for awhile to come out and have lunch with us here at Hardin's, so come on out and get out of the rain. ... Gonna miss everyone and hope to be back real soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Several customers have inquired when the business will reopen, but posts have gone unanswered. No one picked up when we dialed the restaurant's number (501) 961-1100 by press time.

We jumped at least one gun in regards to Mooyah Burgers Fries Shakes in the Pinnacle Creek Shopping Center, 14810 Cantrell Road at Taylor Loop, Little Rock, which, according to Aimee Weaver, a consultant for owners Tina and Jay Patel, has not closed after all. "In fact," she says, "we are excited that the restaurant is under new management and is having a revival of sorts. We are looking forward to continuing to serve West Little Rock the very best burgers, fries and shakes in the city." The restaurant also will continue to host fundraisers for school groups, nonprofits and charitable organizations. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 868-1091.

Emily Van Zandt over at Sync, who will be watching over this column for the next month or so while its principal author is on leave, reports that chef Matthew Cooper, who announced his departure from Little Rock's Cache Restaurant in December, has joined RopeSwing hospitality group's new restaurant, The Belfry, as executive chef. The restaurant, in a 111-year-old church in downtown Bentonville, is set to open this summer and will focus on contemporary American cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients. According to its website, The Belfry will also include a basement lounge, the Old 71 Club, that will feature late-night drinks and bites. A rooftop lounge is planned, as well.

RopeSwing is also reportedly in the midst of buying Bentonville's Pressroom restaurant and moving it to a new location, according to a news release, and has brought on Seattle chef Michael Robertshaw to run that kitchen.

The 2015 James Beard Foundation Award finalists were announced Tuesday. Unfortunately, neither of the two Arkansas nominees -- Little Rock's One Eleven at the Capital, a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, and Matthew McClure of The Hive in Bentonville, a semifinalist for Best Chef: South -- advanced to the finals.

Still, it was perhaps the first time Arkansas had two semifinalists nominated. The James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will take place May 4 at Lyric Opera of Chicago. To see the list of finalists, visit tinyurl.com/mjdqjf4.

The Doubletree by Hilton Little Rock, 424 W. Markham St., Little Rock, is resuming its long-dormant Easter Brunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Easter Sunday, which is April 5, in its Plaza Grille. The buffet will include a breakfast section (scrambled eggs, eggs Benedict, applewood-smoked bacon, thyme sausage links, home-fried potatoes, waffles with strawberries and chantilly cream); omelet, salad and dessert stations; displays (smoked salmon with capers, diced tomato, bermuda onion and cream cheese; Shrimp Festival with horseradish tomato confit; and "rainbow of fresh seasonal fruits"); and a carving station (leg of lamb and black-pepper-crusted contrefilet). It'll set you back $35, plus tax and gratuities; $16 for children 5-12; free for kids under 5. For reservations, call (501) 372 4371 and ask for the Plaza Grille.

Following a morning of decorating eggs and making chocolate truffles from 9 to 11 a.m., The Capital Hotel's One Eleven at the Capital, 111 W. Markham St., Little Rock, will serve a pre-Easter "Bunny Lunch" ($23-$26 adults, $9-$13 children) on April 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by an Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. in the Mezzanine where two golden eggs will contain special surprises. On Easter Sunday, the Capital will host an 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Easter Buffet Brunch ($49 adult/$25 children age 8 and older) in the Mezzanine and an Easter prix fixe meal ($59 adult, $25 children 12 and younger) in One Eleven. Full menus can be found at the hotel's Facebook page, facebook.com/theCapitalHotel. Reservations can be made by calling (501) 370-7068.

The Hive in the 21c Museum Hotel, 200 NE A St., Bentonville, will serve three-course, prix fixe Easter brunch, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. For $29 ($14 for children), diners can enjoy eggs Benedict with tasso and hollandaise; Belgian waffles with raisin butter, roasted bananas and whipped cream; pan roasted catfish with sweet potatoes, farro, romesco and raisins; and sweet treats like strawberry shortcake and pecan pie with buttermilk ice cream. The Hive will also offer specialty brunch cocktails including Bunny Mary, with Finlandia vodka, bloody mary mix and jalapeno; Little Pom Cottontail with sparkling Pinot Noir and fresh pomegranate; Hare of the Rabbit with PBR, orange juice, ginger, lemon and lime soda; as well as a variety of Easter-theme nonalcoholic beverages. Reservations can be made by calling (479) 286-6575.

Pulaski Technical College Foundation's Diamond Chef Arkansas competition, a fundraiser for the school, kicks off preliminary competitions, 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute on the college's South Campus, 13000 Interstate 30, Little Rock. Six area chefs -- Billy Ginocchio of Pulaski Tech, Payne Harding of Cache, Elliot Jones of Ya Ya's Euro Bistro, Angela Nardi of Superior Bathhouse Brewery & Distillery in Hot Springs, Justin Patterson of Southern Gourmasian and Jason Knapp of Green Leaf Grill -- will compete for a spot in the June 2 finals (6-10 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Main streets, Little Rock) and a chance to challenge the reigning champ, Marc Guizol, executive sous-chef at the Capital Hotel. Admission is free; they'll serve hors d'oeuvres and beverages, 5-8 p.m., and you can just drop in. Call (501) 812-2771 or email bcgraves@pulaskitech.edu.

Jennifer Christman contributed to this report.

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) 378-3513cq EH, 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 03/26/2015

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