Correction: There is a $15 minimum charge for Chef Shuttle to deliver items from the to-go drive-through at the 31st annual International Greek Food Festival this weekend at Little Rock’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. An item in the Transitions column in Thursday’s Weekend section, based on information supplied in a festival news release, included an incorrect minimum.
Dallas-based fast-casual pizza chain Pie Five Pizza is expanding into several states, including Arkansas, where it plans to open up to 10 stores, with two Little Rock outlets and one in Benton (addresses to be announced) opening within the year, the first Little Rock location expected to open this fall, according to a company spokesman. Rob Byford (with partner Michael Jett) holds the franchise for three central Arkansas Slim Chickens locations. The menu (PieFivePizza.com) centers on "a personal handcrafted pizza," with customers "choosing from a wide selection of fresh, artisan ingredients ... cooked in custom-designed, state-of-the-art pizza oven -- all in under 5 minutes." There's a choice of four crusts (artisan thin, classic pan, whole-wheat grain Neapolitan and gluten-free), seven sauces and 28 toppings. The chain has 46 locations in 13 states, and is in the process of developing "more than 400 announced company-owned and franchise units." We'll keep you posted.
Sometime next week is the target for the opening of Kirin Garden Japanese & Chinese Cuisine, going into the former Super King Buffet, 4000 Vali Court, off East McCain Boulevard, North Little Rock. It, too, will be a buffet, we're told. And there is now a listed telephone phone number: (501) 955-4588.
You will read elsewhere in this section about the 31st annual International Greek Food Festival, going on this weekend at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1100 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock. New for this year: Everything that will be available via the festival's drive-through will also be available for delivery via Chef Shuttle, starting at 11 a.m. (lunch and dinner Friday-Saturday and lunch on Sunday). And there's even an exclusive $25 "Dinner for Two" package that includes two gyros sandwiches (beef or chicken), two small Greek salads and hummus dip. The full menu is available at chefshuttle.com or link to it from the festival site, greekfoodfest.com; there's a $25 minimum delivery charge.
And the Black History Commission of Arkansas and the Arkansas History Commission will host a symposium with the theme "The Roots of African-American Foodways," 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. June 6 at the Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute, 13000 Interstate 30, Little Rock. Food and nutrition journalist Toni Tipton-Martin, historian and author Cindy Grisham, chefs Evette Brady and Tim Morton from 1620 Savoy and Black History Commissioner Joyce Gibson will cover topics including "The Jemima Code: A Modern Look Into the Recipe Files of America's Great Cooks," "Organic, Wild Harvesting," "Heirloom Vegetables and Meats: Trends or Tradition?" and "To Protect and Serve: An Apron Collection." Admission and lunch for symposium participants, provided by culinary institute chefs, are free; advance registration -- deadline is June 1 -- is required. Teachers can earn up to four professional development hours. Call (501) 682-6892 or email history.commission@arkansas.gov.
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 05/14/2015