Eat Arkansas

Golden Corral? Sonic? Seriously? Good grief.

Golden Corral is decent for a chain. They're much better than Furrs or Ryans/Fire Mountain: better selection, better quailty. Plus, you can get steak any night of the week. Furrs only does weekends and Ryans SAYS they have it, but never do. My only complaint is GC needs to shake up their variety occasionally. Seems like it's always the same stuff.

This entry just tantalizes me. I am now eagerly anticipating the Eat Arkansas report on the menu changes at Applebee's.

There is an editorial shift of content over here. Wow. I thought this was the "foodie" blog with the foie gras and the pinot

The blog is called Eat Arkansas. While there are some locations that do serve foie gras and pinot, there are others that serve more pedestrian fare -- the sort of food that falls into the budget of the average Arkansans. For every place that serves a $40 steak, there are those that serve housemade casseroles, gravy-coated meats, hand-patted burgers, and hand thrown pizzas. Excluding foods that are shunned by a limited portion of the blog audience only limits the conversation.

Of course, if you really want to talk about higher end dining experiences, you are more than welcome to contribute.

You know I love ya Kat. But I don't much care about what is going on at Golden Corral or Sonic either.

I agree, Kat, that Eat Arkansas shouldn't be about just foie gras and pinot. But I agree with everybody else - Sonic and Golden Corral??? Is the economic crisis cutting into their advertising money that they have to be highlighted on Eat Arkansas? I wish you'd highlight Arkansas establishments that offer cheap and good eats, and you usually do on your blog. That's why I refer people to it when they want to know where they could eat in the state.

Please please please get back to your roots!!!!

Kat -

I agree with your observation that this blog should be about ALL foods that are served in Arkansas. Obviously, Sonic and Golden Corral must be doing something right because they are packed from the time they open until they close.

Keep up the good work.

Lot of postings on this topic. Not so many on the nice restaurants.

I wonder if Kat was trying to get your goat so you might start posting again.

Ummm, have you seen the paucity of postings on the other fast food stories and grease pit reviews on this blog? I think many foodies have likely given up. The interesting articles on Brave's fresh catch and prix fixe dinner, or the Belgian trip food stories have only recently again broken through an otherwise steady flow of chowhound testimonies to all things grease. If this is a blog about food in Arkansas, I can live with reviews of local haunts (even though many of them must be an acquired taste), but reviewing fast food joints and chains because they happen to be in the state is just strange and completely uninspiring.

I used to come to this blog because it was a place to find news about new restaurants and chefs who are doing amazing things with fresh and local ingredients. I have noticed a definite shift away from content like this over the past six to eight months. If this thread is piling up responses, I would contest that it's only because of the juxtaposition of Golden Corral (and Sonic) with what seemed like a return to foodie content in the past week. It's enough to give you whiplash.

Good lord people, we have someone who is more than willing to go out and research places and ideas AND bring back the tale, and you want to bitch about the effort? I don't see any of you doing all this work...and if you don't think its work, think again!

And frankly the sarcastic, snide and snarky comments, if nothing else, are what keeps people from posting here. Who wants to if they're going to be jumped by the likes of one or two posters because they might like something they don't want to eat themselves.

kat, I was just pointing out the editorial shift. If you look at old entries, there was more of a focus on local restaurants and chefs at the upscale places. I was just trying to put some humor on it since I know you've been slammed on other things. Obviously, either my attempts at humor were just bad or you defensively missed it.

I wasn't slammin' anybody. I like Kat very much. Just expressing an opinion.

Arkhobbit,

I disagree with your comments. Eat Arkansas has had many discussions, and I don't remember too many people jumping on other people. I agree with you that it's quite a bit of work to research and write posts. I know because I'm a blogger myself. That does not mean that the readers cannot express their opinions. I've had people agree and disagree with me, and that's great because I get to learn from them. I believe if Kat is unwilling to have that sort of discussions, she wouldn't have a comment section, both here and on her blog.

That said, as for the recent lack of reader participation on Eat Arkansas, I can't really explain. All I can say is that I haven't been checking the blog as much as I used to either, and I can't quite place a finger on why. Maybe we need a provocateur like JenJen (JenJen, I say that as a compliment)?

Arkhobbit,

Excuse me, but it isn't about effort, it's about content. Critique is absolutely the point of food blogs, otherwise all you have is an advertising venue for local restaurants. Unless, of course, that's what this blog is meant to be about. And if that's the case, at least we could move back to the actual local restaurants and leave the regional and national fast food chains out of it.

When did the focus of this blog become so narrow that its only about high end restaurants? I thought it was about food...period. The topics have ranged from pictures of the just-baked pizza sitting on Max's counter, to a picture of tomatoes just hauled home from the Farmer's Market. Not to mention the recipe on the best way to make red beans in a crockpot...and Joel's nifty little descriptions on all the variations of making good sauces. It is not simply just about what you consider fit to eat.
And, by the way, not to knock other efforts, but I looked at all the recent entries, and only Kat's get any responses....and THAT is exactly why she is successful.
Bopamboom, sorry if I hit a nerve, but I really wasn't referring to your post. You usually are supportive.
And yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and we all certainly do not have to agree, but its the constant snarky tone of some of these posts that absolutely grates on ones nerves.

Look- I have nothing at all wrong with anything you just listed. All are examples of what is good about the blog. No one said that this blog only needs to be about the high end of food (although as a foodie that's what I am more interested in, along with great local ingredients that help me reproduce it at home). Where the blog goes off-base is when it highlights fast food and chain buffets that charge for take out by the pound! So if you want to take issue with my posts (at least), then you need to actually address what I have said: fast food and chains out. Everything you listed in your strawman post in. Sheesh.

The last meal I had at Golden Coral was actually better than the last meals I've had at 1620 or Sonny Williams.

A true foodie can embrace both the beauty of a nice osso bucco as well as the kick ass cobbler at Kitchen Express.

Besides, there's something to be said for fried...

It is not a matter of high-price, high-end, or high-class. When I think Eat Arkansas, I prefer to find places in Arkansas for eating that you would want to take people who have never been to the state before. Or a small hole-in-the-wall place to find something tasty and new in the Natural State.

Do people eat at Sonic? Of course they do. People all over the country eat there. But do I feel l the Eat Arkansas blog is the place for me to check for changes to fast food chain menu items?

I do not take the time to contribute to this blog in an editorial manner, so it is really not my place to tell people what they can and cannot do. But if it feels silly to me, then I'll probably indicate it! And fast food places and countrywide chains certainly fall into that category.

With the exception of a few people, I think everyone has said that they like to see all sorts of establishments and food topics covered on Eat Arkansas. I for one think that most high-end restaurants in Arkansas aren't worth the money. That said, I agree that some people say things in a way that may come across as little harsh or snarky, but I think most people here are pretty cool. Remember the local wine post? That post became heated, but I wouldn't characterize it as people jumping on one another. And when people do, others usually point that out.

Anyway I think Kat is doing a great job covering all sorts of food-related topics. I guess a lot of us just prefer to read about local establishments. Just expressing opinions.

Basil,

Yeah right, I'm sure you were singing the praises of the buffet in question before you saw this thread. And if your Sonny Williams steak was worse than the quarter inch thick version at Golden Corral, I'll eat my shoe. Or did you order the chicken? Come on now. As for whether foodies can enjoy both high and low end dining, and fried food -- of course they can. And I never said anything to contradict that. It's clear really if you just read my posts. Foodies care about the ingredients they are eating and not whether they are necessarily healthy or not. You should see how much of the absolute fattiest butter I layer into my pans when I cook. We care whether ingredients are good, decadent, lovely, etc. And foodies care about preparation of those ingredients -- not whether or not they are fried, but whether or not, for instance, they sit lukewarm under heating lamps after having just been thawed from the frozen bag they were shipped in. This is pretty basic, I think. Sonic and Golden Corral are just not places that any foodie would be excited to read any kind of review of. In the words of John McEnroe, "you CANNOT be serious!"

Thanks for the post Kat. It's nice to see this blog actually get some traffic. I check in every day or so and it's been pretty dead lately.

I've been cooking like crazy lately. Maybe I can get some photos posted at some point.

As far as Golden Coral is concerned...if you ever find yourself looking for an open place to eat on Thanksgiving I highly recommend the place. I think the one over in NLR actually does a lot for the community by supporting youth softball, t-ball, feeding the hungry, fundraisers and such.

I consider myself a "foodie" but damn...not so much I can't down in the trenches with my fellow sneeze-guard enthusiast.

late to the conversation, but i too am dismayed to see Golden Corral on these pages. wtf?

not like there wasn't any newsworthy food event last week.. soft opening at Maddie's, hello??? now that's something i'd expect to read about here.

Were you referring to my post Arkhobbit? Because really I was just pointing out a noticeable change in scope. IN reality, both Max's and Joel's sauces are a form of a more sophisticated palate than many Arkansans eat. That's just a fact. Even by Kat's own description, the blog has focused on local eateries until these last two here.

Kat's posts get responses because they tend to be more controversial with people hating Arkansas wine with the intensity of a thousand suns and other people defended their Arkansas wine love. Also, a lot of the "posts" she gets end up being discussions like ArkHobbit where it's about the snarkiness and rudeness of posters (usually JensJens) and the defense of it.

Although Kat, I never said you were doing a bad job and frankly I thought your little "do it yourself" was snippy and an overreaction. None of the comments on this blog have ever gone to the level of trolling and I wonder if you have the stomache to be on a blog with comments because you don't like criticism and even felt personally attacked when someone didn't like what you had to say. Seriously, the JensJens issue was that she has a higher level somewhat snobby palate and your posts were the local hamburger and fish joints. Both of those examples are about health and she's into healthy eating. Nothing more nothing less

She criticized those posts because they were under the same theme of food which she happens to not like with a high level of intensity and you made it this big issue about you. I didn't post back then because frankly, if you're going to take anything that isn't a slap on the back and a hearty "good job" as a personal attack. The reason your posts get so many comments is that she gets offended and then people pile on with the "don't be mean to Kat she's doing a great job." It usually isn't even about food.

Personally, I stopped trusting anything the Arkansas Times put out in relation to food long ago. Their restaurant reviews are frankly crap, and are mostly related to advertising. They won't even allow their staff to put their name to a review, probably because it's some 24 year old just out of school who knows as much about food as any one of us blogging on here. How about the Arkansas Times shows some journalistic standard and hires a former chef, or some semblance of a real food critic? A while back this food blog and the Times food reviews were criticized publicly by a well known chef for their lack of food knowledge. He then, after being attacked by the blog, apologized for his statement. I personally think he was spot on and was pissed he didn't stand up for what he said. I still read this food blog, and the restaurant reviews, and then I typically stay away from any of the restaurants they recommend.

Is this blog not about food? Then why keep harping about who's posting what? I read the Sonic post and got something differnt. I thought it was about how restaurants are trying to be healthier. I didn't think it was just about Sonic. It had the thing about the class in it. Was that read?

Hey ArgentaGirl...
Tell us some of your favorite places to eat.

Melissa -

Aren't you the pot calling the kettle black?? I certainly did not read Kat's post to mean that "you can do it yourself." She simply invited others to contribute.

I did, however, interpret your last post to be defensive and obnoxious.

It has actually crossed my mind a time or two, on here and the Arkansas Blog that some of the posts were made by the competition. After reading some of the posts made here recently, I'm just about convinced of it. And that's a shame, because as a true foodie, I enjoy all types of food and restaurant reviews...and usually eagerly await each Wednesday morning just to get a new fix on foodie news. This blog is just one more outlet for the venue...and the contributions have run the gamut.
I'll even confess that I like a hamburger and french fries on occasion...although I do tend to avoid the frosties.
Anyway, y'all enjoy your food news, however you get it or where ever you get it.

Argenta: you don't the Arkansas Times reviews, but you read them anyway? Why?

I disagree with having a professional chef do the reviews as I fear he'd go into too much technical detail. I'd rather hear from the man (woman) on the street: someone who eats for the love of food, not someone who goes simply to tell you what's wrong.

I figured the AT doesn't put names on reviews so the reviewers won't be pegged by a watchful manager or chef and get the red carpet rolled out. If you've just opened a restaurant and you see Eric Harrison walk through the door, what's the first response? Oh my God! It's a review!

Besides, why should the AT be held to a higher standard as far as reviewers' qualifications go? How are Eric Harrison or Jennifer Christman more qualified to review a restaurant? What culinary training do they have? I seem to remember Christman whining that a creme brulee was too "heavy."

I have to agree with JG - those two are disasters when it comes to reviewing restaurants. They obviously have no idea the work it takes to open a restaurant. I think Eric Harrison gets off on tearing up restaurants in reviews, without regard to the fact that his childish behavior affects the livlihood of the owners and employees! Those two should have been fired ages ago.

WOW.

Amazing. And inspiring. What an incredibly refreshing read, this post. To bonvivant, Melissa and zaoy: I'm at a loss for words. I find it absolutely encouraging and stimulating to hear, dare I say it, other voices of dissent?

Now, before the terms "snob" and "rude" get thrown around, I am not trying to shove words in anyone's mouth. I am, however, so RELIEVED to read the words of others who may feel that the value of this forum (and the value of food, in general) is grossly undermined and depreciated by topics such as Golden Corral and Sonic. I mean, my god.

It's not just about the issues of health are that overwhelmingly ignored on this blog (thank you very much, Melissa for your post), but as several others pointed out, the fact that we're discussing CHAIN RESTAURANTS that exist across state lines sort of makes me want to scream. I have never, nor will ever, agree with the somewhat relentless entries here about food that fall into any one of the following categories: unhealthy, heart attack, clogged artery, health code violation, laxative now, please, etc.

But seriously. now we are praising these places? CORPORATE places? Unbelievable.

And I'm with Argenta Girl. I stopped even looking at this blog months ago because it made me want to fall asleep from sheer boredom every other time I checked it out. I dig the local updates and news bites, but it seems to have slipped lately.

Food is exciting! Food is art! Food is revolutionary! Food is delicious and benevolent and creative and sensational when done right! This isn't about snobbery. Never has been. It's about thinking outside of the CORRAL or the DRIVE THRU line.

My praises to every one for having an opinion and not being afraid to share it, no matter who may or may not be pointlessly offended by it. And to bonvivant, zaoy and Melissa especially, job well done. Superbly articulated.

Joel?

Food Dude, I could print you a list of my favorite and least favorite places to eat in the greater Little Rock area, but that wasn't quite the point of my post.

I think the best point being made in this feed is quite simply (and I have posted this on many a food review) WHY does the Arkansas Times feel the need to review chain restaurants? Why would we possibly want to give Arkansans any more reason to NOT eat at local restaurants?! I'm watching local places close left and right and yet I haven't seen a single chain restaurant report large losses, lay off workers, or have to close their doors. In a failing economy like ours, the first thing to go is restaurants, and I fear we're about to see our local gems drop like flies. I have never understood why people will pay sometimes twice as much at a chain restaurant that they could at a local one, and somehow feel as though they're saving money, because of the advertised deals (e.g. "Two Can Dine for $19.99!") People are suckers for advertising, and frankly local places can't afford to advertise. So, why would an independent publication, that should be showcasing what Arkansas has to offer, continue to publish glowing reviews of chain restaurants?

I spoke to a woman the other day that owns a restaurant and is working two other jobs just to stay afloat... That's the OWNER, not the waiter, or the chef. I feel like the Arkansas Times continues to lower their journalistic standard by reviewing chain restaurants, as if that's all Arkansas has to offer.

I'm not saying that the Dem/Gaz is doing any better... and I'm not asking for some big shot food critic that is going to rip our local places apart. All I'm asking for is someone with a decent grasp of food knowledge to tell me their honest opinion about the food, service, and atmosphere of our local restaurants. If I want the average person's opinion of a place, I will ask any number of the average people I know what they think. Isn't the point of a printed review to read what someone with a bit of knowledge related to the subject thinks?

And David, yes I read the Times, because it is the only news publication around here with anything worth reading... That is why I am disappointed with their poor reviews when it comes to food. I have been to several restaurants that were given good reviews and would leave the meal furious that I, once again, had placed my trust in a good review. Maybe my taste is different... I also tend to completely disagree with the Best Of polls around here as well. And you can call me a food snob... but I've always felt that if you are out, spending your hard earned money, you should have a relaxing experience, with a nice atmosphere, friendly waiters, and excellent food. If I want average food, I will stay home and heat myself up a Hot Pocket.

Food Dude, I could print you a list of my favorite and least favorite places to eat in the greater Little Rock area, but that wasn't quite the point of my post.

I think the best point being made in this feed is quite simply (and I have posted this on many a food review) WHY does the Arkansas Times feel the need to review chain restaurants? Why would we possibly want to give Arkansans any more reason to NOT eat at local restaurants?! I'm watching local places close left and right and yet I haven't seen a single chain restaurant report large losses, lay off workers, or have to close their doors. In a failing economy like ours, the first thing to go is restaurants, and I fear we're about to see our local gems drop like flies. I have never understood why people will pay sometimes twice as much at a chain restaurant that they could at a local one, and somehow feel as though they're saving money, because of the advertised deals (e.g. "Two Can Dine for $19.99!") People are suckers for advertising, and frankly local places can't afford to advertise. So, why would an independent publication, that should be showcasing what Arkansas has to offer, continue to publish glowing reviews of chain restaurants?

I spoke to a woman the other day that owns a restaurant and is working two other jobs just to stay afloat... That's the OWNER, not the waiter, or the chef. I feel like the Arkansas Times continues to lower their journalistic standard by reviewing chain restaurants, as if that's all Arkansas has to offer.

I'm not saying that the Dem/Gaz is doing any better... and I'm not asking for some big shot food critic that is going to rip our local places apart. All I'm asking for is someone with a decent grasp of food knowledge to tell me their honest opinion about the food, service, and atmosphere of our local restaurants. If I want the average person's opinion of a place, I will ask any number of the average people I know what they think. Isn't the point of a printed review to read what someone with a bit of knowledge related to the subject thinks?

And David, yes I read the Times, because it is the only news publication around here with anything worth reading... That is why I am disappointed with their poor reviews when it comes to food. I have been to several restaurants that were given good reviews and would leave the meal furious that I, once again, had placed my trust in a good review. Maybe my taste is different... I also tend to completely disagree with the Best Of polls around here as well. And you can call me a food snob... but I've always felt that if you are out, spending your hard earned money, you should have a relaxing experience, with a nice atmosphere, friendly waiters, and excellent food. If I want average food, I will stay home and heat myself up a Hot Pocket.

Sorry for the double post... I'm just trying to drive my point home! :)

Well, I get lazy and leave Eat Arkansas alone for a while and look what happens! And, yes, I feel compelled to share some thoughts on what is and is not happening on this blog.

There has most certainly been an editorial shift in the last several months. Gone are the "Know Your Waitstaff" posts. Gone are the discussions of interesting local restaurants, unless they meet criteria to be discussed below. Gone are the back and forth give and takes on the merits of certain food and drink. Part of it may have something to do with the declining cadre of people writing and posting here, but I think that really is just begging the "Chicken or the egg?" question.

I add my voice to those a bit appalled that we are discussing Sonic & Golden Corral. Really? Chains are something I will generally avoid, as has been discussed before, but this is beyond even that. These are corporate chains that are national and so well entrenched, there is little really there that we don't recognize. Taziki's may be a chain, but it is definitely worth a post and a follow-up because it is a chain we have not seen here and it serves Greek fare, a cuisine we don't have a lot of in the area. But Sonic?

There has been a sort of "anti-elitism" elitism in both the posts and comments lately. There seems to be some sort of holier-than-thou attitude adopted when discussing food and drink. If it is "upscale" or "fancy" it cannot be good. This is as horrible as rank and file elitism. The discussions over Ferneau and other higher-end restaurants are one thing and need to be discussed, but I just as much love my greasy Midtown burger! If you deign to eat at a restaurant that uses linen, then there is a better than even chance you would be derided on here. Were that I was joking.

Food is not just sustenance and calories, but an inescapable part of life. Good food feeds the body, the mind, and, yes, the soul! It is, as JenJens said, an art. Whether this art is the smothered rabbit from Medea's (which looks ever so tasty) or the farewell dinner from Gypsies, it deserves a place at the table. Moreover, the discussion deserves a place at the table! If I don't like something I will say so, but woe be unto those who would speak lowly of something like an Arkansas wine. I get to dislike it and I get to talk about why I dislike it. I think Arkansas wines have great potential ... that is being squandered. I love food! I love to cook and I love to eat! I have been fortunate to have a bit of an experimental streak and to love to try different things - I have to make trips around the menu long before I ever settle on a single dish at a restaurant. Some people are much more staid in their ways. But the discussions here have left the joy of food and the joy of eating behind and become a celebration of . . . well, I am not even sure. It has begun to reflect even more the reviews in the main paper which, as Argenta Girl has pointed out, are rather suspect. This blog gave us, the foodies and weirdos and wackos, a chance to delve into food with more detail - both upscale and hole-in-the-wall without having to stare, mouth agape, at a description of a restaurant that just did not match the reality we knew.

I have not posted in a long time. Why not? First, I have been busy and the pictures and writing take time. I have never been blessed with administrative access to Eat Arkansas - I must e-mail my photos and words to someone else and hope they survive to the blog. Second, when I was posting the editorial shift had begun and I, frankly, felt like my work was not appreciated. So with less time and what seemed to be a cold shoulder, I took a break. So Thanksgiving dinner, the family's Christmas Eve feast, New Years, and everything else in between has been left by the wayside. Perhaps I have to change that.

This has gone on long enough for now. I have a dinner party to prep for.

ArgentaGirl -

So you're saying that the jobs held by people in "local" restaurants are more important than the jobs held by people in "chain" restaurants? Is that what you are saying?

JenJens, Joel, well said.

I think one of the reasons I stopped commenting was because of the infamous Typepad issue. Another is because of the editorial shift. I liked the "Meet Your Wait Staff" so much that I replicated it on my blog (I interview local green people, though). I also feel that Eat Arkansas focuses so much on just restaurants. Like JenJens and Joel say, food is art, and art comes in many forms. How about interviewing Hans Oliver for his freshly roasted local coffee? How about checking out Honeysuckle Lane in Rose Bud and see how it makes cheeses? How about the raw milk legislation that just passed the state House? Food does not equal restaurants. I liked the post about Belinda making cheese since I make cheese at home. Sam's Oriental Store was a great post. And as a member of the AR Mycological Society and an urban forager, I appreciated the post about the mushroom workshop. We no longer see posts like that. Just restaurants. Chain restaurants at that.

Another reason I stopped reading Eat Arkansas is because I feel that it isn't as diverse as I would like it to be. I really appreciated Kat for writing about Chinese New Year's food. Then, someone commented, saying "Who the hell cares about Asian cuisine? Just kidding." That person may have been kidding, but it made me feel like this is not the post where I would want to share the pictures of my Korean kimchee hot pot, Japanese New Year's food, and Ethiopian dishes. I make all those with locally-grown produce, but who the hell cares, right?

I really appreciate Kat for her work. I know it's tough to research and write. I hope that Eat Arkansas gets back to what it used to be: a blog that covers various food-related topics in Arkansas.

I wasn't really referring to the loss of jobs held, as much as the loss of a small owned business versus a large company taking a loss in revenue.

In these tough times, I will continue to eat at local restaurants, as I find they have more value and contribute more to creating a good sense of community than large chain restaurants in the midst of box stores do.

You can disagree with me, and that's fine... many do. Most of them live in West Little Rock.

As a voice among those that cannot often afford fancy fare, I see the merits in posts regarding not only high end restaurants, but also home-made cuisine and, yes, even a thread on a chain now and then.

I doubt the ed's sympathies lie with the Applebee's of the world, okay? But the fact is that everyone is dealing with a pinched pocketbook and it's nice to hear a little something thrown to the peanut gallery, despite our high-falutin' tastes.

Yes, we should continue "Know Your Waitstaff", pedestrian postings, and haute cuisine updates, but I cannot deride the efforts of an underpaid staff to bring good ole discussion to the masses.

And, yes, I'd rather go to Golden Coral just about anyday of the week than Sonny Williams, if on sheer principle if nothing else.

Argenta Girl- Nicely said:

"You can disagree with me, and that's fine... many do. Most of them live in West Little Rock."

Heh, West Little Rock. That made me laugh at loud.

Zaoy: Fantastic ideas about potential posts above. I, for one, would be fascinated to hear about "Korean kimchee hot pot, Japanese New Year's food, and Ethiopian dishes." Seriously. Sounds like something worth learning.

Joel: You won your argument, as per usual. Nicely said.

And now, in the spirit of hope and (absurdity?), I have a suggestion. It's something I've thought about a time or two, so now I'm going to throw all caution to the wind and just say it:

Who else here thinks it would be interesting to put our money where our mouths are and host some sort of "Eat AR Foodie Gathering: Can't We All Just be Friends Event" at a *clears throat* LOCAL restaurant?

I have been so intrigued by the way some people express themselves and their love for food on this blog, I've wanted to meet them face to face. Is that creepy? Am I breaking some sort of blog rule?

Thoughts? Joel? bonviiant? Argenta Girl? Zaoy? Food Dude? Anyone? Anyone? Beuler? Beuller? Bueller?

Oops, bad spelling, bonvivant. Sorry.

Love it, JenJens! My husband and I have talked for a few years now about starting an underground supper club... Sound like the beginnings of our idea.

JenJens, I'm down! Love the idea. We could do a potluck dinner at someone's place if cost is too prohibitive (and some local restaurants are). I, for one, would love to have you guys over to my place. My chickens and ducks would love y'all, too!

A group of locavores in LR are placing an order with Della Gourmet Rice in Brinkley. Pickup is my place, and I'm planning a sushi & sake party to go along with it. The response was so positive! We foodies should have fun and enjoy food instead of trading snarky comments.

Let's get together for good food!

Zaoy and Argenta Girl:

I think our first meeting should be at a neutral restaurant- one that is hopefully easy to get to for all interested parties. What do you guys reckon?

Zaoy: First, yay! I'm glad you're down. Second, do you live in Little Rock?

Joel wil be interested, too. You can bet on it.

JenJens: I live in downtown LR, several blocks away from the law school. So you name a place, and I'm there!

In fact, this is how small this state is. My partner Eddy went to school with you, JenJens, and he also knows you, Joel.

Isn't it funny that we know about each other, but we haven't seen each other face to face? Gotta do something about that.

Whoa. Hang on there for one hot minute. Eddy went to school where???

This IS a small town, indeed.

Dying to know.

He went to UALR Bowen School and is now a lawyer.

You may have me confused with some one else, I do believe. I went to school in Boulder, CO.

????

Unless you're referring to high school? I'm confused.

Wait, didn't you go to UALR Law? If you didn't, I need to go hit Eddy in the head because he swore that he recognized you from the pic on your blog.

No, I surely did not go to UALR Law School. Took a class there during the summer once when I was crippled by knee surgery.

After high school, I fled this state as fast as possible and headed for the Rocky Mountains.

Weird. He must have mistaken me for some one else. I guess?

Head's been beaten. Maybe you have a twin you've never met? He can be absent-minded, so I'm sure he had mistaken you for someone else. Sorry about that. I think he does know Joel. Don't tell me you got a twin, too, Joel.

After the head beating, I'm hungry. What's for lunch, everybody? For me, mustard green gratin made with homemade ricotta and homegrown eggs.

While I may have a twin somewhere, if he went to law school here he likely does know me. No real secret as to my identity.

I am definitely in for a meet-up either at a local restaurant or a potluck sort of thing.

Lunch? Leftovers from last night's dinner party. Though for some reason I cannot seem to send in the pics and words to be posted.

Mmmm... mustard green gratin, ricotta and homegrown eggs. Sounds fabulous.

I LOVE mustard greens! I like pretty much everything that's green- vegetable-wise. I could eat spinach and field greens three times a day.

Eddy is thinking of a different Jen. There was a Jenny who was a Bowen student and contributed to Eat Arkansas a while back, but left for an LLM in DC, I believe. She also had a food blog and posted a lot about baked goods and duck terrine.

This Jen is the one who made all the great posts about Alaska. And with whom I went to high school.

I think PopeBobXVI and zaoy are the only ones who know me well enough to guess how I weigh in on this elitism debate (but maybe Joel does too). In any case, I'd be up for a get together. I wish Root Cafe would hurry up and open.

mcbsmith, I was just thinking about you! We're havng a vegan Japanese night tonight with some friends, and I've been making mango jelly with agar agar instead of gelatine. I know mango isn't local, but I couldn't come up with vegan apple desserts. Maybe you can teach me some?

Sorry, everyone, about the mix-up, and thanks, mcbsmith, for clearing it up. I had it all mixed up! I sent Eddy to the chicken & duck house since we have no dog.

Woohoo! I would trade vegan apple desserts for some mango jelly. That sounds amazing. I made a big pot of udon soup last night with local kale and shitakes, speaking of Japanese vegan food.

I've been thinking about you, too. The boyfriend has been begging for some chickens lately and I'm apprehensive, to say the least. I have started eating some local eggs because I'm too lazy about my protein in the morning, but I don't even have a cat so chickens would seem like a big step. Plus, how long do you have to date a guy before you adopt chickens together? Maybe we could talk about it sometime.

I also got a great vintage forager's cookbook for Christmas. You should come over and check it out.

Wow- what a great idea about a foodie meetup. I (and my foodie spouse) are totally in. Potluck or restaurant, either sounds good.

Great idea, JenJens!

mcbsmith:

Why don't I recognize your screen name and furthermore, we went to high school together?!?

What year did you graduate?

Ack! Now I want to use the context clues and figure out who you are!

*running to car to pull out handy dandy copy of high school year book*

*don't ask why it's there*

Glad you're into the dinner idea. Who can do it this weekend?

Damnit!

I just looked in my yearbook, felt old and couldn't find a M. Smith.

This is driving me nuts.

And to bonviant: I'm so glad you're interested! I was really hoping you would respond.

'97, but I didn't stay the whole time. It's Maggie.

Why am I having the most intense amnesia of my life right now?

The only Maggie Smith I can remember dated back to Junior High school days. This is seriously making me crazy.

And just where were you on Picture Day in 96', young lady???? Hm? Wonder if you had left by then.

My apologies.

Okay, so maybe it WAS junior high school. Like you said, we're old, it's been a long time.

I went away with the intent of washing my hands completely with this blog but I had to come back if for no other reason than the curiosity factor when I saw 68 comments.

I was expecting more profanity than this.

First, WOO HOO! I got some validation that I'm not the only one who noticed an editorial shift.

Second, yes there is some wacky anti-elitist thing going on here and also this lack of appreciation for differences of opinions, which I find odd. At my parents' house, the response to "This is nasty/I don't like it" is "Great, more for me!"

Third, I meant the "high brow" in the sense that here in deer town, there is no Hungarian Paprika. There probably wasn't the five cheeses to use in that pizza that Max posted. Hell, there isn't even Hummus or poppy seeds. Seriously I tried to buy poppy seeds to put on my second attempt at homemade bagels. NONE IN TOWN! IN TOWN!!!! Me and Deer Town are breaking up soon. I can feel it.

Fourth, I sympathize with you not being able to afford some of the places mentioned on here. I can't either unless I save up for a while which is why I can't comment that much on many high end places because frankly, I haven't been to that many. But there are also local cheap eats and less popular chains that are relatively unknown. Panera - yum. Greek food even from a chain in Arkansas. Worth noting. The Chinese Hunan Pavillon place in Sherwood/North Little Rock had one of the best buffets when I was a kid. Heaven.

Who mentioned Ethiopian? I'm all over that.

Last, JensJens, did you actually eat that coon? I saw the grease dripping off that bucket and that might be the most vile thing I have seen in a long time. You must really love politics. I'm just saying. *shudders*

I'm in for a meet. I'd love to get a once a month potluck kind of thing going...maybe try to keep it to locally produced foods if possible.

Melissa,

"Did you actually eat that coon? I saw the grease dripping off that bucket and that might be the most vile thing I have seen in a long time. You must really love politics. I'm just saying. *shudders*"

/doesn't get the metaphor/reference/pun/joke/insult

Elaborate/clarify/I seriously don't know wtf you're talking about.

Thanks a heap! xoxo

I have withheld comment on this post for several reasons. For one, I don't mind a bit of conversation. For two, as Paul Simon once sang, "who am I to blow against the wind?"

I am beginning to feel, though, that there's a bit of a misunderstanding, and it needs to be cleared up.

First, perhaps there has been a shift on this blog. It has not been intentional. I have no problem with higher tier restaurants -- not at all. However, my ability to be out in said restaurants has been highly curtailed over the past three months. I don't mind sharing here (since many of the news blog regulars already know) that I'm experiencing life with an infant. My mobility was shifted sharply down before my daughter was born December 2nd, and while I have been able to get out and about recently, I now have an infant in tow. I've done what I can to share my own experiences, but they have understandably been limited by my current circumstances.

Second, like many Americans, I don't have a huge budget to go out and visit higher-tier restaurants. Just like each of you who have posted your opinion here, I am not reimbursed for my restaurant experiences for pieces in Eat Arkansas. While I would love to experience Ashley's or Sonny Williams' today, I must settle for lunch specials at Faded Rose and calzones at Vino's. This will likely change as my daughter gets older and my financial situation rights itself again.

Third, there's no exclusion here on food experience. My earlier post wasn't trying to tell you to "do it yourself" if you wanted to see it here... it was meant to be an invitation to share your experiences, too. I have no problem with posting your dining experiences. I have made the invitation before, and when I have received material have duly posted. My email address is kat@tiedyetravels.com -- I don't hide that. Email me with your photos and observations. Love to put them up.

Fourth -- the reason you've seen references to some chains on here (like Sonic, Jason's Deli, and Baskin Robbins) has not been to review said chains, but to encourage discussion about changes in the industry. I too am pretty shocked that Sonic wants to charge $1.19 for a banana it already has on hand -- but I looked at it as "wow, if they're doing that, what are other restaurants doing?" and pitched it that way. For those who actually followed the jump, you saw that a link to a class about cooking healthy on a budget that was linked in. In the case of Jason's Deli, it was the idea of eliminating high fructose corn syrup from the menu and possibly even from the drink selection -- a rather radical thought for some. And for Baskin Robbins -- it was the audacity of a single menu item that carries as many or more calories as some consume in a week.

However, the Golden Corral bit? Was meant. Because it has been a long time since I've been to another non-Oriental buffet that's been anything but an overload of butter and pork fat. It was refreshing, and for someone like me who has a significant allergy to be able to have as many choices as to not even bemoan the things I couldn't eat -- well, it was significant to me. Perhaps I should have written about other things concerning Golden Corral -- such as its amazing community track record, or the incredible man who runs it -- James Staats, who has a heart the size of a barrel, or the fact that this one location shines so much brighter than any of the other Golden Corral locations I have visited (and, in my honest opinion, the other locations are average at best). I omitted these bits, and that is my error. Perhaps if I had written about such things (and those things had been read), this conversation might not have started.

That being said, I am glad this conversation has started. I have been searching for input these past three months, wanted to share more about new restaurants, wanted to share those neat little tips that each of us discover about the places we visit. The Typekey problems we had for some time slowed down and even stopped commentation from time to time. I experienced my own frustration at this as well. Many of those who might have posted here may have been discouraged. Some might even have given up and not come back.

Now, I could have posted this response as a regular story on Eat Arkansas. But this blog isn't about me or my tastes. It's a blog for all of us. And that's why I'll still post cooking classes, dining events, and yes even reviews of barbecue joints. I'd love your suggestions for restaurants to check out for you -- and if I am able to, I'll check them out. At the same time, I'm asking the same from you. If you'd like to share an experience -- please, by all means, let me know. I don't care if it's a restaurant, a product you like, something you are growing in your garden, or something you've heard about that you want to share. Share it. Have a food-related topic you'd like to converse about? Throw that out there, too.

I am thrilled to see that commenters have returned to this blog. I want to encourage that.

However, there is one thing that I am not cool with. That is outright bashing. We all have the right to voice our opinions. That does not make any certain poster dumb, unrefined, or uneducated just because that poster has a different palate. When the conversation is reduced to this level, little of value is exchanged, in my humble opinion.

That is my bit. It is said. Carry on.

Kat, I for one appreciate all the work you do. For some reason I don't comment often but prefer to sit back and read what everybody else is saying, kind of a bit of voyeurism I suppose. I do wish that somebody would start a blog for independent restaurants only. As many of you are well aware, the independent restaurant owner is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to advertising budgets, even in good economic times they don't have those hugh corporate advertising dollars at their disposal. Also, trying to keep their prices in line with the chains is next to impossible, they don't have that kind of buying power. It is a constant struggle for them to just keep the doors open, lights on and employees paid. This is true no matter how long they have been in business. It takes such a short amount of time in a slow economy to cause a restaurant to go under. I think that most independent restaurant owners try very hard to give their customers a distinct dining experience no matter what the price range. They are putting their hearts and souls into their businesses and communities and in many cases it is also the hearts and souls of their family members as well.

That being said, I understand that sometimes people have to eat at the chains. But whenever possible I suggest people think about where they are spending their money. Yes, employees at chains deserve to make money just as the independents restaurant employees do but so many of these companies buy most of their products outside of Arkansas through their central commissaries that other than their employees paychecks and payroll taxes most of the money that they are bringing in is going right out of state and back to corporate.

JensJens, I thought I knew who you were and that you attended the Gillette Coon Supper in Gillette.

I saw pictures from that event and that plate of grub looked not appetizing at all.

Well said, Kat. But I do disagree with your fourth point. The corporate restaurant industry gets lots of kudos for anything that remotely resemble healthy. I don't even watch TV, and I'm constantly coming across news stories of how McDonald's has gone healthy, how Wendy's portions are becoming smaller, etc. Why repeat the stories on Eat Arkansas? I'd like to read stories about food-related topics in Arkansas, high-end and low-end, meaty and raw (LR Raw Foods Group meets next Tuesday in downtown LR).

mcbsmith, let's exchange vegan dessert recipes! Mango jelly turned out great! I put sugar in coconut milk, warmed it up, and drizzled it on top of the jelly. It was good. Udon with Arkansas kale, carrot & burdock salad, miso soup, and Asian pumpkins made with Arkansas pumpkins made up the rest of the menu. We served our homebrews to our German friend. He was happy to encounter a real beer.

I'll come over for the forager book, and you and your bf should come over to check out the chickens. They are so easy to keep, much easier than cats. And the answer to your question of how long should you be in a relationship before committing to a chicken? Six months.

Melissa,

Thanks very much for explaining. I was starting to feel extremely baffled/stupid for not understanding the reference.

I've never heard of the Gillette Coon Supper. Googling now. Intrigued.

Kat, I know you and I don't always agree- please hear me out here- but I've got to say something about this.

"However, there is one thing that I am not cool with. That is outright bashing. We all have the right to voice our opinions. That does not make any certain poster dumb, unrefined, or uneducated just because that poster has a different palate. When the conversation is reduced to this level, little of value is exchanged, in my humble opinion."

I'm sorry, but-

What???

I don't think I'm alone here when I say that the purpose of this blog has always been about food- not the actual person posting the blog. I don't even understand that line of logic.

Just look at the traffic generated to this specific entry. It's pretty amazing, by Eat AR standards, you have to admit. I can't find a single example of any one commenting on the "dumb, unrefined, or uneducated poster." Um- what???

The lot of us expressed dismay, and rightfully so, being that "we all have the right to voice our opinions."

If those opinions about the content, subject matter or food itself happen to contrast that of said poster, so the hell what? It's about the content. THE CONTENT of the entry.

And frankly, I certainly don't agree that the "level" of conversation is "reduced" because people were unsettled or turned off by the subject matter. I read every single comment on this entry. Some twice.

I think every one had something of "value" to say, whether they think Golden Corral is the bomb or wouldn't step foot in the joint for $100.

If bashing were existent on this thread, I think it would be a hell of a lot nastier and profane. Seriously.

Now we get scolded for having opinions about Golden Corral and Sonic???

Doesn't make sense to me on a public forum. But that's just my humble opinion.

You got a persecution complex, Jen? Cuz I didn't read your name anywher up there. Sure looked like a Mea Culpa to me. Instead of bitching so much you might spend more time planning your club meeting. If you really think Kat has it in for you do you think your talk would still be on here? if someone cn post them stories they can probably take off your comments too

I heard more griping here lately than from my wife all week there got to be something wrong with that.

My, my.

What a discussion. Wonderful.

Since I started this, maybe my thoughts are worth pitching in.

1) I'll never extinguish it, I know, but this blog, our reviews, our capsule reviews, etc. are unrelated to advertising. I could point you to any number of advertisers who've cancelled over our content, but I won't belabor it.

2) The reviews are anonymous for precisely the reason listed -- to afford some anonymity. But, when restaurants complain, I always let them talk to the writer on factual issues. We don't hide.

3) I personally welcome contributions of all sorts -- high end, low end and in-between. I've been thrilled to have Kat working because she provides constant contributions. (She also seems to have a knack for stirring SOME people up.)

4) Joel, I'm sorry you feel unloved. I value and appreciate your contributions. Sometimes I can't get to things as quickly as I wish.

5) Eat Arkansas was, in the beginning, a labor of my love of food. I have a few other things to do, though. So it was hit or miss. Belly Boy, law student Jennifer, JenJens,Big Fun and some others have stepped up on occasion. But after more than four years of doing the Arkansas Blog seven days a week, I have learned one thing: It's very easy to start a blog. It's hard to sustain it. Other things come up. Several people who swore they wanted to contribute contributed one item and then no more.

6) I'd welcome more regular contributors. I wish we could get a food blog going where a lot of people contributed dinner shots and instant commentary from a lot of different places. You can do that by e-mailing me at max@arktimes.com

I'm open to opening the blog controls to others, too. But I want commitments and to trust the people who are doing it to be responsible. (I don't mean only write things I agree with.)

Write me at max@arktimes.com if you're interested.

7) Chains. Kat asked me my thoughts. I told her that I generally think chains probably merit a mention less than other places, but when there's something new, something awful, something useful, something praiseworthy, I have no problem mentioning it. They account for a huge amount of the food dollar, like it or not.

I'm a fan of chili dogs and haute cuisine, though as I age comfort food has a stronger lure. I do a lot of my own cooking.

Finally, as to my own contributions, I follow the blogger's rule: My blog. So I might write about making gumbo, or eating at Maddie's or about what I ate in Belgium last month.

My emphasis, preferred, is Arkansas restaurants, though, and passion about same.

Happy to see it here.

Max

I've been sitting on the sidelines on this discussion, partly because the new big brother in charge at work blocked our access to Typepad, so while I can read, I can't comment.

But the other part is that I didn't really think I had anything meaningful to contribute. I will offer one suggestion...how about an open line once in a while? Maybe not everyday like Max does on the Arkansas Blog, but it would give people an opportunity to share recipes, post local happens, offer restaurant reviews...

Just a thought...I will say this for this thread...I'm sure glad it got everyone posting again! Thanks to Kat, Max, Joel and all the other regular contributors!

Mordy, I agree with you and Kat and everyone else who is smiling, and maybe smirking, that the comments have returned to Eat Arkansas. Some of my favorite posts on here have been running discussions of Arkansas Wine (which I think had a higher passion count than this thread) and Gyros!

We have a thread here running longer, by my glance, than any other thread currently on the Arkansas blog! We are beating the open lines and we are still posting more stuff. If food is art, as we have described it, the passions will run high! And, I think it is good.

And I cannot wait for a market to get fresh local victuals that is open when I am awake! The Station is, perhaps, my most eagerly awaited opening of this year.

JenJens, we still on for an EA Foodie gathering this weekend? And I will start lobbying again for a cookout/grillout once the weather is amendable!

Right there with you on the market, Joel. I cannot WAIT until the Argent Market opens, too. Super stoked!

Oops..Argenta Market...

I'm going to brag, y'all. We've been enjoying Arkansas blueberries and blackberries on our pancakes, and we still cook with Arkansas tomatoes. We froze and cold stored tons of produce, and we're still enjoying them. OKay, done bragging.

Day in and day out the best buffet in Little Rock for years was the NLR Riverfront Hilton lunch buffet. Decent price. Good service. Great fried chicken.

For many years Little Rock was rich in locally owned places that had great followings and tradition.

Back in the day there was nothing like the Faded Rose on a busy Friday. A cold beer and a great steak and you knew half the room.

For chicken wings and beer on a game day was there anything finer than Diego's with Tommy Smith hosting some sort of wild special event.

On a rainy Saturday night was there ever a better place to listen to music, talk to a lady, and drink good Scotch than The Afterthought?

On a June Friday evening was there a finer happy hour than Busters? In the 80's when the bond daddies were at the bar and the possibilities for the night were endless?

Was there a better cheeseburger than The Whitewater on a Sunday afternoon when you were trying to wash off the impact of Saturday night?

The best pizza in those days was Vino's where happy hour featured real estate guys in $500 dollar suits lined up with the heavy metal crowd.

Does anyone remember the free food at Studebakers?

Maybe the chains have taken over, but from about 1978 to 1992...there were so many great local places in Little Rock to eat and drink.

As an old friend says...those were the days when it was ok to have fun.

I don't live in LR anymore, but make it back from time to time. Growing up in Hillcrest, the burger to have was Leo's Maltshop on Kavanaugh. The guy that ran the place called cherry cokes "BellyWasher".
Years later, it was those hot Velveeta cheeseburgers served from a stand at a tire shop on Asher. I hang at Brave's now- worked with Peter at Cajun's. Hard to believe he's been pro for 18 years. Chains? You only think it's good because they soak everything with salt, sugar, and MSG (in that order). When corporations rule the world, we all become slaves. Save your time and money and host a foodie "salon" instead. My favorite? Some friends (Catalina Island locals) gather at a remote campground on the windward side every Wednesday night (it takes almost an hour to drive there from Avalon) for what they call "Fat Wednesday". They pick a theme, and cook all the food on an open fire. The tradition started years ago during another economic downturn, when folks didn't have the extra money to go out. The few times a year we make it over have been some of the best culinary experiences of my life.

Max,

I appreciate that you pointed out that chains make up for a huge amount of the food dollar. I think more people need to hear that, and think about how their spending habits affect locally owned businesses.

Did you know that the Red Lobster in North Little Rock is the highest grossing restaurant in the state? The entire state. Think about that. And why do people eat at Red Lobster? For overcooked, butter soaked, MSG salted seafood? Nope. For cheesy biscuits. Cheesy biscuits, which anyone could get the recipe for on the back of the damn Bisquick box. Let's all take a pause and think about how much money Red Lobster is raking in on the sole basis of cheesy biscuits.

Now, let's think about how much money a single individual spends at Red Lobster. Because I feel like the argument for chains on this thread has been that people eat at chains because they cannot afford to eat locally. The average person is going to spend at least $45 at Red Lobster, and that's not including drinks... all those cute little umbrella drinks to go along with your tough-chewy scallops. Can anyone here tell me what the prix-fixe menu at Ferneau costs? I believe it's $35 for three courses. How about Acadia? Ashley's has a prix fixe menu every night for $55. So, I'm thinking if I'm going to drop $45 of my hard earned money, why waste it on MSG, butter soaked, overcooked food, when I could spend $10 more and eat locally grown, in season, fresh healthy and incredibly delicious food. Food snob or not, you're an idiot (that's right, Kat, an idiot) to waste your money--and your CALORIES--on the crap that is dished out in chains.

You think your saving money at chains, because that's what their millions of dollars in advertising spent want you to think. I'm just saying, maybe stop, think twice, and do the math before you go to Applebee's next time.

I love you, Argenta Girl.

Case closed.

I didn't know that Red Lobster (frozen, frozen, frozen) was the highest grossing restaurant in the state, although that doesn't surprise me in the least.

It gets voted by AR Times readers as "Best Seafood" year after year, which conjures up feelings I don't really enjoy. Frustration, I guess.

You're totally right about the great deals around town on prix-fixe menus. Great deals to be had. And food you can feel good about eating. More importantly.

Lots of good deals in Argenta this week (and weekend, still)? You're the girl to ask.

And well said, as per usual.

Red Lobster sucks so hard. The folks in my office love it for some reason and it's the default location for birthday dinners and celebrations. In fact..just yesterday I overhead a guy talking about the cheese biscuits. The first time I went to one of these functions was the last. The plate of food smelled like a pier.
The other favorite is TGI Fridays. I just don't understand the love for these places. It kind of makes me feel sorry for folks that either can't cook or just haven't taken the time to learn.

Food Dude:

"The plate of food smelled like a pier."

Heh. Cheese biscuits. Also worth of a heh.

Whenever I think of TGI Fridays, it always reminds me of Office Space in that scene where Jennifer Aniston is reprimanded for not wearing enough "flair."

Or even better: "So can I get you gentlemen something more to drink? Or maybe something to nibble on? Some Pizza Shooters, Shrimp Poppers, or Extreme Fajitas?"

God that makes me laugh my ass off every time. EXTREME Fajitas.

ROTFLMAO. Ahhhh .... flair and TPS reports seem to make the world go `round.

Starving Artist Cafe also used to have a prix fixe that was delightful. I assume they are still doing it in the NLR location, though the on-line menu from 2008 doesn't specify.

Argenta Restaurant Week is popping off as usual... I think the last night is tomorrow night though, so go while you can. Although it's a little cheesy, I had a pretty wild experience last year at the Riverfront Steak House (as it was the only restaurant in Argenta I hadn't been to.) If you want an unforgettable dining experience, go to Riverfront Steakhouse tomorrow night and request Sammy as your waiter.

As for the feed about getting together this weekend, I've had some last minute plans come up and my Saturday night is booked. I've got to dress up and hob nob, but trust me, I would rather be digging down on some sushi... You know where my heart lies.

I have never understood the allure of Red Lobster at ALL! and I am not necessarily knee jerk eek to chains. I didn't know for the longest time that a lot of chain food is frozen "TV dinner style things" that are heated up in the back. No I'm serious.

Okay now I got to scout out the reviews to figure out somewhere to eat in Fayetteville.

Melissa,

Do you like Korean food? If so, I recommend Sook & Sungs. It doesn't have grills like they do at many Korean restaurants, but their bulgogi and galbi are good.

I also recommend Greenhouse Grille. It serves dishes made from locally-grown produce. I also like Little Bread Company for bread and pastries.

Hope you have fun there!