NWA Food Finds

08/12/2026

😲🍨We've decided to interrupt NWA Food Finds' self-induced summer slumber to tell you about something CRAAAAZY COOL (literally and figuratively...) Tulsa artist and self-proclaimed mad scientist Tyler Thrasher works in all things phosphorescent at his studio and glowing flower shop, Moonbeam Conservatory — and he has teamed up with Big Dipper Creamery to bring GLOW-IN-THE-DARK ICE CREAM to Likewise - a coworking + community space for a one-of-a-kind party this weekend, August 15!!!

Can you go? YES! If you get with it... Tyler's events tend to sell out, but there are tickets available. To keep crowding under control, there are two time slots. Not only do tickets include a glow-in-the-dark ice cream flight (dairy-free available), they also get you a signed limited edition art print, music by DJ Hartthrob and the opportunity to peruse Tyler's famous phosphorescent flower shop. WE CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS COMING TO FAYTOWN!!!

07/18/2026

06/12/2026

We've got a great 4-ingredient recipe for you that uses a top-quality, local small-business product...
Timber Glow Seasoning Smoked Cream Cheese — and y'all, this one had the two of us polishing off an ENTIRE block of cream cheese while standing at the counter after videoing how to make it! 🫢

We took a whole block of full-fat cream cheese, scored it in a crosshatch pattern, rubbed it all over with Sova Seasonings' Timber Glow blend (think hickory, herbs, garlic, pepper), doused it with hot honey and let it ride in the electric smoker at 225°F for two hours in a swirl of pecan wood smoke. The result? A deeply smoky, silky, melt-in-your-mouth appetizer that disappeared waaaay too fast.

We topped it with jalapeno jelly and served it with our favorite crackers. Simple. Gorgeous. Seriously addictive. (Some might call it dinner...)

Don't have a smoker? This also works beautifully on a grill over indirect heat (around 350°F for 15–20 minutes or so.)

Timber Glow is one of six handcrafted small-batch blends from Sova Seasonings — born right here in NWA, inspired by a love of cooking and family tradition. No fillers, no shortcuts — just real, bold flavor the way it should be. NWA Food Finds is proud to shine a spotlight on products like this, made with heart by real people in our community.

Find Seasonings at:
🍴 Richard's Country Meat Market
🍴 Huntsville Pantry
🍴 Local events around NWA
🛒 And always online at sovaseasonings.com

Be watching for more easy, no-fail recipes, as NWA Food Finds tries Sova's other seasoning mixes!

06/11/2026

‼️NEW RESTAURANT ALERT: Big Daddy's Burgers & Ice Cream in south Fayetteville is totally legit!‼️
We'd been hearing happy rumblings about this new addition to the Fayetteville food scene, so we dropped by for a quick bite...and, yeahh, we're already planning another visit to check out the wings! 🐓
We went in starving and strolled away stuffed with:
🍔 The Big Daddy: Two thin patties with perfect crispy edges that make proper smashburgers so addictive. Every bite was classic and packed with flavor.
🍔 The Apt. 2B – O.M.G... This burger pairs up with tender fried green tomatoes + pimento cheese and, well, lordamercy!! That, along with crispy fries, totally hit the spot. (Big Daddy's, would you please-please-pleeeeease make those tomatoes their own side option — we'd order it every single time.)🙏🤤
🥤 Chocolate Shake – Made with Hugs Ice Cream, thick, creamy, rich — exactly what the partner to a burger should be.

📍 388 Nelson Hackett Blvd, Fayetteville, AR - located in a former service station and full of fun kitsch
🕚 Mon-Wed: 11am-9pm | Thu-Sat: 11am-10pm | Closed Sundays
🔗 Order online at bigdaddysfayetteville.com
If you're near campus or craving a really solid burger, this is your sign.

04/04/2026

🍀We had a wonderful experience at McGarity’s Restaurant & Irish Pub in Eureka Springs...and we're pretty sure it wasn't just luck! We've since learned a LOT of people love this friendly spot.

🫔🍖We started with their Irish Reuben Eggrolls, which were excellent (even according to one of us who's not a big fried food fan.) The wrapper was incredibly light, crisp and non-greasy, giving way to tender corned beef and tangy sauerkraut, complemented by a side of Thousand Island dressing for dipping. A well-executed twist on a classic!

🥗🍴The Caesar salad was made with fresh, crunchy shredded romaine that allowed for even distribution of their tasty house-made dressing. Simple, approachable and done well.

🥔🥓For our entrée, we shared the Irish Bangers and Mash, and it was both beautiful and delicious. The Hasselback-style cut on the banger sausage gave the dish an elevated presentation, while the mashed potatoes—served culcannon-style with bits of cabbage and bacon—were hearty and full of flavor. Even sharing, it was more than we could finish! One of us has spent time in Ireland and can attest to the authenticity of this traditional pub dish. We forgot to ask, but given its lush dark color, we suspect the gravy has Guinness as an ingredient.

🥰👏A huge shout-out to our server, Brittany, who was charming, attentive, and truly made our visit special. One of the most heartwarming things about McGarity’s is their commitment to the community—they offer a meal to anyone in need, no questions asked. That alone speaks volumes in our book. They also offer vegan options and are able to accommodate Alpha Gal dietary restrictions, a big plus.

We’re already looking forward to our next visit—and their spicy meat pies and a specialty cocktail (or two!) are definitely calling our name!

03/25/2026

🥃🍸Last weekend, we enjoyed a “classy” evening at Stonebreaker Hotel—as guests for a cocktail mixology class built around Irish spirits! When you head up to the top of Fayetteville’s Markham Hill to visit the hotel and the adjacent restored Victorian-era home—trust us, you’re finding way more than just a place to grab dinner or stay overnight…you’re in for an experience.

🍀🍀The class we attended was led by bartender Andrew in the upstairs bar—and it was absolutely as charming as it sounds. Andrew guided us through stories, techniques and flavors behind each cocktail, making the evening approachable and fun for seasoned sippers/mixers as well as less experienced cocktail-curious folks. We watched as he crafted two excellent drinks—the Meadow Collins and The Emerald Sour—each showcasing Irish wh***ey. Then, each participant had the opportunity to apply Andrew's techniques to make their own adult beverages. Paired with a charcuterie board and great conversation between locals and out-of-towners, the whole evening was unhurried, welcoming and memorable.

🍽🎵Some Stonebreaker Hotel experiences are exclusive to club members, but others—like this class—are open for reservations, making it easy to plan a great little getaway moment. The restaurant is top-notch in both vibe and menu…and don’t miss the dreamy screened porch as a spot to settle for a spell. If you’re lucky, you may catch some live music. Also pictured are some additional drinks from the downstairs bar, which offers some excellent non-alcoholic options that don't skimp on flavor or complexity.

If you’ve not been yet, think of Stonebreaker as the kind of place where you blissfully lose track of time and forget you’re still right in the heart of Fayetteville.

03/22/2026

🍾🙌🍾BRAND NEW RESTAURANT ALERT! South Fayetteville has a sparkly new gem absolutely worth celebrating: 1834 Tavern Lafayette!

🐝🐐🥖We just had the joy of dining there, and from simply walking in the door...to the very first bite...to the final sip, it was a memorable experience. We started with the “Billy and the Bee”—a warm baguette paired with a house-blended Montchevre goat cheese whip, Arkansas wildflower honey, and delicate prosciutto. Sweet, savory, luscious.

🥓🥔🥚For dinner, we shared two gorgeously plated dishes. The Marquis de Lafayette salad was a visual masterpiece—frisée, crisp-tender haricot verts and warm Yukon Gold potatoes tossed in a house mustard vinaigrette, crowned with a perfectly poached egg (meant to mingle a bit of runny yolk with the bright dressing) and decadent pork belly lardons that were chewy, savory and just a touch sweet. Alongside it, the Brewmaster’s Bratwurst Plate delivered bold, comforting old-world flavors with cider-braised purple cabbage, tangy German potato salad, crisp prosciutto and coarse-grained mustard—all in a riot of color!

🍓🍫🫶Dessert? They spoiled us with the Strawberry Harvest with its fresh berry compote, Belgian waffle, whipped cream and candied walnuts—not too sweet. And the Brewer’s Chocolate Cake—made with a rich dark ale reduction—was pure indulgence, topped with ganache and whipped cream.

🍸🥃🧊Cocktails did not disappoint either. A perfectly balanced Old Fashioned started the evening, and the 1834 Aviation—with gin, crème de violette, Lindemans Kriek, and fresh lemon—was vibrant and unforgettable.

Beyond the food, the space itself is something VERY special. Set in a building with a deed dating back to 1834, owners Stephanie Ouyoumjian and Matt Taylor have made the restoration a family labor of love. They've chosen to honor the structure's original bones wherever they could (even discovering from charred old wooden ceiling slats that it had burned at one time)—and have found some remarkable historic treasures along the way. Every physical aspect of the space reflects an incredible eye for design, offering a feel of true upscale elegance...but delivered with the intention of creating cozy, comfortable intimacy found in a Belgian village tavern.

NWA, we've landed something truly special here. Go experience it. 🍽️
📍572 W. M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Fayetteville, AR 72701

03/07/2026

🚨😍NEW DESSERT SPOT IN NWA😍🚨
…and it very well might be the most over-the-top sweets we’ve seen yet. We received an invite to visit ChoKolata Dessert Lounge in Springdale, and this place is on a whole new level of sweet, sweet decadence!

The owner, Hafez Saleh, left a career in finance and real estate to chase his passion for creating luxury desserts (and we suspect the pure joy of seeing people smile.) You can’t find this kind of option anywhere else in Northwest Arkansas — and every single item is made in-house with premium ingredients.

One ingredient alone tells you how serious he is about quality:
The pistachio butter used in the famous Dubai chocolate filling is imported from Jordan, and the pricetag for this key piece of his dessert puzzle would probably surprise you. Hafez is not cutting corners with his creations!

And yes… it tastes as incredible as it sounds.

Here’s what we tried before crawling home to collapse in a chocolate-induced coma... 👇

🍓 Dubai Strawberry Cup
🍫 Dubai Chocolate Crepe
🧀 Dubai Cheesecake
🧇 Fruity Pebbles Waffle
🍫 Dubai Brownie
🥞 Ferrero Mini Pancakes
✨ 24K Gold Dubai Milk Chocolate Bar

The waffles, crepes, and pancakes are made fresh right in front of you, and everything comes out warm, gooey, and layered with colorful toppings.

But the star of the show might be the 24K Gold Dubai Chocolate Bar. You've probably heard of these, but who would've thought we'd see them become a gloriously local product??

We watched Hafez make them FROM SCRATCH — each one takes multiple steps, and every bar is unique.

Inside is the famous Dubai chocolate filling made from:

💚 kataifi (shredded phyllo pastry)
💚 pistachio butter
💚 tahini

It creates this vibrant green center that’s somehow crunchy and creamy at the same time.

And one warning…These bars are RICH.
Like… “you WILL NEED HELP finishing one” rich. 😅

This new spot isn’t just dessert — it’s a whole experience. And we suspect if you encounter Hafez while you visit, you'll 100% come away having made a friend.

📍 Chokolata Dessert Lounge – Springdale

Who are you bringing with you to try this? 👀