The Bearded Foodie

06/17/2026

A little bit of help.

Hey, West Little Rock — please help me spread the word!

06/10/2026

Our back room is officially back open AND just in time for the World Cup! 🌎🏆⚽️ Ticket prices may be sky-high, but a watch party at El Sur sounds a lot more fun anyway 😝🍻 Happy Hour starts at 1 PM tomorrow, so grab a drink and cheer on Mexico vs. South Africa with us!

06/08/2026

Well folks, I have to be real with you.

I'm no longer having weight loss surgery next month.

I got a call today from our surgery team. Our insurance only covers the procedure for the policy holder. After everything I've poured into this, after months of appointments and steps and getting my mind right for it, that was the news waiting on the other end of the phone. And finding out now, this late in the process, is honestly just too much.

I feel like the rug got pulled out from under me. I'm devastated. I'm lost. I genuinely don't know what my next move is right now.

I told y'all from the start that this blog series would be the honest version. The wins and the losses. Well, this is one of the losses, and I'm not going to dress it up. This one hurts.

I don't have the answers tonight. But I'm not done. I'm going to figure out what's next, and when I do, you'll hear it here first like always.

Thank you for riding with me through all of it. The good and the hard.

More to come.

06/08/2026

I used the Bar 3 Branded Meat black angus ground beef that I picked up yesterday at West Little Rock Farmers Market to make smashers before the rain tonight and the quality of the beef was amazing.

06/07/2026

Nothing beats putting your money in the hands of the people who grow and raise your food🧺🏿 I hit the West Little Rock Farmers Market at Breckenridge Village and stocked up: heirloom tomatoes, butter lettuce, Arkansas Wagyu, pork jowl bacon, and Black Angus ground beef.

Support local, eat better. 🍅🥬

05/30/2026

So what are the Arkansas Bucket List of restaurants to try before June 24th?

05/28/2026

Here’s the honest truth. Overeating has been a real struggle for me. I’ve been on GLP-1s for a few years now to manage my diabetes, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Ozempic got me down to 332 lbs, the best weight loss I’ve ever had, but the sugar spikes and lows were scary. I actually passed out at work once from a low. Mounjaro has kept me steady all day long and my bloodwork looks cleaner than it has in years, even though I’ve gained 27 lbs back over the last two years.

Surgery is going to let me get off the meds completely, and through my nutritionist I’ve already started untangling my whole relationship with food. It’s deeper than I ever realized.

So every Saturday morning, I’m going to pour a cup of coffee and write to y’all. The wins. The losses. The weird stuff I’m learning. The foods that are helping me get there. All of it, the real version, not the highlight reel.

If you’ve walked this road, are walking it now, or just want to ride along, pull up a chair. I’d love to have you.

The Bearded Foodie 🎅🏾

05/25/2026

A New Chapter for The Bearded Foodie 🤍

Y’all, I want to share something personal with you.

I’m on a bariatric weight loss journey. I’ve made the decision to have surgery, and it’s already changing my relationship with food in ways I didn’t expect.

That means The Bearded Foodie is going to look a little different going forward. You’ll still see my love for food, my wife and daughter by my side in the kitchen, and the Southern soul that’s always been at the heart of this page but the content is shifting. Fewer restaurant reviews. More of what’s actually on my plate now: high-protein meals, smaller portions done right, recipes I’m reworking to fit this new chapter, and the honest behind-the-scenes of post-surgery life.

If you’re walking a similar road, I hope this space becomes one you can lean on. And if you’re here for the food — don’t worry, flavor isn’t going anywhere. I’m just learning how to deliver it differently.

Thank you for being here. Truly.

— Chris,

05/15/2026

📣 LAST DAY IN PETTAWAY!

Your eyes are not deceiving you and yes you read that right.

Today, Friday, May 15 is our last day in Pettaway Square.

Full disclosure we're rolling on adrenaline right now so the emotional post will come later.

Right now here's what you need to know!

🕑OPEN TIME: 11AM as always

🚪CLOSE TIME: TBD, We're going until sell out. Heads up! We fully expect that to be before 6pm.

👀 Keep an eye on our socials, google, and toast hours to make sure we still have burgers to SMASH!

☎️ If in doubt, call us!

🤯 If you're still in shock and didn't know this was coming - we hate that our announcement last week missed you! Go watch that video or read that post for more information if you need that now.

‼️ I think that's all the needs to knows for now!

Happy Friday Y'all!! LFG! Get Smashed!

05/14/2026

When the margarita is bigger than your face and the nachos are calling your name… it’s a Tex-Mex kinda day. 🍹🌮

Y’all know I had to pull up to my spot Santo Coyote Mexican Food & Tequila Bar for one of those big boy margs and a plate of beef nachos that hit just right. That first sip? Chef’s kiss. That first bite? Cheesy, beefy, crunchy perfection. 😮‍💨Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself, fam. Life’s too short for sad lunches.

👉 Tell me — are you Team Margarita or Team Queso? Drop your answer in the comments! 👇