Writer: Stephanie Maxwell Newton
Seven organizations from around the state celebrate induction into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
Photos by Beth Hall (Tusk & Trotter, Herman’s Ribhouse), courtesy of Mark Abernathy (Abernathy and President Clinton), and courtesy of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
In 2016, the Division of Arkansas Heritage launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame to recognize culturally significant eateries, events, and restaurateurs for their contributions to the state’s culinary landscape. While the honors offer winners and finalists endless bragging rights, it’s also a means to educate Arkansans on the state’s diverse—and delicious—food culture.
For the 2024 awards, nominations were open to the public in February and reviewed by a committee of food historians, writers, chefs, and leaders from the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Thirty-two finalists were announced in May and, from those, seven winners were formally inducted at an awards ceremony on September 30. Read on to learn more about the 2024 winners.
Proprietor of the Year
This award honors a chef, cook, or restaurant owner who has made a significant impact on the food industry in Arkansas. The 2024 Proprietor of the Year is Rob Nelson of Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie, which opened in Bentonville in 2011.
Q: Your menu boasts a mix of low-brow favorites among more gourmet flavor combinations. Where do you turn for inspiration?
A: The biggest inspiration for me in creating the menus for Tusk & Trotter is working with our farmers and ranchers to see what will be available for the upcoming season. I’m always collaborating with our Tusk team in the development of the menu and trying to showcase what’s local and fresh from the High South region.
Q: How do you feel about being named Proprietor of the Year?
A: Being put into the Food Hall of Fame is a huge honor, not just for me but for the entire Tusk family. It’s not just one person that makes Tusk & Trotter successful—it’s most definitely a team effort!
Q: Why do you think it’s important for Arkansas to celebrate its heritage and culture with a Food Hall of Fame?
A: Our state has such an amazing history when it comes to the diversity of its people and the traditions we share across different regions. The Natural State has such an interesting story to tell, and it’s extremely important for groups like the Division of Heritage to be that storyteller so future generations know how this all started and where we are headed when it comes to our culture, community, food, and agriculture.
Q: What’s next for Tusk & Trotter?
A: We opened a second location in downtown Rogers in September. The menu does have some differences from the Bentonville location to keep it fun and also show off more local products; for example, we’re using as much as we can from the Rogers Farmers Market. But our mission is still the same, which is telling our story of High South cuisine.
Q: Any other upcoming projects?
A: We opened our first barbecue joint in October. It’s called Brothers Meethouse—yes, spelled meethouse—to let everyone know this is a gathering place. It’s a place to hang out and enjoy Arkansas barbecue, music of the region, and each other’s company. We are located in the Bentonville Market District across the street from The Momentary.
Photos by Beth Hall
Gone But Not Forgotten
This award honors an establishment whose legacy has continued to impact the food scene in the state long after the doors to the restaurant closed. This year’s honor was bestowed to Little Rock restaurateur Mark Abernathy on behalf of Juanita’s.
Photo courtesy of MHP.SI
Before there was SoMa, there was Juanita’s. Opened in 1986, Mark Abernathy’s first Little Rock restaurant was an ode to the Tex Mex cuisine he’d come to love during his time living and working in San Antonio. Soon the restaurant became as much a topic of conversation for its live music lineup and well-known clientele as it was for its menu. “The national food culture has changed so much since I started in the industry over 55 years ago,” Mark says, citing the ways food shows on TV and the Internet have inspired young chefs to find and nurture a love of cooking. “In 1972, TGI Fridays was the first public place to get a mixed drink in Arkansas. And you could count the good restaurants in town on one hand.” What does Mark think made Juanita’s such a special place for so many people? “Real atmosphere, real Tex-Mex, and the best live music in the country.”
Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
This award recognizes long-standing restaurants that are widely considered to have influenced food culture in the state. In 2024, Doe’s Eat Place, The Faded Rose, and Herman’s Ribhouse were the Food Hall of Fame’s newest inductees.
Photos courtesy of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
After years crossing the Mississippi River to dine on steak and tamales at Doe’s Eat Place in Greenville, Mississippi, George Eldridge contracted the name and menu to be able to open his own Little Rock-based location of the Delta destination in 1988. Twelve years ago his daughter, Katherine Eldrige, assumed ownership.
Q: What are some of your earliest memories of Doe’s Eat Place?
A: I remember how excited people were that we were bringing a Doe’s to Little Rock. We’ve added some menu items but, for the most part, we’ve tried to keep it the same since then. Consistency is key. The quality of meat that we serve and our number one chef, David Brown, have all been here almost from the very beginning.
Q: Why do you think it’s important for Arkansas to celebrate its heritage and culture with a Food Hall of Fame?
A: Food plays a very important role in people’s lives. It’s not just something we need to survive, but it’s how we celebrate the good times and how we comfort ourselves during the bad times. We get to watch our customers celebrate birthdays, weddings, promotions, and small milestones. We have also hosted dinners for families after the death of a loved one. So I think it’s very important that we celebrate these food establishments that have been so important in people’s lives. What an honor to be able to serve Arkansas for 36 years and now be a member of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame!
Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
Laurie and Ed David founded The Faded Rose in Little Rock in 1982. A New Orleans native, Ed developed his restaurant’s menu around authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine—think po’ boys, gumbo, and étouffée—alongside steaks, burgers, and a now-famous soaked salad. The Faded Rose is a springtime favorite for fresh-from-Louisiana boiled crawfish by the pound, as well as its no-frills interior decorated with political signs from campaigns past. Today, Laurie and Ed’s son, Zac, helps lead the charge. “More than anything, it’s cool for my dad to be able to see his hard work pay off,” Zac says of the award. “It’s a big deal for any restaurant in the state to be a part of the Food Hall of Fame, and we’re proud and thankful.”
Photo by Beth Hall
Located on College Avenue in Fayetteville, Herman’s Ribhouse is as well-known for its status as a Razorback game-day hangout as it is for its legendary ribs. Now owned by Carrie and Nick Wright, the Herman’s name can be traced back to former owners Irene and Herman Tuck, who bought and renamed the restaurant in 1964. According to the eatery’s website, that early rendition of Herman’s Ribhouse had just nine menu items—all barbecue, including racks of ribs. Nick started as a dishwasher in 1996 and moved up in 2000 before purchasing and running the restaurant full-time in 2012. “The customers are the reason why we’re here,” Nick says. “Herman started something years ago that people continue to turn out for. It’s not anything we do; all we can do is cook good food and provide good service. People keep coming back because they feel like it’s their place.”
Food-Themed Event
This award honors one of the most vital aspects of food: Its ability to bring people together. Officially, the prize is given to a food-themed event “that has helped preserve a community’s unique food history.” This year, that event was the Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry in Dardanelle.
Photos (Rockefeller and The Browns) by Harold Gray; all courtesy of Mike Kiser
The Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry has celebrated “chicken, pickin’, and politickin’” in Yell County for 77 years. Sponsored by the Dardanelle Area Chamber of Commerce and Tyson Foods, the annual event’s schedule revolves around a Southern fried chicken dinner, live music, and games for all ages. “The competitiveness and good-natured fun at log-sawing, horseshoes, and other events is all part of it,” says Stacey Daughtrey, executive director of the Dardanelle Area Chamber of Commerce.
According to oral histories passed down in the region, the event got its start as a fish fry. Harold Snyder, a pioneer in the poultry industry, teamed up with local businessman Fred Burnett to add chicken to the event’s menu in 1948. As the festival grew, “the Chicken Fry became a huge political event, with politicians from across the state delivering speeches and shaking hands to garner support,” says Yell County resident Debbie Meek, whose paternal grandfather, “Stickney” Meek, was one of the original fish fry’s organizers. Though her father’s army career meant he was often stationed out of state, her family returned for the Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry as often as possible. “The Chicken Fry was the rallying point for an entire weekend of barbecues, horseback riding, great food, and frivolity,” she recalls. “For me, these were idyllic summers and are cherished memories—playing with the children of those families and three generations telling Nebo stories.”
From left: Winthrop Rockefeller speaking at the 1966 Mt Nebo Chicken Fry while campaigning for governor. 1960s Nashville family band The Browns performing at the Chicken Fry. Gov. Jim Guy Tucker with Mt. Nebo locals.
People’s Choice Award
While the other categories are chosen by the panel of judges, the People’s Choice award is voted on by the public. This year, Beech Street Bistro in Crossett, which Laura and Chester Huntsman opened in 2018, took home the prize.
Q: How would you describe the menu at Beech Street Bistro?
A: It’s a marriage of Creole, Cajun, and Southern, stick-to-your-ribs soul food. From burgers to gator nachos to our “Me-Oh-My!” Crawfish Pie, we have the stuff that makes you want to come back for more.
Q: Tell us a little more about your actual restaurant location.
A: We took an old clapboard house with a wide porch and turned it into a place where you leave feeling like you have just walked out of a New Orleans juke joint. We are definitely sitting in a residential area of town, which we have learned makes our guests feel at home!
Q: How does it feel to be named to the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame?
A: More often than not, Crossett is overlooked due to our location on the map—we are in the corner of Southeast Arkansas, what some people may call “off the beaten path,” and literally less than 10 miles from the Louisiana state line. Folks in Crossett work hard to make sure we are kept on the map and not forgotten. When there is recognition, we treasure that. We cannot express enough how much we appreciate everyone who voted for us and continue to support Chester’s dream. The biggest “thank you,” however, goes to our amazing team at the Beech Street Bistro! It is always great to know that our Bistro continues to add flavor and a unique experience to the great state of Arkansas.
