âItâs fine, though, all I had this morning was a smoothieâ: A pandemic food diary
February 4, 20212:15 pm
Nearly a year into the pandemic, the rules of sensible eating have eluded nearly all of us at some point or another. Leftover pulled pork at 9 a.m. because youâre out of eggs and the grocery store is a health risk? Sure. Coffee after noon? Why not; time is an invention of our own making, right? Cracking open a cheap beer at 3:30 p.m. because white supremacists are storming the nationâs Capitol? Sounds reasonable.
An assignment to compile a list of cheap eats in Central Arkansas in December coalesced, for
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Blenz Bowls, a Miami-inspired smoothie bowl food truck and cafe concept founded at the University of Alabama, rolled on to the University of Mississippi campus this semester, the first of many proposed Southeastern Conference expansions for the business.
The smoothie spot, which was founded by Alabama graduates Riley Voce and Zach Rogers in 2018, has its sights set on a complex market: on-campus dining.
“We identified pretty early on that college campuses are our market,” Voce said. “It’s very untapped. There’s a huge barrier to entry; it’s hard to get on campus.”
Aramark, a multinational food contractor that supplies food to a variety of education, healthcare, business and carceral clients including the Mississippi Department of Corrections holds exclusive power over dining options at the university, making it difficult for independent vendors to break onto the on-campus roster.
Best Restaurants in Arkansas 2021
Best Restaurants in Arkansas 2021 Matthew Martin
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Arkansas Times’ Readers Choice restaurant contest. The issue went to press at a time when restaurants have, for just shy of one year, been faced with a pandemic and the necessary safety rules that have limited their customers. So, this year, we have a new category to join our traditional bests: Best Pandemic Dining. Our readers have praised Trio’s Restaurant and The Hive in Bentonville for keeping diners safely spaced. They’ve toasted Flyway Brewing and Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs for their beer-to-go service. (A feature on Flyway, which also won Most Innovative, illustrates how it kept aloft.) They’ve recognized Star of India for its to-go packaging (and we give Sami Lal his due for his enduring success). Our readers found much to praise in restaurants from Fayetteville (Atlas and The Farmer’s Table Cafe)
The Parrot X-Press Grill opens in Sarasota
The Parrot X-Press Grill has opened at 2407 Bee Ridge Road in the former space of Smacks Burgers & Shakes, which closed in September. The new business is owned by Jeff and Melanie Gambino, who also own The Parrot Patio Bar & Grill restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton on State Road 70 near Interstate 75.
“We’re super excited about it,” Jeff Gambino said about the new concept. “It’s got that great Parrot vibe to it, inside and out, and we’ve heard a lot of positive response from the general public, both at our other locations as well as just stopping by here.”
Courtesy of/Chestnut Hill Business District Chestnut Hill on Ice will take place along Germantown Avenue on Friday, Jan. 29, and Saturday, Jan. 30.
Chestnut Hill on Ice returns this January with ice sculptures, an ice bonfire and chili specials.
The two-day event will take place along Germantown Avenue, between Rex and Willow Grove avenues, on Friday, Jan. 29, from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 30, from noon to 6 p.m.
The ice sculptures can be viewed on both days in the neighborhood and live ice carving by ice sculptor Peter Slavin and his team will take place at Laurel Hill Gardens, 8125 Germantown Ave., on that Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.