Food and Drink

Ranch-flavored ice cream sours dessert

Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios

I'm a sucker for a gimmick, so when an agency offered to send samples of Van Leeuwen's limited-run spring flavors — including Hidden Valley Ranch — I was too tempted to say no.

Taste test: I tested the ranch flavor with my wife and son. It's dead-on for America's favorite salad dressing, with aromas of buttermilk, onion and garlic.

Treat yourself in Bentonville with Markham & Fitz's six-layer chocolate cake

Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

We need to talk about cake.

I recently shared this slice of Markham & Fitz's six-layer chocolate cake. It's topped with ganache and Swiss meringue buttercream frosting made with 70% Dominican Republic chocolate.

Concoct your own signature dish at Honeycomb Kitchen Shop in Rogers

How it started. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

I celebrated St. Patrick's Day by learning to make some Irish dishes at a cooking class at Honeycomb Kitchen Shop in Rogers.

How it works: Participants were assigned to work stations with 3-4 people. All the ingredients were already portioned out, along with the equipment and handouts with the written recipes. We also got instructions for Irish scones, which were prebaked and waiting for us as an appetizer.

How to spend a day in Downtown Rogers

This could be your lunch at Parkside Public. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

Our "how to spend a day" series curates ideas to explore pockets of Northwest Arkansas.

Here are our recommendations for an ideal activity list for a jam-packed, fun-filled adventure of a day:

Spend time with the kiddos

World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade packs a party punch

Photo: Courtesy of Visit Hot Springs

Ralph Machio, Cheech Marin and Mike Rowe have more than Kevin Bacon in common.

Take a day trip to the Oark General Store

History comes alive at the Oark General Store. Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios

The weather is still fickle, so if you want to get outside without committing to a hike or bike ride, consider a car trip down part of the Pig Trail to the Oark General Store.

The big picture: The shop, operating since 1890, is on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places and offers a glimpse of what it was like to live in a rural part of the state 100 years ago.

A fishy cocktail at Fox Trail Distillery in Rogers

I couldn't resist. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

I love a good gimmick — even more if it's a little boozy.

State of play: The piranha at Fox Trail Distillery in Rogers offers both. This sweet sipper comes in a glass shaped like a toothy, bulgy-eyed piranha.

Get in on the specials for Fayetteville Restaurant Week 2023

Margaret's is offering brunch specials this week. Here's a breakfast burrito from the food truck from last summer. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

For all those Fayetteville eateries you've been meaning to test out, this is your week.

What's happening: More than 50 restaurants are offering deals and special menus for Fayetteville Restaurant Week. The event runs through Saturday, with Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism arm, coordinating the "tastiest time of year" to support local restaurants.

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