Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
BITE This!
Chefs bring their best to NWA Thursday
Northwest Arkansas as a culinary destination might have seemed an impossible dream even a few short years ago. But now, says Chef Dean Fearing, “it’s hard not to be aware of what is happening in Bentonville in terms of a culinary movement and the investment in culture and the arts.”
The creator of Fearing’s Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Dallas and author of “The Texas Food Bible,” Fearing is known as the “father of Southwestern Cuisine.” During this year’s LPGA NW Arkansas Championship week, he will also be one of a select handful of chefs featured at the Chef’s Table Experience, a new addition to BITE NW Arkansas.
“Working with Octagon over the last few years, I have been intrigued about the growth of BITE NW Arkansas and can’t wait to participate this year and see the excitement myself,” Fearing says. “With the James Beard Foundation curating the Chef’s Table Experience, it adds an extra layer of prestige to the event, and I am honored to be a part of it.”
Joining Fearing will be Mario Valdovino, Tyson executive chef and owner of MOD Restaurant; Matthew McClure, The Hive executive chef; and Rob Nelson, executive chef and owner of Tusk & Trotter. Set for Thursday, the first of two BITE NW Arkansas evenings, the Chef’s Table Experience will include interactive cooking demonstrations and, thanks to students and faculty of Brightwater Culinary School, a chance for participants to taste what each chef creates on stage. The chefs’ restaurants will also be featured participants at BITE.
“After attending BITE in 2016, we were delighted to be invited to participate again this year, particularly with its move to Bentonville, an area that is quickly becoming a culinary destination,” says Kris Moon, vice president of the James Beard Foundation. “The Chef’s Table Experience is a unique feature of BITE NW Arkansas that we’re proud to help curate. The experience will highlight topics of importance to our Foundation’s Impact Programs such as food waste, sustainable seafood and sustainable meat, while giving attendees a chance to enjoy an intimate cooking demonstration with the region’s best chefs.”
The second night of BITE on June 23 will feature signature burgers and local libations, helping extend the influence of the event well beyond one week in June.
“One of our key pillars for the event is ‘Discover,’ and a big part of BITE is providing area residents a chance to stumble upon their next favorite restaurant,” says Harry Hardy, event director. “We constantly hear testimonials from our restaurant partners about how BITE helped generate extra business during quiet periods or even restaurants taking reservations from people at their booth during BITE! With that in mind I think BITE will continue to become a celebration of the culinary scene here in Northwest Arkansas, and also by moving to downtown Bentonville, I think it will become an event for the culinary community here to get together in one place at the same time.”
In addition to the culinary events inside Brightwater Culinary School on the 8th Street Market campus in Bentonville, LPGA guests will be entertained by Elle King, who will headline the tournament’s Walmart Community Concert on June 24 at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers.
The Grammy-nominated singer blends rock, blues, pop and country for her signature sound — heard in popular singles like “America’s Sweetheart,” “Ex’s & Oh’s” and her duet with country artist Dierks Bentley “Different for Girls.”