Five NWA finalists for Food Hall of Fame

Five restaurants in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley have been named finalists for the state’s Food Hall of Fame, according to a Monday press release by Arkansas Heritage.

The list of 31 finalists includes Hugo’s, Herman’s Ribhouse, Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie, The Purple Banana and Taliano’s Italian Restaurant.

Marty Ryall is the director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, which launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame in 2016 with the aim of celebrating “Arkansas’ unique culinary heritage by celebrating its best restaurants.”

“This year’s finalists embody the flavors, traditions and stories that define Arkansas,” Ryall said. “As we celebrate these restaurants, we honor not only the dishes they create but the communities they feed and the legacies they preserve.”

Hugo’s, located at 25½ Block Ave. in Fayetteville, has been open since 1977 serving “burgers and an eclectic array of appetizers, entrees and desserts,” according to its website. The restaurant has become a downtown favorite in Fayetteville over the years, winning numerous awards in the area.

Herman’s Ribhouse opened in 1964 at 2901 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville, serving a variety of barbecue dishes. The restaurant was founded by Herman Tuck, who sold it to a pair of family friends in the 1990s. The ribhouse is now owned by Nick and Carle Wright, “who are brightening the traditional burning flame at Herman’s,” according to the restaurant website.

The Purple Banana is “a food truck specializing in fried tacos and elevated Mexican food,” according to its Facebook page. The company has multiple locations in the area.

Located just off the Bentonville square, Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie opened in 2011. Rob Nelson, a five-time finalist for the best chef in the state, curated an upscale menu of “high south cuisine” that has become a local favorite, per the restaurant’s website.

Taliano’s Italian Restaurant, opened in 1970, is Fort Smith’s oldest family-owned restaurant and the city’s first Italian restaurant, according to its website. It is on North 14th Street.

The chosen honorees will be inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame in September at a special event. More information can be found at ArkFoodHOF.com.