Educator. Food Advocate. Mommy.
TITLE: Owner/Executive Chef of Bauhaus Biergarten, Owner of Your Resident Gourmet Cooks!
CITY: Springdale
Where did you grow up? How did you land in Northwest Arkansas?Â
I spent most of my childhood in a small Mississippi town named Charleston although I went to school mainly in Florida and Oklahoma. I arrived here from Atlanta, but I’ve also lived in Michigan, New York, Germany, France, Virginia, and North Carolina. I am positive that I was a nomad in my previous life.
I initially became aware of Northwest Arkansas when Randall McNamara, the then director of Brightwater Culinary School, approached me about a teaching position. He had been my boss at the Atlanta Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and thought I would be a good fit in NWA; even before I did. Although I declined the offer, a year later I found myself at the 8th Street Market for the BITE NW Arkansas food festival. When I came back a few months after that, for the ROOTS Festival, I met my current business partner Daniel Hintz. He introduced me to Springdale and through several more visits we landed on a restaurant concept; Bauhaus Biergarten, a German-style restaurant—which we’ve built in the Arts District of historical downtown Springdale. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What are a few of your favorite things about the region?
I love how green and lush everything is! 8th Street Market is a favorite of mine. It is such a smart concept to have food, drink and retail peppered around a culinary school (Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food). You can spend days there and find something new to do, see, eat and drink each time.
I’m also a HUGE fan of the Fayetteville Public Library! I’ve lived in a lot of places, but this library is the first I’ve experienced that truly caters to its community, beyond books. So far, I’ve discovered that they have a full commercial kitchen, a recording studio, and a chef-driven cafe. I look forward to uncovering what else they have to offer.
What causes are you passionate about? What inspires you?
I’m passionate about educating people on how to take care of themselves and their families through planning, shopping and cooking. I believe that when a person learns how to cook they acquire a life skill that no one can ever take away, which builds a sense of accomplishment and pride.
What do you do in your free time?
Believe it or not, I cook in my free time. I find it relaxing. Plus, the fact that I get to do it while barefoot, listening to music with a cold beverage close-at-hand, makes it all the more soothing. I’m also an avid reader, to the point where I won’t pick up a book when I have work to do because I will absolutely ignore all responsibilities until I finish that book.
Can you tell us about any projects you’ve worked on since landing in the region?
My sister Erin and I have been working on a series of illustrated children’s books that talk about our childhood adventures in the Mississippi Delta through the lens of our children—who spend their summers there like we did when we were their age. The first book in the series came out in 2021. It is called Jelly Fries a Fish for Dinner and is about my daughter Jenelle’s fishing adventures with her grandmother. The second one is called Duke Eats Ants for Lunch, which is due to be released this winter.
If you were to give the region a tagline, what would it be?
Be Prepared To Fall In Love.
How would you describe living in Northwest Arkansas?
A bit slower-paced, but there is always something going on to join in on. People don’t realize how beautiful Northwest Arkansas is, and I was guilty of that same ignorance before moving into the region. What I have found in Springdale and across the region is a group of like-minded, caring and supportive people who are creating vibrant communities.
How would you describe NW Arkansas to someone thinking about relocating here? What advice would you have for them?
When I first moved here I thought that people were super nosey. Now I call it “nice nosey,” meaning they ask a lot of questions because they really are interested in getting to know the people in their communities. My advice for people just moving into Northwest Arkansas is not to expect it to be like anywhere else you’ve lived. Take your time to meet people, ask questions, explore and then build the tribe of people you want to be a part of your life.
What is your vision for the culinary ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas?
My vision for the culinary ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas is that we continue to embrace all foods and the people that create them. It would be amazing to see NWA become a food destination—with visitors from around the globe traveling here to enjoy our cuisine.
Someone that has never been to the region is coming for 24 hours, what should they do, where should they go?
- Yeyo’s at 8th Street Market. Look for Chef Rafael Rios in the kitchen.
- Crystal Bridges Museum. Give yourself time to look around and have lunch.
- Bauhaus Biergarten for a cold beer and a brat.
- Hike or rent a bike and ride any one of the numerous trails in NWA. They’re all beautiful.
- Take a driving tour of the University of Arkansas campus. They are serious about their sports.
- Lunch, (or dinner), at Wright’s BBQ in Johnson. Be sure to order the greens.
- Visit one of the many antique and second-hand stores for a true glimpse into NWA Americana.
