(Flyer Photo/Todd Gill)The Department of Arkansas Heritage has announced the finalists for the 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.
The program, now in its seventh year, recognizes Arkansas restaurants, proprietors, food-themed events, and influential Arkansas restaurants that have since ceased operations.
Public nominations are accepted each fall, while finalists and winners in the four main categories are decided by a panel of judges.
Hugo’s of Fayetteville was the only restaurant in Northwest Arkansas to make the list of finalists this year.
Last year’s winners were Neal’s Cafe of Springdale, Colonial Steak House of Pine Bluff, and Dairy King of Portia. Other category winners in 2022 include Capi Peck and Brent Peterson of Trio’s Restaurant in Little Rock (Proprietor of the Year), World Championship Duck Gumbo Cookoff in Stuttgart (Food-Themed Events), Coy’s Steak House in Garland County (Gone But Not Forgotten) and La Casa de Mi Abuelita in Redfield (People’s Choice).
The 2023 winners will be announced on Monday, March 6 at a hybrid ceremony at Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock. The public is invited to attend virtually or in person. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.
2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Finalists (by category)
Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
Betty’s Old Fashion – El Dorado
Big Banjo Pizza – Pine Bluff
Black Angus – Little Rock
Bulldog Restaurant – Bald Knob
Daisy Queen – Marshall
DeVito’s Restaurant – Harrison
Hugo’s – Fayetteville
Kream Kastle – Blytheville
Meacham’s Family Restaurant – Ash Flat
Ozark Cafe – Jasper
Skyline Cafe – Mena
The Ohio Club – Hot Springs
Proprietor of the Year
Chuck Taylor, Taylor’s Steakhouse – Dumas
Chester and Laura Huntsman, Beech Street Bistro – Crossett
David Stobaugh, Stoby’s Restaurant – Conway
James Woods, Woods Place – Camden
Jamie McAfee, Pine Bluff Country Club – Pine Bluff
Jim Keet, JTJ Restaurants – Little Rock
Food-Themed Events
Slovak Oyster Supper – Prairie County
Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cook-Off – Columbia County
Mayhaw Festival – Union County
Gone But Not Forgotten
4-Dice Restaurant – Dallas County
Bohemia Restaurant – Garland County
Chip’s Barbeque – Pulaski County
Sir Loin’s Inn – Pulaski County
