Disclosure: I was an invited guest of Botanical Garden of the Ozarks for their fundraiser, Chefs in the Garden. All reviews and opinions are my own.
I love a pretty garden. I love a summer night. And you know how much I love good food. Well, I got to experience all of those this week when Hubby and I were guests of The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was a perfect summer into fall night for fun, friends and food.
We have been fans, albeit infrequent visitors, of BGO since it opened a few years ago. Our membership in its sister garden, Garvan Woodland Gardens, allows us privileges and access at both of these beautifully serene, yet vibrant, havens. I especially love being in its unique butterfly garden and hanging out by the chicken coop — yep, there is one on the grounds. Love that!
Chefs in the Garden is a fundraising effort that is held each year to benefit BGO. It is widely supported by area restaurants, foodies and area residents. There were a multitude of commercial sponsors as well: Fillippo Olive Oil, Coca-Cola, Intents Party Rentals, Glazer’s, Metropolitan National Bank, and Pigmint (don’t you just love that name?). Media sponsors included: CitiScapes Magazine, AY Magazine, Celebrate Arkansas Magazine, 3W Magazine (whew!), and radio stations: KFAY-AM, Power 105.7, US 94, and WARM 94.9. As with many civic and community organizations, BGO values this widespread support from its commercial sponsors.
I’m getting to the food, I promise. You just know that I don’t go anywhere without running into old and new friends…and, in the case of this evening, family.
The Southern belle on the far right is our cousin, Betty. She and her family have been residents in the area for close to fifty years. The cutie in the center is the ladies’ man of the evening. He was also my pockets and pack mule.
Me with my #ARWB bud and friend, Angie, Development and Technology Coordinator at BCG, and Amanda of Edible Ozarkansas (I’m so excited to tell you about that soon).
You may think that I never cook with the way I get around to researching and visiting restaurants as often as I do, but I really do. Lots. I love to cook actually. However, I definitely believe in supporting our local food establishments as well. We call those Hubby’s Night to Cook at our house. He does a mighty fine job of it, too. Some of my favorites in NWA were represented at Chefs in the Garden.
Meridienne Dessert Salon (Bentonville) with Chef Jonathan Morrow– don’t let the name fool you. They have amazing savory dishes as well (check their website for meal times), but I can honestly say that I don’t think I have ever seen desserts prepared more deliciously or elegantly. For this event they featured a savory crepe torte with pork confit, shallot jam and apple compote and miniature quiches with local chevre, caramelized onions with balsamic gastrique.
Perennial favorite, Greenhouse Grill (Fayetteville) with Chef Jeramy Gawthrop served up a light a fresh tomato bruschetta and a spicy jerked pork tenderloin served with Cuban black beans and Rice. Honestly, I could have eaten a full plate of both. Sometimes I just had to share with the pack mule though. I’m nice that way. Plus, he was holding the plate.
Two of the more artistic presentations of the evening belonged to Fayetteville Country Club’s Chef Kurt Plankenhora. The first, a house cured salmon tartare and spicy mint chutney panipuri, held just the right amount of perkiness from the mint atop the subtle and refreshing salmon. Almost too beautiful to eat, the white chocolate ravioli stuffed with rosemary infused truffle and raspberry, honey and olive oil emulsion, was an explosion of sweetness and, for me, would have been “Best of Show” had there been such a thing.
A new one to me, but one I will be headed to soon, was Fresco Café and Pub with Chef Allen Keever in downtown Fayetteville. Honestly, I don’t know how we’ve missed this place. Both of their offerings – fried cheese potato balls and crème brulee tartlets – were uniquely prepared and delicious to boot! I watched in awe as the potato balls were prepared and totally missed a good photo op.
The potato balls on crostini reminded me just a tad of my potato croquettes, but these were crunchier and lighter. Mine was fresh from the fryer and almost too hot to eat. But I sacrificed my tongue and gobbled it down so fast that the damage was minimal.
In addition to the food and beverages, there was a plentiful assortment of silent auction items available to the highest bidder. From birthday and tailgating parties to trips and food, it was all there. Unfortunately, Hubby steered me out of there as fast as he could. He knows that I’m a sucker for a good silent auction bargain. Maybe leaving him at home would be a good idea. On the other hand, he does make a good pack mule, ya’ know.
Say hello to Terra, another of my Arkansas Women Blogger buddies. Do you think she talked him into buying that?Mermaids, well-known in Fayetteville for its seafood, with Chef Todd Golden prepared two pasta dishes instead. Both the garden primavera and the drunk chicken in the pink were filling and spiced just right. Hubby came close to licking the plate after finishing off the drunk chicken in a pink vodka sauce laced penne pasta. It looks like I’ll be adding that to our dinner menu soon. I’ll share!
One of Bentonville’s fairly new stars on the restaurant scene is The Hive at 21C with Chef Matthew McClure. Unlike any other restaurant in the area, The Hive is more like an art museum in many ways. The fact that there is an ever-changing sense of ambiance is a real plus for me. Their signature pimento cheese appetizer, one of my favorites, was served up on mini biscuits. Not to be outdone in the sweet department, was a sticky toffee pudding. Not too rich with just the right amount of autumnal spices, it was a delicious way to sweeten up our evening.
What could be better, though, than to end the evening with a heaping bowl of Yarnell’s new summer flavor Lemon Ice Box Pie glazed with a tart blueberry topping and crushed graham crackers. One of the stronger supporters of Arkansas Women Bloggers,Yarnell’s continues to prove a good neighbor to local causes and efforts such as Chefs in the Garden.
Fantastic! I love your coverage of the people, the food, the setting . . .
Yum! Everything looks fantastic and although I love hearing about everything, I’m also a little jealous. 🙂
Oh wow! That looks like so much fun! Trying restaurants is something we enjoy as well — if you are ever in SW AR — let me know! 🙂
I am so glad that I found your blog from the Arkansas Food Bloggers Network Facebook page!
NWA sure does have a lot of restaurants that I need to try and blog about, when I come and visit. I enjoyed looking around and reading some of your posts. I look forward to reading more!
http://www.hungrywhileteaching.blogspot.com
I hated to miss Chefs in the Garden, so It was nice to see your pics. I was so excited to see Betty! I worked for Arnold about 30 years ago. Love them both! She looks great!
I hated to miss Chefs in the Garden, so It was nice to see your pics. I was so excited to see Betty! I worked for Arnold about 30 years ago. Love them both! She looks great!
GREAT recap! I am definitely going next year and I hate that I was already booked for the evening (Time Jumpers concert in Alma. Can you believe I picked a concert over food?)
It has been awhile since visiting the Garden, must do it soon. Very soon!
Thanks Debbie
Those crème brulee tartlets look amazing! Thanks for sharing.