In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we talk with Meredith Butler and Chef Mike Robertshaw of Pizzeria Ruby, where we go over SO much, including some breaking news, but before we get into them??

FOOD NEWS!!!

• It’s Top Chef Week, and I’m giving away a pair of tickets. Learn how to enter!


• Three Arkansans will be competing at the International Championship Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua after qualifying in Prairie Grove this past weekend.


• The owners of Mermaids have a new event venue in Fayetteville and will be opening a new burger joint in the Mill District soon!


• Speaking of the Mill District, Arsaga’s has closed. We’ll tell you who’s moving in.


• The Stonebreaker Hotel has a new executive chef.


• Faymosa has opened in the Fayetteville Square.


• Dave and Jenny Marrs will be opening a coffee and ice cream shop. We’ll tell you where!

Chef Mike Robertshaw and his partner Meredith Butler aren’t from the area... in fact, they met in Seattle and they weren’t from there either. Chef Mike will tell you about hanging out with some regulars at his restaurant there who happened to be in Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Meredith will tell you her pizza crush, who I will tag when I post this. How did they end up in NWA, and what did they do once they got here? That’s a good story. Also, they’ll talk about how they prepared for Pizzeria Ruby having never worked in a pizza spot before. And finally, they’re opening a spot called Pizza Lottie in Bentonville. MANY folks are curious about when it’ll open. Chef Mike and Meredith will tell you when!! One note for you, there’s some explicit language in this one, so earmuffs for the kids, OK?  Thanks for tuning in.