The Perfect Northwest Arkansas Getaway in June--#BiteNWA
(This post was done in collaboration with #BiteNWA but all words and opinions are my own. )
Arkansas getaways are my favorite thing to do! It's so nice to get out of T-town and experience something different every once in a while. And with The Ozarks being in our backyard, it's just the perfect destination! Plus their curvy roads are some of my very favorite for the moto adventures I love to take.
Bentonville is one of the coolest towns in The Midwest. Every time I visit I notice that there are more and more incredible restaurants popping up and there is just so much to do. Bentonville offers everything from beautiful parks and trails like Hobbs State Park (33 miles of multi-use trails available to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, including the 8.5-mile Pigeon Roost Trail, which has five primitive campsites that make it perfect for an easy overnight trip) to world-class art and history museums. I adore the always changing exhibitions at 21C Museum Hotel and Chrystal Bridges is one of my favorite places to spend the day. And architecture lovers, you must visit The Frank Lloyd Wright Bachman–Wilson House. It truly is an iconic piece of mid-century residential architecture designed in Wright's unique Usonian style. And coffee lovers unite because Onyx Coffee is smack in the middle of downtown Bentonville and worth a drive alone. I dream of that espresso on the daily. It's truly the BEST farm-to-cup coffee experience you might ever have.
And my dears....from May 26th-September 3rd, Chrystal Bridges will be showing The Beyond: Georgia O’Keeffe and Contemporary Art. You know I am a huge fan of her work if you have followed me for a while! I can't get enough of those enormous flowers, colors, landscapes, feminine forms, and still lifes. Crystal Bridges has brought together more than 30 of O’Keeffe’s paintings, plus the work of 20 emerging artists focusing on similar themes.
I was thrilled to know that an amazing food festival was happening in Bentonville in June when I was planning a trip to see O'keefe's lovely work ! It also is more of an evening event so I can still use some day time hours for all the above mentioned.
It’s kind of amazing that we have this caliber of food festival in Arkansas.
It's time to wine & dine with the best this summer as it's time for #BiteNWA June 20th-22nd. It's my first time to attend and I am counting down the days! I am so ready to experience the best food, beverages, restaurants, chefs, ingredients and brands Northwest Arkansas has to offer. I mean how lucky are we that this event is so close to Tulsa and OKC?! I am so looking forward to devouring bites prepared by some of the best chefs and drinking amazing libations, especially now that my Whole 30 is over. Bring on the tequila please and some cheese. Oh heavenly cheese!
Bentonville’s newest culinary destination – 8th Street Market – will once again host #BiteNWA, a three-day food festival now in its fourth year in the region. Encompassing approximately 10 acres along 8th Street in the Bentonville Market District near the Bentonville Square. The space will ultimately showcase culinary education, music and the arts, new restaurant and hospitality venues, and other specialized food and drink concepts. It's just the perfect backdrop to prove our “foodie” or "wannabe foodie" titles by tasting award-winning chef selections and hydrating our palates with amazing drinks.
The event is an important one in the food world and draws a diverse crowd from all over, making it a key networking event but also a pleasure for foodies seeking food and drink centric-travel in a beautiful locale. How perfect for a girls trip, a romantic fun date idea, a family summer trip, or even a solo adventure!
Here is what to expect:
BITE / SPARK-WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20,6-9 pm
The party is getting started with a new addition to #BiteNWA with an international theme! And I am so excited about this as I love trying different cuisines and flavors from other cultures. This is such a great way to step outside your culinary routine. Featured participants include Yeyo's Mexican Grill, Saiwok, Kyya, and Wasabi. OMG-I am already getting so famished.
Bite/ Discover- Thursday, June 21st, 6-9 PM
This evening is dedicated to discovering the best of NW Arkansas's cuisine. You can reserve a seat at the chef’s table which in my opinion is the best seat in the house of every restaurant . Ticket holders can sign up to attend some fab cooking demonstrations for free. Featured chefs will include Mario Valdovino, Tyson Executive Chef and Owner of MOD Restaurant; Matthew McClure, The Hive Executive Chef; Rob Nelson, Executive Chef and Owner of Tusk & Trotter; and Dean Fearing, Creator of Fearing’s Restaurant and author of The Texas Food Bible. Students and faculty of Brightwater Culinary School will be on hand to prepare each featured chef’s dish to allow attendees of the Chef’s Table Experience the opportunity to taste what is being prepared on stage. The chefs’ restaurants will also be featured participants at BITE.
BITE/CRAFT- Friday, June 22nd, 6-9 pm
The event will close with saluting the artisans and spirit that make up the landscape of the Northwest Arkansas culinary scene. Revel in the local, playful side of the region —from comfort foods to expertly made libations and everything in between.
Tickets are $30 for each night of the festival and your ticket includes all of your food and drink for that evening's event. And if you are not interested in the "spirits' sampling of Friday night's CRAFT event, you can just do the food sampling ticket for only $20.
Tickets went on sale May 1st and sell out every year so don't wait!
The three day festival is a celebration of all the things I love so much-food, drinks, music, networking and more food. LOL! Which is to say it’s going to be the best weekend ever, and I will be there unapologetically getting my fill of NWA goodness. You can buy tickets here. If you think you’ll be at BITE shoot me an email. I’d love to see you there!
Now to find some cute summery food fest outfits!!!!
BITE benefits the NWA Food Bank and Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food. Curious to learn more? Check them out at nwafoodbank.org or brightwater.org. Thanks for help us supporting these great organizations that directly benefit our community.