Return to Bentonville, Arkansas

I've traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas on and off since 2012 for work, as it's the home base for retail giant Walmart.  I went back for a few days this year for a work trip, and I tried my best to take photos of some of the highlights!

From a food perspective, my favorite meal was at The Preacher's Son, set in a restored church just off the downtown square in Bentonville.  Their menu changes seasonally, and in hindsight I can't remember exactly what we ordered, but everything, from the cocktails to the appetizer to the food was delicious.  I vaguely remember choosing a cocktail with pisco in it, because it reminded me of my honeymoon in Peru.

Preacher's Son

Preacher's Son

Another night, we went as a group to Doe's Eat Place, which makes me chuckle.  Saying "Eat Place" instead of restaurant reminds me of the time on The Office when Kevin decided to speak in "small talk" and not using complete sentences.  "Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?"  That said, the tamales and steak were yummy, the portions were huge (I shared my steak with my work bestie) and Peyton Manning has eaten there, so...  #winning.

On our last free night, my coworkers and I visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  It's as beautiful a building as ever, but the collection/organization have changed a ton since my last visit.  It's definitely worth visiting, but it has dropped off my list of favorite museums in place of some others.  But the sculpture trails are worth a visit on a sunny day for sure!

We actually hit up two museums in the same day, visiting The Walmart Museum in downtown Bentonville.  It's another place that I think has expanded/grown since I first visited.  I remember it feeling a lot smaller.  But my favorite bit of the museum is still Sam Walton's preserved office, down to stacks of magazines and things on the floor.

You could pretty much count the 21C hotel as a third museum, if you think about it.  It's full of artwork, including a painting from a French artist that I really loved!  We grabbed beautiful drinks at The Hive (I think mine was the Origami Crane.) and then walked to Tavola for Italian food.  Both The Hive and Tavola were placed I used to visit on trips in the past.

My 2019 trip to Bentonville was a good mix of new and old haunts for me.

Have you ever been to Northwest Arkansas?

Little Rock, Arkansas

In the fall, I started a new role at work, which means I get to do more of something that I really enjoy... hitting the road for customer meetings and other events!  I've already done a quick day trip down to Fort Lauderdale (literally, I flew down and back in the same day), and recently I hit the road to Northwest Arkansas for a meeting.  Since it was a rather long road trip, we broke it up by stopping in Little Rock going to and from Nashville!

Outside of Little Rock, we headed to De Valls Bluff for one of my coworker's favorite BBQ joints: Craig's Bar-B-Q.  Craig's is a cash-only, family-run dive that is absolutely a gem.  Look, it's not fancy.  At all.  But we watched a steady stream of locals taking food away the entire time we were there, and we were able to get four sandwiches (three BBQ, one grilled cheese) and drinks for under $20.  For real. 

Craig's is one of those road trip detours that is absolutely worth the trek!  The pork is sliced vs. pulled (sort of the thickness/consistency of brisket) with homemade sauce.  We got it spicy, and it's served with a slaw inside.  I'm not even a slaw person, and I loved it.

On our return trip back through Little Rock, we decided to go a different direction foodwise... Asian noodles and dumplings!  We hit up Three Fold downtown and got soup noodle bowls, dumplings, and a steam bun to sample the goods.

Little Rock (and its environs) impressed us foodwise, and there were a bunch of places I wish I could have tried.  But we also tried to see some cool sights!  We drove by the State Capitol at night and it was gorgeous.  They had great statues and monuments around it, and it was beautifully lit.

We also did a quick walk-through of the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum.  Regardless of your politics, I think visiting Presidential libraries and museums is pretty cool... it's like walking into a time capsule of a President's time in office.

President Clinton is one of the first Presidents that I remember, so it was kind of cool to look at the technology, the news headlines and major events, and more that happened from 1993 to 2001.  I really enjoyed the full scale replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, and seeing Cadillac One.

I also enjoyed seeing artifacts, gifts, and decor from the Clinton White House.  There were saxophones, china settings, letters, even a white Chihuly Christmas tree!

I wish we'd had time for a guided tour, but maybe next time!  It was really fun to blaze through before hitting the road back home.  These types of road trip stops remind of how much there is to see in America and its "flyover states".  I usually fly when I travel, focusing on my destinations.  On this trip, I enjoyed focusing on the journey and figuring out things along the way off the cuff!

Thank you, Little Rock!

The Hive & Tavola

My work travels are slowing down, so I wanted to work in one last foodie post from my most recent trip to Northwest Arkansas!

NWA is a cool place.  If you don't believe me, just check out the hotel 21c or Crystal Bridges.  Also, word on the street is Drew Barrymore just bought a house there.  When in town, you can't just stay hidden in your hotel.  You have to get out and enjoy the cultural scene.

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The Hive is by far one of the coolest places in Bentonville.  Located inside 21c just off the downtown square, it's like having happy hour in an art installation.  It's modern, sleek, and hip.  The cocktails are some of the best I've ever had.  It reminded me of The Rail in terms of quality mixology, and I let my awesome bartenders know!

The Windsor

The refreshing drink I had was called the Windsor, and I will be forcing Duke to recreate it for me soon.  It was the perfect drink for a hot summer night:  Absolut Ruby Red, St. Germaine, fresh lemon juice, and grapefruit juice.  Divine.  My coworkers had some incredible bourbon concoctions that were delightfully strong but brilliant as well.

The Hive is also prime people-watching territory, especially those wandering through the 24-hour museum galleries.  More museums should have top-notch bars in them.

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For dinner, our group walked a couple of blocks down to Tavola for Italian fare.  I'd been there before on a solo dining trip, and both times I loved the food.  I indulged in the house sangria as we waited for our table.  They don't take reservations, but you can call ahead and receive priority seating upon arrival with your group.  The restaurant was totally packed when we were there, but NWA restaurants are usually crowded on weeknights with all of the business travelers in town.  Weekends are actually easier!

Sangria

I had to stick to my guns and order Papparedelle Bolognese.  The pasta is fresh and the sauce is the bomb.  In fact, my coworker ate the extra sauce off my plate.  That. Good.  The menu itself is extensive, so there's truly something for everyone.  You can even get some French fare!

Papparedelle Bolognese

I definitely recommend it.  I am such a sucker for fresh pasta.  I wouldn't hesitate to come back.  Thank you, Northwest Arkansas, for your awesome hospitality!

Eleven at Crystal Bridges

I've blogged about Crystal Bridges museum a couple of times before, but on yet another business trip to Arkansas I found myself there.  Not complaining at all... this may be one of my favorite places!

Crystal Bridges

Eleven, cafeteria by day and full service by night

The museum and its restaurant are open late on Wednesday and Friday, so at the recommendation of a coworker I decided to grab dinner there.  During most of the day, Eleven is cafeteria style.  But during the evenings they are open, it is reserved/hostess seating and a different experience.  (It's still loud in the dining area for sure, but it's more upscale and cocktail hour-ish!)  They actually have a "Culture Hour" Wednesday and Friday evenings with $5 appetizers and drinks.

I wasn't feeling particularly adventurous for dining that night... I had to catch a red-eye in the morning, so I sadly didn't partake of their amazing cocktail menu.  Boo.  Next time.  So I settled on a burger and just soaked up the surroundings.  The Eleven Burger consists of Angus beef, American cheese, pink peppercorn aioli, lettuce, and tomato on brioche, served with roasted fingerling potatoes.  It was good... I have high standards for burgers, and this one hit the spot alright.  I appreciate that Eleven prides itself on using local ingredients; I love farm to table and locavore eating!  I'd really like to come back and try something else off the menu.  It's a fantastic experience in general, so I don't mind giving it another go to find my favorite menu item.

Duke hates anything with aioli on it... but it's totally not the same as mayo in terms of flavor!

Afterwards, I decided to take advantage of the summer sunlight hours and walk around outside.  Totally skipped the galleries, but I have no regrets!  There are so many trails and sculptures, and when you're outside you can really take in Moshe Safdie's amazing architecture.  (Note: The building remind me a little bit of the giant Madagascar cockroaches I used to hold as a volunteer at Wonderlab museum... but in a good way!  It's nature's beautiful design.)

Selfie!

I will always come back to Crystal Bridges whenever I can.  This was my 3rd visit, and each one has been so different and enjoyable.  It's an American treasure for sure.

Baby Kangaroo... Arkansas Adventure

I spent a full work week in Arkansas, and I had a lot of fun!  I got to spend quality time with fantastic coworkers, as well as witness my first ever Walmart Shareholders' Meeting.  Okay, so I didn't go to the meeting.  But I got to see the crowds of people and know I was in the same zip code as Elton John for a little while.

I also got to visit one of the factories that my company owns, which was awesome.  It was like stepping into Mr. Rogers' "Picture Picture" to see all those moving parts.  Very cool.

But I think one of the highlights was the petting zoo at the expo I was working.  I was there early, so I got to see them bring in the animals from Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari in Gentry, AR.

Sweet camel baby

There was a 2-week old baby camel with its Mom, emus, watusi, other cattle, as well as a Zorse and Zonkey... sterile cross-breeds of a donkey and horse with a zebra.

Zorse... and his friend I dubbed Lil Sebastian.

My favorite was the little joey!  He was a 4-month-old kangaroo, and since I was there before they opened, they let me hold the sweet baby.

Mostly I just wrote this post so I could show off a photo of myself with a baby kangaroo.  You know, to make you jealous and stuff.

Basil's Cafe

Once again, my travels brought me to Northwest Arkansas, where there is always SO much going on!  Seriously.  You have no idea how much cool stuff is here!  I plan to start including more restaurant reviews, because they are excellent.  (I've even found great Korean BBQ here.)

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A group of coworkers in town for the same meeting decided to head to Basil's Cafe for a nice team dinner.  Located in the World Trade Center area, it was on the ground floor of a nice office building.  The atmosphere was quiet and luxurious.  The chairs were very comfortable.  Seriously!

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We started off with appetizers of edamame hummus and house pimento cheese spread and shrimp eggrolls.  Yum!  I liked that most of the appetizers are made for two, so you could have a date night here and not spoil your appetite before your entree.

Out of the six of us, four people chose blackened sea scallops with  lemon spinach risotto and sweet corn jus.  They raved about it!  I chose another recommendation from the waiter, the Southern Style Kobe burger with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and bacon.  Delish!!!

Snapped this quickpic on the sly during dinner... didn't want my coworkers thinking I'm a weirdo blogger!

I think Basil's Cafe is quiet, chic, and perfect for a couple or group.  It was quiet enough our entire table could talk to one another, which you don't always find at busy restaurants.  They even serve lunch, so there are affordable options all around.

Museums (and Crystal Bridges)

On a recent business trip, I had an opportunity to revisit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.  I was even more impressed by the architecture and collection than last time, particularly the temporary exhibit on architect Moshe Safdie who designed the museum.

I've been to a lot of museums in my travels over the years... among my favorites?  (with more photos from Crystal Bridges smattered in there)

For art/architecture...

• The Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
• The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL
• The Louvre & Musee D'Orsay in Paris, France
• British Museum, Tower of London, and Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
• Crystal Bridges, Bentonville, AR
• Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain

For history...

• Tower of London, London
• Versailles, Paris (it totally counts in my book!)
• Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
• Smithsonian Museum, Mount Vernon, Washington, DC
• National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA
• Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
• Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

For just plain quirky...

• Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, IL
• Tate Modern in London
• Centre Pompidou, Musee Picasso, in Paris
• Graceland, Memphis, TN
• LACMA, Los Angeles, CA

What are your favorite museums?

Arkansas... Crystal Bridges and Fried Chicken

Walmart Visitors Center

I travel pretty regularly to Arkansas for work.  Yes, Arkansas.  And you know what?  It's actually a pretty great place.  Northwest Arkansas, while kind of tough to fly into, is full of brilliant people, good food, and some interesting sights.

During my last couple of visits, I've visited a few noteworthy spots.  The Walmart Visitors Center, in downtown Bentonville, is free admission and pretty fascinating.  You can see Sam Walton's office, displayed exactly as it was the day of his death.  You can see his old Ford truck, which reminded me of my grandfather.  You can see his wife's wedding dress too, and learn about the history of the company. For an organization that has only been around for 50 years, it's hard to believe how big it has become, and how humble the beginning was!

Also in downtown Bentonville is Table Mesa.  I love this modern latin cuisine!  There's fusion like Korean BBQ tacos, or a burger with chorizo and a fried egg, which is what I chose.  Yum.

Crystal Bridges

More recently, I visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  The Walton family built this incredible, world-class museum honoring American artists, and it's exquisite.  Seriously.  I've been to museums all over the globe, and I want to come back to this one.  I ate lunch in their cafeteria and had time only to explore the contemporary exhibit, but everything from the architecture to the setting (tons of nature trails!) seems to transport you from the Arkansas countryside into another world.  Oh, and admission is FREE thanks to the Waltons!

Crystal Bridges - Contemporary Art

One last spot worth mentioning in Arkansas is the Monte Ne Inn.  A few of the folks I work with are fried chicken aficionados, so we headed out to this hidden gem.  You guys, this is a pretty awesome place.  I was embarrassingly overdressed in a dress and heels, but I dove headfirst into their all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of chicken, potatoes, corn, bread with apple butter, and homemade cobbler and cake.  Yowza.  It's delicious food in the middle of nowhere, and totally worth exploring.  Home cooked goodness!  Don't miss it!

Can't wait to share more Arkansas foodie and fun adventures with you in the future!

Arkansas BBQ

Wish I'd taken a photo like this awesome blogger...

My business travels recently took me to Arkansas... someplace you'd never know was a huge hub for business!  Since Walmart and Tyson are headquartered in Arkansas, TONS of companies have outposts in the area; basically, anyone who would ever have contact with those two companies has an office.

Business travel isn't glamorous.  Because air travel isn't glamorous anymore.  You fly, get a rental car, stay a night in a hotel, and eat at whatever restaurants are on hand.

I don't know what I expected from Arkansas, but I do know what I liked... Whole Hog Cafe.  President Bush (W) ate at the one I went to, and the Pulled Chicken Sandwich I had was top notch.  The tables have six kinds of sauce on them.  It's so good that Fodor's "Don't Miss" list for Arkansas... so good thing I visited, right?  It's won Arkansas Times' reader's choice for best BBQ since 2001, without missing a year.


I had the pulled chicken sandwich, and it was Southern heaven.  All I can say is, YUM.  Finger-lickin' yummmmmmmm.

Business travel isn't glamorous... but at least that means you can lick BBQ sauce off your fingers.