#so is plain ol’ cheese pizza with no toppings

[auroraboringaliceinwonderland]

I’ve come to realize I’m many people’s definition of boring. I don’t say that in a self-deprecating manner; I’ve just realized all the stereotypical boring stuff happens to be things that I like or do.

It makes me want to write a boring character that is so me-coded that people don’t see these things as particularly boring anymore; or at the very least, understand why someone else would like such “boring things” by seeing things from their perspective.

[mulderscully]

all these posts about "xyz isn't REAL enemies to lovers" are so fucking annoying.

"enemies to lovers is about people wanting to KILL each other."

babes:

yes, this can be true but there is more than one way to have an enemy!

a work place enemy is still an enemy just like a vampire is an enemy to a slayer. pizza with topping is still pizza as much as plain ol' cheese is pizza! you might not LIKE cheese pizza as much, might think it's boring, but it's still pizza. i beg as a spuffy and firstprince shipper, please get off this lame pedestal 😭

[farraigenafeile]

Of Hiding Spots and Refuges - Ch. 2

N/A: as I'm currently working on something quite painful (just how I like it), I decided to post the second chapter of my lil comfort fic here as well! hope you like it

Description: Just a platonic and comforting Steve&Robin bonding moment after Steve finds Robin in an unexpected position. (sounds vague but I don’t want to spoil it!)

Content warnings: bad parenting, but just hinted at. Mentions of homoph*bia and of the d-word used as a slur. Let me know if there’s anything else I should flag! You can read Chapter 1 here ------ ‘I still can’t believe I’m in prom king Steve Harrington’s house,’ Robin said with a little giggle as she stepped into the hallway. Her mood seemed to have improved massively while in the car. Steve didn’t live too far away from Starcourt, but still made sure to put on some fun music on while driving. They also stopped to pick up some pizza, which Steve was now holding up while trying to close the front door with keys between his teeth. The house seemed empty, but a few lights were still on, giving a warm and inviting glow.

‘Upstairs, and then the door to the left,’ Steve said casually, setting down the pizza boxes and giving a sigh of relief after checking nobody was in. Robin went up the stairs and then disappeared on the landing. Steve got a variety of drinks from the fridge and filled up two glasses with some tap water, unsure of what Robin would prefer, and then carried it all upstairs on a large tray. 

Robin set down her backpack, which temporarily contained her whole life. She then briefly listened to check that Steve was still downstairs, and changed quickly into jeans and a loose sweatshirt. Then, she took a second to take a look around his room. For one, she was incredibly curious about what Steve had in his room and second, being in a guy's bedroom was a rare and interesting occurrence. Her fingerx traced the checkered wallpaper and continued along the desk. It had a few dents, many scratches and some post-it notes on it. Robin didn’t want to snoop too much, but one of them definitely had some phone number scribbled on. She continued towards the bookshelf, which only really contained a couple books. Robin spotted some Asimov and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which frankly surprised her. Was Steve really into this, or did he only start picking this up after their adventures? There were action figures as well and some vinyls, all hidden in plain envelopes. Overall rating, for a rich kid, the room was quite bare and not too entertaining, but in a way, it kind of fit Steve. Of course, not in the way that he was bland and boring, but that it was just unassuming, plain and you had to discover the true nature of it?

Steve came back in, disturbing’s Robin inner monologue and setting down the pizza on the large tray he just brought. ’Tuck in,’ he said, gesturing to the food. Robin accepted the invitation and immediately grabbed a slice. So did Steve. They both decided on standard pepperoni, but then each picked a side they thought went with the toppings the least. 



‘So, kinda forgot to say it, but make yourself at home, you know, mi casa es se casa’, Steve said with his mouth still full. ‘Thanks,’ Robin smiled, fighting with a floppy cheese string between her mouth and the slice, ‘and it’s su casa’ ‘Huh?’ ‘Mi casa es su casa,’ Robin repeated. ‘My house is your house. What you said was My house is know house,’ she said, fully realising that Steve probably didn’t want to be corrected, but she couldn’t help herself. 
‘Well, maybe I know my house very well’ Steve said, his eyes almost rolling to the back of his head. 
And they burst into laugh.

Later on, Steve took one of those records out of their plain sleeves and put on some quiet, nondescript music. Robin also openly admitted that she really enjoyed snooping around Steve’s room and they spent a couple hours looking at his books and school journals and even did a good ol’ photo album run-through. That was when Robin started getting a little fidgety and her laughs were getting fewer and farther between. She felt the anxiety creeping up her spine and took her sweatshirt off to relieve the hot flash.

‘Hey, Robin, what’s that?’ Steve asked suddenly, gesturing towards her arm. ‘Oh,’ Robin said, glancing at it, ‘Yep, that’s a bruise. And it’s not what you think. Mostly. This one was just me bumping into the door frame when I was trying to leave the house.. and then this one,‘ she drew the shoulder of her top down, ‘was when my mother actually threw a box at me… so there ya go.’ Steve was shocked for a couple seconds, mostly at the way how nonchalantly she said it, but at this point, he knew that Robin didn’t always show whether certain matters affected her. ‘Wait, are you for real?’ He asked, his mouth wide open. ‘Did- did that happen just now, when you got kicked out? How did-,’ he didn’t mean to pry, but Robin also felt like she might have owed him an explanation.

‘Okay, so I have been out to my mother for a while. I thought she was okay with it, but I guess she was just hoping that it was…a phase, or that I wouldn’t act on it.’ Robin started. ‘Alright,’ Steve said, nodding his head. Robin was just staring at the bookshelf for a second and collecting her thoughts. ‘And then one day, more specifically two days ago, she found the letters-', she paused, briefly panicking, but then realised that there was no harm in telling Steve. ‘They weren’t even addressed to anyone specifically, but they were still private. I poured all my wishes and my whole heart into them and- I guess it drove my mother over the edge.’ Robin said, her brows furrowed.

‘And,’ she continued, getting steadily more upset, ‘when I came back home, she confronted me. She wanted to know who were those letters to and how I never included her or Dad in my decisions anymore and…’ Robin raised her eyebrows slightly, staring right at a transition between the edge of the rug and the floor - ‘that she doesn’t want to have a dyke in the house and… then I simply just left and she threw a box of my stuff at me,’ Robin said, her index finger flicking the side of her thumbnail in an attempt to regulate herself or even better, to appear like it was a much less of a deal to her than it actually was. 

‘Shit,’ was all Steve could muster. He was shocked. He’d never imagined that Robin would have a tough time at home. He wasn’t a person to assume that everybody had a great family life but - something about Robin struggling made him feel for her, but he also couldn’t help but feel the bile rising. ‘Yeah, shit,’ Robin sounded out, but she seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Steve shook his head and pulled her into a hug. It wasn’t the most comfortable one since they were both crouching on the floor, but they still stayed in it for quite a while. Steve rubbed his thumb on Robin’s non-bruised shoulder and Robin finally felt secure enough to close her eyes and take a deep breath. Steve also expected a flood of tears, but was met with a smile when they pulled apart. Robin was sad, but her face was full of relief and gratitude. 

After their little silent moment was over, they both non-verbally agreed on starting to get ready for sleep. Robin helped set up Steve’s temporary bed on the floor out of spare blankets, and cushions, first arguing that she’d be perfectly fine, but Steve telling her not to be ridiculous and ordering her to sleep in his bed. They changed the bedding as well, each got their turn for a few minutes in the bathroom, tucked into beds and turned off the lights. 

---



Robin just returned from a trip to the toilet. Steve was snoring quietly on the floor, the cushions scattered around. Robin stepped over him carefully and climbed back into bed. She crossed her legs, wiggling her toes and playing with the edge of the top sheet.

Finally, she sighed.

‘Hey, Steve?’ She whispered. No response. 
‘Steve?’ She whispered again, making sure to draw out the vowels, ‘you asleep?' 
Steve stirred and woke up with a groan. ‘What’s up?’

‘I feel bad that you’re on the floor,’ Robin said, drawing circles on the off-white duvet covers. ‘You can come over here, if you like,’ she said, moving over and freeing up a spot next to her. ‘You sure it’s okay?’ Steve asked. He just wanted her to feel comfortable tonight, no need for her to ask just to make him happy. ‘Yeah sure, come here,’ Robin said, giving him a little smile. 

Steve grabbed two cushions and climbed into bed next to her. They shared a brief and awkward look. 
‘Just a brief disclaimer that if you kick me in your sleep, I’ll kick you right back,’ Steve said with a very serious face.
Robin just briefly regretted inviting him in, shook her head and lied back down, stealing some of the duvet. “Dingus,” she said quietly, laughing to herself, closing her eyes again. 

This was the most peaceful sleep she’d had in weeks.

N/A: also a special note of thanks to @shawly-not who helped me figure out the linguistics of the mi casa scene!

[fantom-noise]

Returning the favor! What is your fav food(s)? Any weird food tastes or habits?

AWWW YEAHHH I'm autistic so the answer to that last question is SO MANY. :D

My current samefoods (go-to foods regardless of sensory roadblocks) include Totino's frozen pizza (combination toppings), chocolate or tapioca pudding, and white rice with some salt. Not all together, of course!!! But when I'm having sensory issues and I can't cope with textures/flavors or actual cooking, these are always there for me!

And.............god, y'all, don't block me for this. I grew up poor as dirt (you think I'm playing...) and so my weird food tastes are what experts call Somethin' Else. Chips and ketchup. Bread and ketchup. American cheese slices, on nothing. Plain bologna. I've even learned to love the ol' bowl of butter + sugar + salt with a spoon.

Food is fucking weird, y'all, and sometimes you just need to get some calories without gagging. 🤷‍♂️

[brattylikestoeat]

hiya bratty from New Zealand!! I love this blog so much omg. I wanted to know, what's your favourite pizza topping? I used to get cheese with chilli flakes, oregano and lemon pepper sprinkled on top but this new place just opened that has tandoori chicken on top!! It's so so good omg. It's Indian owned and I'm from Sri Lanka so I'm happy haha. Also if it's not too much trouble could you post some pasta recipes if you find any? I love pasta especially lasagna but it's so time consuming to make DX

This made me realize I’m a boring pizza bitch lol. I just like plain ol cheese or pepperoni but that tandoori chicken sound delicious. And yes I’ll post more pasta dishes. 💜💜💜💜

[besttop10s]

TOP 10 MEALS

10) Pancakes: A cheap and filling breakfast that everyone loves. Everyone likes pancakes so you'll easily get full from eating these. Plus there's something relaxing about sating your stomach with a stack of pancakes. 

9) Spaghetti: If you're having a bad day then a bowl of noodles and meat sauce sure can make it better. Spaghetti is filling, nutritious and delicious. The basic recipe is pretty simple, just Add whatever you like or feel like. If you're having a bad day then add more noodles, some crushed red peppers, a dash of oregano and some parmesian cheese. The possibilities are endless. 

8) Pizza: Not the new hot style, the basic crust with just a few toppings. Nothing fancy, just a delicious slice of pepperoni. Or sausage. Or mushrooms and olives. Anything you want really. There's something magical about a plain slice of pizza. 

7) Hot Dogs: There's something magical about a simple hot dog. Maybe it's that first bite into one that reminds you of childhood. Maybe it's the cheap and easy meal you can make yourself. Or maybe its the process of heating up a slice of bacon, saucy ketchup and mustard to dip it in that makes it so magical. Either way a hot dog is a meal that can instantly make you happier. (Or sadder) 

6) Hamburgers: The classic American meal that somehow has lasted for decades. Why has this meal lasted so long? Nobody can answer that, but the reason why it's lasted is because a classic American meal should: It's filling, cheap and delicious. There's not much else to say. 

5) Burger: The king of all meals that can be prepared quickly and easily. You can't beat a plain old hamburger patty with tomato and lettuce for a meal, unless you count the condiments as the toppings. The best thing about a plain old patty is how customizable it is. You can add almost anything you like to it and still call it a "Burger". 

4) Hot Dogs With Coney Sauce: The number one way to get your happy hormones flowing (This applies to every gender). Nothing can beat the satisfaction you get after taking a nice big bite out of a Hot Dog and smacking your lips together with the savory sauce. You wash it down with a cold soda and you're good to go! (Although you might want to stay away from Coney Dogs if you're going to eat them, they're really high in juices and sauces, but they're so good! Just stay away from the bones and veins, they're always filled with goodness) 

3) Sushi: A fancy meal, but it can be prepared quickly and easily. There's also something satisfying about rolling up a bit of raw fish and rice into a ball and biting into it. It feels like you're eating something real so it makes you happy. The different types of sushi make it even more interesting to eat, but that's another thing you can fill up your stomach on quickly and easily. 

2) Steak: The king of Meals. It can make you feel powerful and strong just from eating it. It can make you feel humble and simple just from cooking it. It's just so satisfying. There are so many ways to prepare a good steak. The most common way is to just cook it on a large stick with some form of butter. There are ways to cook it in a pan that make the butter unnecessary, but butter makes everything better. 

And the number one way to make you happy is... 

1) Pizza: There are so many types of pizza. Pepperoni, Sausage, Olives, Black Olives, Ham, Bone, and so much more. Then you can get it with different types of crust, thin or thick. Some places even sell Pizza by the slice. The possibilities are endless with pizza. You can make a plain ol' cheese pizza happy, a diet pizza happy, a veggie pizza happy, and so much more. The world may end soon, but as long as there is pizza, life will continue.

[kmp78]

Christmas fest in Budapest 🇭🇺

Okay, first things first: 

sadly but not surprisingly the ripple effects from last year´s massacre in Berlin were clearly visible: the Budapest Christmas markets were surrounded by concrete blocks and ever-present police officers were packing not just tasers and hand guns, but also actual machine guns! 

I gotta say, it makes Christmas spirit a bit harder to come by when you have an Uzi in your line of sight at all times... 😔😨

But, it is what it is and all we can do is look forward to better times!  

If you are looking for a budget-friendly, extremely well-located, spotless AND FABULOUSLY NAMED hotel in Budapest, you need not look any further than...

Ehe. 😁

When I was surfing the net for accommodations and came upon this gem... Well, it was a done deal at that point!

The only thing that annoyed me were, shockingly, other tourists! I´m sorry all you Russians out there but I have to say it: learn some ferkin´ manners, Jesus Christ! Is Vladimir banning all citrus fruits from your country or was it just plain greed and nastiness that drove one of your countrymen to dip elbows deep into a bowl of lemons and shove them in his pockets?! Like... really? Couldn´t leave just one for my tea? Not that I would have wanted it anyway, what with his disgusting bare hands having groped them... Sick. 😠

Also the Brits sitting next to me were at their best (?) behavior and judged absolutely everything in sight. Apparently “this English breakfast isn´t proper English”.

Well... DUH! You ain´t in good ol´ Blighty now, guvnor! Suck it up! You can munch on your bangers and mash back home!

And fun fact: almost directly across from our hotel was... 😒

Mom´s comment when she saw these:

“Oh my, those pants are way too short! That looks so stupid! What kind of man would want to wear those?!”

I just wept in silence. She does not need to know. 🙊

MOVING ON!

Some local treats: the Hungarian KFC (shut up) offered something I had never seen nor tasted before called a “Qurrito box” which consists of a semi-Mexican style burrito thingie with chicken and rice and all that good stuff inside - it was really good! 😋

In some more non-fast foody selection, the markets had plenty of amazing and curious offerings!

An interesting observation about the Christmas markets in Budapest: they are very different from their counterparts in Berlin and Vienna etc. in the sense that here the stalls are very “down to earth” and not at all “mass production-like” as they tend to be in bigger cities. 

The goodies and crafts for sale were a lot more personal and homely, which I absolutely adored!

They utilize pine cones, dried fruits, vegetables, meats etc. in all imaginable ways with amazing results! 😍

If air travel wasn´t such a god damn hassle these days and bringing liquids on-board wasn´t a capitol offence, I so would have bought those pickled jalapeno/cabbage/paprika kitties! Look how cute, @ginie62! 😍

And yes, the markets were as picturesque as I had hoped for! 👌

Something that no decent Christmas market could ever be short on: BOOOOOOZE! ☕

To balance out all that drinking, you have to get some filler for your tummy as well, and when in Hungary you absolutely have to go for the most traditional Hungarian food of them all: goulash!

Really tasty and cheap! And on a chilly winter day, it also warms you up inside so win-win! 👌

If goulash does not tickle your fancy, you could try another local treat called lángos which is deep-fried dough topped with whatever you fancy, basically. Could be savory or sweet, anything goes!

I went for sour cream and grated cheese. YAS!

On another day I tried a lángos which was wrapped up in burrito-style, with salami, onions and cheese inside - yet another success story! 👏

And for dessert you have to sample another Hungarian delicacy: chimney cake!

It´s basically a wheat coffeebread which is first rolled around a mold and roasted over an open coal fireplace...

... and then while it´s steaming hot (aka steam rises from the center, making it look like a chimney!), it is rolled around in an assortment of flavoring options, such as cardamon, chocolate, cinnamon etc.

I went for the basic and traditional option aka cinnamon and sugar! Yumz! 👍

And for @kweenbeyass who might want to add Budapest to that bucket list: you´ll be happy to hear that they are extremely tourist-friendly over there! For example, on their main tram lines they have clearly marked all interesting sights along the way (in English) and indications where you have to get off! Very handy indeed! 😉

And any English language help you can get will be a plus, because the language is...

Yikes. 😨

And speaking of traveling: did you know that Budapest has the world´s 3rd oldest metro system? It dates back to 1896, and while it may not look like it belongs in the 21st century...

... I can assure you that it works like a charm! We never had to wait for more than 3 minutes for the next train! Sometimes I did almost wish we did have to wait around a bit longer because the stations were so adorably quaint!  😍

Another fun activity I always enjoy while abroad is lurking around the local grocery stores for all sorts of weirdness, and Budapest did not disappoint in that regard!

Gyros chips? Cheeseburger chips? Hotdog & ketchup chips? Pizza chips?

WHAT?

And this banana has got to be 11 and then some inches...

Ugh. 😵

The Market Hall is also worth checking out, if not for anything else then simply for the vibes of yesteryear. You can really sense the Soviet era still.

Fun fact: they had a random scale screwed to a wall which we could not figure out the purpose for, until we saw that people who had just purchased their potatoes and peas and whatnot marched over to that scale and measured what they had just bought aka they made sure the seller had not screwed them over with the weight of their produce! I guess not all people can be trusted...

And for any communist enthusiast, there were lots of trinkets on offer...

While in town, I discovered they had a Titanic exhibition which I naturally wanted to check out since Leo is my friend-in-law through six degrees of separation from Daddy-o and all.

They had built replicas of the cabins for the richies and the poor folks...

... and had actual items salvaged from the wreck itself! Whoa!

Budapest is also “littered” with fun and curious statues, like this little fella who I met alongside the Danube river.

This guy here had the best business idea! He juggles and entertains in front of cars who are waiting at the red light, and then before the light turns green he takes his hat off and does a quick round from car to car, collecting donations for the little show he put on! Genius! 👏

And while Bucharest may be the “official” residence of Count Dracula, Budapest also boasts some eerily majestic castles.

A nighttime activity you absolutely HAVE TO experience is a trek up to the Fisherman´s Bastion. Holy bejeebus, the views are... yes I will say it... INCREDIBLE. 👀

The Parliament House is also worth a closer look!  🤩

But please do be careful when trekking around after dark as the surrounding park is very poorly lit and there are dangerous steps and ledges all over - we had a near-catastrophic incident which luckily only resulted in a banged-up lip and bruised knees. 🙁

All in all, I can recommend Budapest as a vacay destination to anyone who is looking for a little taste of old time glory and ascetic vibes mixed with modern day comforts and conveniences! 👍

[luckystarchild]

Random Info Meme

I justify filling this out because it’s reminding me of facts about myself I had forgotten—facts I could conceivably reference in Lucky Child. Ignore this! It’s mostly for myself.

1. Who are you named after? My mother named me after her dolls; she gave me the same name she always gave to them while growing up. Only, I’ve since rejected my given name in favor of a traditionally masculine nickname, which I’d like to make my legal name someday. Bonus: While investigating our family’s genealogy, we learned an old relative (who immigrated to American on the Mayflower) actually had this masculine name I use, though this is completely coincidental. BONUS BONUS: My parents met at a bar, the name of which is my nickname. They also claim this is coincidence BUT I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THEM.

2. Last time you cried? Yesterday, because I watched this video about a sad dog, this dance to one of my favorite songs, and this video of the Houston Gospel Choir back to back. I haven’t cried over something sad in a long time.

3. Soda or water? Sparkling water! C-c-combo breaker!

4. What's your favorite pizza? Lots o’ cheese with artichoke hearts, baby arugula, tomatoes, basil, garlic, and zucchini. 

5. Favorite flower? Sunflowers. But I also have a soft spot for bluebonnets and poppies.

6. Do you still have your tonsils? Yup.

7. Would you bungee jump? HAHAHAHAA NOPE.

8. Did you go to college? Yes. Studied writing, business, and philosophy.

9. Untie your shoes when taking them off? Depends on how expensive the shoe was and if I care about preserving its eyelets, haha.

10. Roller Coasters? No, thank you! They hurt My Bad Arm too much.

11. Favorite Ice Cream? I love anything with cookies or brownies crumbled into it (it’s like a treasure hunt in your ice cream!). But I tend to prefer fruit sorbet over ice cream most of the time.

12. Favorite things? Octopuses, sunflowers, things made of copper, flower appliques on clothes, Camembert cheese, pomegranates, dogs, universe and galaxy-patterned things, science, psychology, physics, reading, movies, and colorful clothes.

13. Favorite Movie? The Princess Bride.

14. Shorts or Jeans? Definitely prefer shorts to jeans. More freedom of movement...and you can see my tattoos!

15. What are you listening to? Kesha’s new album, Rainbow, which has a distinctly country vibe (I mean there’s a Dolly Parton duet, what the heck)??? NOT expecting that, but I’m loving it.

16. Favorite Color? If I had to pick just one, I’d say red, but really I have a favorite color scheme more than a single favorite color. That color scheme is “royal fire.” So, red/gold/orange/yellow with accents of rich purple and royal blue. Green is basically the only color I actually dislike, though I don’t hate it (I mean, I’m a Slytherin so I have to tolerate it).

17. Tattoos? Three currently. Watercolor lion and watercolor octopus, one on each thigh, and a large back piece related to writing. Will hopefully be getting a The Adventure Zone tattoo in the near future. My lion is named Seraphina and my octopus is named Ferdinand. 

18. Color of Hair? Light brown. 

19. Eye color? License says blue, but I tend to say they’re plain ol’ grey.

20. Favorite thing to eat? I’m pescatarian. Sushi is one of my favorites, but anything else veggie is lovely. Have a weakness for pasta with red sauce (eggplant parm!), and also tacos. 

21. Scary or Happy endings? Happy endings rub me the wrong way. Life so rarely works out with a bow on top. I love bittersweet endings, or endings where something had to be lost in order for something else to be gained.

22. Superstitious? Not at all. I open umbrellas indoors and walk under ladders with impunity. I also own 6 Ouija boards; they’re next to my bed. I don’t lose any sleep over it.

23. Favorite holiday? Halloween and Arbor Day. I’m not religious so most of the other holidays don’t apply, but I love scary stuff and trees!

24. Beer or wine? Wine! I also like cider. Beer doesn’t appeal to me much unless it’s a dark, rich stout.

25. Night owl or morning? As I don’t drink coffee and bounce out of bed without trouble, I’ve been accused of being a Morning Person many times, but I prefer to stay up late rather than wake up early.

26. Fave day of the week? Uh...gosh, never thought about it. But probably Friday, but only Friday after 7 PM, and Saturday, but only before 4 PM. 

27. Hogwarts house? Slytherin. No one guesses that when they meet me because I’m pretty gregarious and smiley and kind, but Pottermore has sorted me into this house twice.

28. Favorite animal? The octopus, no question. Lions come in second. Explains my tattoos!

29. Favorite book? This is TOUGH, but probably The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. That book helped me realize, during the darkest time of my life, that there is beauty everywhere—even in the moments that can cause you pain.

30. Dream for the future? Publish a book.

[thedailycourtney]

Food Food Food

Pizza Order: Classic Margherita or anything on a Neapolitan crust, Canadian bacon with mushrooms, or plain ol’ cheese. Thin crust only, and never, ever pineapple.

Favorite Ice Cream: mint chocolate chip

Top 3 Fruits: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, oranges, gala apples, kiwi, PINEAPPLE, fresh Georgia peaches, grapes...I can’t possibly pick three, and to make me do so is cruel. The only fruit I don’t care for is grapefruit, honeydew melon, and mango.

Favorite Cuisine: Mexican. Both authentic, and the Taco Bell version.

Buffalo Wild Wings Order: I think I’ve only been there like twice (chain restaurants, ugh) and I’m sure I got something boring like wings with hot sauce. I love chicken wings, but I have to eat them at home because I pick them apart like a savage. The thought of just biting into a wing without inspecting it for veins, etc. makes me want to puke and die.

Favorite Breakfast Order: biscuits and gravy with a side of hashbrowns and crispy bacon. And a bloody mary or four.

[thehighestmountains]

after much disagreement with the best of davis food article that came out in the “california aggie” newspaper, i made my own version; however, much of an eating experience depends on what you order. retrospectively, i wouldve liked to order the crème de la crème or each restaurant’s specialty to have the most encompassing impression of a restaurant. so instead of a list of restaurants for various food categories, i decided to showcase my favorite, to-die-for foods around davis, so if you end up at a specific restaurant, youd know exactly what i recommend. these are all incredible, worthy meals i would eat any day anytime. 

i excluded some categories, such as indian (frankly, because raja’s tandoor, preethi, and kathmandu are all wonderful choices). additionally, for non-meal foods or drinks, t4 is my favorite boba/drink place (panda boba, grapefruit royal tea, elegant rose royal tea, honey peach smoothie), plus their toppings include agar pearls. davis beer shoppe features $6-9 flights aka beer sampling almost every night, and ive gone plenty of times for fruit beers (specifically loved an entire flight of ace beers). for ice cream, if you are cool with getting pricier ice cream, good scoop serves incredible flavors like garden party with edible flowers, but davis creamery is my go-to, especially because of spring-quarter bracketology. every week, you can go in and try two of their new flavors and vote (some incredible flavors from there are honey lavender and upside-down pineapple cake). also fat face popsicles at the davis farmers market sells some unique flavors (apricot lavender, sticky rice and mango are two). 

lastly, tea list is a great under-the-radar afternoon tea experience (we split 1 between 2 people and had unlimited strawberry tea). anyway, onward to the main categories!

froggy’s provides the best variety for all sorts of burgers, meats, and toppings you can get. any burger you order will be great, but ive had the pineapple burger. as for cheaper alternatives, habit grill’s portobello charburger does not replace the meat but actually adds portobello mushroom, and the rest of the charburgers are great too. for “american” food, which is kind of a catch all category, clam chowder at froggy’s is pretty cheap ($6) for a good soup, compared to say de vere’s. de vere’s, although pricey, makes THE BEST lamb sliders with raspberry jam and great buttered pretzel as an appetizer. our house is probably one of my favorite restaurants, as everything ive tried, albeit mostly appetizers, (we’ll go for a meal of appetizers, because their actual food items are $25+) has been amazing (brussel sprouts, home-made potato chips, lamb and pork meatballs, hand-pulled mozzarella and rosemary-grilled bread, grilled artichoke, beet salad - i crave this all the time). the salmon benedict for brunch at cafe bernardo is phenomenal, if you are a fan of lox on bagels. 

for chinese food, dumpling house is undoubtedly the best bang for your buck, best taste. i get the pork and chive dumplings, and cream cheese wontons. for general chinese take out type food, i have yet to try the gas station four seasons chinese food, hunan, or cheng du, as i eat almost exclusively chinese food in cupertino, but i tend to go to wok of flame by target (great string beans) and tasty kitchen (not good string beans, string beans is all you ever need right?). as for noodles, in the past, sunrise, hong kong cafe, and davis noodle city have provided wonderful noodle soups, but the last times ive been to all of those have been completely unsatisfactory, plain or just straight terrible (talking about you, davis noodle city. the reigning champion is chinese hometown restaurant with its beef noodle soup (super tender beef, filling, authentic taiwanese taste), plus an incredible ambiance. if for whatever reason, you cant make the 1 block difference to chinese hometown, red 88 serves great bbq chow mein. 

if i were to come back to davis for one meal, it very likely would be the crown jewel of this entire post, paesano’s fettucine arrostiti. i got this my second year at my very first time at paesano’s. since then, ive eaten this countless times. sometimes i try to stray from it, venture out by trying pork fusilli, caprese salad, brussels sprouts pizza, but almost every time, i regret not just getting the ole classic. if you go get this, and your friend is like well what am i supposed to get, the spicy creole is also incredible, or you can split the fettucine arrostiti for a dollar extra, get two breads, and still be very full. get u summm. *starts chanting fettucine arrostiti* *goes into a trance*

i forgot to put this into a category, but my second choice for “coming back to davis, have only time for 1 meal” would be shah’s halal food truck at the silo. its such a unique taste, you just cant beat it. 

quite highly debated, but i do prefer davis pinata over guadalajara. you pay a little more, but you get a fuller, more flavorful meal. i havent gotten carne asada fries from anyone else, but el burrito’s is super awesome. also, do not let el toro trick you with their tuesday or whatever day taco deal, you can do way better, and they do not provide free chips. 

davis has a plethora of buffets it is hard not to just get your moneys worth at a buffet. of the many (fuji, jusco - non-unlimited nigiri, nami), i think davis sushi has the best variety, ambiance, and they have this great seasoned sashimi mix. for non-buffet, huku has great taste, very aesthetic plating, unique combinations (sunshine has salmon, lemon, crab mix, roe), and far more reasonable prices than mikuni. ok, YAKITORI thooo. killer meats. get the 5 skewers and try all the different seasonings (salt, mustard, wasabi, soy, and barbeque, i think), as well as some other fun meats like beef tongue or chicken heart. brb mouth is watering. for my raw salmon fans, salmon salad is a good one.

its ridiculous how many thai restaurants are in davis, how many are on e street alone. for someone who thinks the traditional pad thai or pad see ew are too sweet, the pineapple fried rice from taste of thai is killer (soft cashews, plenty of pineapple, great tasting fried rice) as is the yellow curry from sophia’s thai kitchen. 

and thats all! there are definitely a couple of restaurants i havent tried (the previously mentioned chinese places, osteria fasulo, and zias delicatessen), but i feel like i have a really good grasp of all the foods davis has to offer, especially in less than 3 or 4 years, and have accumulated a solid list of favorites. if youve miraculously reached the end of this post, definitely comment or let me know whats been some of your favorite foods or restaurants in davis. 

[duriandishes]

Durian dishes for every durian Enthusiast

Known as the king of fruits especially in Southeast Asia, the powerful odour of the enormous green spiky fruit it is among its distinctive capabilities. While the fruit has been treated as a celestial delicacy by manyothers are set off from the excruciating taste and odor.

Typically beginning from the month of June or even July and lasting until September, the durians singapore season is quickly approaching Singapore! This year, let your taste buds are wowed by the most recent durian cafe in the town -- Double Durians. The cafe just serves the finest Mao Shan Wang, also called the butter durian. With its vivid yellow flesh, the Mao Shan Wang has a creamy texture with a bittersweet tang.

With every dish made from Mao Shan Wang durians, here are the top selections which will leave you looking for more!

1. Chargrilled Durian The specialization of Double Durian, their Chargrilled Durian Is likely the most special way to enjoy a durian! Wrapped in aluminum foil and grilled entire more than charcoal, the Mao Shan Wang durian flesh becomes a hot soft handle that melts on your mouth.

The smoky flavour matches the first bittersweet flavour of the Mao Shan Wang, leaving you looking for more. This durian requires an hour to prepare and therefore are limited in amounts so do call in advance to arrange your broiled durian to prevent disappointment.

2. Ying Yang Durian I am convinced all durian fanatics have abandoned their durian to cool in the refrigerator for a wonderful cold cure but Double Durian requires the chilled delicacy into another level with their Ying Yang Durian.

Fresh durians are frozen immediately and then baked in an oven, caramelising skin to give another measurement of flavour. Warm on the exterior yet refreshing and cold on the interior, you have got the very best of both worlds in 1 dish!

3. Durian Pizza Durian and cheese? Sounds from the world! This unseemingly set is the ideal mix of pure and cheese durian puree. The Durian Pizza is baked for 2 minutes -- just enough time to allow the crust to be baked to crispy and the cheese to melt. The melted savoury cheese in addition to a candy durian foundation makes this pizza that the star of pizzas!

4. Durian Sticky Rice Inspired by the famous Thai Mango Sticky Rice, the cafe replenishes the cherry to make a Singaporean durian unique -- Durian Sticky Rice! A massive dollop of durian served beneath a sticky glutinous rice, have a bite of the dynamic duo of chewy rice and sweet ripe durian!

5. Durian Smoothie The ideal drink for a hot day, this Durian Smoothie will finish your durian dining experience. Produced from chilled durian flesh, the smoothie comes served with a generous chunk of durian beef and fresh mint leaves. If you are aware about your durian breath, then chew about the mint leaves to eliminate the stench! Slurp it up quick before it melts to appreciate maximum durian taste!

6. Durian Mille Crepe Cake Forget your plain ol' mille crepe cake, and have a bite of the Durian Mille Crepe Cake! This candy treat includes three layers of pure durian wedged between lean eggy crepe and lotion, and can be finished off with a dusting of icing sugar. The proportion of light lotion, crepe and durian within this crepe cake makes certain that the cake does not overpower everybody's favorite Mao Shan Wang!

[deadboydiablo]

First off: You'd be a great teacher. Now with some more questions since you don't seem to mind. Favorite time of day and why? If you plan on getting married in the future, what kind of wedding do you want (big or small, simple or extravagant etc)? What's your go to sandwich? Favorite pizza topping? Do you have any plants, if so, what kind? ps. the house you described sounds incredible :)

You’re tooooo sweet :) and yes bring it on!

I love the early mornings (even though I can’t wake up that early anymore lmao) but around 4-6am when it’s all quiet and you see the sunrise while you enjoy some breakfast 🥰 ahaha me getting married? I’ve already accepted the fact that I feel like I’m not going to find anyone for me in this life and I’m ok with that. But if for some reason I do happen to get married I’d want it to be nice and small, plain and simple! I love the simple things in life, let’s do it out in a forest :) and the after party would be an open bar with a huge fire! Go to sandwich? I’m 3 1/2 yrs old so a good ol’ PB&J with a bIG glass of milk. Pizza!! Hmm pepperoni, chicken, big bloop of mozzarella cheese. I have one plant (sad ik) but idk what it is tbh. I only have this one bc it was a gift when I bought my first house lol. I plan on getting more when I don’t constantly forget about him.

More questions please :)

[foursprouthealth-blog]

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/health/19-whole30-soup-recipes-that-make-january-way-more-tolerable/

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

We know: It’s so easy to reach for canned soup. And the premade varieties at health food stores can actually be pretty darn good. But most prepackaged goods have hidden downsides—like high sodium and added sugar—and if you’re sticking to a specific way of eating, it can be tough to find premade options that work for you (and deliver that little thing called flavor).

Fortunately, soups are one of the easiest meals to whip up. And nothing beats recipes with whole, natural, fresh ingredients. So let’s push pause on all things packaged and give these 19 Whole30-friendly soups a whirl. Trust us, you won’t go back to store-bought.

1. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

Beans aren’t such a magical fruit when it comes to Whole30. But don’t worry: You don’t need beans to make a killer, equally as hearty chili. This recipe uses shredded chicken, bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, coconut milk, and a slew of tasty spices to create a heartwarming soup that’s as kind on your belly as it is on your palate. Top with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime.

2. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

The secret to creamy soup sans dairy? In this simple soup recipe, it’s pumpkin purée, full-fat coconut milk, and coconut oil (or ghee). The combination of curry paste and curry powder gives the soup just the right amount of punch, as does the addition of eight (!) garlic cloves. For a touch of sweet, top with pomegranate arils and a small spoonful of extra coconut milk. Toasted pepitas provide a nice crunch too.

3. Whole30 Zuppa Toscana

Photo: 40 Aprons

Spicy, creamy, satisfying… this soup checks all the marks. Made with both bacon and sausage, this soup is a meat- and flavor-lover’s dream. (Note: Make sure you buy sugar-free versions of both to guarantee they’re Whole30 compliant.) We love that this savory, filling soup packs a whole lot of greens by using an entire bundle of kale and gets subtle creaminess from, you guessed it, coconut milk.

4. Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup

Photo: Cooking With Curls

This soup is a perfect example of how a small set of ingredients can come together to make something truly extraordinary. Using an entire head of cauliflower and bulb of roasted garlic, this recipe doesn’t skimp on flavor. The rest of the eight-ingredient meal is comprised of spices, stock, onion, and olive oil and can be whipped up in under an hour. Use an immersion blender if you have one on hand, or make sure there’s a vent on your blender top to avoid a soup-plosion.

5. Whole30 Creamy Taco Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

Who needs a taco shell? This soup has everything you love about tacos but skips the carbs. Made with grass-fed ground beef (turkey and chicken taste great too), bone broth, diced tomatoes, green chilies, coconut milk, and a whopping nine spices, this soup will leave you happy and full. Top with sliced avocado for some extra healthy fats, jalapeños for more spice, and diced red onion for added crunch.

6. Creamy Paleo Chicken Soup With Mushrooms and Kale

Photo: Paleo Running Momma

We’d never thought to use nutritional yeast in soup, but let us tell you: It is awesome. The Whole30-compliant seasoning gives a savory, cheese-like flavor that balances out the coconut milk and brings out the best of the mushrooms and kale. We love sticking to plain ol’ chicken (we recommend thighs), but the soup also works well with sausage or ground turkey. For a touch of spice, add 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes.

7. Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup

Photo: Cotter Crunch

This soup is perfect for days when you’re in need of a serious veg overload. Whether you’re recovering from an overly filling Whole30 meal or simply in the mood to supercharge your veggie intake, this soup is a great way to reset and load up on nutrients. Made with roasted cauliflower, red onion, garlic, carrots, kale, and all kinds of spices, this soup certainly doesn’t skimp on flavor. Make extra, as it freezes well and is great for nights when you can’t muster up the energy to cook something healthy.

8. Chicken Zoodle Soup

Photo: Damn Delicious

If you have the energy to spiralize some squash and chop a few veggies, you can master this zoodle soup. Once the prep work is done, all that’s required is browning the chicken, mixing in the veg and some spices, and letting it simmer in stock. Since zucchini spirals cook so quickly, we recommend dropping them in right before eating as opposed to letting them simmer in the pot. For some unexpected but uber-tasty flavor, add a tablespoon of miso paste to the broth.

9. Thai Meatball and Egg Drop Soup

Photo: A Saucy Kitchen

Egg drop soup is delicious, but it’s best served as a side (due to how light it is). This recipe, however, is packed with protein from the Thai meatballs, giving the traditional egg broth plenty of oomph to make it a main. We love the bright pop of colors from the fresh herbs, chilies, and scallions, and the hint of sweet from the ginger that’s used in both the broth and the meatballs. To save some time, bake the balls the day before.

10. Chicken Avocado Lime Soup

Photo: House of Nash Eats

This soup brilliantly cooks the chicken in the broth before it’s shredded, making it moist and flavorful as can be. Spiced with cumin, oregano, and ground coriander, and topped with crunchy radishes, creamy avocados, and tart lime juice, this recipe is a great way to kick a cold (add extra jalapeños), warm up, or wind down after a long day.

11. Roasted Broccoli Soup

Photo: The Endless Meal

This fancy-looking soup is surprisingly simple to put together. Start by roasting broccoli and onions (don’t be afraid to over-crisp them), blend the roasted bits with boiled potatoes, mix in the lemon tahini sauce, top with leftover veg, and let the eating commence. Rich, creamy, just a tad bit spicy… we think it’s safe to say this soup has it all. (Psst, if you’re a garlic lover, double the amount in the recipe—the more, the merrier.)

12. Easy Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Photo: Creative Green Living

Roasted pepper soup can seem intimidating, but with a few tricks, it’s simple as can be. Trick one: Buy a jar of roasted peppers instead of roasting them at home. It saves time and a visit from firemen when the smoke alarm inevitably goes off. Trick two: Make it sneakily creamy with full-fat coconut milk. Trick three: add carrots and onion for added thickness—oh, and nutrients. If you can manage a blender, you can manage this soup, and you’ll be happy you tried.

13. Acorn Squash Soup With Turmeric

Photo: Seasonal Cravings

Butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup… while delicious, sometimes they can feel a little been there, done that. Change things up by using acorn squash, an equally delicious and creamy squash counterpart. The soup is sweetened with diced apple—for a tarter taste, go with green apple; if you want something sweeter, opt for Gala—and thickened up with onion and carrot. We love the soup as is, but if you’re craving a bit more spice, add a few tablespoons of curry powder.

14. Cauliflower Bacon Soup

Photo: Simone’s Kitchen

Cauliflower soup is an art. A little too much liquid can make it watery, and if the ratio of cauliflower to spices to liquids is the tiniest bit off, the soup can taste bland. This recipe makes things easy by sticking to a relatively small amount of super-flavorful ingredients such as bacon and beef broth. Feel free to up the amount of garlic and grab the largest cauliflower you can find to ensure that thick, glorious texture.

15. Thai Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Photo: Wanderlust Kitchen

Another secret to super-creamy soup: sweet potatoes. The thick, flavorful flesh is so tasty on its own, you hardly need spices. That said, this recipe gets pretty inventive with red curry paste, ginger, and lime. Skip the chopped peanut topping to keep it Whole30 friendly; opt for scallions if you’re craving a bit of crunch.

16. Paleo Pizza Soup

Photo: Jay’s Baking Me Crazy

Pizza soup? Yes, you read that right. Made with chicken sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, marinara sauce, olives, oregano, and other tasty add-ins, this soup truly does feature the best of pizza. (We honestly don’t miss the dough or the cheese.) Feel free to experiment with veggie ingredients—like green bell pepper, red onion, and roasted garlic—and go wild with sausage varieties (as long as they’re sugar-free). Taking only 30 minutes to make, this soup is just about as easy as takeout.

17. Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

Another soup that’s equally as amazing without its carb counterpart, this tortilla-less soup is so filling you wouldn’t even have room for the crunchy corn. Full of roasted tomatoes, shredded chicken, diced red pepper, and Whole30-compliant taco seasoning, we can say with certainty this soup isn’t missing a thing. Though if you’re craving some crunch, it couldn’t hurt to add some sliced jicama or radish.

18. No-Bean 30-Minute Chili

Photo: The Whole Cook

Sometimes you just want a piping hot bowl of chili—without the beans. This soup delivers on heartiness, spice, and satisfaction. Made with lean ground beef, plenty of peppers and onion, tomato paste, and seven spices, we wouldn’t change a thing. That said, the soup also tastes great with ground chicken or turkey (switch the broth accordingly) and extra chili spice never hurts—if you like spice, that is.

19. Instant Pot Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup

Photo: Perry’s Plate

If only all recipes were as easy as throwing ingredients into a pot and letting the magic happen on its own… until then, we’ll settle for this superstar soup. Start by seasoning and browning the chicken, add the veg, then the broth, and let the simmering commence. For a creamier soup, substitute coconut milk for the almond milk.

[foursprout-blog]

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/health/19-whole30-soup-recipes-that-make-january-way-more-tolerable/

19 Whole30 Soup Recipes That Make January Way More Tolerable

We know: It’s so easy to reach for canned soup. And the premade varieties at health food stores can actually be pretty darn good. But most prepackaged goods have hidden downsides—like high sodium and added sugar—and if you’re sticking to a specific way of eating, it can be tough to find premade options that work for you (and deliver that little thing called flavor).

Fortunately, soups are one of the easiest meals to whip up. And nothing beats recipes with whole, natural, fresh ingredients. So let’s push pause on all things packaged and give these 19 Whole30-friendly soups a whirl. Trust us, you won’t go back to store-bought.

1. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

Beans aren’t such a magical fruit when it comes to Whole30. But don’t worry: You don’t need beans to make a killer, equally as hearty chili. This recipe uses shredded chicken, bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, coconut milk, and a slew of tasty spices to create a heartwarming soup that’s as kind on your belly as it is on your palate. Top with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime.

2. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

The secret to creamy soup sans dairy? In this simple soup recipe, it’s pumpkin purée, full-fat coconut milk, and coconut oil (or ghee). The combination of curry paste and curry powder gives the soup just the right amount of punch, as does the addition of eight (!) garlic cloves. For a touch of sweet, top with pomegranate arils and a small spoonful of extra coconut milk. Toasted pepitas provide a nice crunch too.

3. Whole30 Zuppa Toscana

Photo: 40 Aprons

Spicy, creamy, satisfying… this soup checks all the marks. Made with both bacon and sausage, this soup is a meat- and flavor-lover’s dream. (Note: Make sure you buy sugar-free versions of both to guarantee they’re Whole30 compliant.) We love that this savory, filling soup packs a whole lot of greens by using an entire bundle of kale and gets subtle creaminess from, you guessed it, coconut milk.

4. Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup

Photo: Cooking With Curls

This soup is a perfect example of how a small set of ingredients can come together to make something truly extraordinary. Using an entire head of cauliflower and bulb of roasted garlic, this recipe doesn’t skimp on flavor. The rest of the eight-ingredient meal is comprised of spices, stock, onion, and olive oil and can be whipped up in under an hour. Use an immersion blender if you have one on hand, or make sure there’s a vent on your blender top to avoid a soup-plosion.

5. Whole30 Creamy Taco Soup

Photo: The Movement Menu

Who needs a taco shell? This soup has everything you love about tacos but skips the carbs. Made with grass-fed ground beef (turkey and chicken taste great too), bone broth, diced tomatoes, green chilies, coconut milk, and a whopping nine spices, this soup will leave you happy and full. Top with sliced avocado for some extra healthy fats, jalapeños for more spice, and diced red onion for added crunch.

6. Creamy Paleo Chicken Soup With Mushrooms and Kale

Photo: Paleo Running Momma

We’d never thought to use nutritional yeast in soup, but let us tell you: It is awesome. The Whole30-compliant seasoning gives a savory, cheese-like flavor that balances out the coconut milk and brings out the best of the mushrooms and kale. We love sticking to plain ol’ chicken (we recommend thighs), but the soup also works well with sausage or ground turkey. For a touch of spice, add 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes.

7. Curried Cauliflower Rice Kale Soup

Photo: Cotter Crunch

This soup is perfect for days when you’re in need of a serious veg overload. Whether you’re recovering from an overly filling Whole30 meal or simply in the mood to supercharge your veggie intake, this soup is a great way to reset and load up on nutrients. Made with roasted cauliflower, red onion, garlic, carrots, kale, and all kinds of spices, this soup certainly doesn’t skimp on flavor. Make extra, as it freezes well and is great for nights when you can’t muster up the energy to cook something healthy.

8. Chicken Zoodle Soup

Photo: Damn Delicious

If you have the energy to spiralize some squash and chop a few veggies, you can master this zoodle soup. Once the prep work is done, all that’s required is browning the chicken, mixing in the veg and some spices, and letting it simmer in stock. Since zucchini spirals cook so quickly, we recommend dropping them in right before eating as opposed to letting them simmer in the pot. For some unexpected but uber-tasty flavor, add a tablespoon of miso paste to the broth.

9. Thai Meatball and Egg Drop Soup

Photo: A Saucy Kitchen

Egg drop soup is delicious, but it’s best served as a side (due to how light it is). This recipe, however, is packed with protein from the Thai meatballs, giving the traditional egg broth plenty of oomph to make it a main. We love the bright pop of colors from the fresh herbs, chilies, and scallions, and the hint of sweet from the ginger that’s used in both the broth and the meatballs. To save some time, bake the balls the day before.

10. Chicken Avocado Lime Soup

Photo: House of Nash Eats

This soup brilliantly cooks the chicken in the broth before it’s shredded, making it moist and flavorful as can be. Spiced with cumin, oregano, and ground coriander, and topped with crunchy radishes, creamy avocados, and tart lime juice, this recipe is a great way to kick a cold (add extra jalapeños), warm up, or wind down after a long day.

11. Roasted Broccoli Soup

Photo: The Endless Meal

This fancy-looking soup is surprisingly simple to put together. Start by roasting broccoli and onions (don’t be afraid to over-crisp them), blend the roasted bits with boiled potatoes, mix in the lemon tahini sauce, top with leftover veg, and let the eating commence. Rich, creamy, just a tad bit spicy… we think it’s safe to say this soup has it all. (Psst, if you’re a garlic lover, double the amount in the recipe—the more, the merrier.)

12. Easy Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Photo: Creative Green Living

Roasted pepper soup can seem intimidating, but with a few tricks, it’s simple as can be. Trick one: Buy a jar of roasted peppers instead of roasting them at home. It saves time and a visit from firemen when the smoke alarm inevitably goes off. Trick two: Make it sneakily creamy with full-fat coconut milk. Trick three: add carrots and onion for added thickness—oh, and nutrients. If you can manage a blender, you can manage this soup, and you’ll be happy you tried.

13. Acorn Squash Soup With Turmeric

Photo: Seasonal Cravings

Butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup… while delicious, sometimes they can feel a little been there, done that. Change things up by using acorn squash, an equally delicious and creamy squash counterpart. The soup is sweetened with diced apple—for a tarter taste, go with green apple; if you want something sweeter, opt for Gala—and thickened up with onion and carrot. We love the soup as is, but if you’re craving a bit more spice, add a few tablespoons of curry powder.

14. Cauliflower Bacon Soup

Photo: Simone’s Kitchen

Cauliflower soup is an art. A little too much liquid can make it watery, and if the ratio of cauliflower to spices to liquids is the tiniest bit off, the soup can taste bland. This recipe makes things easy by sticking to a relatively small amount of super-flavorful ingredients such as bacon and beef broth. Feel free to up the amount of garlic and grab the largest cauliflower you can find to ensure that thick, glorious texture.

15. Thai Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Photo: Wanderlust Kitchen

Another secret to super-creamy soup: sweet potatoes. The thick, flavorful flesh is so tasty on its own, you hardly need spices. That said, this recipe gets pretty inventive with red curry paste, ginger, and lime. Skip the chopped peanut topping to keep it Whole30 friendly; opt for scallions if you’re craving a bit of crunch.

16. Paleo Pizza Soup

Photo: Jay’s Baking Me Crazy

Pizza soup? Yes, you read that right. Made with chicken sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, marinara sauce, olives, oregano, and other tasty add-ins, this soup truly does feature the best of pizza. (We honestly don’t miss the dough or the cheese.) Feel free to experiment with veggie ingredients—like green bell pepper, red onion, and roasted garlic—and go wild with sausage varieties (as long as they’re sugar-free). Taking only 30 minutes to make, this soup is just about as easy as takeout.

17. Chicken Tortilla-Less Soup

Photo: The Real Food Dietitians

Another soup that’s equally as amazing without its carb counterpart, this tortilla-less soup is so filling you wouldn’t even have room for the crunchy corn. Full of roasted tomatoes, shredded chicken, diced red pepper, and Whole30-compliant taco seasoning, we can say with certainty this soup isn’t missing a thing. Though if you’re craving some crunch, it couldn’t hurt to add some sliced jicama or radish.

18. No-Bean 30-Minute Chili

Photo: The Whole Cook

Sometimes you just want a piping hot bowl of chili—without the beans. This soup delivers on heartiness, spice, and satisfaction. Made with lean ground beef, plenty of peppers and onion, tomato paste, and seven spices, we wouldn’t change a thing. That said, the soup also tastes great with ground chicken or turkey (switch the broth accordingly) and extra chili spice never hurts—if you like spice, that is.

19. Instant Pot Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup

Photo: Perry’s Plate

If only all recipes were as easy as throwing ingredients into a pot and letting the magic happen on its own… until then, we’ll settle for this superstar soup. Start by seasoning and browning the chicken, add the veg, then the broth, and let the simmering commence. For a creamier soup, substitute coconut milk for the almond milk.

[crispybouquetsweetsme-blog]

Fresh From The Oven

Recent From The Oven

I wanted to attempt it with some additional heat, so I added pickled jalapeno slices to my second half of the sandwich. Those who undergo from high cholesterol levels and need to manage their heart problems and decrease their cholesterol ranges should always attempt to cook meals in olive oil. And if you ate your baby meals-particularly peas and carrots, you were rewarded with kudos and associated food with pleasurable feelings. You guys should strive rather a lot harder for higher meals. He had his personal thought for the e-book, however he did not have a mock-up prepared. They even have Shuttle Bus Service to take you seashore facet! It gave me nice joy to see the clafoutis rose to such heights even earlier than I tasted one. I've been helping him search for work but most people see the felony question checked off and u can actually see their face change. The company’s identical-restaurant sales, which track how sales change at present eating places on a yr-over 12 months foundation, have fallen for the previous 4 quarters. Pizza Hut They might of virtually actually previous as actual eggs cooked at dwelling.

After i reached dwelling - half-hour later. For instance, Panera Bread turns its eating places into classrooms by providing instructing tips for children aged 5-12. Instruction contains the artwork of baking French baguettes (“one to bring dwelling and one to donate to individuals in need in your community“). Most chains have a loyal fanbase of people who deal with their restaurant of choice like it’s holy floor. Alex talked about a number of the things in restaurant that we're going to do, whether or not it is pre-portioning, looking on the pre-opening time within the restaurant, how do we reduce that. On the time of writing, shares have been trading 1.Eighty five% away from the 20-days simple transferring common and -19.Forty nine% away from the 200-days easy transferring average. No jail time however 5 yrs probation. As a substitute, if you want to omit the crumb topping, try plain ole confectioner's sugar (aka powdered sugar) as an alternative. So if you’re selecting to forgo (or are allergic to) dairy, you’ll need to request that the barista hold off on the drink’s signature topping. Myrick spent 5 days at the hospital where she was handled with a number of medications to prevent the venom from spreading and to help her cope with the symptoms of the snake bite, that are extremely serious.

How Does Drinking Black Coffee Help you Drop some weight? Pour the milk into a coffee mug fastidiously, using a spoon to hold the froth again, then spoon the froth on prime. A cup of normal black espresso with out cream or sugar contains 2 calories. Creditors will loan money at a less expensive price to a worthwhile company than to an unprofitable one; consequently, worthwhile firms can use leverage to increase stockholders’ fairness even more. Sure, although they're confident, courageous, fearless, and powerful, they're also vulnerable to injuries due to their measurement. Assure that you just search out because of details, as is also simple to skip! So the smoke has a method out of the firebox. I put approach too much water in mine and it makes more of a stew. Water Availability: In the later part of the hike, there's one main spring coming into from the correct, when strolling downstream and several other seeps that may be current depending on conditions. There is also a significantly good scorching dog vendor nearby at Hunter Faculty. I feel I fell in love right then and there. So, you have to undertake the fitting methods and parts to prepare delicious lobster recipes.

Delicious slabs of white meat hen breaded with a thinner coating than the boneless wings. Our waiter was attentive all through the meal and the meals was scrumptious. This allows you to have two objects with out feeling responsible about consuming fast food. China allows for registration of all marks for items, services, collective marks and certification marks. subway near locations The profile analyzes the company's enterprise construction, operations, major services and products, prospects, places and subsidiaries, key executives and their biographies and key opponents. For further assessment, we can check out another common technical indicator. Minimum wage is the legally fastened lowest per hour wage that can be paid to an worker. So I do not suppose I will probably be making an attempt it again. KL won't be accountable for feedback made herewithin, or their accuracy. During this event, his son shall be murdered by her grandfather’s troops.

That they had a lot of breading and very dry! During the Occupation--in the Woods--he was a braver, better man than you could think about. For those who do not like croutons maybe some shredded or feta cheese could be better for you. No, I don't like carrot cake. That's the reason you need to just remember to choose a credible company. Start stacking bricks to make a nice square sample. Archive information you hardly ever need in the underside drawers or in information away from your desk. Routers without constructed-in modems have to be connected to an existing broadband modem to allow connectivity to the web. He stayed calm and professional and did his job and then some. I remember how my cousin and i tried to sneak some of his protein. The very best soup possibility is the Chili Con Got here - it has 20 grams of protein and a hefty dose of fiber - eleven grams.

[oselatra]

Central Arkansas Bar Guide

Our guide to the drinking life.

Dive, watering hole, saloon, tavern, speakeasy, roadhouse, pub, ultralounge or plain ol' bar — however you say it, there's a good chance you've spent a memorable evening or two at a fine purveyor of liquid courage. Bars are spaces unlike any other, existing not for the sustenance of our bodies or the sale of material goods, but only for recreation, relaxation and the unique sensation caused by fermentation, that holy, microscopic intercourse of sugar and yeast that turns wheat, fruit, grapes, hops or barley into alcohol and questionable decisions. They say America was planned in a bar, the Founding Fathers diving deep enough into their cups that they came up with liberty in their teeth. If so, it's fitting. We're a nation that loves a drink, our dalliance with Prohibition and longer affair with Baptist teetotalling notwithstanding.

What follows is our survey of many of the bars, pubs and taverns in Central Arkansas, resulting from the Arkansas Times staff doing the hard work of boozing it up on the company dime during work hours. We made that sacrifice for you, Dear Reader. From the dimmest dive to the swankiest lounge, if you're into public drinking in service of a good time, there's something here for you.

109 & Co It's been several years, but some of our friends still haven't gotten the memo: 109 & Co., on the first block of Main Street and formerly known as Maduro, isn't a cigar bar anymore. It's a comfy, nonsmoking lounge with a broad list of classic cocktails. (Bonus points: It's right around the corner from Arkansas Times HQ.) If you like mezcal like we like mezcal, try the El Cantante ($11), made with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, D'Aristi and Damiana liqueurs, fresh lime juice and Angostura orange bitters, and served neat in a martini glass. 109 Main St., 374-3710, 109andcompany.com.

610 Center Hospitality is the watchword at this downtown spot — and that's not only because it's a bar with a predominately LGBTQ patronage that extends an attitude of inclusiveness to all. The first time you go, you're likely to leave knowing at least one of the owners by name; the second time you go, chances are good one of the tremendously handsome bartenders will remember exactly what you ordered the first time. Monday night is trivia night (friendly, not cutthroat), smoking is allowed, and the full menu offers hearty snacks, like the Mac & Cheese Bites. A wide wine selection, too. 610 Center St., 374-4678, 610center.com.

Baja Grill Opened in May 2014, Baja Grill is a fave for those looking to take a day trip to Jimmy Buffett's favorite place. It features big house margaritas and 10 different specialty versions of the beachy drink, all available either frozen or on the rocks. They're especially a steal during Baja Grill's Margarita Mondays special, with house margaritas setting you back only 4 bucks (!) all day, while specialty margaritas are $2 off. Five beers on tap and tons of cans and bottles for those who aren't into that frozen concoction that helps you hang on. 5923 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, 722-8920, eatbajagrill.com

Bar Louie Tucked in the corner of a shopping center, Bar Louie is adorned with big-screen TVs and serves plenty of martinis. The go-to is the Diva — 10 bucks normally, but bumped down to $5.25 during happy hours 4-7 p.m. weekdays. It's made of SKYY Pineapple, PAMA liqueur and a pomegranate syrup and topped with fresh cut pineapple. 11525 Cantrell Road, 228-0444, barlouie.com.

Bear's Den Pizza Fondly nicknamed the "Dirty Den," Bear's Den Pizza sits across the street from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Server Chynna Stipe says, sure, they get their fair share of college students, "but also UCA professors, parents visiting the school and Conway residents. We have a ton of regulars." Stipe says the recent of arrival of Flyway Brewery's Bluewing Berry Wheat has been a smash hit and, predictably, happy hour prices — well drinks for $2 and domestic beers for $1 from 9-11 p.m. nightly — lure in budget-constrained collegians. Favorite drink: The "Bear Bomb," a potent mix of R&R Canadian Whiskey, peach schnapps and Red Bull. 235 Farris Road, Conway, 328-5556, bearsdenpizza.net.

Big Orange You surely know all about the food at this burger-and-fry stalwart, but don't sleep on Big O's bar program. In addition to keeping a diverse and always changing lineup of beers on tap, the cocktail crews at the Midtowne and Promenade locations are always whipping up inventive and delicious creations. The latest specialty, created by bartenders Jacob Jones and Luiggi Uzcategui, is called Devil's Advocate and features Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum, Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Madeira fortified wine, Creme de Cacao, pineapple and lemon juice, Angostura bitters and Copper & Kings Absinthe. Naturally, it comes in a tiki mug with an umbrella. Try it during happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and during reverse happy hour from 9 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. 307 N. University Ave., Suite 100, 379-8715; 17809 Chenal Parkway, 821-1515. bigorangeburgers.com.

Big Whiskey's The signature drink here is the Big Coconut: Parrot Bay rum, Cathead Vodka, pineapple, orange and cranberry juice. That'll cost you $7.50, just short of those Eight Pieces, as the parrot says. But beer is more popular. Get a buck off draft beers and $2 off well drinks and wine between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. 225 E. Markham St., 324-2449, http://ift.tt/2sSuNEO.

Boulevard Bistro A casual, comfortable, family-oriented spot with an excellent menu, Boulevard Bistro has a full bar. There are eight beers on tap, with several local craft brews represented, and wine in pretty much every variety your vino-loving heart could desire, as well as specialty drinks. 1920 N. Grant St., Little Rock, 663-5949.

Brewster's 2 Out front, Brewster's 2 cafe lauds its catfish — as it should— but the drinks are a lure, too. In a family-friendly atmosphere, you can cool off with a Heat Wave — grenadine, gin, vodka and tequila — for $8. On the nonalcoholic side, the frozen lemonades are just about as refreshing as a drink can be. 2725 S. Arch St., 301-7728.

Bruno's Little Italy This Italian eatery's home in the Creative Corridor may be new, but the mostaccioli and the merriment within can be traced back to the early 20th century arrival of Giovanni Bruno on American shores. Thanks, Old Country! The grandson who carries his namesake, known to most as Gio, is carrying the torch, and directed us to bartender Jeff Jackson for a tour of the family business' booze offerings. Jackson notes that the handcrafted methods in the kitchen extend to the bar, too — Bruno's offers a house-made limoncello, which you can enjoy chilled in a brandy snifter after dinner ($6) or in one of the restaurant's popular warm weather drinks, the lemon drop martini ($10). There's Peroni beer, of course ($5.69), and an Italian margarita, a mixture of tequila, amaretto, triple sec and house-made sweet and sour syrup. For sweltering summer days, there are peach and strawberry Bellinis, a blend of fruit puree and Prosecco. 310 Main St., No. 101, 372-7866, brunoslittleitaly.com.

Buffalo Wild Wings You know the drill: Wangs! Zillions of TVs tuned to all the sports contests! Booze! You will perhaps be unsurprised to learn that Buffalo Wild Wings, at least at the Cantrell Road location (there are BWWs in Bryant and Sherwood, too) sells more domestic beer than anything else, but it's got cocktails, too. They include the Buffalo Zoo ('cuz it's wild!) made with rum, vodka, bourbon, peach schnapps and orange and pineapple juice. 14800 Cantrell Road, 868-5279, buffalowildwings.com.

By the Glass The vinous-oriented can choose from between 60 to 70 wines on the By the Glass board. Favorites change by season; in summer, New Zealand sauvignon blancs and pinot noirs are favorites. The tapas, such as the smoked salmon appetizer, pair well with any wine, proprietor Susan Crosby says, and all the wines are good: "If it's on our board, we like it." 5713 Kavanaugh Blvd., 663-9463, btgbar.com.

Cache Restaurant and Lounge Robby Wellborn, one of the first employees at the high-class watering hole Cache, has spent half his life as a bartender, working from Texas to Florida, where he's seen it all and done half of it. Still, Wellborn was momentarily stumped when a woman came in just after the restaurant opened and told the tale of a spicy/sweet version of the ubiquitous margarita she'd had while on vacation. "I don't know if it was in Mexico, but it was definitely [at] a salsa bar. I was like, 'I've got all that here.' I put it together." Thus the Cache-exclusive cocktail that has come to be known as The Roberita was born. Featuring top-shelf tequila, fresh jalapenos and juice, minced cilantro, fresh-squeezed lime juice, house-made simple syrup and other primo ingredients, word of mouth has transformed the unique drink from a one-off experiment to a sort of secret menu item that Wellborn can whip up on demand. For those who don't mind a little heat, it could easily become addictive, the bite of the jalapeno marrying perfectly with the tart lime, the earthy cilantro, the tequila burn and the sweet base to produce a drink that's muy caliente. 425 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, 850-0265, cachelittlerock.com.

Capital Bar & Grill Since it reopened in 2007 after the Capital Hotel's $24 million renovation, the Capital Bar has been the standard by which other cocktail bars in Central Arkansas are measured. Head bartender Tim Stramel has been on staff since just before the relaunch. The bar's philosophy is straightforward, Stramel says: "We try to do the classics. We always use fresh juice and premium spirits and try to do 'em right." The Debutante (vodka, St-Germain, lime juice, grapefruit bitters and basil) and the Seersucker (CBG's spin on the Sazerac), have been among the bar's best sellers for years, but Stramel reports that on an average weekend night, nearly every table will have at least one brass mug carrying a Moscow Mule (vodka, ginger beer and lime juice) or one of the CBG's many variations. When the weather is nice, take your drink to the hotel's veranda and watch the downtown revelers go by. The state's finest jazz trio, the Ted Ludwig Trio, plays from 7-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. It's also hard to go wrong with food here. 111 W. Markham St., 370-7013, capitalbarandgrill.com.

Cajun's Served in a large mason jar you can keep (with the Cajun's logo etched into it), Cajun's Play De Do is a twist on New Orleans' Hurricane. There's light rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine for only $8.50 with an orange and lime wedge to boot. If you go weekdays during happy hour (4:30-7 p.m.) you can knock a dollar off the price. 2400 Cantrell Road, 375-5351, cajunswharf.com.

Cañon Grill This Kavanaugh mainstay's been serving up standard Mexican fare in Hillcrest since 1998: cold beer and margaritas. It's got Dos Equis and Flyway Brewery's Bluewing Berry Wheat on tap, as well as the usual domestic suspects. For something with a higher ABV, there's the classic lime margarita or a blue margarita, which manager Krista Belote calls "a little less tart, but a lot stronger," or the Margarita Meltdown, a classic lime with a shot of raspberry, melon, peach, amaretto or orange liqueur poured on top. Happy hour lasts all day Saturday and Sunday. 2811 Kavanaugh Blvd., 664-2068, canongrill.net.

Club Sway Club Sway owner/operator Jason Wiest didn't hesitate when asked what the most popular drink at this vibrant downtown drag mecca was. "Red Bull and vodka, far and away," he said. After all, you'll need the energy; Sway's bombastic monthly parties and drag shows are high-energy affairs, and that Red Bull may well be what keeps you shaking your ass on Sway's multi-tiered dance floor far into the night. If energy drinks aren't your style, try the "Sway Me" ($8), which Wiest says is "kind of our answer when people say, 'Make me something fruity!' " Or try the bright green "Liquid Marijuana," a dizzying blend of Midori, spiced rum, blue curacao and pineapple juice. If you make it to Sway on Saturday's Latin nights, you can pick up a creamy shot of Rum Chata, a spiced rum liqueur that's well on its way to becoming the new Fireball. 412 S. Louisiana St., 777-5428, clubsway.com.

Copper Grill A rosé sangria on Copper Grill's spacious patio, camped out in the sort of luxurious patio furniture your rich friends have out by their pool, on the outskirts of the River Market district? We'll take it. Or if the sun is still blazing, Copper has comfy chairs and a sleek bar inside, too. Plus, a wine list that's gotten acclaim from Wine Spectator. 300 E. Third St., 375-3333, coppergrilllr.com

Ciao Baci A casual fine dining restaurant in a converted Craftsman-style house in Hillcrest, Ciao Baci's wraparound porch is one of the finest places to drink a cocktail in the summer months. Grab a Naughty Lemonade and some tasty bar snacks on a Wednesday, when it's happy hour all day. Excellent wine list, too. 605 Beechwood St., 603-0238, ciaobaci.org.

Core Public House Core brews its own up in Springdale, so that's what this little storefront bar in Argenta — with its ping pong table and foosball table and low-light, old-fashioned ambiance — serves. Most popular beer: Arkansas Red Ale. The hard cider is a good seller, too. FYI: The walls are hung with art by members of the Latino Art Project. 411 Main St., NLR, 372-1390, @corepubargenta.

Crazee's Cafe On Cantrell since 1997, Crazee's is another of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it places that have cultivated a loyal clientele as a quiet spot to catch a meal with a drink after a long workday. It has a full bar, but mostly serves wine and suds, with four brews on tap. The regulars keep coming back to what owner Linda Houff calls "the kind of place where everybody blends in." Her motto: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 7626 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, 221-9696.

Cregeen's For the heat of summer, the Irish pub is going South Seas with the Bikini Bottom: a layered beer with Ace pineapple cider on the bottom and Guinness up top. No coddin'! 301 Main St., 376-7468, cregeens.com.

Crush Wine Bar On a hot Friday night, the proprietor of this friendly, low-lit little hole in the wall will offer you a "cold glass of Argenta's best tap water," help you select a wine from his broad menu and suggest the best tapas to go with. There is great variety in labels and prices; you might enjoy a glass of Cline Old Vines Zinfandel from California or a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for a reasonable $7 or order a bottle of Silver Oak Cabernet for $120. The back garden, planted in grape vines, will set the mood. 318 N. Main St., NLR, 374-9463, @crushwinelr.

Damgoode River Market Try one of the local mini-pizza empire's three Damgoode Brews staples — Red Ribbon Golden Ale, Arkansas Amber and Damgoode Pale Ale — along with a rotation of specials at the River Market brewpub (and the other Damgoode locations). The deck is highly coveted during concerts at the First Security Amphitheatre. 500 President Clinton Ave., 664-2239, damgoodepies.

Del Frisco's Grille This national chain can seat 30 at its bar and there are "quite a few regulars," bartender Shannon Newcomb says. Those who imbibe split between beer and booze; a favorite of the latter is the VIP, which is a vodka infused [with] pineapple martini. Here's the recipe: Cut up a gold pineapple and soak in Clementine vodka for 14 days, strain through cheesecloth, serve. "I tell people it is dangerously delicious," Newcomb says. Showoffs can order an ounce and a half of Macallan 25 single malt whiskey for $155. Promenade at Chenal, 448-2631, delfriscosgrille.com.

Discovery Little Rock's legendary, 40-plus-year-old LGBT club — known affectionately as simply "Disco" — has trended toward an inclusive "alternative club" clientele in recent years, with drink specials, dancing and drag shows in three big rooms in a cavernous warehouse space in Riverdale. With one of the city's vanishingly rare 5 a.m. club permits, it's great for drinking with friends until the dawn's early light. 1021 Jessie Road, Little Rock, 664-4784, latenightdisco.com.

Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro One of the friendliest restaurants in the River Market district, Dizzy's has quirky decor and carefully constructed dishes that pair well with their equally quirky slate of signature cocktails: For example, limoncello martinis, basil and orange mojitos, and a drink called the "Big Menage a Trois Chill," made with red wine, blueberries and Bing cherries. Two dozen beers, a 30-label slate of owner Darla Huie's favorite wines (available by the bottle or glass), plus a small selection of sherries and ports mean there's something for anyone in the mood to drink. There's covered street-side dining for people-watching, too. 200 River Market Ave., 375-3500, dizzysgypsybistro.net.

Dugan's Pub Part of the area's three-leaf clover of Irish bars — along with Cregeen's and Hibernia — Dugan's understandably sells a lot of Guinness and Jameson's, but is no slouch on the craft beer, wine and mixed-drink front. Try its Irish Mule, an Emerald Isle take on the more familiar Moscow variety, with Irish whiskey instead of vodka. The people-watching at Third and Rock ain't bad, either, and the large street-corner patio is dog friendly, so you can get sloshed with your best friend. 401 E. Third St., 244-0542, duganspublr.com.

Electric Cowboy Electric Cowboy sounds like a fantasy invented by a middle-school boy, but it's real. It's open until about 5 a.m. Beer can be pretty cheap: It's usually between $1 and $2, depending on the night's special. The main thing is to know what to do after you've had a few: dance, dance, dance. 9515 I-30, 562-6000, http://ift.tt/2snLfco.

Envy Nightclub The name changed several years back, but the nightclub formerly known as Elevations maintained a longtime formula: big dance floor, Saturday night "sexy dress" contests and hours that stretch to the early morning. 7200 Col. Glenn Road, 569-9113, @envy.littlerock

Ernie Biggs Sing along to songs you know with people from near and far. 327 President Clinton Ave., 372-4782, erniebiggs.com.

The Faded Rose I asked a guy at The Faded Rose bar about how long he'd been drinking there and he laughed a bit. "I've been a regular so long I can't remember," he said. This isn't the type of bar where you come for a specialty drink; it's for folks who know what they want and trust the longtime bartenders to make it right. It's also a place where it won't be long before it's your regular haunt: "You can become a regular after two visits," said Jay Jennings, an editor at Oxford American magazine who was helping a reporter get to know the place. Jennings used to come here with Charles Portis, the legendary writer based in Little Rock, and chat about mostly anything but writing. He pointed out an Englishman's towel behind the bar that a patron used to stretch out as if he were in a pub. On the bar are two small gold plaques to commemorate where two former regulars used to sit (you'd get up if you saw them coming). There are $7-$8 drinks, like rye whiskey (for the "refined palate," the manager told me) and a good wine selection. During happy hour on Monday, most folks were drinking bottled domestics for about $3. 1619 Rebsamen Park Road, 663-9734, thefadedrose.com

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium The River Market's longest wall o' beer boasts 75 beers on tap and around 150 more brews in bottles, general manager Jason Davenport told us. We asked him if there was anything on tap that might be hard to find elsewhere. "That's probably half the wall," he answered. He should know, too — Davenport's been working there for nine years, enough time to have accrued three wall saucers with his name on them, designating that he's tasted over 600 beers there as part of the Emporium's "UFO Club." So what are people drinking this summer? "A lot of people are drinking seasonally, so that means wheat beers, Berliner Weisses, Gose." The chain, with locations in Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and the Carolinas, has been in Little Rock since 1998. 323 President Clinton Ave., 372-8032, beerknurd.com.

Flyway Brewing This popular North Little Rock brewery and tasting room does all sorts of styles right, but it's increasingly known for its Bluewing Berry Wheat, an American wheat with blueberries added after fermentation. Since Flyway introduced it as a seasonal, it's been far and away the brewery's biggest seller. Now it's being canned and widely distributed in Central Arkansas. 314 Maple St., NLR, 812-3192, flywaybrewing.com

The Fold Botanas & Bar The bar at The Fold is meant to conjure up a relaxing day on a Caribbean beach: Sun, sand, blue ocean, bay scallops and a watermelon mojito or a strawberry-infused margarita. Another cocktail tips its hat to international waters: The Francophone, which is a combination of cucumber sake, gin, lime juice and agave, served in a glass gift-wrapped in the funny papers and garnished with a flower and a lime. That's not all! The Fold also has a drink named after a bartender's three-legged dog: The Three Paws Tippin. The TPT — vodka, lemon juice, agave and Aperol — is served in a tulip glass and topped with gummy bears. "We try not to take ourselves too seriously," bartender Rob Armstrong says. There are beers on tap here, of course, including local brews, "but we're a tequila/mezcal bar at heart," Armstrong said. 3501 Old Cantrell Road, 916-9706, thefoldlr.com

Four Quarter Bar The still newish Argenta watering hole hits all the right notes, with an understated but classic decor, scads of local beers on tap (plus Pabst and other commercial faves), shuffleboard, dominos, a copper-topped bar that looks like it's been there since Hector was a pup and a cozy patio out back that seats 25. Four Quarter has become a fixture of the Argenta live music scene, with an eclectic mix of bands appearing Thursday through Saturday nights. Bar manager Jimmy Young said the place is also a favorite for those seeking late-night eats, with both booze and food served until last call at 1:30 a.m. 415 Main St., North Little Rock, 313-4704, fourquarterbar.com.

Fox and Hound With 27 draft beers between $3.75 and $7, Fox and Hound is a solid place for lubricated game-watching. If it's on a Tuesday, you're in for a real treat: Drafts are just $2 and there's karaoke. If you're looking for something more, consider the Kryptonite Margarita, served in a giant martini glass for $5 during happy hour. It's Cuervo Gold tequila, triple sec, pineapple juice, sweet and sour mix and Midori liqueur. 2800 Lakewood Village Drive, 753-8300, foxandhound.com.

Grumpy's Too A classic neighborhood bar and grill hidden off the well-trod path, Grumpy's Too features pool, darts and shuffleboard, plus a nice selection of one-of-a-kind cocktails, including the Little Rock Old Fashioned, made with Rock Town rye; the Beggar's Market, made with Maker's Mark, pale ale and maple syrup; and a Bloody Mary made of hot-pepper-infused-vodka with Jamaican jerk spice on the rim. Old faves like the Moscow Mule and rum swizzle are here, too. Dine on salads, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and flatbreads. 801 Green Mountain Drive, 225-3768, grumpystoo.com.

Gusano's A popular River Market district pizza place that does big bar business, too, especially when there's a big game or UFC fight on. Its big sellers are local brews like Lost Forty and Diamond Bear. 313 President Clinton Ave., 374-1441, gusanospizza.net.

Heights Taco and Tamale Co. Get some chips and Ark-Mex-style cheese dip and a frozen margarita or mojito and watch the Kavanaugh crowd from the patio bar. Or mix it up with a new spin on an old favorite: The HT&TEA features bourbon mixed with the restaurant's house-made tesote, a blend of black tea, juice, mint and honey. It's like a boozy sweet tea. 5805 Kavanaugh Blvd., 313-4848, http://ift.tt/2sSBczO.

Heritage Grille Steak and Fin This bar next to the lobby restaurant (not to be confused with the private lounge for Marriott Silver Elite members) gets its customers mostly from hotel guests in the evening, but the general public stops in around lunch. The specialty drinks include the popular Heritage Mule (Crown Royal, orange bitters, ginger beer and fresh lime) and the aptly named La Petite Roche, which, thanks to its mixture of Bacardi, Capt. Morgan and Myers rums with a splash of pineapple juice and grenadine, may get you a little stoned. You can nosh at the bar. Little Rock Marriott, 3 Statehouse Plaza, 399-8000, heritagegrillelittle rock.com.

Hibernia Irish Tavern Buried in a nondescript strip mall alongside a Goodwill outlet and an adult toy and lingerie store, Hibernia Irish Tavern is a dive-bar gem of a place. Dark, cozy and quiet, it is reportedly the only Irish tavern in the state run by a born-and-bred Irishman: Gerry Ward, who came to Arkansas via New York after bidding the Emerald Isle goodbye in search of greener pastures. Not just a place to get a Guinness, Hibernia has distinguished itself over the last three years as one of the primary incubators for new standup comics in the area, with its weekly Thursday night comedy open mic night. Started by the late Little Rock comic Billy the Pirate and now hosted by comedian Paul Hodge, Hibernia's open mic draws over a dozen would-be comedians to the stage every week, with skill levels ranging from the outright terrible to ready-for-prime time. Longtime Hibernia waitress Sarah Garber says, "One of the comedians calls us the 'Comic Gym.' It's a place where you can work out, try new material, and then maybe move on to The Loony Bin and some of the other, bigger venues." Signup is promptly at 7:45 p.m., with the show starting at 8 and running until the last rimshot. If comedy isn't your thing, the bar also hosts a weekly singer/songwriter open mic night on Tuesday nights. 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, 246-4340, hiberniairishtavern.com.

Hillcrest Fountain Drinking at the Fountain — whether in the fresh breeze of the outdoor porch with its patented view of the Kroger parking lot or in the smoky pool hall up front — is not about special drinks. It's mostly about good people, behind and in front of the bar, bartender Richard Dean says. But, the beer and wine can be sneakily enjoyable. Consider a $7 glass of Calcu Rosé or a $5 SweetWater Blueberry Wheat. Or, just kick back with those friends and grab a Miller Lite for $3.50. 2809 Kavanaugh Blvd., @thehillcrestfountain.

Jimmy Doyle's Country Club At the bar, a reporter turned down a cigarette offered by a truck driver from Austin who, smiling, said he was not a longtime patron — this was his first time at Jimmy Doyle's — but he wished he were. There's a truck stop next to the bar, so this could be a common sentiment of visitors to one of the last real honky tonks. "In the peak years, some 20 years ago," wrote former Times reporter Will Stephenson in his profile of the place and its owner, Jimmy Doyle, "they say you had to show up early to even get in the door." But, a group walked in on a Saturday with ease and went to one of quite a few empty tables right at the edge of the dance floor. The wood-paneled dance floor was almost empty; a few couples were spinning together. The men in cowboy hats moved with a controlled grace. "Friday nights are for karaoke, Saturdays are for the house band. There are no other nights," as Stephenson wrote. The specialty, the bartender Dwight says, is the OH MY GOD shot: Parrot Bay, Bacardi 151, grenadine and cranberry and pineapple juices. It's pink, smooth and fun. He made it by accident, served it, and a woman liked it so much she shouted, "OH MY GOD, that's good!" 11800 Maybelline Road, 945-9042, cash only.

Joubert's Guinness is on tap at Joubert's, $4 at night and $3.50 with the sun out. While you drink, you can admire the mural of bears in love (really, really in love). Folks are friendly and there are usually some sports on the TV, making it a nice spot for a beer after a long day. 7303 Kanis Road, 664-9953.

Khalil's It's the near-picture perfect corner bar where everybody knows your name, smack in the heart of West Little Rock, featuring cozy pub decor, flaming hearths in the winter, high-backed chairs and a well-attended karaoke scene on the weekends. Don't forget to throw a leg over the handlebar-mustache-shaped teeter-totter, which has likely given more drunk folks a ride over the years than that ex you hate. 110 S. Shackleford Road, 224-0224, khalilspub.com

Kings Live Music Kings has become known for its diverse music lineup and emphasis on local bands and songwriters, and the booze selection stays close to home, too. Kings keeps a stash of Rocktown Distillery goods on the shelf — the Rocktown basil, mandarin orange and grapefruit vodkas, as well as the Apple Pie Moonshine, which you can get for $4 a shot. Kings employee Brittany Labat reports the bar has been selling a lot of Flyway's Bluewing Berry Wheat these days, with the Diamond Bear Pale Ale and Lost Forty Love Honey Bock as close runners-up. 1020 Front St., Conway, 205-8512, kingslivemusic.com.

La Terraza Rum and Lounge The perfect spot for those who love them some rum, La Terraza features 20 different types of the sugarcane-based spirit, with different varieties available for tastings in flights of three or five. Befitting its signature liquor, La Terraza is best known for standout mojitos, offering several variations on the sweet and minty cocktail. 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd., Suite No. 202, 251-8261.

Local Lime If you've tried the house margarita, regularly heralded by Arkansas Times readers in our annual Toast of the Town poll, and run through mezcal and tequila flights, and sipped a Mexican Mule or Pisco Sour (all on separate visits, of course), the brain trust at Local Lime recommends the Gin in Bloom, made with Uncle Val's Botanical Gin, elderflower liqueur, house-made lavender simple syrup and lemon. 17809 Chenal Parkway, 448-2226, locallimetaco.com.

Lost Forty Brewing Look for the state's largest brewery to continue to expand its year-round and seasonal offerings as it keeps growing. We've got our fingers crossed that its Snake Party Double IPA makes the jump to year-round rotation soon. In the meantime, stock up: It was just rereleased this week. It's double dry hopped, double IPA brewed and dry hopped with citrusy Azacca hops. Pick some up after you grab a beer and some tasty pub-grub in the cavernous East Village taproom. 501 Byrd St., 319-7275, lostfortybrewing.com.

Maxine's The former brothel on Hot Springs' Bathhouse Row that's become known for its killer live music lineup, red-light vibe and enormous menu, is essentially a "bourbon bar," bartender Tercero Munoz says: "We have about four times as much bourbon as anything else." Locals also come in for the craft beer selection, much of which comes from Spa City locals Bubba Brews and Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Maxine's offers a special Sunday brunch from noon to 5 p.m., and the Bloody Marys are a mere $5. If you'd rather drink your Sunday dinner, fork over an extra 3 bucks and get the Bloody Mary "loaded." "There's literally a garden on it," Munoz said: A skewer balanced along the two ends of the glass rim comes stacked with olives, cheese, pepperoni, pickled okra, pickles, pearl onions, a piece of bacon and a small slice of pizza on the end. 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs, 321-0909, maxineslive.com.

Mellow Mushroom With 40 beers on draft and another 35 bottled, including most all of the local and regional brews you'd want, this pizza chain is a reliable West Little Rock watering hole, with great pizza, too. 16103 Chenal Parkway, 379-9157, mellowmushroom.com.

Mike's Cafe Enter Mike's Cafe and you might think you're in a nightclub. The foyer's got everything a club entrance usually does: a little window where you'd show some beefed-up bruiser your ID, a liquor license taped to the wall. But don't stop and wait to be seated. Push on and enter the full glory of Mike's, with its white-curtained stage, where after 8 p.m. there will be a full-on light show and maybe someone singing karaoke. A neon-yellow board lists menu items and says "Well Come to Mike's Cafe." You've arrived: It's not a nightclub or a surrealist painting or even a hipster dive bar. It's just a solid Vietnamese restaurant with $3 Singha Gold and Tsingtao beers. Drink away, enter the void. 5501 Asher Ave., 562-1515.

North Bar Snee Dismang will mix you North Bar's favorite drink: a combo of Grey Goose vodka and mango and pomegranate juice, a.k.a. the Park Hill martini. That's the favorite; No. 2 is the Blueberry Lemon Drop, a blueberry-muddled vodka martini. The bar, which opened five months ago, has just added eight beer taps, bringing the total to 16. North Bar is proud of its culinary abilities, too: Check out the very tall fried chicken sandwich. 3812 John F. Kennedy Blvd., NLR, 420-1117, @501northbar.

The Ohio Club On Hot Springs' famous Bathhouse Row since 1905, the building that houses The Ohio Club has been many things over the years — including, reportedly, a casino and brothel. But most enduringly, it's been a bar. Even during Prohibition, says Ohio Club owner Mike Pettey, the joint housed a semi-clandestine speakeasy frequented by mafiosi and baseball greats come down for spring training. The place still has that classic speakeasy feel today. Its 15 sorts of suds on tap are heavy on Arkansas-made offerings, including a brew called Madden's No. 1 from the Superior Bathhouse Brewery and named after famous mob boss Owney Madden. Nightly music year-round encourages Ohio Club patrons to rouge their knees and roll their stockings down, and all that jazz. Bonus: Pettey says try the Reuben sandwich, which he claims is the best in the nation. A bold claim, but then again, Hot Springs is built on 'em. 336 Central Ave., Hot Springs, 627-0702, theohioclub.com.

Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom An anomaly in once-dry-as-a-powderhouse Conway, Old Chicago is a temple of beers, with one of the broadest selections of liquid bread between Little Rock and Fayetteville. It brings in artisan craft brews from as far away as Memphis, and rotates in at least a dozen new varieties at least twice a month to keep things interesting. 1010 Main St., Conway, 329-6262, http://ift.tt/2sSJYOj.

One Eleven The Capital Hotel's fine dining restaurant just unveiled a new cocktail menu. Head bartender Loic Lautredou predicts the new Thyme Basil Martini will be the big seller. "It's very floral for the summer, very refreshing, with a not-too-sweet finish," he reports. 111 W. Markham St., 370-7011, onelevenatthecapital.com.

The Oyster Bar This downhome eatery serves up just enough beer and wine to whet a whistle otherwise employed in lapping up gumbo or chowing down on a po'boy: On the beer side, it's Lost Forty and Diamond Bear local brews, beers on draft and bottled ales. The black and tan — Bass Pale Ale and Guinness stout — is a favorite. There are six wines: three whites, three reds. 3003 W. Markham St., 666-7100, lroysterbar.com.

The Pantry (11401 N. Rodney Parham Road) and The Pantry Crest (722 N. Palm St.) David Timberlake (no relation to Justin, he says), who bartends at both of Tomas Bohm's successful Czech/German restaurants, sees a difference in the West Little Rock crowd and the Hillcrest crowd. "Honestly, people are a bit apt to drink and stay longer," consuming spirits, in Hillcrest; he thinks that's because Hillcrest is a walking neighborhood, so folks can just stagger home on foot. The West Little Rock customers, an older group, drink more wine. The favored drink is the Old Fashioned; folks in Hillcrest also really like the mules: The Moscow made with vodka, the Tennessee with bourbon and the Mexican with tequila. Another popular drink is the Negroni (equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth) and the Boulevardier variation, which uses whiskey. Both restaurants have a separate bar area; Timberlake said, "We keep food and drink prices reasonable." Happy hours are 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close. 353-1875 in WLR; 725-4945 in Hillcrest. littlerockpantry.com.

Petit & Keet The gourmand who enjoys a great meal at Petit & Keet will be tempted by the specialty cocktails from the huge bar, like the Smoking Gun, a blend of mezcal, pineapple juice and agave simple syrup. For Sonic soft drink aficianados, there is the surprising Cherry Limeade Mule, a blend of sweet, pucker and fizz. Enjoy on the patio or in the sleek dining room. 1620 Market St., 319-7676, @petitandkeet.

Pizza D'Action PBR is $1.50. At this point, you should have put down the paper and headed over to the lovingly smoked-filled and above-ground cavern for a drink and a random conversation. If it's Wednesday, grab a $3 Fireball shot with new friends or old. 2915 W. Markham St., 666-5403.

The Pizzeria General manager and bartender Dillon Garcia is obsessed with craft cocktails, and he's got a tattoo of a martini on his arm to prove it. At only 25, he's also got a handful of mixology awards and a side business, Arkansas Mixology Associates, where he consults with bars around the state. But most nights you'll find him at this Heights hotspot, mixing up classic cocktails — his Old Fashioned was excellent last time we were in — and dreaming up his own creations. Late night, 10-11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, is a particularly good time to drop in. It's reverse happy hour and cocktails, featuring a high-end well (Jim Beam Black, Bombay Sapphire Gin, etc.), for only $5. 4910 Kavanaugh Blvd., 551-1388, http://ift.tt/2snSscM.

Prost The calmer, loungy cousin to Willy D's and Deep, two bars that are connected to Prost via a hallway and stairs. With a strong beer menu and plenty of TVs. 322 President Clinton Blvd.

The RAB While the bar side of things at The RAB doesn't sound like it's going to set the world on fire, with the standard foreign and domestic beers on tap and bartenders willing to whip up a cocktail or mixed drink, there is a draw: pool. A classic bar/pool hall that draws everyone from college kids to retirees, The RAB features eight competition-grade Diamond Billiard pool tables, and hosts both league nights and a weekly 8-ball tournament on Friday that attracts up to 40 competitors, according to bartender Flip Tindall. If pool isn't your thing, there are 12 TVs, and you can always spend your time drinkin' if you feel behind the eight ball. 408 Hwy. 65 N, Conway, 336-8484

Raduno Is there a better Little Rock bar — like the actual bar top — than Raduno's marble counter? We haven't found it. Like the cool stone, the SoMa spot's new cocktail menu is a summertime dream. We were particularly taken by the Hummingbird (vodka, honey, lavender syrup and lemon juice) and will be back for Summer in SoMa (gin, grapefruit liqueur and watermelon juice) and a spin on the Pimm's Cup. 1318 Main St., 374-7476, radunolr.com.

Rebel Kettle Complimentary popcorn, a new outdoor stage, tasty Cajun-tinged pub grub and 16 beers on tap — what more could you want from your local brewpub? The blonde ale Working Glass Hero is a good starting place for newbies; it's long been the brewery's best seller. The week of the Fourth of July, look out for the rerelease of the hugely popular Summer Jam, a raspberry sour saison. Every week, head brewer and co-owner John Lee is cooking up something new. 822 E. Sixth St., 374-2791, rebelkettle.com.

Revolution Rev Room knows how to name drinks: The bar menu includes a "Latin Kiss," a "Fuzzy Thing" and something called "Dirty Juan Pedro's Bloody Buddy." There are over a dozen types of tequila, and you can supercharge your drinks with a "fruit fusion" puree — lemon basil, blackberry tangerine, pineapple vanilla bean, watermelon mint or mango chili Sriracha. 823-0090, 300 President Clinton Ave., revroom.com.

Ristorante Capeo To match its top-notch fine dining menu, Ristorante Capeo's wine list features over 125 labels, most by the bottle or glass, with prices ranging from cheap enough for Thursday night dinner to once-a-year special occasion rare. There's beer and a full bar, too. 425 Main St., North Little Rock, 376-3463, capeo.us.

Rocky's Corner A good place to drink off the sting of a losing streak at Oaklawn Racing & Gaming across the street — or buy a round if your horse comes in — Rocky's Corner bills itself as a family-friendly joint that's not afraid to have some fun. On tap are over a dozen beers and signature mixed drinks, including the Cannella ($7.50), featuring spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps, Kahlua and half and half, which bartender Andrew Carney swears tastes like "a cinnamon roll in a glass." 2600 Central Ave., Hot Springs, 624-0199, rockyscornerhotsprings.com

Samantha's Tap Room & Wood Grill As the name implies, Samantha's is tap happy, with at least 10 wines and 23 beers on tap, including Arkansas craft brews from Core, Bubba Brews, Diamond Bear, Flyway, Lost Forty, Ozark, Rebel Kettle and Stone's Throw. The fanciest wine: Witchery Reserve blend ($65 a bottle). The strongest brew: Rebel Kettle's Alphaholic (8.5 percent alcohol). Favorite mixed drinks: The blood orange and basil margarita and the White Linen (cucumber-infused vodka and St-Germain elderflower liqueur). 322 Main St., 379-8019, samstap.com.

Silk's at Oaklawn At Silk's you can order beer by the yard. That is, you can order a 96-ounce draft beer — advertised as two yards worth — for $21. Or you can go for the more tame 20-ounce drafts, domestics at $4.25 and crafts at $5.50. All are a good bet. 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs, 623-4411, oaklawn.com.

So Restaurant-Bar What is so special about So? The Hillcrest stalwart "definitely has the best wine list in town," bartender Justin Butler boasts. It's also got Butler's colleague Veo Tyson, perennial winner or finalist as the best bartender in Little Rock in the Arkansas Times' annual Toast of the Town. Killer bar menu, too: BBQ chicharrones; a bacon, egg and cheese; Alaskan King Crab? Yes, please. 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd. 663-1464. sorestaurantbar.com

South on Main Bar manager Sarah Harrington, who spent a good amount of time working closely with former bar manager David Burnette before he took off for Ciao Baci, has mixed up some sparkling summer cocktail offerings: The Evening in Missoula — a blend of vodka, herbal tea, honey, orange, lemon, lime and mint — is a crowd favorite. 1304 Main St., 244-9660, southonmain.com.

Southern Table In July, when winemaker Margie Raimondo opens her "board and bites" restaurant in the space where cheesemaker Kent Walker once held forth, she'll be serving her own and other small farm wines and local beers, including brews from Lost Forty and Flyway. She'll also offer a Brewed Mary (a Bloody Mary made with beer instead of vodka), a seasonal sangria and sparkling wine cocktails. If you want to stay virgin, try Raimondo's special tea. All will pair with her boards of cheese and charcuterie and various tapas supplied by local farmer's markets. Think "shared menu type of environment," Raimondo said, for shared fun among friends. 323 Cross St., 379-9111, southerntablefoods.com.

Spectators Spectators wears the neighborhood vibe with ease. But unlike many neighborhood joints, it does so without being too small to fit in even a block's worth of friends. Over spacious tables and among a mid-life-crisis-level garage sale of items on the wall, enjoy an Arkansas-based beer on tap for only $5. This is a place to come after work and stay like you're home. 1012 W. 34th St., NLR, 791-0990, spectatorsgrillandpub.com.

Stickyz Rock 'n' Roll Chicken Shack This River Market district staple makes chicken its bread and butter, so the standout cocktail here is the Frozen Motherclucker, sort of like an adult Orange Julius. It'll run you $5 during happy hour and $6 regularly. July's Beer of the Month selection ($3.50 per pint) is the Lagunitas Pilsner, and you'll also find the Lagunitas IPA, Fat Tire, Diamond Bear Pale Ale, SweetWater 420, Lost Forty Honey Bock, Stella Artois and Flyway Brewery Bluewing Berry Wheat on tap. 107 River Market Ave., 372-7707, stickyz.com.

Stone's Throw Brewing Amadeus Vienna Lager is the beloved Ninth Street brewery's best seller, and you'll find it, along with Common Sense California Common and Shamus Oatmeal Stout, on tap year-round along with a rotating cider selection and three seasonals that change every three months. 4402 E. Ninth St., 501-244-9154, stonesthrowbeer.com.

Table 28 Table 28 has the elevated feel without the price. During happy hour (4-6:30 p.m. weekdays), swing by for $5 wine, $2 domestic beers and the well-known cucumber martini for $9. The cucumber gin is made in-house and mixed with elderflower liqueur, a little lemon juice and champagne. 1501 Merrill Drive. (attached to the Burgundy Hotel), 224-2828, theburgundyhotel.com.

Taco Mama The house margarita is definitely the ticket at Taco Mama, head bartender Holli Faulknor reports. Why? "There's not a bottle of sweet and sour in the house. All of our margaritas are made with fresh-squeezed juices," Faulknor says. Get 'em on the rocks or frozen. We can vouch for Faulknor's estimation; Taco Mama's margarita was an obvious fan favorite at the Arkansas Times Margarita Festival. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, all drinks and appetizers are a dollar off. 1209 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, 624-6262, tacomama.net.

The Tavern Sports Grill A craft-beer oasis in far West Little Rock, The Tavern features 16 beers on tap. Most of the biggest names in local craft brewing are represented, including Core, Flyway, Lost Forty and others. Try a few with the applewood-smoked chicken wings, which owner Ryan Brown said have won national awards, including a spot on USA Today's list of the best wings in the nation. 17815 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, 830-2100, thetavernsportsgrill.com

TC's Midtown Grill There aren't many bars where you might be served by Alfred, Lord Tennyson's sixth great-grandson, but TC's is one. Or at least that's what barkeep Nathan Tennyson says. TC's Tennyson creates a different kind of poetry, like his "Sex with the Bartender" and "Loudmouth Bitch" drinks. Seems like he's aiming for the female market with his concoctions of Watermelon Pucker plus a banana liqueur, orange juice and a Tropical Red Bull ("Sex") and coconut rum, peach schnapps, pineapple and orange juices and grenadine ("Bitch"). More patrons of this smoking bar are going for beers, Tennyson said, including locals Lost Forty, Rebel Kettle, Flyway and Diamond Bear. Restaurant servers get a special membership that reduces the prices of drinks at this private club. TC's is also known for its hamburgers. 1611 E. Oak St., Conway, 205-0576, tcsmidtown.com.

Thirst N' Howl Let yourself relax with an Absolute Stress Reliever for $8 at Thirst N' Howl. It's got Absolut vodka, Peachtree liqueur, Malibu and Myers rum, and orange, pineapple and cranberry juices. Drink it and bob your head to the local live music — a West Little Rock version of transcendental meditation. 14710 Cantrell Road, 379-8189, thirst-n-howl.com.

Town Pump About 10 minutes before the doors opened for lunch at 11 a.m. on a Friday morning, regulars were leaning on the wall outside waiting to get into this Riverdale dive. Bartender and server Sydney Daniels, who's been there four years, knew them all by name, and feigned surprise when one of them asked to see a menu. "You don't know it already?" she chided. Daniels pointed out some patron favorites from the beer list, which boasts over 37 brews in cans or bottles and Lagunitas IPA, Angry Orchard, Lost Forty Honey Bock, Shiner Bock, Dos Equis and, of course, Bud Light, on tap. "Tuesday is karaoke night," she said, "so our $3 well drinks are popular. And the SweetWater beers are popular right now. They're out of Atlanta." She produced two plastic containers from under the bar. "$2 Jello shots all the time. Right now, we have lemon and strawberry." In summer months, she said, people turn to cocktails with Tito's and Deep Eddy vodkas with grapefruit juice or lemonade. She mixed a small sample of something called "Red Tea," a bright pink blend of Jameson, peach schnapps and cranberry juice. "It tastes like Kool-Aid," she said, and it does. It's dangerously easy to drink, and even as a sip, probably a bad idea before noon. The regulars seemed to agree; they paired their burgers with a sensible Pabst Blue Ribbon. 663-9802. 1321 Rebsamen Park Road.

U.S. Pizza If you enjoy sitting on a patio and drinking, you probably already know this: U.S. Pizza has some of the best happy hour specials around. At all locations, select drafts are $2 on Tuesday and $2.50 on Thursday. On Saturday and Sunday, Bloody Marys are $3, mimosas are $2 and champagne buckets with a carafe of orange juice are just $7.49. Brunch runs 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Many locations all over Central Arkansas. uspizzaco.net.

Vino's Brewpub What do you get at a brewpub? Brew, of course. Vino's four mainstays are Firehouse Pale Ale, Pinnacle IPA, Six Bridges Cream Ale and Lazy Boy Stout, but brewer Hunter Tackett has got a batch of Rainbow Wheat coming on for the summer. Vino's also sells beer by the growler. Oh, yes, you can get a glass of wine here, too. 823 W. Seventh St., 375-8466, vinosbrewpub.com.

The Water Buffalo Taproom While many homebrewers long to see the name of their beloved custom suds on a tap handle in a real bar somewhere, it's rare for those dreams to come true: It's a costly leap from stovetop to commercial brewing. Rare doesn't mean never, however, as proven by the offerings at The Water Buffalo's taproom. The Water Buffalo, which started out as a beer and winemaking supplies store, opened a taproom in October 2016, allowing customers to both buy craft beer and the goodies to make their own in one stop. Among the 16 beers (and one root beer) on offer, there are also brews by what he calls the cooperative: a unique-in-the-region arrangement in which four former Water Buffalo customers have, through an agreement with Buffalo Brewing Co., effectively gone pro. Since he sells the supplies, Nolen Buffalo knows who is making good homebrew and winning brewing contests. The four homebrewers are now distributing commercially under the Buffalo Brewing Co. name. But don't go rushing down to the Water Buffalo with a growler of your favorite sure-fire recipe under your arm, hoping to make the team. Buffalo said the cooperative's roster is full right now, though he's likely to extend invitations to more homebrewers in the future. 106 S. Rodney Parham Road, 725-5296, thewaterbuffalo.com.

West End Smokehouse & Tavern A relaxed and comfortable place to meet and greet in West Little Rock — or to catch a game on one of its 50 televisions — West End features a big (and cheap) selection of over 50 beers, heavy on well-known foreigns and domestics. Rounding out the menu are 10 wines by the bottle or glass, plus a half-dozen signature cocktails (none over $7.50) and another half-dozen cocktails built around the Red Bull energy drink, for when you want both up and down in the same glass. 215 N. Shackleford Road, 224-7665, westendsmokehouse.net.

White Water Tavern The best damn bar anywhere does not do cocktails more complicated than whiskey and Coke. There's no blender and, as far as anyone can remember, there never has been. After Matt White and Sean Hughes and others bought the bar 10 years ago, the bar sold something like 400 percent more Jameson than it had before they took over. "Maybe because we're getting old," White, 34, says of his cohort. "But people don't drink Jameson like they used to." Fireball has become a go-to. Go figure. But forever and ever, the best-selling drink and the one we always turn to when we're stomping along to live music is Pabst Blue Ribbon: It's only $1.50 — among the best regular beer deals in town. 2500 W. Seventh St., 375-8400, whitewatertavern.com.

Willy D's Another longtime River Market piano bar (the other is Ernie Biggs), where locals and tourists congregate to get sloppy and sing. Bonus points: The nightclub Deep is in the basement. 322 President Clinton Ave., 244-9550, willydspianobar.com.

Zin Urban Wine flights, three half-glasses providing a few tastes of this specialty spot for between $12-$16, are the trick at Zin Urban. The Call Me a Cab — a trio of Cabernets — is a favorite, but ask the bartender, who should be full of good suggestions. 300 River Market Ave., 246-4876, zinlr.com.

Zack's Place Another local haunt whose bar side caters to those looking for a classic neighborhood feel, Zack's has been open since 1988, and features a full bar plus 14 beers on tap, heavy on domestic brews like Bud and Bud Light, plus a nice selection of dark beers. Drink up while watching any of 25 TVs, going Minnesota Fats on one of the three pool tables or throwing bullseyes on one of the five dartboards. 1400 S. University Ave., 664-6444, @zacksplace.

ZAZA We've long made stops at ZAZA just to get a scoop of impossibly creamy gelato on a hot summer night. Now there's a new attraction: the F'Rosé (frozen rosé wine). The grown-up slushy will be available at the Conway and Heights locations through the summer. Beer and wine and margaritas are here, too. 5600 Kavanaugh Blvd., 661-9292; 1050 Ellis Ave., Conway. zazapizzaandsalad.com.

It doesn't have to be a bar

Chipotle At Little Rock's watering holes, everybody may know your name, but no one cares that you're drinking, unless you are on the floor. But order an overpriced Patron tequila margarita at Chipotle for $7 and watch, in awe, as the clientele judges you (bonus points if you get one in the afternoon). As St. Augustine said of his infatuation with pears, "[It] pleased us all the more because it was forbidden." Sweet transgression; oh sin, for sin's sake. 100 S. University Ave, 404-2557.

Dickey-Stephens Park Some folks go for the baseball, others because they like to drink outdoors. But to most of us, the call of "cold beer" and the sound of cracking bats is music to our ears. The beer garden has draft beer; local brews are available on the concourse as well. 400 W. Broadway St., NLR, 664-1555.

Leo's Greek Castle It's rare you get to report cost in the range of cents, but here goes: 75-cent PBR's are served at Leo's. This tiny Greek eatery is not a typical place to drink, but why not? Maybe you'll be like Socrates, said to be able to "drink any quantity of wine and not be at all nearer being drunk." Or if the Pabst catches up with you, maybe folks will say: "Will you have a very drunken man as a companion of your revels?" Either way works at Leo's. 2925 Kavanaugh Blvd, 666-7414.

Professor Bowl If it's been a minute since you hit the lanes, here's an extra incentive to step back out: Professor Bowl has a list of craft beers to rival any in town. That'll help all those gutter balls go down easier. 901 Towne Oaks Drive, 224-9040, home.professorbowlwest.com.

Riverdale 10 In an age of movies on your phone, going to the cinema can be a dip into pure luxury. Especially around Little Rock, where the Riverdale 10 and other movie houses have tried to attract customers with big reclining leather seats. So, really go for it and get a beer or some wine. You'll pay $7 for a 12-ounce beer ($10.75 for a 22-ounce). The wines are $7.50. Is that overpriced? Yes; it's a movie theater. Honestly, it will help to be a little tipsy to get through the new "Transformers" movie. 2600 Cantrell Road, 296-9955, riverdale10.com

Taqueria Guadalajara The micheladas at Taqueria Guadalajara — Clamato juice mixed with your beer of choice and spices — come in giant steins with Tajín seasoning around the rim. The micheladas are strong and the stein's size is no joke: I've never been able to finish an entire drink in less than an hour's meal. Best to enjoy this refreshing gulp with the cheap, cheap eats of the taqueria, on a long summer afternoon. 3813 Camp Robinson Road, 753-9991.

Central Arkansas Bar Guide