A message from a colleague reminds me that the clock is ticking on nominations for this year’s Arkansas Food Hall of Fame, an annual event created and perpetuated by the Division of Arkansas Heritage. Each year, at about this time, Arkansawyers from all walks of life and regions of the state are invited to put in their two cents’ worth in honor of their favorite locally owned restaurants, restauranteurs or chefs, food-themed festivals and beloved eateries that have shuffled offstage but remain in memory yet green… and savory (yes, a nod to Isaac Asimov there). 

I admit, the thing sounds a little preposterous at first, but so do many “halls of fame” and yet they serve their purpose or, rather, purposes. I felt silly the first time I cast my nominations in this event but thinking of each category gave me an excuse to remember good meals I’ve had in places across the state over the years. Those memories are about more than the food—they’re associated with friends and family, employment ups and downs, milestones (including painful-numbered birthdays) and, oh yeah, some really good food, too, such as barbecue, killer pho, more barbecue, that singular Arkansas culinary gem the deep-fried pickle (born in Atkins but perfected [I think] at the Old South Restaurant in Russellville), halal lamb and goat dishes, Chinese worth singing about, tortas de res, the odd steak or two, pies both fried and baked, superb regional Latin American cooking, portabella mushroom sandwiches, tamales with French fries and—oh, did I mention barbecue?

So, this year, I’m going to vote again and spend a moment remembering good food and good times. I hope that you’ll do the same. And even if you haven’t spent much time in public in the last year or two, use this as a pretext for refreshing your gastronomic memories and resolving to, when it’s safe, go out and forge some new ones.

Votes are due on or before October 31, 2021.  To vote, let your computer or other communication device “do the walking.” Visit ArkFoodHOF.com to join me and make your own nominations.