An emphasis on some of the best moments of the new issue, The Mighty Rib’s greatest hits, an introduction to Faces and more.
The Proper Setting
We’ve shot in countless locations over the past 23 years, and some of them — like the one captured in this month’s cover story — never lose their magic.
“The auditorium at the Albert Pike Masonic Center is a true Little Rock treasure,” art director Emma Devine says. “Some of the most astounding features of the theater are the (more than 100!) hand-painted canvas stage drops from the 1920s. We chose the background with tall columns and climbing roses to tie in with the Ballet Arkansas gala theme La Vie en Rose. Going up to the balcony offers an impressive view of the entire space and gets you a closer view to the sparkling chandelier, which is original to the 1924 building. We felt so lucky to be working in such a beautiful and historic landmark.”
Getting Glam
“We had the idea of a ‘getting ready’ photo shoot in the back of our minds for some time,” stylist Josie Burnett says. “When we were planning for the Chocolate Fantasy Ball feature, it made sense for us to execute that idea at The Capital Hotel. We wanted it to look as if they were preparing for the big ball in their hotel room. We don’t work with just women co-chairs too often, so we had fun making this one for the girls.”
New This Month
On our table of contents, you may have noticed a new section in our lineup this month: “Faces of Soirée.”
We’re always exploring ways to engage with our local business community and find interesting ways to share their stories. After a lot of research and long conversations with some of the largest monthly magazines across the country, Soirée is proud to join the longstanding tradition of the “Faces” program and debut a Little Rock take on this special promotion.
“One of the reasons we were drawn to the idea of introducing ‘Faces’ into our annual lineup was after talking to several fellow monthly publications,” publisher Mandy Richardson says. “They all said implementing a ‘Faces’ program has provided their partners with a unique opportunity to talk directly to the magazine’s readers and drive home the branding statement that makes their company, product or service unique to the city. We are excited to see 19 local businesses sharing their unique stories with the readers of Soirée.”
The Mighty Q&A
When you have the ear of the city’s best-known food bloggers, you ask the important questions, and that’s just what we did with Kevin Shalin of The Mighty Rib.
Restaurant Rapid Fire Qs
Your favorite local restaurant: Tough one, but I’ll go with Ciao Baci. I love everything about the restaurant, and that includes the staff, the easygoing neighborhood vibe, the cocktails and, of course, food. Looking for a great date night? Ciao Baci. How about an easy spot to cozy up at the bar for a quick drink and appetizer? Ciao Baci.
Establishment you frequent most: There are so many restaurants to cover in central Arkansas, and I truly pride myself in going to as many different ones as possible. This often prohibits me from going to one place more often than others, but I am a big fan of popping into Terri-Lynn’s at lunch for a quick sandwich. This happens about once a month, which is quite frequent for me.
What you recommend to out-of-towners when you want to impress them: When someone comes to visit, there’s a 99% chance we’ll end up at Brood & Barley. I mean, what’s not to love about Brood? The menu is fairly expansive, so even the pickiest of eaters can find something. Don’t even get me started on their charcuterie board. It’s the best in the area and an ideal dish to split with folks you’re trying to impress.
What you recommend to out-of-towners for a taste of classic, everyday LR: The Root is Little Rock. The restaurant is so casual and eclectic, but really, the entire SoMa neighborhood is like that as well, so I tend to recommend taking a stroll down Main Street for a food crawl. Maybe grab a glass of wine and an appetizer at BCW, split a squash blossom pizza at Raduno, then finish things off with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream at Loblolly Creamery. If you still have the energy, a drink at Rock Town Distillery is a nice way to end the evening.
The most criminally underrated restaurant: There are so many spots that are underrated, but I’ll go with Mike’s Cafe. Don’t get me wrong, Mike’s has a huge following among locals, but I feel like many folks still have never been. And that’s a shame, because the pho, vermicelli bowls and spring rolls are next level. Mike’s Cafe is without question a top 10 Little Rock restaurant for yours truly.