The iconic Capital Hotel is marking a milestone by bringing some of the city’s most-loved chefs, stories and flavors to its downtown doorstep.
In honor of its 150th anniversary, the hotel will host Big Table, Little Rock on Saturday, Sept. 26, an outdoor dining experience that will shut down West Markham Street for a celebration including signature cocktails, live entertainment, interactive experiences and a special spotlight on the history of the neighborhood.
“For 150 years, the Capital Hotel has been a gathering place,” general manager Rob Rhea says. “Big Table, Little Rock reflects what we believe hospitality should be: not simply welcoming guests into our hotel, but by bringing people together to celebrate our city. This anniversary is an opportunity to invest in the future of downtown while hopefully creating a tradition that belongs to the entire community.”
At the center of the event is an exclusive five-course menu that features not only Capital Hotel Executive Chef Brad Izzard, but also chefs from other beloved local restaurants: Evan Davis of Marriott Little Rock, James Hale of Allsopp & Chapple, Wes Mickel of George’s and Scott Rains of Table 28. Each chef will create a signature course “inspired by their connection to Little Rock, the Capital Hotel or the people and traditions that make this city home.”
“As chefs, we all tell stories through food, but the best stories are the ones we tell together,” Izzard says. “My sous chef and I are both South African natives, and this past May we hosted a collaborative South African wine dinner here at the hotel to share our heritage through food. It was one of those evenings that reminded me how powerful collaboration can be. We weren’t just sharing food, we were sharing culture, and you could feel the sense of community it created in the dining room.
“That dinner sparked something in me. It reinforced the idea that when chefs come together, the result is greater than any one of us could create alone.”
Big Table, Little Rock will take place at 5 p.m. in front of the Capital Hotel, and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Downtown Little Rock Partnership. Ticket info has yet to be announced.
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