Brian Deloney, Maddie’s Place
1615 Rebsamen Park Road
Little Rock, Ark.
(501) 660-4040
MaddiesPlaceLr.com
HOURS: Tues-Sat 11 am to 9 pm
“When my mom went back to school, we ate a lot of fish stick dinners. So I started cooking for my dad and brother. Later, my parents sent me to a weeklong course at the Culinary Institute of America to see if I had what it takes, and… here I am.”
Signature dish – Chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, or jambalaya with Creole tomato glaze.
Biggest cooking challenge – Trying to balance time between Maddie’s Place and my family.
These days, I’m crazy about – Watching my twins’ faces as they try different foods. They’re two years old and don’t hesitate to let me know when they “don’t want it.” Right now, they’re crazy about guacamole, watermelon, chips and cheese dip.
Must-have kitchen tool – A very sharp knife that you are comfortable using.
Where I eat on my night off – We usually support local restaurants, but El Chico is a favorite.
Chef recommends – Taking a recipe and adapting it to what you enjoy.