Local News
Restaurant in Northwest Arkansas shortlisted for the James Beard Award

Little Rock, Arkansas – A chef from Northwest Arkansas is competing for a James Beard Award.
Rafael Rios is a finalist for the Best Chef in the South award at Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville.
Yeyo’s is a family-run eatery with two food trucks in addition to a permanent site.
For a restaurant to qualify for the category, it must have opened between Jan. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022, “that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations while contributing positively to its broader community.”
According to the Beard Awards website, the new restaurants nominated also appear to have a big impact in the upcoming years.
Rios is competing in the Best Chef category, which is divided into regions. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Mississippi make up the South.
The nominated chefs have “set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities” and are creating a “sustainable work culture” in their regions while contributing positively to the community.
In 2022, Yeyo’s was included on the list of the 50 greatest restaurants in the nation by the New York Times.
According to the New York Times, the Rios family’s farm in Northwest Arkansas serves as a source of food for both its food trucks and restaurant. Mexican cuisine from Rios’ home country is served at Yeyo’s, including tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.
-
Local News1 week ago
The attorney general swiftly appeals the justices’ decision to halt implementation of the Arkansas LEARNs Act
-
Local News2 weeks ago
After leading Arkansas police on a 120 mph, multi-city chase, the wanted offender captured
-
Local News1 week ago
Motel rates as high as $699 on the eve of the 2024 total solar eclipse in Arkansas
-
Local News2 weeks ago
An inside peek at the Little Rock street racing scene
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Following an incident in Little Rock, UPS driver is in critical condition
-
Local News2 weeks ago
The Saline County Library Board meets in a crowded meeting to examine solutions to the book relocation problem
-
Arkansas1 week ago
Gaming tables from a Hot Springs museum featured in the new Bass Reeves biopic series
-
Local News2 weeks ago
Despite an extremely difficult year, Wynne High School celebrates graduation