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In this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we’re at Casa Alejo in downtown Rogers, where we hear great stories from the Mayorga family, but first!?!

FOOD NEWS!!

• There’s a new date and new location for this year’s Top Chef NWA, benefitting the Rogers Public Library Foundation.
• Chuo Izakaya will be opening soon in Rogers. It’s owned by Meiji’s Darwin Beyer, who will tell us when he plans to open it!
• Cura Culinary will finally be back soon! We’ll tell you where and hear from them!
• Bienvenue will be flipping formats. We’ll tell you what’s coming in its place!
• Wildberry Smoothie Company opened Monday in Fayetteville.
• There’s a new Asian buffet at the old Eat My Catfish spot in Fayetteville. We’ll tell you about Osaka House!
• Savory Hibachi will open soon on MLK in Fayetteville!
• The work is done at the Springdale Pool Lounge. Owner Ross Jackson will tell us when it opens!
• Thai Cuisine in Bentonville looks to have closed.
• Remember, if you have a food news tip, just shoot it to me at the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas social media, or at FlavorsOfNWA@gmail.com!!

Casa Alejo is a family restaurant run by brothers that grew up in the family business. Originally from San Luis Potosi in Mexico, the family emigrated to Searcy to work in the restaurant business.

Brothers Said and Luis Mayorga had their first restaurant together in their adopted hometown of Searcy, and let’s just say that it didn’t go as planned, you’ll hear why. Of course, with age comes wisdom and the brothers will tell you their path to opening the first Casa Alejo in downtown Springdale and then Rogers. It’s quite the ride, including the torn-up road on Emma RIGHT when they opened!!

Also, they’ll talk about family recipes and what the elders thought about birria, and Said’s fascination with finding places on and off-menu for waffle fries. It’s a funny story, but there’s also a good reason behind it.

Finally- are they done, or are there more Casa Alejo’s on the horizon?

We’ll talk with Said, Luis and Kacey Mayorga next, here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.