ROGERS — Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week begins Monday and continues through April 6.

The weeklong event celebrates local restaurants, offering special fixed-price menus from 12 restaurants in the downtown Rogers area, according to a news release.

Establishments taking part include Acambaro, Cook's Natural Market, Heirloom Food+Wine, Iron Horse Coffee Company, Kirby's Kupcakes, Las Palmas, Lucy's Diner, Red Curry Thai, Sam's Olde Tyme Hamburgers, The Rail – A Pizza Company, Victoria's Cafe & Bistro and Wesner's Grill.

Five special events are planned to showcase chefs and local ingredients:

• A Chef Exchange will be held Tuesday with Shane Zimmerman of The Rai making a special meatloaf sandwich in the kitchen at Heirloom Food, 113 S. Second St. Heirloom Chef Jen Kiple creates a seasonal pizza at The Rail, 218 S. First St.

• Club Frisco, 105 W. Poplar St., hosts the Iron Man Bartender Contest 6:30-9:30 p.m., Wednesday. Area bartenders will concoct their best drinks for a panel of judges. For information on entering the competition, contact Jennifer Davis at Club Frisco at 479-633-0141 or [email protected].

• A beer and cheese pairing will be hosted by Ozark Beer Company, 1700 S. First St. Kent Walker Artisan Cheeses will be paired with locally-brewed beers from 6-7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.

• Chef Levi Rush of Tavern at the Tracks will make a guest appearance in the Heirloom Food kitchen April 4 at 7 p.m. His three-course menu will feature freshly handmade ricotta from Kent Walker Artisan Cheese. The first course of shrimp and ricotta puff pastry will be followed by manicotti, salad and garlic bread. Dessert will incorporate ricotta and honey-broiled strawberries. Cost is $40 per person. Reservations must be made in advance at Heirloom Food, 113 S. Second St. or 479-936-8083.

• Guest chefs will be at Heirloom Food at 7 p.m. April 5. Chef Michael Kuefner of NorthWest Arkansas Community College's culinary arts and hospitality will be assisted by Will West of House of Webster and Bill Walker of Spice Solutions. The menu will begin with fresh bread, cheeses, fruit and honey, followed by spring vegetables with pate of cranberry and pears with rice salad. The third course will feature roasted pork belly with Onyx Coffee-infused barbecue sauce, served with mushroom polenta. Capping off the meal will be a dessert course of forest berry grits with bacon ice cream. Cost is $40 per person. Reservations must be made in advance at Heirloom Food, 113 S. Second St. or 479-936-8083.

To learn more about Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week, view a list of participating dining establishments or learn how to take part, visit www.MainStreetRogers.com/restaurant-week or contact Main Street Rogers at 479-936-5487.

NW News on 03/27/2014