Westside Community Guide

8 – 2021 2021 Westside Community Guide By Brittany Smith Westside Community Guide T e Westside of Northwest Arkansas serves up their take on America's most traditional dessert that will keep you coming back for more. Aer a satisfying meal of Southern home-cooking there's no better way to top it off than a slice of pie with sweet filling and a scoop of ice cream nestled on top. e Wooden Spoon, a local restaurant in Gentry, has been making award-winning pies for more than 15 years and any customer will tell you one slice just won't cut it. Pie has long been classified as an American dessert but its origins date all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. According to the American Pie Council, the first pies were made by early Romans who were thought to have gotten the idea from the Greeks and used reeds to hold the filling. In the 14th century the first pie recipe was published for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie, also credited to the Romans. e early days of pies were mainly meat- filled, and it wasn't until the 1500s that pies became sweet and fruit-filled. e English started making their own pies and Queen Elizabeth I is said to have been responsible for the first cherry pie. Early English settlers brought pie to America; however the crusts were still not eaten but designed to merely hold the filling and preserve food for the winter months. Pie has since evolved into a delicious part of American culture that no one wants to "dessert." e history of e Wooden Spoon begins in Michigan in the mid-1850s, not with the people, but with the building. e building was originally built as a horse barn but was dismantled and moved to Arkansas by the owners Cam and Jane Klassen. e original beams were scrubbed and re- erected in exactly the same way they were taken down. e result was a charming, welcoming atmosphere that guests can walk into and immediately feel at home. e Wooden Spoon's menu is the made-from-scratch cooking that will take you back to grandma's house. eir list of pie flavors is delicious from top to bottom and range from the classics like Blueberry, Apple, Cherry, Bumblebee, Strawberry Rhubarb, and Blackberry to the more decadent options like Butterscotch, Coconut Cream, Snickers, Pecan, Lemon Ice Box, Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cream Cheese, Almond Joy, and Pumpkin Pecan. e sweets don't stop there; they also offer six-layer cakes in a variety of flavors such as Triple Fudge, Carrot, Toffee Mocha, and Strawberry Limeade and cheesecakes including Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Raspberry, Caramel Apple, Key Lime, Butterfinger, and many more that will have you picking a different flavor for every night of the week. e dessert case at e Wooden Spoon changes on a daily basis with a fresh variety of made-from-scratch baked goods including fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, of course whole pies, and much more to satisfy even the pickiest of sweet- tooths. It's not just the Gentry locals who rave about the remarkable home-cooking at e Wooden Spoon; their numerous awards from the Best of Northwest Arkansas contest speak for themselves. • 2017-Best Country Cooking Finalist • 2017-Best Pie Finalist • 2018-Bronze Best Home-Cooked Meal • 2018-Bronze Best Pie • 2019-SIlver Best Pie • 2020-Gold Best Pie Pie is only one slice of e Wooden Spoon as they proudly recount a customer's statement; "You come for dessert and stay for a meal." eir daily lunch specials are the perfect combination of simple and savory. All sandwiches are made with homemade bread and served with a choice of chips, homemade potato salad, pasta salad, or baked beans, salad with choice of homemade dressing or a cup of soup made fresh daily. e Chicken Salad sandwich and e Arkie are just two of the selections of popular sandwiches that go well with any of the freshly made salads and soups. Every Friday night has a different featured special to keep your date nights full of flavor. e specials vary from Baby back Ribs, Fried Catfish, Beef Tips, Smoked Brisket, as well as pasta, quiche, and their ever-popular Chicken Salad sandwich. When you're not in the mood for cooking, pick up a frozen and ready to eat casserole for the family. ey offer Chicken Spaghetti, Meatloaf, Chicken Enchiladas, Cheesy Beef and Potatoes, BBQ Meatballs, Gourmet Potatoes, Beef Lasagna, and Poppyseed Chicken. e Wooden Spoon takes pride in their restaurant and it's evidenced in every plate they serve. Whether you are stopping in to grab a slice of Bumblebee Pie or taking the family for a Friday night Fried Catfish dinner, you are sure to feel the love and attention that they put into every bite. e Wooden Spoon Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Friday Evening 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 1000 South Gentry Blvd Gentry, AR 479-736-3030 A sweet slice in Gentry

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