Join UA Little Rock for 20th Annual Taste of Little Rock on April 8
UA Little Rock’s highly anticipated Taste of Little Rock, presented by Regions Bank, Pepsi, iProv, and Scale, returns on Tuesday, April 8, offering guests an opportunity to enjoy some of the best dishes from restaurants across the city while supporting student scholarships.
The 20th annual culinary and social event will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center and is expected to raise more than $100,000 for the UA Little Rock Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Each year, Taste of Little Rock introduces attendees to premier local restaurants while raising critical support for students.
Guests will be able to enjoy great food and refreshments from 40 amazing local restaurants, including Afrobites, Baldwin’s BBQ, Big Bad Breakfast, Boulevard Bread Co., Burge’s, Ceci’s Chicken & Waffles, Certified Pies, City Silo, Community Bakery, Count Porkula, Delicious Temptations, Eat My Catfish, Kingdom Made Treats, LePops, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Mt. Fuji, Newk’s Eatery, Platinum BBQ at the Riverfront, Problem Child, Red Moon Tavern, Rosie’s Pot & Kettle, Rookh Knight Lounge, Sarge’s Famous Pickles, Smackey’s BBQ, Tacos Godoy, Taj Mahal Indian Kitchen, Taziki’s, Tea Anytime, Terri Lynn’s BBQ, The Croissanterie, The Xperience Bar & Kitchen, Trio’s, UnWine & Co., Waldo’s, Whole Hog Café, and Wright’s BBQ.
Drinks will be provided by PepsiCo, wine by Southern Glazer’s, and beer and seltzers by Diamond Bear Brewing.
“Taste of Little Rock is a special night that brings our community together for a great cause,” said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. “Every ticket sold directly supports student scholarships, helping ensure that more students have access to an excellent education at UA Little Rock.”
UA Little Rock also extends its gratitude to sponsors whose generosity helps make this event possible. This year’s Gold sponsors include AY Magazine, McLarty Auto Group, Southern Bancorp, and Stephanie Caruthers and Loris Fullerton, who are serving as co-chairs of Taste of Little Rock.
Table sponsors include Alfred Williams and Jerry Damerow, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Times, Baldwin & Shell, Baptist Health, City of Faith Reentry Services, Don and Dee Riggin, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ann Bain, Dr. Carrie and Chris Phillips, Encore Bank, Entergy, Garver, GenWealth, Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Jerry Adams, Keith Riggs, Kenda Treadway, Platinum Drywall, Rhonda and David Garner, Secure Financial Solutions, Shorter College, Simmons Bank, and USAble Life.
This year’s event will honor R.J. Martino, a UA Little Rock alumnus who pursued degrees in computer science, business finance, and law, laying the foundation for a successful career in entrepreneurship and leadership across multiple industries.
Martino founded iProv, a problem-solving and innovation-focused company that began on the UA Little Rock campus. Following the recession, he expanded his business ventures, launching a healthcare marketing company, which earned him the Minority Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2016 and a spot in Arkansas Business’s “40 Under 40” in 2018. In 2019, he co-founded Martino Law Firm, and in 2020, he launched U.S. Rail & Logistics. His work has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine and Inc.com.
A dedicated mentor and leader, Martino serves on UA Little Rock’s Centennial Campaign Cabinet, supporting the university’s ambitious goal of raising $250 million for scholarships, student support, campus improvements, and academic excellence.
“It’s truly humbling to be recognized by UA Little Rock, a place that played such an important role in my life,” Martino said. “The mentorship, education, and opportunities I found here shaped who I am today. This honor is a reminder of how far we can go when supported by a strong community, and I’m deeply grateful to give back to the university that has given me so much.”General admission tickets for Taste of Little Rock are $75, while UA Little Rock faculty and staff, Alumni Association lifetime members, and recent graduates (within the last five years) can purchase tickets for $35. Purchase tickets at ualr.at/taste.