The Oxford English Dictionary defines a dairy bar as "A snack bar that sells ice cream and other refreshments." Here in Arkansas, it describes a whole selection of restaurants we love. What makes a dairy bar different from other food establishments? It's a location that serves ice cream - and sustenance other than ice cream, like burgers, or hot dogs. It serves these delights from a window at a permanent facility.
Most of Arkansas's dairy bars have long roots into the past, some having been in existence 50 years or more. There are a few younger joints here and there. All of these are classic eateries.
Come travel with Arkansas food historian Kat Robinson, host of the Emmy-nominated Make Room for Pie, as she travels to every corner of Arkansas, to seek out delectable dishes and the stories behind the folks that make them, on this fantastic itinerary of Arkansas dairy bars.
Venture into every corner of the state with this handy guide that takes you to each and every mom-and-pop shop, local favorites that stand at the heart of their communities, beloved destinations where generations return again and again to enjoy nostalgic fare that's absolutely unbeatable. Use the handy edge guide to explore all eight regions of The Natural State. Read the history behind these places, and enjoy more than 350 photos and illustrations that will have you hankering for a culinary roadtrip.
This book serves as a companion book to Arkansas Dairy Bars: Neat Eats and Cool Treats, Robinson's 2021 documentary on must-visit dairy bars around the state. The film appears in cooperation with Arkansas PBS, and can be viewed on the network and through its online presence.
Robinson's expertise has been cited with numerous national outlets, such as Food Network and USA Today. The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Selection Committee Member and Arkansas fellow to the National Food and Beverage Museum is known as the author of Arkansas Food: The A to Z of Eating in The Natural State, 101 Things to Eat in Arkansas Before You Die, and a personal cookbook memoir, A Bite of Arkansas: A Cookbook of Natural State Delights, along with seven other books on food in Arkansas.