When Quinn Fallon opened Little Rock Bar last July, it found instant acceptance in Italian Village, where a new neighborhood bar committed to good drink and even better live music was just what was needed to spark some life into the commercially sparse area.
It’s only some short months later, but Little Rock is already ready to expand its offerings in the community. They are pairing up with Paddy Wagon, one of the most popular food trucks in the city, to hopefully open Jailhouse Rock, the city’s first grass-fed, locally-sourced hot dog joint.
The plan is a grand one, with a kickstarter fund already in place to raise the $20,000 needed to open the kitchen. The menu will showcase not only a few of Paddy Wagon’s signature items, like the 15-to-life BBQ Brisket Sandwich and the 3rd Degree Grilled Cheese finished with 5-OH sauce, but also a lineup of gourmet hot dogs known as “the dogpound”.
The Carmella will feature rosemary gnocchi, local favorite Carfagna’s Vodka Sauce, red onion, and ricotta, while Lunch on the LAWn will be topped with redskin potato salad, crushed kettle chips, baked beans, and cheddar. The #Quinning, named for Little Rock’s head honcho, will have cream cheese, habanero jelly and applewood-smoked bacon.
Paddy Wagon is working with another local purveyor, The Good Frank, for their supply of dogs, which will also be offered in vegan and gluten-free variations. Little Rock Bar has become central to the Italian Village development at the Fourth Street border, so being able to offer food to its customers boosts its appeal and fuels its esteem.
“Being constantly mobile allows us to reach a wider fan base and is a big advantage, but it’s also a limitation to our followers who have a hard time tracking us down,” shares Zach James, the Sheriff of the Paddy Wagon food truck. “Anchoring down in Little Rock will make apprehending culinary justice that much easier. There are a lot of fun things you can come up with when a hot dog is your vessel.”
Jailhouse Rock’s kickstarter campaign runs till February 3rd. As with all kickstarter projects, it’s all or nothing, so to aid efforts, Little Rock will host a Benefit Concert and Date Auction called Beefstock on January 25th. Local rockers, The Andy Shaw Band, will headline the event that kicks off at 8pm. Patrons can expect a small cover and drink specials that night.
If Jailhouse Rock’s kickstarter fails, there are still plans to go forward with the project. It will mean that the launch date will be pushed back, but patrons will eventually be able to enjoy quality franks at one of their favorite spots.
For more on Jailhouse Rock’s future, follow them at www.facebook.com/paddywagonfood.
