Al Seraj Mediterranean Restaurant continues to be on-point. Three visits to this buffet have left me very pleased on each occasion. The food is always super fresh and the selection is fantastic … and all for $10.

Pulaski Tech’s signature fundraising event has a new name and format. “Diamond Chef Arkansas: Recut” is comprised of a preliminary and final competition, all held on the same day (April 21 from 6-9 p.m.) at the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute. In previous years, the two stages were held months apart. Event-goers can now also expect heavy hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening instead of a sit-down dinner. Tickets are $125 per person. For more information, click here.

Just yesterday, I posted some info on this Saturday’s B Street Rib Off. This should be a fantastic event with money going to the American Cancer Society. Good luck to all of the teams.

Compliments to both South on Main and Trio’s on their excellent brunches. Chef Bell is always up to something a little creative over at South on Main, and his recent addition of an Everything Biscuit with a Smoked Trout Schmear is an absolute homerun. Over at Trio’s, I was more than delighted with my Breakfast Quesadillas, which included scrambled eggs, Jack cheese, bacon, and avocado. This dish doesn’t jump out at you in terms of excitement, but it was one that was very well executed.

The 19th Annual Food & Foam Fest is set for Friday, April 1st from 6-9 p.m. at Dickey Stephens Park. The festival offers patrons tastings for over 350 different kinds of beer, wine, and food. For ticket prices, click here. I’ve been to this event a couple times and can tell you it’s a lot of fun for beer lovers. I love DSP as the venue, and I’ve always found the event to be well-organized.

The West Little Rock Food Truck Festival will be on Saturday, April 9th from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 6400 Divide Parkway. Click here for event updates.

Even the great restaurants have off nights and two Saturdays ago Maddie’s Place wasn’t up to its usual awesome self. Our grilled oysters were tiny and overcooked, and my buddy’s steak got the thumbs down. I enjoyed my redfish, but it was really difficult to look past those oysters.

The 2016 Jewish Food and Cultural Festival is on Sunday, April 10th from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium. The festival will include “traditional Jewish foods such as old fashioned corned beef sandwiches, lox, bagels and cream cheese, kosher hot dogs, rugelach and many more wonderful Jewish delicacies.” Want a traditional Israeli meal of kabobs, falafel and Israeli salad? Then the 2016 Jewish Food Festival is the place to be. There will also feature cultural and religious booths that will showcase various aspects of Jewish life from Arkansas to ancient Israel. Admission is free.

Kent Walker Artisan Cheese is looking for “Any Excuse to Party.” Click here for all of the details.

We went to Branson for a few days over Spring Break, and while most of the food was craptastic, we did find some gems on U.S. 65. Coursey’s proved to be a wonderful stop for a quick smoked turkey sandwich, and just across the road, Ferguson’s hit the spot with its enormous and delicious cinnamon rolls, as well as a veggie hash piled high with cheddar cheese (pictured above).

Springfest is this Saturday, April 2nd from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Riverfront Park. “The festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with the 5th annual 5k Fun Run followed by the ever popular Ruff on the River Pooch Parade featuring this year’s theme of “Woofstock”. So bring your pups on down dressed in groovy fashion to strut their flower power but don’t leave before the short legged dog races commence. Spend the day with the family in your favorite Riverfront Park enjoying arts & crafts activities for the little ones, Arkansas’ finest food truck treats, local craft beer, and etsy vendors galore! Entertainment will include everyone’s favorite Super Retriever Series as they “Rock the Dock” in 2016. The Amphitheater Stage will headline Trout Fishing in America and community performers will showcase their talent throughout the event.

The Dogtown Farmers’ Market gets going on Saturday, April 23rd from 7-10 a.m. at 420 Main Street in Argenta. Chef Matt Bell of South on Main will have a cooking demo and there will be live music by The Salty Dogs. That’s a good combo.

The Water Buffalo has some very cool classes coming up. Go check at the Facebook page for full details.

Eggshells Kitchen Co. also has some great classes coming down the pike, including ones with Matt Bell, Jack Sundell, and Alexis Jones.

Pinot Grigio lovers will want to go check out this offer from O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor.

At the Corner in downtown absolutely knocked it out of the park on my visit for breakfast. The fluffy pancakes (Tuesday-Friday only) are some of the best in town but were actually trumped by the wildly addictive Energy Bowl, which consisted of a pile of scrambled egg whites with turkey, red onions, spinach, quinoa, house trail mix and ricotta cheese.