Rock Town Bacon Throwdown Benefits Patients and Their Families

By Liz Caldwell


Cache Restaurant serves its bacon dishes to attendees of the second annual Rock Town Bacon Throwdown. More than 300 people attended the event.


Corey Bacon with Rock City Kicks and chef’s assistant to Georges Launet at Pizzeria Santa Lucia serves attendees their specialty dish, lobster brain BLT.

Sept. 30, 2014 | For the second year in a row, Little Rock chefs brought home the bacon for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) patients and their families using their best bacon dishes.

About 350 people enjoyed the fun atmosphere of the second annual Rock Town Bacon Throwdown, hosted by the UAMS Medical Center Auxiliary’s Aux Crew to raise more than $12,000 for the UAMS Patient Support Fund. The fund supports patients in many different ways from pet therapy programs to purchasing toiletry items patients need that they might have left at home.

First place winner was Table 28 for its figgy bacon BLT shooters and candie bacon s’mores with Cache Restaurant (braised pork cheeks and bacon-wrapped chicken wings) taking second place and Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse (bacon caramel ice cream sandwich) taking third. The people’s choice award winner was Cache Restaurant. Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse and Scallions tied for second place in people’s choice, and SO Restaurant and Pizzeria Santa Lucia tied for third place.

Eleven local chefs from area restaurants and public venues presented their specialty bacon dishes, including cheese grits with sugar maple bacon, peanut butter bacon brittle chocolate petit fours, and bacon and artichoke bisque. Each attendee was able to sample all the dishes and vote on their favorite.

Children enjoyed free games and activities and had snacks available just for them. The afternoon also featured two live music acts, The Federalis and Amber Wilcox.

“This year’s event was bigger and better than the last,” said Erin Gray, director of volunteer services and the auxiliary. “The food was fantastic, everyone had a great time and at the end of the day we were able to raise a good bit of money for the patient support fund. I am so incredibly grateful to this group of volunteers for organizing such an amazing event.”

The UAMS Medical Auxiliary plays an important role in providing for the needs of the patients and visitors. The Aux Crew, founded in 2012, is part of the auxiliary and comprised of young professionals.