What an absolutely incredible evening we had at Saline County Eats! We’re still buzzing with excitement from the festivities, and honestly, we can’t stop smiling. When the Bryant Chamber of Commerce announced they were bringing back this beloved community event (formerly known as Taste of Bryant), we knew we had to be part of it. And wow, did it exceed all our expectations!
The People Have Spoken
We are beyond thrilled and deeply honored to announce that Vibrant Occasions was voted the Saline County Eats 2025 People’s Choice winner! When they called our name, our entire team just erupted with joy. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that your community – the people you serve every day – believes in what you do enough to vote for you.
This recognition means everything to us because it came directly from the people of Saline County. These are our neighbors, our clients, our friends, and the families we’ve had the privilege of serving over the years. To have them choose us among so many amazing local food establishments? We’re honestly still processing it all.
A Family Affair
One of the sweetest parts of the evening was getting to be “booth buddies” with Brian Krikorian and his Different Dough Pizza Co. For those who don’t know, Brian is Serge and Mary’s son, so this was truly a family affair! There’s something so special about working alongside your children and watching them pursue their own culinary dreams. Different Dough Pizza Co. has been making waves in the community, and we couldn’t be prouder of Brian’s passion and dedication.
Having two generations of the Krikorian family represented at the event felt like such a full-circle moment. From Serge’s journey from Lebanon to Arkansas, to building Vibrant Occasions with Mary, to now watching their son create his own mark in the food industry…it was a beautiful reminder of how food truly brings families and communities together.
The Saline County Food Scene is Incredible
The level of talent represented at Saline County Eats was absolutely mind-blowing. We were surrounded by so many amazing vendors, each bringing their own unique flavors and specialties to the table:
- Chicken Salad Chick
- Dunkin Donuts
- Freddy’s
- Chepe’s Mexican Grill
- Layne’s Chicken Fingers
- HteaO
- Riverside Catering
- Harps
- Verona Italian Restaurant
- Sam’s Club
- Don Pepe’s
- Eat My Catfish
- Sugar Dumplings Cupcakes
- Kinfolk Acres
Plus support from Alcoa Community Federal Credit Union! The diversity of flavors, from international cuisine to Southern comfort food to sweet treats, really showcased what makes Saline County’s food scene so vibrant and exciting.
More Than Just an Event
What struck us most about the evening was how Saline County Eats represents everything we love about our community. This was a celebration of local businesses, family traditions, and the way food brings people together. Watching families sample different dishes, seeing kids’ faces light up when they tried something new, and witnessing the genuine connections between vendors and community members reminded us why we fell in love with the food industry in the first place.
The event perfectly captured that “mouth-watering journey of flavors, colors, and cultures” that the organizers promised. From 5:30 to 7:30 PM, The Center at Bishop Park was transformed into a culinary wonderland where food lovers could explore, discover, and indulge to their hearts’ content.
Community Support at Its Finest
We have to give massive credit to the Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce for bringing this event back after a six-year hiatus. Events like this require vision, planning, and a deep commitment to supporting local businesses. The chamber’s dedication to creating opportunities for local food establishments to showcase their talents and connect with the community is exactly what makes Saline County such a special place to do business.
And can we talk about the turnout? The community showed up in a big way! Seeing so many familiar faces and meeting new food enthusiasts throughout the evening reinforced our belief that Saline County truly appreciates and supports local businesses.
What This Means to Our Team
For our team, winning the People’s Choice award at Saline County Eats is validation of everything we’ve been working toward. Every late night of prep work, every careful attention to detail, every effort to create not just great food but memorable experiences…it all led to this moment of recognition from our community.
Our team members who worked the event were absolutely glowing with pride. There’s nothing quite like watching your colleagues light up when they realize that their hard work and passion are truly appreciated. These are the moments that make all the effort worthwhile and remind us why we love what we do.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who voted for us, everyone who stopped by our booth, and everyone who made Saline County Eats such a memorable evening. Thank you to the Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce for organizing such a fantastic event, and thank you to all the vendors who brought their A-game and created such an incredible showcase of local talent.
Most importantly, thank you to the Saline County community for your continued support of local businesses like ours. Your enthusiasm, your appetite for great food, and your commitment to supporting your neighbors is what makes this place so special.
We’re beyond thrilled to be your 2025 People’s Choice winners, and we promise to keep working every day to earn that trust and create unforgettable culinary experiences for our community.
Here’s to great food, amazing community, and many more vibrant celebrations ahead!
Want to experience our award-winning catering for your next event? Contact us at mary@vibrantoccasionscatering.com or call 501-408-2111. Follow our journey on Instagram @vibrantoccasionscatering and join the Saline County Eats Facebook group to stay connected with our local food community!