Kevin Shalin of The Mighty Rib and Jack Lin of Pharmtofoodie have garnered quite the following with their cuisine-centric social media accounts. This month, we visit with them to find out what inspires their content and their palates.
Kevin Shalin
The Mighty Rib
What first inspired you to create food content? Can you explain the story behind your name?
I was a high school teacher, and I wanted a hobby. I didn’t know anything about food, but I liked to eat at different places, and that’s what motivated me. Then, on a trip to Kansas City with my wife, we stopped at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Q, and I had this amazing rib. The next day, we flew back to Houston, and at the time, food blogs were very popular; I got one of these blogs, and when I thought about what to call it, I thought about those ribs, and I was like, “Let’s see… the Mighty Rib!"
What are your thoughts on the Little Rock Food scene, and what would you like to see in the future?
It's nice to see certain neighborhoods growing. SoMa has grown so much that it’s spilling into Pettaway Square, and we see more going on in Argenta. One thing I'd love to see is some younger chefs from around the country coming here so we could have more chef-driven restaurants.
What has been your favorite or most memorable part(s) of your foodie career so far?
People may think it’s the time that my post about dinner, not supper went really viral, but that didn’t do anything to change the community. I’d have to say it’s the shift I made toward being more of a restaurant and food advocate during the pandemic when it was a really hard time for restaurants. I’ve also wanted to switch gears and use the Mighty Rib platform to help nonprofits like Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families Soup Sunday and the Cornbread Festival.
Jack Lin
Pharmtofoodie
What first inspired you to create food content? Can you explain the story behind your name?
Pharmtofoodie comes from a combination of my "daytime" career as a pharmacist and my voracious appetite for food. My interest in photography was first inspired by my dad, who is often seen with a camera in hand, shooting both subject matter and landscape pictures. Then, my wife and kids’ Father’s Day gift of a Big Green Egg catapulted me into the world of competition BBQ as a member of the AhhTownley BBQ team.
What are your thoughts on the Little Rock Food scene, and what would you like to see in the future?
I have so much love for the Little Rock food scene. I’m excited to see the development of Breckenridge Village into an unprecedented food and entertainment-centric location. I created a couple of Reels highlighting Mt Fuji’s former location right before their transition across the plaza and then the opening at their new spot. Growing up here, it held a lot of sentimental value as a place we often reserved just for special occasions. My hope for the future of Little Rock is the sustainability of the more adventurous palate.
What has been your favorite or most memorable part(s) of your foodie career so far?
My favorite part of running PharmtoFoodie has been the friendships and connections made in the community. When folks ask me, “What have I eaten lately?” my eyes probably light up with excitement. It brings me the most satisfaction when someone says, “I never knew that existed in Little Rock,” in reference to things like kimbap from the local Asian grocery store on Saturdays or the Filipino bakery across the river. Pharmtofoodie was named in the 2024 Arkansas ambassadors class with Arkansas tourism.
"One thing I'd love to see is some younger chefs from around the country coming here so we could have more chef-driven restaurants." — Kevin Shalin
"When folks ask me, 'What have I eaten lately?' my eyes probably light up with excitement." — Jack Lin, Pharmtofoodie