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Photo: Cassie Millington
Bacon & Cheese Dip Skillet, Arkansas
In Arkansas, cheese dip is a fixture at all types of occasions, so it makes sense that restaurants find creative ways to work the dunkable cheese into their menus. At downtown Little Rock brew pub Lost Forty Brewing, cheese dip gets a serious umami upgrade. Each batch starts with a deeply browned roux, sautéed with a top-secret six-spice blend, poblano peppers, diced sweet onions, jalapenos and fresh tomatoes; it's combined with a three-cheese blend until melted and creamy. The creamy dip is baked and served in a skillet topped with local bacon, slow-roasted cherry tomatoes and fresh jalapenos, with tortilla chips for dunking. Pair it with craft suds like the Snake Party Double IPA or the classic Bare Bones Pilsner.