Today I am pleased to introduce to you the latest locally owned home cooking restaurant in Conway. The peace-loving side of me wants to preface this with a plea that everyone not get all territorial on me. I know folks have their camps when it comes to comfort food, but in a city the size of Conway (not to mention the reach of its marketplace), there is room for a few different options.

Amazing Foods, owned by Eddie and Wadie Taint of Little Rock, has opened at 1101 Markham St. The owners have been in the restaurant business 30 years and also own Firehouse Subs in Conway. They will serve southern favorites like chicken fried chicken, chicken fried steak, fried chicken, barbecued chicken, ribs, chicken spaghetti, chicken and dressing, greens, yams, pinto beans, great northern beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, etc.

Also, look for homemade desserts like German chocolate cake, peach cobbler and sweet potato pie. I’m told their contract with Coca Cola starts in three weeks, so be a little patient when you visit them the first time (which I’m just assuming is going to be today or sometime this week). Iced tea drinkers, you’re in luck. They will have your beverage of choice and lemonade until the carbonated beverages start flowing.

In the plans for the near future, Amazing Foods looks to add a grill to attract students from nearby Hendrix college. They will offer burgers, fries, wings and so forth. They cater and will rent the building after hours for events. The restaurant will be open 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wadie Taint said in addition to feeding the community, they hope to be of service by supporting charitable efforts in the area and providing jobs.

Take a deep breath, say to yourself, “Nine weeks until Christmas,” and exhale. That should be plenty of time, yes? Breathe in. The Downtown Christmas Open House is two whole weeks away. Relax and breathe out. Dazzle Daze is even farther away than that. You are feeling very relaxed. Take a moment and feel thankful for all the time you have to get that shopping done.

Repeat after me. I will not procrastinate. I will get the shopping finished early. The holidays will be joyous and stress-free.

Don’t forget Daylight Savings Time ends next week. That hour you put in savings in the spring is about to pay off.

(Rachel Parker Dickerson is a freelance columnist/journalist. Send your questions and comments to rachelpdickerson@gmail.com)