Paninis made with thick slices of Old Mill bread can be found at Cafe @ Heifer.

As I exited Cafe @ Heifer last week, a woman driving by stopped and asked, "Excuse me -- what is this place?"

I dutifully explained the function of Heifer International -- how it aids people around the world by giving them training and animal gifts to help them become self-reliant. I noticed her eyes were starting to glaze over, so I added, "And it has a really good cafe." That seemed to get her attention.

It certainly gets mine. Cafe @ Heifer is one of my favorite lunch destinations. The combination of earthy, satisfying food that uses Arkansas ingredients when possible and a bright, cheery dining area rimmed by floor-to-ceiling windows is a truly pleasurable way to break up a work day.

Located beyond the Heifer Village museum galleries, Cafe @ Heifer serves sandwiches, soups, flatbread pizzas, and salads at lunch (there's breakfast too -- three-egg omelets, scrambled egg and cheese paninis, fresh baked scones, muffins and brownies -- but I haven't managed to get there between 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Monday-Friday when it's available).  

The day's menu is written on a chalkboard and is also available in one-page printed form. Lunch is served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday, with grab-and-go service between 2-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. You place your order at a service counter, cough up some cash (not very much, considering the ample serving sizes), serve yourself a beverage, and take a seat at one of the casual aluminum tables nearby (there's a pretty outdoor patio too). Your lunch is delivered to you when it's prepared. 

A standout in the sandwich lineup is the Blackberry BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich ($5.39), a mini-mountain of slow-braised pulled pork doused with sweet-spicy Heifer-made blackberry barbecue sauce. 

Another gem that will appeal to non-carnivores is Caprese Panini (also $5.39), a stack of Arkansas tomatoes layered with fresh mozzarella and basil pesto between two thick slices of Old Mill bread that's pressed in a panini grill. The flavors meld from the heat and the pressure to create a delicious and filling lunchtime treat.

All sandwiches (others include turkey club, Philly cheese steak, grilled chicken panini, chicken & Cheddar and grilled cheese) are served with house-made chips that even those of us who can easily pass up a Pringle find ourselves devouring by the handful. 

Soups are $2.19 for an ample portion in a cardboard cup; if you want bread with it, you'll pay 50 cents more.