Go Memphis Stories: Dining

Dining Review: South of Beale serves more than mere 'pub grub'

burch@commercialappeal.com (Peggy Burch) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:03 -0000

South of Beale is not a restaurant, not a bistro, not a cafe and not a bar. It's a gastropub, and apparently that's difficult to define. But after a few visits to South of Beale, we forgot such quibbles. The food chef Nick Ragazzo produces here is fanciful, skillfully executed and consistent from night to night. We tried a third of the plates on South of Beale's imaginative current menu, and all but one of the dishes were delicious and cleverly presented.

Meet the chef: Tim Foley

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000

The executive chef at Blue Fish restaurant learned a lot from a fellow chef while in culinary school. "He took me under his wing and he taught me work ethic. That's the biggest part of this business. You've got to have a good work ethic to work six, seven days a week, 80, 90 hours a week and still have a smile on your face at the end of the day. He taught me the passion behind the food."

Go Taste: Restaurants that are open Thanksgiving day

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:00 -0000

Here are restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving. Visit whiningdining.com and click on "Holiday openings" on the right side of the page to see if others are added before Turkey Day: Barnhill's Buffet, 6196 Stage Road (377-1826) and 1204 W. Poplar, Collierville (854-5660), is offering a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; $10.99; drinks, tax and gratuities are extra.

Best Bets: Sushi

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:19:00 -0000

Sushi for dinner can be both economical and, if you order correctly, healthy. A-Tan at Poplar and Highland offers a selection of rolls from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday that fits the bill on both counts. The rolls are $3, a savings of anywhere from 75 cents to about $2 off the regular menu.

Dining Review: Deli is Kosher delight for all

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:05:00 -0000

Keeping Kosher means little to me, as I'm not Jewish and would likely not be kosher if I were. I do like the pig, plus I am weak. But I also like a good matzo ball soup, would eat lox and bagels every morning if my waistline would allow, and don't even get me started on chopped liver -- I love it. Holy Cow, the kosher deli in the lobby of the Memphis Jewish Community Center, has obvious appeal to the Jewish community, but it doesn't stop there. Who doesn't like a good chicken salad?

Go Taste

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000

Want something good to eat or drink this week? Consider the following: Enjoy great wines and tours in the galleries at Dixon Gallery and Gardens from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Registration includes six tasting tickets, live music and light hors d'oeuvres; $20 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Sponsored by Star Distributors and Wine Market. 4339 Park; call 761-5250.

Meet the Chef: Gary Williams

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:49:00 -0000

Chefs enjoy creating dishes and Gary Williams, chef/owner of De Ja Vu New Orleans Creole Soul Food and Vegetarian Restaurant, is no different. A favorite he created is Alligator Stew. He'd "never seen a recipe. Just thought about my time in Miami and Las Vegas, New Orleans, California and blended seasonings -- a little henna curry with French bell peppers and onions, dry and fresh seasonings -- and the rest is history.

Best Bets: Soup at Zinnie's East

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0000

Each year when fall comes around, the folks at Zinnie's East get their annual Soup-A-Rama going. In addition to the standard menu choices -- black bean, seafood bisque and broccoli cheese -- the rotation of customer favorites begins. And it's not just favorite soups, but also favorite recipes. Over the years customers have provided recipes for soups they love, which have become part of the cool-weather tradition.

Dining Review: Edo offers tour of Japanese dishes on its 'Love Boat'

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs, Peggy Burch) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0000

Once a month, dining reviewers Jennifer Biggs and Peggy Burch visit a long-established local restaurant and write about the experience. Biggs introduced Burch to Edo, and Burch is now a fan. "Thank you for introducing me to the Love Boat. Such a great range of tastes on that platter. I love the skewered beef and chicken. But I think it's made for at least four diners, right? After we finished, I felt like I would not float on water. Still, it didn't keep me from eating the orange gelatin."

Meet the Chef: Andrew Bryan

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:00:00 -0000

Part of an executive chef's job is to teach, says Andrew Bryan, executive chef at River Oaks Restaurant. "The teaching aspect of being an executive chef is probably one of the most important things. I can't cook everything by myself. I can't plate everything for myself. So I for sure need the fellow brigade to kick in and help me out with it all. Unless I teach them and show them the way that I've been taught, it's not worth it."

Best Bets: Pizza

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:11:00 -0000

You're not likely to happen upon The Pizza Shack, unless you're at Lowe's on Perkins and taking the side exit out to Summer. The little restaurant is in the parking lot of the home improvement store, facing the north side of the building. I checked it out when it first opened as another pizza place and liked the pizza, but worried about the location. About six months ago, it switched hands and became The Pizza Shack. Starved and tired one night last week, it was a good time to give take-out a try.

Dining Review: Le Chardonnay has new digs, impressive dishes

burch@commercialappeal.com (Peggy Burch) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:05:00 -0000

Le Chardonnay is known by those who follow local government as the site of the mysterious private meeting in 2007 between then-Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and then-Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton. Since then, Herenton has moved out of City Hall and Wharton has moved in. And Le Chardonnay is in a different place, too. In May 2008, the restaurant left its cozy corner of Overton Square near Palm Court, and moved across Madison into the space west of Paulette's.

Go Taste

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0000

Want something good to eat or drink this week? Consider the following: Dixon Gallery and Gardens presents its first Brewer's Feast, pairing five all-grain ales brewed by local artisans with a seasonal chef's tasting menu. Reception at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dixon members, $50; nonmembers, $60. For reservations, call 761-5250. 4339 Park.

Meet the chef: Don Scott

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:00:00 -0000

The first cooking experience for Don Scott, general manager/chef at On the River, was making a morning meal for his parents when he was about 8 years old. "I cooked breakfast for my mother and father on their anniversary. It went well. I cooked scrambled eggs for my mom and I cooked sunny side up for my father. I had to stand up on the stool to cook them."

Best Bets: Chat papdi

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:33:00 -0000

I first heard of chat papdi when I read about it in Sheila Lukins' "All Around the World Cookbook" in 1994. For 15 years I've thought about the dish from time to time, though I'd forgotten the name (and am not even sure Lukins called it the same thing). This weekend I asked Indian friends to tell me which restaurant serves the most authentic Indian food in town, and that was the first I heard about Asian Groceries.

Dining Review: Alaskan crabs give king-size dining pleasure

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:06:00 -0000

This is an unusual review in that it's not of a restaurant, but of a specific meal. The whole king crab at The Blue Fish now through the next couple of months is such a treat that keeping it from you would be cruel. This is the third year The Blue Fish has purchased fresh king crab from a broker who procures them from boats in Alaska -- yes, this is the stuff of TV's "Deadliest Catch."

Jackpot! Recreation, relaxation and dining in Tunica

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:02:00 -0000

Not everybody knows this, but you can spend a weekend in Tunica and not spend the whole time on the gaming floor. No, no, I'm not talking crazy -- it's true. In fact, if you look at the numerous amenities the casinos offer, you might find yourself heading south for reasons completely unrelated to a jackpot. There are spas, golf courses, nature trails and one of the largest sporting clay courses (that's skeet shooting to most of us) in the country, shopping, and, of course, plenty of dining.

Go Taste

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0000

Want to get out and taste something good this week? Consider the following: Monday, Amerigo, 1239 Ridgeway, hosts a tasting of four wines that includes one small plate from 6-8 p.m. $14, no reservations required. Call 761-4000 for more information. Tuesday: Liz Grisham of United Liquors and Rain Sushi Bar and Bistro host a sake and sushi dinner at 6:30 p.m. featuring three sakes and three sushi rolls; $30. 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. Call 746-9455 for reservations.

Meet the chef: Bill Kloos

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:35:00 -0000

Title: Regional chef/partner, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Who or what was your first cooking influence? My parents. My dad did a lot of the cooking. Mom did some of the baking. Dad did a lot of the savory cooking, everything from barbecuing to pizzas.

Best Bets: Chili

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:28:00 -0000

Beef stew, potato soup, and most of all, chili: Those are the three foods I crave when fall comes. Making them at home is preferred, but sometimes you just don't want to bother. I recently asked Whining & Dining bloggers where to get good chili and this is what they had to offer: