Go Memphis Stories: Dining

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:

Dining Review: New Que Huong brings Saigon Le flavor to Collierville

burch@commercialappeal.com (Peggy Burch) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0000

Tuyen Le is having a personal and culinary renaissance in Collierville. The restaurant she opened in June, where she is very much at home and very much in charge, is New Que Huong; in English, "New Homeland." It's about 25 miles east of the characterful Midtown site of Saigon Le, where she started in the Memphis food business. Her new place is in an unremarkable shopping center on Poplar. But the food she's generating from this kitchen is often remarkable.

Go Taste

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0000

Want to get out and have something good to eat or drink this week? Consider the following:

Best Bets: Tex-Mex

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:13:00 -0000

Just about everyone adores Mexican food, but let's show a little love for Tex-Mex, cheese dip and all. Whining & Dining bloggers recently shared their thoughts on good local Tex-Mex: Don Gale gives a thumbs up to both El Nopal and El Mezcal (each have multiple locations, though he points out the East Memphis El Mezcal at 402 Perkins Ext. is his favorite.

Meet the Chef: Keith Riley

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:32:00 -0000

Sunday dinners at Grandmother's house made a big impact on Keith Riley, executive chef at Cafe 1912. "Every Sunday she would cook a big dinner. My whole family would get together. It was just something about the food. It was my favorite day. My favorite would have to be chicken and dressing."

Dining Review: Mexican fare a fairly Simple, tasty bargain

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:05:00 -0000

Rarely have I seen more anticipation about the opening of a simple little restaurant than that of Las Delicias' second location. I fielded phone calls and answered e-mails almost daily after writing that the tiny and popular Mexican eatery in Hickory Hill would open a larger spot at Getwell and Goodlett. It didn't take long for folks to start coming through the doors. There was a fair crowd on the first Saturday for lunch, a good one on a Friday afternoon a week or two later, and every table in the main dining room was full last Friday night.

Go Taste

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0000

Want something good to eat or drink? Consider the following: Explore German beer, spirits and wine at Oktoberfest at the Great Wines & Spirits tasting at Salsa restaurant, 6150 Poplar, 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Informal, drop-by format. $5 per person, credited toward any same-day purchase at Great Wines (one refund certificate per bottle, please). Call 682-1333 with questions.

Meet the Chef: Antony Field

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:20:00 -0000

Success as a chef is about managing money as well as making great food, says Antony Field, executive chef at Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar. "If you're gonna have a long stay as a chef, you also have to make money. We all like to be creative and we all like to do different things, but if people don't like your food and the restaurant doesn't make any money, you won't be around very long."

Best Bets: Breakfast sliders

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:41:00 -0000

I love an egg sandwich, and I also like a sandwich with the unexpected addition of a fried egg. The Amazing Island Club Sandwich at Bardog Tavern Downtown comes to mind when I think of the latter, so when I heard the fine folks there were serving breakfast sliders, I figured I needed to take a trip. The sandwich pictured here contains a fried egg, served with spicy mayonnaise, ham, cheese and bacon on a soft bun.