Best Bets: Cheese fritters

Photo by Jeremy Kendall, Copyright Jeremy Kendall

Jeremy Kendall Cheese Fritters from Amerigo are the adult take on fried cheese.

The definition of turophile is a connoisseur of cheese or a cheese fancier. If you look it up, you should find a picture of me next to it. I will eat any cheese put in front of me, even the stinky kind, and I'll do it with a smile on my face.

As much as I love a good cheese, I'm also always game for the classic, rubber cheese–fried mozzarella sticks. When I order an appetizer, that's generally what I get and I feel no shame. Up until about a year ago, my little cousin, Lily, would eat nothing else … and she wouldn't share.

I'm happy to report that I've found the adult version of fried cheese. If you haven't tried the cheese fritters at Amerigo, you need to put it on your to-do list.

I can only describe them as fried cheese heaven. They're a blend of cheeses, battered and deep fried to a golden brown, and served with marinara and honey mustard sauce. I don't think of honey mustard and fried cheese as being a good match, but it works. It works beautifully.

The presentation is pretty impressive. They're piled high on top of the two sauces. The garnish is just enough to make you think that they're really fancy. I don't generally pay much attention to plating, but as I become more and more obsessed with cooking reality shows, I realize how important it really is. I think Amerigo would make Gordon Ramsey proud.

We shared the full order of the cheese fritters, but you can also order a small size, which is probably better if you're eating a full meal. They fill you up with their gooey goodness. A full order is $9.50, a small is $6. If you make it there while they're serving from the early bird menu, you can get a small order for just $4.

I'm really not joking when I say that I could probably eat them every day. Luckily for me, Amerigo is enough out of my way that I probably won't end up there on a daily basis. Thank goodness.

Amerigo, 1239 Ridgeway Road; 901-761-4000. Open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Early Bird Menu served daily 4-6 p.m.

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