Memphis Photos

Photos by Mike Maple

  • Crazy Noodle poster
  • The Crazy Noodle for poster.
  • Mandou-guk dumpling soup is among noodle-based dishes on the menu at The Crazy Noodle on Madison in the old Umai space. The sauces and stocks are made fresh daily by cook Ji Won Choi.
  • Fat Larry's - poster
  • Country kitsch covers the walls of the clean, comfortable space at Fat Larry's on U.S. 70 in Bartlett. Seated at far right is owner 'Fat Larry' Mays.
  • The fried catfish fillets are meaty and clean-tasting, served hot from the fryer with a crisp cornmeal breading.
  • The chicken fried steak is a generous portion, like just about everything at Fat Larry's, where folks know how to fry.
  • Grilled Scottish Salmon at eighty3 food & drink.
  • Theater companies began auditions Friday at the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions at Playhouse on the Square. Trevor Leaderbrand, 23, of Chicago (left) gets a hug after his performance Friday morning from Stephen Anthony, 21, of Miami.
  • Trevor Leaderbrand, 23, of Chicago (in blue shirt) gets a hug from Stephen Anthony, 21, of Miami after Leaderbrand's performance Friday morning at the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions at Playhouse on the Square. The auditions continue through Monday.
  • Southern Hands - poster
  • Earl Baskin -- the Baskin family runs Southern Hands -- serves up some of the eatery's hearty home cooking at the location on Germantown Parkway.
  • The name 'Southern Hands' comes from family lore of the Baskin clan that runs the restaurants.
  • The fried pork chops -- served here with yams and greens on a bed of rice -- are one of the standout entrees at the Southern Hands Family Dining location on Germantown Parkway.
  • Joyce Cobb
  • Chef Robert Cirillo got off to a good start in 2011 with Bleu in the Westin.
  • The Elegant Farmer focuses on local products, with suppliers listed on its website and at the restaurant.
  • bleu- poster
  • Bleu-poster
  • Chef Robert Cirillo's multicultural heritage shows in some of the dishes on the menu at Bleu.
  • The latest restaurant to occupy the Westin Memphis Beale Street is Bleu, which serves these New Zealand lamb chops.
  • Bleu's dessert offerings include this chocolate molten cake. In addition to dinner, Bleu serves a good, inexpensive lunch as well as breakfast.
  • Asiana Garden for poster.
  • Los Pilares - poster
  • A crowded dining room at Los Pilares Mexican restaurant on Mt. Moriah is testament to the popularity of its dishes.
  • October 25, 2011 - The much anticipated opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville Arkansas will open Friday with a mindboggling collection of the best of American art. The brainchild of Walmart heiress Alice Walton, it is estimated to have cost more than $1.2 Billion. Famed architect Moshe Safdie created the structure on a 120 acres of Walton family land just off the square in Bentonville, not far from where Walmart founder Sam Walton had his first store. (Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal)
  • Green Beetle - poster
  • Josh Huckaby, owner of The Green Beetle, cites his Italian roots for the eatery's big portions, plus his customers' satisfied response to the fair-sized fare.
  • Meat-and-two at The Green Beetle on South Main may seem a bit pricey for lunchtime home cooking at around $10, but diners get their money's worth in giant portions such as the family-sized serving of lasagna or the pork chop and vegetables. And fine taste seals the dining deal.
  • In keeping with the big portions at The Green Beetle, a half-pound burger and its huge fries as accomplice are offered.
  • The Green Beetle has a New Orleans flair, opening to Main near the trolleys.
  • Memphis review - poster
  • The Broadway touring production of 'Memphis' runs through Oct. 23 at the Orpheum.
  • Dine-poster
  • Darryl Artison delivers some religious guitar playing at the 2009 Stone Soul Picnic at Tom Lee Park.
  • Peggy's - poster
  • Eddie Crenshaw had baked chicken, yams and greens for lunch at Peggy's Heavenly Home Cooking, 326 S. Cleveland, next to Printer's Alley. Other good choices are the fried catfish, patty melt or meatloaf.
  • The menu is like the food -- simple. When ordering a vegetable, choose the greens. Our reviewer loves 'em. And ask for the chow-chow, too.
  • Owner Peggy Brown has been cooking professionally for years.
  • City Market at 66 S. Main offers well-made sandwiches for both carnivores and vegetarians. All sandwiches come with house-fried potato chips, which you can also buy by the bag.
  • City Market offers soups, wraps, simple breakfasts and a number of locally made food products.
  • Chef Unza Taylor prepares the house-fried potato chips, a sandwich side done just right.
  • City Market sells grocery basics in addition to sandwiches and hot meals.
  • James Smith of Little Rock demonstrates one of his handmade duck calls during last year's Mid-South Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza.
  • Ernest Crawford is 96 years old, he will be 97 August 30. He loves to sit on the front porch of his Orange Mound home, where he has lived more than 60 years and swat fly's and tend his plants, especially the Elephant Ears. The heat does not bother Crawford, a retired construction worker, who helped build both the 100 North Main Building and the Coliseum. The heat index is 107 degrees, and Crawford tells his daughter, 'The winds a blowin', it's getting a little chilly.' Sometimes he will ask for his jacket. Ernest Crawford loves the heat.
  • Paulette's - poster
  • Paulette's core menu at the new location remains much the same as before the move. An old favorite, Filet Paulette, is cooked to perfection.
  • Elegant Farmer - poster
  • Xena Lovelady finishes plating a generously portioned dish of roast pork at The Elegant Farmer on Highland.
  • The Elegant Farmer occupies the site of the old Crumpets tea room in the back of an antiques shop on Highland.