This is Marie, writing the entry about Penzeys because I am the cook in the family. Penzeys is the kind of place that could make any cook weak at the knees. Imagine a room filled with wooden racks and shelves, the air scented with the smell of blended spices, and on every shelf and rack stands a glass jar containing a sample, which can be opened and sniffed and shaken. If you’ve ever stood in a store with a bottle or jar of something tempting in your hand and put it back because you didn’t want to risk $4 or $6 or $10 on something untried, this is the answer. Continue reading “Penzeys Spices, Memphis TN”
Swanky’s Taco Shop, Memphis TN
You have to love a place whose mascot is the spitting image of ex-Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy from those old Maxell tape advertisements, you know? Perhaps that wasn’t intentional, but once I sat down at Swanky’s location in Germantown, a suburb just east of Memphis packed absolutely full of places to spend money, and saw this sunglassed guy on my cup, I was reminded of ol’ grumpypants, sang a verse of “All Night Long” and enjoyed a good taco. Continue reading “Swanky’s Taco Shop, Memphis TN”
Cafe Eclectic, Memphis TN
Marie’s sister moved up to Memphis ages back to attend Rhodes College and decided to make the city her home. Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sold on the place, but there’s still a lot to like about it, particularly the people. We might have found the urban decay in the city center and the areas south of town quite disagreeable, but everywhere we went, we saw people really enjoying themselves, and restaurant workers who seemed to truly like their jobs. Continue reading “Cafe Eclectic, Memphis TN”
Boscos, Memphis TN
This is Marie, writing the entry about Boscos because I saw the place first. We were in Memphis this past weekend to visit my sister, and since we ate well all weekend, Grant asked me to contribute a chapter to help get us caught up. Continue reading “Boscos, Memphis TN”
Milo’s Hamburgers, Birmingham AL
Well, here’s the situation with our recent road trip to Memphis: we didn’t get to stop in Alabama for some white barbecue sauce. I had a place picked out and we were looking forward to it, but mercifully, I had the sense to double-check on the restaurant, located in the northwestern town of Hamilton, and learned that they’re not actually open for lunch on Saturdays. Insanity. Who ever heard of a barbecue joint that wasn’t open for lunch on a Saturday? Well, I say that, but they’re out there. The wonderful Hot Thomas in Watkinsville, near Athens, started a schedule some years back that’s basically the least convenient set of hours anybody ever tried to open, and never, madly, on Saturday. Continue reading “Milo’s Hamburgers, Birmingham AL”
White Tiger Gourmet, Athens GA
I forget where I first heard of this wonderful little place that opened in Athens last year, but it was almost certainly either from Hillary at Flagpole, or that delightful Foodieville WordPress blog which doesn’t get updated very frequently. Either way, somebody whose opinions I trust told me that there were some really good burgers waiting for me at the intersection of Boulevard and Hiawassee. My daughter and I stopped in one day in the spring to try it out and were very satisfied. Continue reading “White Tiger Gourmet, Athens GA”
Early Girl Eatery, Asheville NC
Last Sunday morning, we finally came to the end of our trip in Asheville, and had time for one last meal before checking out. Prior to our first visit in 2009, Marie had read about Early Girl Eatery, and heard it suggested as a reasonable alternate should Tupelo Honey Cafe be too packed. That’s really no way for a restaurant to get a reputation, and I didn’t think it was fair then. Having enjoyed one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in months here, I’m certainly opposed to thinking of it that way. Continue reading “Early Girl Eatery, Asheville NC”
Marie, Let's Eat! 