http://www.memphisflyer.com/blogs/HungryMemphis/ Comments On: Hungry Memphis en-us Copyright 2009 Memphis Flyer. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Memphis Flyer readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Memphis Flyer. wil@desert.net (Memphis Flyer Webmaster) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0600 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:45:00 -0600 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
Either way, it's an awesome shop. Great knowledge, great food, really nice people.
Posted by mad_merc]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:33:00 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Powergamz]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:52 -0600 Memphis Flyer
And when he comes to Memphis he complains that the dry rub is too dry? And leaves without visiting Paynes?

Sheesh.. what's next someone from North Carolina complaining that we don't put enough turpentine on our possum for their liking?
Posted by Powergamz]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:50:06 -0600 Memphis Flyer
The Clines are always helpful with pointing you to the right tools and giving expert advice on whatever you're thinking about making.
Posted by Susan Ellis]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:39:47 -0600 Memphis Flyer The Flyer should do a best kept secrets edition. It would be great for those of us who haven't lived here all our lives. It's really difficult to find out about these kinds of hidden gems in this town.

Posted by cdel]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:54:26 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by mad_merc]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:11:04 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Phlo]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:23:01 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by 38103]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:53:05 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Shane of Memphis]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:55:48 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by B]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:17:55 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Pam Denney]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:01:31 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by GrantParish]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:23 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Stacey Greenberg]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:42:13 -0600 Memphis Flyer My email address is: kerigerosa@yahoo.com. I have several portfolios of work from various parties, private homes and galleries I wuold be thrilled to share with you.
Posted by kg6000]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:29:00 -0600 Memphis Flyer
Having said all of that I do love what they're doing there and wish that we had more restaurants stepping out there and creating new and exciting dishes, as well as spinning traditional ideas upside down. I do agree that the food scene here is getting better everyday, but PG is right that we have way too many mediocre (at best) places that people think are just great for some reason.
Posted by mad_merc]]> Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:13:41 -0600 Memphis Flyer
the best of memphis is a reader's poll, not a staff poll. although we usually include some type of "staff picks" editorial, the winners of the nearly 125 ballot categories are chosen by readers. we just tally the ballots.
Posted by Molly Willmott]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:34:25 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Jeff]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:10:29 -0600 Memphis Flyer If there were dozens of local places in each category serving food that was head and shoulders above the chains, I would expect the polls to reflect that. It isn't reflected here, for whatever reason... local tastes, or shortage of competition.

@Chris I agree that the whole 'you only get so many chances to make a first impression' concept can go against being fair to those who make a place popular.
Nonetheless, that's the best explanation I can come up with for the extremely popular local places that I've found lacking.

Food is somewhat subjective anyway, and I'll stand by my assessment that the popular chains I listed as indicative of local tastes are a far cry from what I call great food.
So the question is more, are the Flyer polls compared to my personal experiences a valid measure of local tastes?

BTW, I do like a lot of the places that have won over the yeas, a few places I really like barely rate a mention (La Trenga), and some places I've been forced by business or other circumstances to eat at repeatedly and they just aren't going to get any better ever, no matter how many years they win (unnamed Italian place at Appling and Stage springs unpleasantly to mind).

Based on the comments here, I'm quite willing to revisit BJs and see what I find.
(But I draw the line at Lenny's).
Posted by Powergamz]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:23:45 -0600 Memphis Flyer
The chains you've mentioned haven't dominated "Best of" for years now. I see that as a good thing and something to build on. ...


In any case, I think everyone here is trying to tell you to give Brother Junipers another chance. If it's horrible on the third time, then that's that.


Posted by Susan Ellis]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:52:13 -0600 Memphis Flyer
And they aren't 'my views', they are the Flyer's assessment of local tastes.
Notice that I left out chains that won in a category relevant to their chain strengths, like Best Happy Hour, Best for Kids, Best Delivery, and Best Fried Chicken, and only pointed out the ones voted as best food compared to good local places. That is a pretty telling slice of the demographic.

Memphis has some wonderful food, and some good food, and entirely too much 'just OK' food to be had, but again, popularity and excellence are not always synonymous, and no place is perfect every visit, every dish.

What Memphis does *not* have is a surfeit of places with wonderful food, so quit trying to shoot the messenger and pretend that negative comments about a favorite place are heresy.

Maybe they were having a bad day, maybe it was someone who no longer works there, maybe I didn't have the same experience as the 'regulars', or any number of things, but how can anyone fix problems if no one speaks up and mentions them?




Posted by Powergamz]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:30:33 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Chris Davis]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:29:46 -0600 Memphis Flyer
There are still chains that wind up in the list, to be sure, but they are in the far minority.

My point-- Memphis has progressed greatly foodwise. A good thing for everybody.
Posted by Susan Ellis]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:43:36 -0600 Memphis Flyer
No need to get defensive just because someone *else* got an omelet that was sliding off the plate, stale bread, lukewarm coffee and Dublin caliber service.

Apparently they weren't at their best when I was there... it happens.

And I was talking about the people who vote year after year for chains like IHOP, Lenny's Subs, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks's in the Best of Memphis.

Popular and great may be synonymous for some folks, but MMMV.
Posted by Powergamz]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:34:15 -0600 Memphis Flyer Posted by Chris Davis]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:37:09 -0600 Memphis Flyer
The coffee is always fresh and excellent. The spanakopita omelets are scrumptious. There are mornings when I'd trade my birthright (such as it is) for a slice of the homemade straun toast. They have changed the biscuit recipe, which makes me sad. Those giant doughy whole wheat monsters the size of a baby's head nourished me in grad school.

I've chowed down from coast to coast and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. To get a better first meal (daily) you've at least got to drive to Chicago or New Orleans where you will find dream diners and breakfast artists. Nothing on BJ's menu can compare to the Beauty Shop's "hash" and if you're expecting a Peabody brunch, you'll be let down. But for a daily diner, it's a pretty special place.
Posted by Chris Davis]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:35:36 -0600 Memphis Flyer