Thursday | 11:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Sound Bites
S7E20: Grind City Coffee Xpo
Calling all coffee lovers! Grind City Coffee Xpo celebrates all things coffee, with a “buzz-worthy” morning filled with tastings and demonstrations.
S7E19: Chris Herrington on (surprise!) food, basketball and music
Chris Herrington joins Eric Barnes on Sound Bites.
S7E18: Creating cozy vibes and comfort food for fall
Cookbook author Andrea LeTard is all about autumn, and she offers a cornucopia of ideas for creating a cozy atmosphere and celebrating through the autumn and into the winter holidays.
S7E17: Short ribs, grits and grilled cheese at The Public Bistro
Need a Memphis first date idea? Kate Ashby’s two Cooper-Young restaurants fit the bill for posh but unfussy spots with approachable food. She’s the guest on this week’s Sound Bites dining podcast.
S7E16: Staff shout-outs, part five
This year on the Sound Bites podcast, Holly Whitfield interviewed members of our digital desk team, advertising staff, reporters and even our CEO to reveal what Daily Memphian staffers are really out here eating in these Mid-South streets. Now it’s time for the fifth part of our Daily Memphian staffer interview series.
Surprise! It's The Sidebar!: Jennifer Chandler on the state of restaurants in Memphis
This week, were flipping the script and sending you an episode of The Sidebar. This episode from July has Tim Barker and food and dining reporter Jennifer Chandler with host Eric Barnes as they talk about many complicated issues facing restaurants as they close and others open.
S7E15: New taproom opens Downtown
Memphis Filling Station opened a taproom in South Main, and two of its owners are the guests on this week’s Sound Bites podcast.
S7E14: Opa! It's time for Memphis Greek Festival
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_Greek_Fest_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Make plans to go to the 65th annual Memphis Greek Festival this weekend - and go hungry! In this week’s Sound Bites, we talk all about the food at this two-day event.
S7E13: Staff shout-outs, part four
Here's part four of our special Sound Bites series where Daily Memphian staffers share their Memphis food hot takes, favorite restaurants and more.
S7E12: Home Place Pastures Boucherie is a nose-to-tail chef competition
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_Boucherie_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
The 8th annual Home Place Pastures Boucherie will feature 15 chefs competing to see who can make the best dish using lessor known cuts of meat.
S7E11: Sweet LaLa’s cookies to be sold in almost 650 Love’s travel centers
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_Sweet_Lalas_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Love’s recently selected Sweet Lala’s as its fundraiser cookie for the entire month of September. Proceeds from the purchases will benefit the local Children’s Miracle Network in each store’s community.
S7E10: ASBEE World Kosher BBQ Contest and Festival returns after a three-year break
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_kosher_bbq_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Every thing but pork is on the menu for the 33rd Annual ASBEE World Kosher BBQ Contest and Festival. The event touted as “The Greatest Kosher BBQ Competition in the World” is August 25.
S7E9: Lights! Camera! Action! Thanks to QVC, these are three words that Corky’s BBQ owner Jimmy Stovall knows well.
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_Jimmy_Stovall_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
QVC stopped by Corky’s BBQ this week in honor of the restaurant’s 40th anniversary.
S7E8: How restaurants price your favorite meals
Ben Smith, owner of Tsunami in Cooper-Young, said he is worried about the fate of small, independent restaurants. Smith said that one of the biggest issues has been inflation and ingredient costs fluctuating more rapidly than they ever have before.
S7E7: The sweet story of Muddy's Bake Shop, and how to get an insider's look
Kat Gordon and Jennifer Chandler talk about the evolution of Muddy’s Bake Shop, and share how you can enjoy a behind-the-scenes opportunity to visit the bakery.
S7E6: The sweet story behind Sugar Ghost Ice Cream & Bubble Tea
Mary Claire White discusses how she opened Sugar Ghost Ice Cream & Bubble Tea, and how she comes up with her creative flavors. Fun fact: Her story involves an ice cream school!
S7E5: Memphis Made Brewing Co. starts a new chapter in the Edge District
Memphis Made Brewing Co. celebrates the grand opening of its new taproom and brewery this weekend. Here’s what to expect.
S7E4: Two Memphis bartenders, a B.O.T.E. and a world of fruity drinks
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/sound_bites_07102024__FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Mary Oglesby and Paul Gilliam opened Mary’s B.O.T.E. after hosting a popular theme night at their other Midtown bar.
S7E3: Elwood's Tim Bednarski loves a hot dog
Looking for a hot dog in Memphis? Elwood’s Shack owner Tim Bednarski has a whole menu section dedicated to hot dogs.
S7E2: Fondue, Raclette and all things cheese with the owners of Greys
On this week’s Sound Bites, Jennifer Chandler sits down with Greys Fine Cheeses and Entertaining owners Jackie Mau and Kurt Mullican to talk about all things cheesy - including their new dinner menu, a cheese competition and their shop.
S7E1: Craft Food & Wine Festival celebrates city's food artisans
Craft Food & Wine Festival is a tasting event that celebrates local food artisans and their delicious creations. Here’s what you can expect to find (and taste) at this annual festival.
S6E21: Introducing food writer Jennifer Chandler
Jennifer Chandler shares her plans for The Daily Memphian’s food beat, from the return of the Table Talk column to recipe exchanges to future podcast guests.
S6E20: How to celebrate National Cheese Day in Memphis
In honor of National Cheese Day, June 4, this week’s Sound Bites is about that most exquisite of human inventions: cheese.
S6E19: Le Bon Appetit preview, Memphis chefs history
Holly Whitfield and Natalie Van Gundy talk about Le Bon Appetit and use the local chef lineup as a guide to talk their way through a list of standout chefs and restaurant history.
S6E18: Smoke clears after barbecue battles and big chicken news
This week on Sound Bites, Chris Herrington and I follow up with the Jerry’s Sno Cones rumors we discussed last week — and spoiler alert, the news was not good.
S6E17: Cheddar biscuits and sno cone closures
On this week’s Sound Bites, Chris Herrington and I go through a big list of local food news, complete with some Memphis restaurant history and annotations.
S6E16: Memphis in May barbecue judging secrets
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_05082024__FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
How do hundreds of judges choose the best smoked pork barbecue (and more!) from more than 120 teams at Memphis in May? Barbecue judge chairs Michelle and Brandon O’Guin sit down with Holly on this week’s podcast to discuss.
S6E15: Staff shout-outs, part three
Here’s part three of our special Sound Bites series where Daily Memphian staffers share their Memphis food hot takes, date night ideas, lunch plans and more.
This week, Holly Whitfield sits down with digital desk manager Elle Perry, digital producer Nick Lingerfelt and reporter Sophia Surrett for rapid-fire interviews.
S6E14: Staff shout-outs, part two
Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield riff on Memphis barbecue and hot slaw as the Tennessee state foods, wine menus and water pet peeves. Plus, Eric offers a surprise airport food shout-out and everybody talks about their successful first date locations.
S6E13: Staff shout-outs, part one
Hot takes, date ideas and breakfast opinions are all on the menu for this week’s special edition of Sound Bites, featuring quick interviews with Daily Memphian staffers.
S6E12: Downtown lunch spots, spring festivals
This week on “Sound Bites,” Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington discuss a few recent items of Downtown restaurant news, including the re-opening of the Front Street Deli, the renovations at Huey’s and the announcement of Frank’s Biscuits & Briskets coming to the former Bedrock Eats location on South Main.
S6E11: Whataburger, West African BBQ and more
This week on “Sound Bites,” Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington take in the breaking news that a location of the Texas-based fast-food franchise Whataburger could be Midtown bound.
S6E10: Live pastries, dive bars and a trip to Harbor Town
This week on “Sound Bites,” Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington dined on pastries from Crosstown’s Lucy J’s Bakery and dished on some recent local food news.
S6E9: Black Restaurant Week, Downtown dining tips
This week on “Sound Bites,” Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington highlight a few favorites from the Black Restaurant Week slate and go deep on where they’d eat, and where they’d send visitors, within walking distance of FedExForum, from early morning and late-night dining to coffee shops and a soda fountain.
S6E8: New Memphis guide book shares must-eats
In this week’s episode of Sound Bites, Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield discuss “100 Things To Do In Memphis Before You Die”.
S6E7: Discussing Muddy’s Bake Shop’s ‘sweet sixteen’
Last week, Muddy’s Bake Shop celebrated its “Sweet Sixteen,” and Chris Herrington talked to owner Kat Gordon about the accordion-style expand-and-contract evolution of a little bakery that’s become a Memphis institution.
On this week’s “Sound Bites,” he and Holly Whitfield discuss some different angles of that story.
S6E6: Talking breakfast, with Memphis faves and great debates
Recently, Daily Memphian contributor Christin Yates highlighted 10 Memphis restaurants with a breakfast bent. On Sound Bites this week, Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington muse over the restaurants mentioned in the story, noting their faves and places they still need to try.
S6E5: Party food favorites and Memphis restaurant news
Digital director Holly Whitfield and columnist Chris Herrington react to a bunch of recent Memphis food news, from a notable restaurant closing in the Edge District to some exciting soon-to-open news places in Cooper-Young and Overton Square.
S6E4: Bold burgers, barbecue battles and more
On this week’s episode of “Sound Bites,” Holly Whitfield returns from her dark Memphis winter with a tales of burst pipes and combined pantries. She and Chris Herrington also talk about, and riff on, some recent Memphis food news.
S6E3: How Southern are you?
In honor of National Southern Food Day, Chris Herrington put Southern transplant Eric Barnes to the test on this week’s edition of Sound Bites, a hit-the-road edition recorded at Crosstown Concourse.
S6E2: Memphis restaurants we miss
This week on The Daily Memphian's Sound Bites podcast, Chris Herrington and Holly Whitfield hold a remembrance of restaurants past.
Noting a flurry of recent local restaurant closings, from Midtown’s Pho Binh to Edge District pioneers Edge Alley to partial closures and relocations such as Germantown’s Let it Fly sports bar and Cooper Street’s Mo’ Bay Beignet Co., they look back a little bit further at some of the local spots they liked that got away.
S6E1: Food trends for 2024
Chris Herrington and Holly Whitfield sift through various national food trend stories to weigh in on topics such as “vegetable forward” restaurants, savory cocktails, Spam, solo dining and spicy drinks and desserts, looking for Memphis connections along the way.
S5E40: Best of 2023
Eric Barnes, Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington take turns this week paying tribute to some of the most memorable food experiences they had in Memphis this year, from new restaurants to established faves revisited, from “reservations please” places to fried chicken on the river and grocery store takeout corners.
S5E39: Sound Bites New Year's edition
Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield talk toast-worthy drinks, bar favorites and New Year’s events around town.
S5E38: Winter holiday food talk
On this week’s show, Natalie Van Gundy, Holly Whitfield and I talk about winter holiday foods, with an emphasis on sweets and grazing.
S5E37: A pizza party with a survey of Memphis favorites
From Downtown to Collierville, soft to crisp, thin to thick, meaty to meatless, we discuss our favorite Memphis pizza spots and what are go-to orders are at each.
S5E36: Thanksgiving food hot takes
In this episode of Sound Bites, Chris Herrington and Holly Whitfield break down the epic battles that happen on the Thanksgiving table. Is turkey actually good? Which preparation method is the best for the big bird? Do we like dressing or stuffing? (Does anyone actually stuff the turkey with stuffing anymore?)
S5E35: Food Gift Guide
In this episode, Bianca Phillips, Natalie Van Gundy and Holly Whitfield go through their lists of food-inspired gift ideas. Think: special bottles of locally-distilled bourbon, a cute tea party experience, international snack packs and Memphis made treats.
S5E34: Meet The Daily Memphian’s restaurant real estate reporter
If you follow The Daily Memphian’s food or business sections, you’ve likely seen a new byline coming through on restaurant-related business stories: Sophia Surrett.
S5E33: Best places to work remotely in Memphis
In this episode of Sound Bites, Eric Barnes, Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington discuss the must-haves for laptop-friendly locations (it’s more than just good Wi-Fi) and then share their favorite spots to knock out some writing, emails, meetings or even paying bills.
S5E32: Our favorite Memphis brewery taprooms
In this episode of Sound Bites, Natalie Van Gundy and Holly Whitfield join Eric Barnes to talk about which local brewery taprooms have the best atmosphere, our favorite patios and the most delicious food options.
S5E31: WYXR Fall Pledge Drive 2023
Eric Barnes, Chris Herrington and Holly Whitfield are live in the WYXR studio for a Sound Bites/The Sidebar "Home and Away".
S5E30: Road trip food favorites and a potential BBQ relocation
Inspired by a road trip later this week, Chris Herrington quizzed colleagues Holly Whitfield and Natalie Van Gundy about gas-station grub habits, or maybe its weaknesses.
S5E29: Overton Square closings, new Midtown bar, Majestic Grille brunch
Openings, closings, expansions, comebacks, updates. Restaurants are always busy being born and sometimes busy dying. This week on Sound Bites, digital director Holly Whitfield and columnist Chris Herrington discuss a few bits of recent Memphis restaurant news.
S5E28: Ten ways to eat chicken in Memphis, ranked
On this week’s pod, inspired by El Pollo Latino’s chicken-forward menu, Chris Herrington ranks 10 familiar ways to prepare (and consume) chicken, counting them down from 10 to one, discussing where he goes for each in Memphis.
S5E27: Pronto Pups, funnel cakes and other fair/festival faves
In this week’s Sound Bites, producer Natalie Van Gundy and columnist Chris Herrington talk about some recent Memphis restaurant news: A new Elwood’s Shack looming, the opening of Hive Bagel & Deli, and more. But then they talk fair and fest food. Natalie brings clarity to the Pronto Pup vs. corn dog question. (Or, um, party dogs?) Chris issues a warning on the subject of funnel cakes. And they discuss their wish list for fair and festival foods we wish we saw more of at Memphis events.
S5E26: Buster’s Butcher, Petals of a Peony and more
On this week’s Sound Bites, food section contributor Joshua Carlucci and Chris Herrington discussed a couple of exciting new additions to the Memphis food scene that they’ve respectively written about in the past week and have each visited.
S5E25: Coffee shop news, grocery shopping habits
On this week’s Sound Bites, digital director Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington pour over the week’s food news for items of particular interest, landing on a bevy of coffee-shop happenings, including the University District’s Belltower Coffeehouse taking over the empty snack-shop space at Shelby Farms, and the return of a south-of-Downtown dive bar.
S5E24: Germantown Parkway eats, Liquor Store and more
On this week’s Sound Bites, digital director Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington talk about some food stories they each recently written and one recent Memphis food event they both missed.
S5E23: Our Favorite Food Media
S5E22: Where to eat vegan in Memphis
Sound Bites gets 'vegan crunk' with Bianca Phillips.
S5E21: Memphis coffee breakdown
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/SOund_Bites_07-19-2023_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Holly Whitfield joins CEO Eric Barnes and video and podcast producer Natalie Van Gundy for a lively discussion on their favorite cafes, where they’d take visiting java snobs and how they each make our coffee at home. (Spoiler alert: the approaches vary wildly!)
S5E20: Pambazos, baleadas and other recent Memphis food finds
Chris Herrington talks with Joshua Carlucci, a former chef and teacher who’s become a regular contributor to the Daily Memphian food section.
S5E19: Where to take visiting friends to eat in Memphis
If you’ve ever hosted folks visiting Memphis, you know the situation: your family is coming to town for a weekend or some old friends are finally making good on a long-promised visit to Memphis.
Maybe they love the city, maybe they’re not yet sold.
Either way, you want to show them a great time.
S5E18: For seven years now, ‘Memphis’ + ‘summer’ has meant Mempops
From stores to trailers, carts to coolers, Mempops has become an inseparable part of Memphis summers.
S5E17: The joys of summer
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/soundbites_05312023FINAL_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=1743056
The tomatoes are coming.
S5E16: Assorted Lay's chips
With 19 bags of assorted Lay’s potato chip flavors, four of us crinkled bags and crunched chips for a home and away Sound Bites and The Sidebar.
S5E15: Finding the non-traditional in BBQ shops
Not feeling the ribs or a barbecue sandwich? It’s OK, we got you. Try some of these non-traditional dishes in barbecue restaurants.
S5E14: Talking falafel waffle and more with Eli Townsend
Eli Townsend’s new Dos Hermanos Kitchen inside the Cossitt Library is where he feels he’s meant to be, except in the winters, when he’ll be running another place in Rhode Island.
S5E13: A conversation with Eric Barnes about food, drinks and WYXR
Eric Barnes joins the Daily Memphian food editor on Sound Bites.
S5E12: Bog & Barley and cake
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/sound_bites_04102023_FINAL_USE.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Bog & Barley is all it’s cracked up to be; Jennifer and Chris talk about the new East Memphis restaurant on Sound Bites, and talk of Easter meals leads to talk of cakes, as many roads do.
S5E11: New eats and the history of Seessel's
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/sound_bites_04062023_FINAL_FINAL_USE.mp3?dest-id=1743056
There was the recipe for the Seessel’s Lemon Butter Pie, of course, but Chris and Jennifer also talked about the history of the beloved hometown grocery, which was started by Henry Seessel, known as the ‘Great Butcher of Memphis.’
S5E10: We love brownies, so why don't we exalt them like pie?
Sure, most of us liked brownies when we were kids and plenty of us still do, but what’s keeping it from having its heyday?
S5E9: Spice itself is the spice of life, at least in the kitchen
Keeping the pantry stocked with spices is key to be able to cook up a good meal; Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington discuss the most important ones.
S5E8: Tamale talk
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington just wrote about tamales, and on this week’s Sound Bites, they talk about them too.
S5E7: A thoroughly different king cake, and a new vegan bakery
We continue talk of cakes not just fit for but named for kings, and talk about the food news of the week on this week’s Sound Bites.
S5E6: Broccoli's reign could be upon us; time for pancakes and king cakes
Mardi Gras cometh and with it, king cakes, pancakes and all manner of delicious food. And can broccoli win a cage match with Brussels sprouts?
S5E5: Biscuits, Beard, favorite foods and favorite tofu preps in town
On this week’s Sound Bites, Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about the Porcellino’s biscuit recipe (Chris made ‘em) and plenty of this and that.
S5E4: Ranking the Panta popup, Izzy & Adam's, The Gray Canary closing
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk over the details of a newsy week in food.
S5E3: If Panta wasn't going to Portugal, where should it go?
Jennifer and Chris brainstorm some food they’d like to see Kelly English serve at his series of popups, but they can’t manage to feed themselves breakfast reliably.
S5E2: Ranking French fries, worst to best
You know you have a favorite kind of French fry, whether it’s a shoestring, fast food fries or waffle cut. So do Jennifer and Chris, and we talk about it on Sound Bites.
S5E1: The best foods of 2022
It was a better year than 2021 and 2020; in fact, 2022 saw a flurry of new restaurants open toward the end of the year and served up some tasty dishes all year long.
S4E64: Merry traditions, from the breakfast table to the cocktail shaker
The Biggs and Herrington households like a nice breakfast on Christmas Day, and we say hold the fruitcake. But we respect your right to love it if that’s what makes your Yuletide bright.
S4E63: Sunrise, Corky's, The Lobbyist and Cocozza, all now open or coming soon
New restaurants have just opened or are within days or weeks of opening their doors: Which ones excite you?
S4E62: Asian food favorites
A $10 Deal inspires Jennifer and Chris to take a virtual trip around town, talking about favorite Asian restaurants from Chinese to Vietnamese and more.
S4E61: Let us all eat cake
A chocolate layer cake, a fancy Russian honey cake (oh my) or a dense and delicious carrot cake: They all have a place in our hearts and on our plates.
S4E60: Memphis Coffee Shop Guide
Chris Herrington’s three-part Memphis Coffee Shop Guide concluded last week and he and Jennifer Biggs talk about on Sound Bites.
S4E59: Thanksgiving is the time for favorites
Thanksgiving is a time to put your favorite folks — your family — around a table of your favorite foods and appreciate the good things in your life.
S4E58: $10 Deals we've loved
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington discuss some of their favorite $10 Deals over the past few years.
S4E57: Grind City Coffee Xpo organizer Daniel Lynn
On this week’s Sound Bites, Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington were joined by Daniel Lynn, an organizer of the now-annual Grind City Coffee Xpo.
S4E56: A candy throw down in the studio
Last year we ate odd Kit Kat flavors; this year, it was a contest to pick our favorite everyday candy for Halloween.
S4E55: Cookies and pastries take Sound Bites to a sweet sugar high
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington show up in the studio with Makeda’s cookies and Blanchard’s pastries, and the conversation turns to those two.
S4E54: Memphis Food and Wine Festival is back for a big party
The Memphis Food and Wine Festival is back at Radians Amphitheatre at the Memphis Botanic Garden on Oct. 15, and chef co-chairs Jose Gutierrez and Wally Joe stop by Sound Bites to talk good things.
S4E53: Talking over that 20 minutes in 'The Bear'
One episode of ‘The Bear’ is only 20 minutes long, but painful to watch for anyone who’s ever worked in a restaurant; Jennifer and Chris talk over food on television and in the cinema.
S4E52: Chloe and Tam, perseverance and pop-ups
Chloe Sexton and Tamra Patterson have followed their dreams despite hard times, and both are seeing their success grow; Jennifer & Chris go to Steve & Todd’s.
S4E51: What's it like to eat everything on the menu?
On this week’s Sound Bites, Chris Herrington and Jennifer Biggs talk about the format of Every Single Thing, the exhaustive new review system we’ll use from time to time.
S4E50: Sandwiches around town, at home, and from all over
Jennifer and Chris talk about sandwiches, the kind you make at home and the kind you order out, and it turns out that someone doesn’t like a muffuletta.
S4E49: Dan Conaway's Tasteful List gets a preview
On Sound Bites, Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk with Daily Memphian columnist Dan Conaway about his upcoming Tasteful List 2022.
S4E48: The worst and best fast-food burgers
To celebrate the arrival of Whataburger to the metro area, Jennifer Biggs, Chris Herrington and Eric Barnes rank fast-food burgers from worst to best.
S4E47: Elvis lives on--or at least he did in a story written long ago
It’s Elvis Week, so Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about what was in the 12,000 calories Elvis reportedly consumed daily.
S4E46: Reviews are back, and everything, it turns out, is rankable
On this week’s Sound Bites, Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about the return of official dining reviews to The Daily Memphis.
S4E45: Carrier's influence on Memphis dining, mole-a-que and more
On Sound Bites, Jennifer and Chris gab about the food news and features of the last week, including Karen Carrier’s influence on the restaurant scene over the years.
S4E44: Chef Meredith Clinton talks speakeasies, gas station grub and more
Chris Herrington is joined by Black Sheep Catering’s Meredith Clinton to talk about the plans for her new South Main speakeasy Lucky Cowboy and about her journey from Hayti, Missouri, gas stations to the Memphis food scene.
S4E43: Change is for the better
Jennifer Biggs talks to Eric Barnes about what he eats for breakfast, his go-to snack, the Skittles controversy and her belief that, apparently, all change is for the better.
S4E42: The Summer series has ended, but that leaves you with plenty of eating to come
Jennifer and Chris talk about the Summer Avenue series, and each name their five most notable places in the tour.
S4E41: The beating heart of Summer Avenue
Jennifer and Chris talk about Summer Avenue, part three.
S4E40: Summer Avenue from Highland to Waring
The second installment of our Summer Avenue tour takes us to diverse places such as Nagasaki, Willie Mae’s, and two favorite Mexican restaurants.
S4E39: Summer Avenue, part 1
On this week’s Sound Bites, Jennifer and Chris talk about the first leg of their Summer Avenue tour, from East Parkway to Highland.
S4E38: Whether you go to the food or the food comes to you, a taste of a different city is nice
Chris and Jennifer talk about food they’ve recently eaten and the talk turns to the creative street food dishes that they both like so much.
S4E37: Eric and Jennifer talk favorite restaurants, whiskey, wine and some TV
It’s like an underfunded ‘Seinfeld’ on a podcast: We’ll call this one the pod about nothing with Eric and Jennifer.
S4E36: Farmers markets are for more than fruit and vegetables; homemade ice cream means summer
Jennifer and Chris share their holiday menus, talk over recent food news, and dive deeper in farmers markets and homemade ice cream.
S4E35: Memorial Day means it's time to fire up the grill and drag out the ice cream machine
Memorial Day is the de facto start of summer, so it’s time to talk summer foods on this week’s Sound Bites.
S4E34: Everyone wants Memphis in May in a park
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk it over: Memphis in May is headed back to Tom Lee Park, but some people like Liberty Park better.
S4E33: Recipes from local chefs and loyal readers make for good eating
We believe recipes are meant to be shared, and so do some generous local chefs and loyal readers.
S4E32: Fancy's Fish House, Flip Side, and dining with a river view
There’s a new fish restaurant in town, and it comes with a river view. In Crosstown, the new place is all about pinball machines.
S4E31: One thing never missing from Memphis food scene -- an opinion
Maybe you miss a Chicago style hot dog, maybe a Chicago deep dish pizza, maybe you want restaurants to stay open later or want a local diner. What do you think the Memphis restaurant scene needs?
S4E30: The pros and cons of meal kits; mail bag time
Meal kits can be a time saver, but having them on hand doesn’t always mean you’re going to be motivated to cook; we dive into the mail bag.
S4E29: Memphis Black Restaurant Week
Founder Cynthia Daniels talks about what the week means.
S4E28: Folk's Folly and Chipotle
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk over Chris’s first Folk’s Folly experience, and talk about Chipotle opening on Summer Avenue.
S4E27: Fried chicken continued, Side Porch, Iris and more
The fried chicken discussion continues, and Jennifer and Chris also talk about the new Restaurant Iris and Bartlett’s Side Porch Steakhouse on this week’s Sound Bites.
S4E26: Fried chicken in four camps (and then there's chocolate)
Whether it’s a sit-down meal or a bucket to-go, there’s something about fried chicken that satisfies the Southern in all of us.
S4E25: Pizza - New York, Neapolitan, New Haven, even Memphis-style
National Pizza Day is Feb. 9, so we discuss the best pizzas in Memphis and while our lists match up a little, they also differ.
S4E24: Inquiring minds want to know
This week Chris and Jennifer talk a little about recent meals then open for the mail bag. Iris is coming soon, Joes’ is not a lost cause by any stretch, and the P.O. Press carrots--mmm.
S4E23: The ideal Southern meal
Fried chicken or barbecue? Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes? And why didn’t we even mention squash or coleslaw? Chris and Jennifer talk Southern food on Sound Bites.
S4E22: The Never Have I Ever list
Is a trip to Jerry’s Sno Cones REALLY a trip to Jerry’s if you don’t get a Supreme? We talk it over: Ice cream in your snow cone vs. straight up.
S4E21: Science of Beer is back on Friday; listen to what to expect
Science of Beer returns to the Pink Palace on Friday as MoSH returns to its pre-pandemic event schedule.
S4E20: 2022 brings a few changes; 2021 left us changed
Chris Herrington and Jennifer Biggs discuss the end of 2021 and what’s ahead for 2022 in food.
S4E19: McEwen's co-owners talk about remodel and reopening
Bert Smythe and John Littlefield talk about the 21 months they spent remodeling McEwen’s, which is reopening Dec. 20.
S4E18: Mac Edwards is back
The Timex watch of the Memphis restaurant scene is back. Mac Edwards brings favorites from The Farmer to Railgarten starting next week. He tells us how he got there from way back when in Gadsden, Alabama.
S4E17: Almost time to start the Never Have I Ever series
The Never Have I Ever series will begin soon, COVID permitting, and Chris Herrington and I talk about the things we plan to eat and discuss why some restaurants seem insider-ish.
S4E16: Chris and Kelly talk turkey
It’s turkey time, so what else do we want to talk about? Well, pork chops and Popeye’s to start.
S4E15: From Pancho's to Las Tortugas, with many stops in that wide gulf
Pancho’s is closed and closing, but there’s plenty of Mexican food in Memphis; Jennifer and Chris talk about some places they like and some they remember.
S4E14: Pantà opens, and the Science of Wine comes to MoSH
Listen to Kelly English talk about his new restaurant, Pantà, opening Friday, and find out about the Science of Beer at MoSH, coming up next week.
S4E13: KitKat Chit Chat
From pudding to pumpkin pie with matcha and mint in between, we eat all the KitKats.
S4E12: Memphis Food & Wine Festival is back this weekend
Wally Joe and Jose Gutierrez talk about the upcoming Memphis Food & Wine Festival, back on Saturday after a 2020 COVID hiatus.
S4E11: Memphis Greek Festival is back
Listen now: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/dmfood/Sound_Bites_10042021_FINALwav.mp3?dest-id=1743056
Memphis Greek Festival returns this weekend after missing two May festivals because of COVID.
S4E10: The filmmakers of 'The Vous' and Rendezvous co-owner John Vergos talk about the documentary
‘The Vous’ is still months away from release, but it was submitted for consideration for the Sundance festival this week; the filmmakers talk about it on Sound Bites.
S4E9: Listen to B.R. Distilling’s McCauley Williams
On this week’s Sound Bites, Williams tells how his road led to the creation of B.R. Distilling, the local producers of Blue Note bourbon. It’s only been four years he’s been at it, but the company has grown and now the products are distributed in 15 states.
S4E8:Martha Hample says early COVID was easier to bear because they were creating Hampline
Martha Hample and her partners started Hampline Brewing Co. on the eve of COVID and opened during the pandemic, but they’re doing fine, tearing down walls and building patios.
S4E7: Judd Tashie talks La Baguette, Bryant's, Ciao Bella and more
La Baguette is open again — and will soon be for dinner — Bryant’s is humming along, and Ciao Bella prepares for a move in January.
S4E6: Masks are back and we're out of the studio for now
Jennifer, Chris and Eric talk about new masking rules and how the high local numbers are affecting restaurants — and them.
S4E5: Cristina McCarter has numerous businesses on her plate
Cristina McCarter is a local food entrepreneur, offering tasting tours, gift boxes, and charcuterie boards in her various business and and organizing events like Memphis Dining Week.
S4E4: Bari officially reopens Tuesday with prosecco on tap
Bari opens Tuesday in its new place at 524 S. Cooper, just a stone’s throw from its old place but with lots more room and its own parking.
S4E3: Rising COVID numbers are frightening for restaurateur and doctor
Dr. Jeff Warren tested positive for COVID despite being vaccinated and believes it’s time for mandatory masking; Deni Reilly worries restaurants are going to bear the brunt high COVID numbers once again.
S4E2: Southern vegetables are in peak season, we like beer, and real men do eat quiche
It’s the best time of the year to eat local, we talk about tomato pies, quiche, beer — and this: Do grownups eat cereal?
S4E1: Hot dogs, ice cream, cake, Spanish food and Super Pear
The Daily Memphian is in its new office and we’re back in the studio to record podcasts for the first time since March 2020, which means we had a lot to say this week.
S3E33: Kelly English gives more details on his Iris move, talks restaurant recovery
Kelly English will soon close Restaurant Iris, open something new in the space, then get work reopening Iris in its big new home in Laurelwood.
S3E32: Craft casual comes to town this week when Torchy's opens
Torchy’s Tacos opens the doors to its first ‘craft casual’ restaurant in Tennessee on Thursday.
S3E31: Restaurant news, Flintstone ribs, family meals with Jennifer and Chris
Chris Herrington visits Sound Bites and he and Jennifer Biggs catch up with the latest food news and talk about — what else? — food.
S3E30: Greys Fine Cheese starts cheese workshop series this week
New East Memphis cheese shop begins a workshop series this week, has added sandwiches for Saturday lunch and will soon have them daily.
S3E29: Road and Pour at Memphis Zoo will feature two local distilleries
Roar and Pour is the first big event at the Memphis Zoo since COVID, and Old Dominick’s master distiller and the founder of B.R. Distilling talk about the event and what’s going on with their companies.
S3E28: Rawk'n Grub returns to a gas station, this time in Olive Branch
Steph Cook is at Rawk’n Grub Side Stage, back inside a gas station, this one in Olive Branch.
S3E27: MIM volunteers talk about what it's been like for about 30 years
Two old friends and longtime Memphis in May volunteers take a few minutes to talk about this year’s festival and about some memorable times in the past.
S3E26: Derk Meitzler talks about his newest place, Backlot
Derk Meitzler talks about Backlot, the new sandwich shop to open in the Paramount building, and what else he has coming up.
S3E25: Volunteering to help with vaccines, serve the homeless, or help take pictures of a cat
Sarah Petschonek joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar
S3E24: Arbo's is the new dip on the block, and owner thinks there's room for all
A new cheese dip has launched in this cheese-dip-lovin’ city. Andrew Arbogast has taken his dad’s recipe and brought us Arbo’s.
S3E24: Jennifer and Chris talk curries and shortcuts
Curries can be a simple and tasty weeknight dinner, but you need to know a shortcut or two first.
S3E23: Deni & Patrick Reilly talk about The Majestic's reopening
Deni and Patrick Reilly talk about reopening The Majestic Grille after a year of COVID and Cocozza in the interim.
S3E22: Catfish, favorite dishes from Memphis Black Restaurant Week
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington revisit their favorites from Memphis Black Restaurant Week and talk about their favorite Southern dish: Fried catfish
S3E21: Kelly English on the toll a year of COVID has taken on him and his industry
The year since local restaurants were first shut for coronavirus has been hard; Kelly English talks about what it’s been like for him.
S3E20: Cynthia Daniels and Memphis Black Restaurant Week
Memphis Black Restaurant Week is in its sixth year, adapted for COVID this year, but going on with more participating restaurants than ever.
S3E19: Nacho average bar snack
Jennifer and Chris Herrington talk about nachos, from the ones you make at home to barbecue nachos to dessert nachos, and Chris is so inspired by a curry on Facebook that he makes a comment.
S3E18: Jennifer and Kelly talk over a Southern party staple: Cream cheese
Le Bon Appetit @Home has been postponed a week because of the boil order; Jennifer and Kelly English talk about cream cheese and all the things it makes better.
S3E17: Calvary Waffle Shop is (kind of) back
First comes Michael Donahue's birthday, then baseball spring training, the Calvary Waffle Shop, Easter and finally, spring will have sprung.
S3E16: Wine works, but other spirits are sweet with dessert too
Beer for dessert? Maybe. Sisco Larson and Kat Gordon talk with Jennifer Biggs about what to pair with your last course.
S3E15: Creativity and innovation founded Phillip Ashley Chocolates, then saved it
Phillip Ashley Rix literally had a dream that he would be a chocolatier, so then he made it happen. More than 10 years later, Oprah gave her seal of approval and sales skyrocketed.
S3E14: Jennifer and Chris taste all the soup so you don't have to
Jennifer and Chris talk about some of the soup they tasted for a tour of some of the best the city has to offer; listen today and read more on Thursday.
S3E13: Reflections on a sandwich quest with Chris and Jennifer
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington remember some of their favorite sandwiches from an epic sandwich tour and talk about eating out during COVID.
S3E12: Magnolia & May's Chip Dunham talks about what his new restaurant is doing during COVID
Chip Dunham opened Magnolia & May just a couple of months into COVID; he talks to Jennifer Biggs about what it’s been like to have a new restaurant in a pandemic.
S3E11: Rosie makes a Russian Honey Cake
Chris's daughter Rosie bakes a cake; Chris Herrington and Jennifer Biggs talk about fish; Producer Natalie Van Gundy jumps in to discuss the Pimento’s burger.
S3E10: Catching up with Chris: Holiday edition
Chris Herrington and Jennifer Biggs talk about where they're eating and what they're cooking for the (small) holiday at home.
S3E9: Deni & Kelly talk about PPP they hope is coming, plus holiday traditions
Normally the busiest time of the year, restaurants are instead open for sparsely populated dining rooms. PPP money would help, two local restaurateurs say. And sharing holiday recipes is good for all of us.
S3E8: Jennifer Biggs and Tawanda Pirtle talk steak sandwich and more
Tawanda Pirtle tells us about the steak sandwich at Jack Pirtle’s Chicken, which Jennifer Biggs ate this week for the first time.
S3E7: Sugar Avenue aims to make life a little sweeter
Ed Crenshaw didn’t mean to be a baker, but an accident here and an accident there can turn into a career if you’re not careful.
S3E6: Alex Grisanti opens his Southaven pizzeria Friday
Come Friday, Alex Grisanti is back in the brick and mortar restaurant business. He talks to Jennifer Biggs about what Elfo Grisanti Northern Italian Cuisine will be like on this week’s edition of Sound Bites.
S3E5: 'Never Have I Ever' sparks new Memphis food list
You expect certain things of Memphians. We eat at the Rendezvous. We love Jack Pirtle’s chicken. We crave Gibson’s doughnuts and we love our Jerry’s Sno Cones and Coletta’s barbecue pizza.
S3E4: French cooking with Eric Barnes
The Daily Memphian president and WYXR host of Sidebar Eric Barnes and Jennifer Biggs are guests on each other’s shows.
S3E3: Karen Carrier, the unexpected restaurateur, talks about how it all happened
Jennifer Biggs talks with Karen Carrier about how she’s gotten through COVID, her winter plans, and how she ended up in the restaurant business.
S3E2: Food writers talk about how they cook at home these days
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about what they’ve been cooking, how recipes are little more than suggestions, and as it happens, about tacos and Asian food.
S3E1: Nick Scott talks about his COVID closure and his new restaurant
Nick Scott talks with Jennifer Biggs on our new Sound Bites podcast/radio show about what it was like to have Alchemy closed for 11 weeks and about his plans for Salt | Soy, opening soon on Broad.
S2E25: Alex Grisanti talks about the new restaurant and his new life
Grisanti talks with Jennifer Biggs about how the business took its toll on him, his recovery, and what he has planned for the new restaurant.
S2E24: Restaurateurs need faster COVID test turnaround
Cocozza and Erling’s are closed after asymptomatic employees at both restaurants tested positive for COVID-19. At Cocozza, the staff is tested every two weeks and the positive test came from that. At Erling’s , the employee took a test on his own and it took 10 days for the results to arrive. They say they need testing for front line workers with a same-day turnaround. The restaurants are not required to close, but Deni Reilly and Erling Jensen say they feel they have no choice, that they are responsible for keeping their employees and guests safe and with quick results, they could reopen faster.
S2E23: Kelly starts Sunday pop-ups and hosts a fancy Iris dinner this weekend
Kelly English and Jennifer talk a bit about what it’s like to be a restaurateur and a diner during COVID.
S2E22: Barbecue Rich with Charlie Vergos
Charlie Vergos (not that one—his grandson) is a standup comedian who has just released his first album, recorded in November at the Hi-Tone. He was living in New York and moved back to his hometown when COVID started getting bad in March. We talk about what he’s done, what’s coming up for him, and a little bit about his legendary grandfather.
S2E21: Outdoor dining around town
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington catch up after Chris’s family vacation, talking about patios and porches for outdoor dining around town, how the paella turned out for Chris (and how his brother is the current king of cuisine in the family), and talk about a new trend—can it be called that yet?—of feeding a crowd a table full of nachos.
S2E20: The pared-down dining room
Jennifer Biggs, Ben Smith and Jason Severs talk about what customers can do to help restaurants.
S2E19: New and old restaurants opening
Jennifer Biggs is joined by Chris Herrington to talk about new and old restaurants opening, the all-important ampersand, what bbq they like and where they like it, at-home paella and more.
S2E18: The evolving takeout dinner
Jennifer Biggs talks to Kelly English and Ryan Trimm about how they survived the COVID shutdown, what they're doing to keep their take-out, curbside and delivery business going and what's going to happen when they reopen.
S2E17: Dining in a reopening city
Jennifer Biggs and restaurateur Ben Brock stand on the hill called Mask-Up.
S2E16: The pork belly one
Jennifer Biggs, Chris Herrington and Natalie Van Gundy talk takeout and cooking in quarantine.
S2E15: Isolated with takeout and TV
Jennifer Biggs, Chris Herrington and Natalie Van Gundy talk takeout and what they’re watching on the tube.
S2E14: Keeping it in the house
Jennifer Biggs, Chris Herrington and Natalie Van Gundy talk about getting creative in the kitchen and eating at home during the pandemic.
S2E13: Eating at home in a pandemic
Jennifer Biggs and Megan Murphy talk about healthy habits while housebound.
S2E12: Feeding the front line
Jennifer Biggs talks with Tim Bednarski about getting nutritious meals to hospital workers during the COVID-19 crisis
S2E11: Dire days for Memphis restaurants
Jennifer Biggs talks to Karen Carrier and Ernie Mellor about the catastrophe local restaurants face in the COVID-19 days
S2E10: Hard times for restaurants
Jennifer Biggs & Kelly English talk about how the local restaurant business is faring under fears of coronavirus.
S2E9: Whiskey and St. Patrick’s Day
Jennifer Biggs talks with DJ Naylor about the Whiskeys of the World tasting and fun stuff for St. Patrick’s Day
S2E8: Kat Gordon with Muddy’s Bake Shop
Kat & Jennifer talk about Muddy’s birthday, vision parties and cookie complications.
S2E7: Mardi Gras in Memphis
Jennifer Biggs talks with Kelly English and Penny Henderson about Mardi Gras, here and in their hometowns.
S2E6: Neck bones and ox tails
Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about soul food places around town, from Daisy’s to Ms. Girlee’s and plenty of others.