10 Meals I’m Thankful For!

I’m sitting at home with my tie loosened and my sport coat thrown over a chair as I attempt a rapid recovery from round 1 of the K&T Thanksgiving Double. Round one saw a grand buffet at the club, and I’m prepping myself for round two over at K’s dad’s house. I always joke with people about how many places K and I will go on holidays, since we are both Memphians with big families. But really, no joke, it is awesome. We have awesome people to spend quality time with, and with the cooking skills in both families, we have awesome meals to do it over.

On that note, while I am thankful for the blessings of good friends and family to spend my time with, I’ll wax nostalgic a little about the blog. It has been awesome writing this thing. I’ve gotten to meet new people, try new food, and in my own way, support a lot of cool people and my city at the same time. With that, I’ll look back on 10 meals that I was especially thankful for in the last year in no particular order.

1. The Clan Gordon English Dinner

You know the times that you do something, and it is so awesome that it has to become a tradition. This was one of those dinners. We’ll look back on the 2010 Clan Gordon English Dinner with fondness for years, because it was the one that made it a tradition. I’m already looking forward to mid December, when the 2nd annual dinner rolls around.

Read more about it the first one.

2. A Steak Sandwich and a Steak Sandwich

I’m obsessed with the movie Fletch. This means that when I find a steak sandwich that takes it to the next level, I am obligated to spend the next few weeks saying Fletch lines like, “I’ll have a bloody mary, a steak sandwich, and, uh, a steak sandwich.” Local has that steak sandwich.

Read more about it.

3. Reindeer Cake

Another family tradition is the Reindeer Cake that K developed a few years ago for Christmas. This gingerbread cake covered with caramel icing is pretty much my favorite dessert of the year. Pair it with a cup of coffee, and you’ve got the best post meal action (or next morning breakfast action) that I can think of.

Read more about it.

4. Roll Up

When a new place opens up, and I go to check it out, then I end up going quite often, that is a sign that a place has really hit me. Slider Inn has that going on and more with their Lobster Roll, excellent patio, and sweet (close) location. I keep planning on getting the burgers, but I always call out for the lobster roll. So good that it was my grandmother’s choice for her birthday lunch the other day!

Read more about it.

5. Will It with Willett

The first time I ever interviewed someone in person was when I had lunch with Felicia Willett at her awesome restaurant Felicia Suzanne. I was pretty nervous, but I found out pretty quickly that interviewing a super-nice person that tells a lot of fun stories is a lot easier than I expected. Throw in the amazing lunch, and I count this as one of the top meals of the last year for sure.

Read about the lunch and about Felicia.

6. Brunching on Birthdays

I mentioned above that we went to Slider Inn for my grandmother’s birthday a week or so ago. Well, her birthday last year also makes the list. Iris is consistently getting awards and recognition as one of the top restaurants around. This was my first time there, and they backed up everything that I have heard about them. Soooooo goooood!

Read more about it.

7. Dirty Thirty

There is an interesting trend developing as I put this lil ol list together. The meals that I shared with my family and friends over special occasions are the ones that stick out in my mind the most. Maybe it just makes the food taste that much better, or maybe the reason that we really eat is because it is a perfect opportunity to further the relationships that we have. My thirtieth birthday was an awesome time spent at my mom’s house with her and K putting the legit touches on some awesome food. Just love spending a little extra time with the peeps.

cake from my early birthday dinner

Read more about it.

8. A Cure at ACRE

Got the “I want to try something new” blues? Get on over to ACRE. Everyone waited for this place to open, and when it did, somehow it lived up to the expectations. The places is beautiful and so is the food. Totally excellent! I’ll be hitting it up during the holidays. Love getting out of the house and chilling when there is so much that keeps us busy.

Read more about it.

9. Trolley (just can’t) Stop

I love Trolley Stop. No doubt. I go there all the time because it is A. excellent and B. close to work. That is a lethal combination. But my favorite Trolley Stop meal was definitely the pizza that K and I ordered in the first night in our new, awesome home (there could be a wholenother Thanksgiving post on the house). Since then we have ordered quite a few Reuben pizzas to our humble abode. I’m not sure I have ever been able to wait long enough to take a picture of it, so here’s a different slice!

Margherita Pizza

Read about my first trip to Trolley Stop.

10. House of Beef, Corned Beef

I loved eating over here recently with some of my friends. It was a reminder that Memphis has a lot to offer, even when it doesn’t always look like that to everyone else. I love this city, and I loved this lunch.

Read about it.

11. And one to grow on!

I’m pre-thankful for my dinner plans on Monday night. I’m booked with K and some prime-time friends for a night at Andrew Michael for their No-Menu Monday. I have no idea what they’ll serve, and that’s the way I like it. I love eating at people’s houses, because they usually cook what they like to eat. I’m just taking that process to a restaurant with two of Memphis’ best chefs calling the shots. Their spot is so good!

Read about my only other trip there!

Thanks Again

I hope you all have great things and people to be thankful for. I’ll say it again though, that I am thankful for the opportunity to write this little ole blog. I have a great time doing it, I love talking to people about it, and I’m still pleasantly surprised whenever I find out that anyone reads it. More than anything, I’m excited that I keep having new posts to write and new places to go and new people to see. That means that we are growing as a local food community, and we all benefit from that. Keep eating local, and I’ll see you out there!

-Thomas