Going To Memphis

[grrtch]

Hi folks new around here. Heck, new to gluten-free eating... I'm also off of soy and dairy. So far, it's been one rassin' frassin' month adjusting to this new lifestyle. Eh, I'm getting a better handle on it, but this vacation to Memphis we've had planned is gonna throw me yet another curve ball. Anyone have any tips for rnavigating the sea of home cookin' joints and barbecue shacks that dot Memphis? Really, any kinda place to eat out that's got some options would be handy.

gee whiz, I usta love eating out! Considered myself a bit of a foodie, too.

[jaten]

Hi folks new around here. Heck, new to gluten-free eating... I'm also off of soy and dairy. So far, it's been one rassin' frassin' month adjusting to this new lifestyle. Eh, I'm getting a better handle on it, but this vacation to Memphis we've had planned is gonna throw me yet another curve ball. Anyone have any tips for rnavigating the sea of home cookin' joints and barbecue shacks that dot Memphis? Really, any kinda place to eat out that's got some options would be handy.

gee whiz, I usta love eating out! Considered myself a bit of a foodie, too.

Oh, could I have given you a long list of places to eat prior to our gluten-free days!!!! I have eaten successfully at the Outback Rest. on Hack's Cross Rd. There is a Bonefish Grill, (I can check address), but I've only eaten there once, and that was unsuccessful There is also a Carrabba's on Poplar and a Flemmings' Steak House on Poplar (Flemming's is fine dining) and a P. F. Chang's I have not been to any of these.

Having enjoyed the fare at the homecooking & rib places prior to gluten-free, I can vouch for how fine they are. I wouldn't dare touch one of them now. All the food is all cooked on the same grills, etc., I just can't imagine that you'd get out of any of them safely. If you find otherwise, I want to know!!!!!!

There is a Wild Oats grocery on Poplar also. This is where I shop for groceries; they have a pretty good selection of gluten-free foods.

[grrtch]

Thanks so much for the info! It's gonna come in real handy next week. I might team up with some vegetarian pals also in town for the same shindig. Probably end up eating a lot of Thai.

[jaten]

Thanks so much for the info! It's gonna come in real handy next week. I might team up with some vegetarian pals also in town for the same shindig. Probably end up eating a lot of Thai.

You're welcome. Please do post back or pm me. I'll be anxious to hear about any dining experiences good or bad. I live about 70 miles south of Memphis, and my husband and I get there fairly often.

[grrtch]

You're welcome. Please do post back or pm me. I'll be anxious to hear about any dining experiences good or bad. I live about 70 miles south of Memphis, and my husband and I get there fairly often.

Will do!

[penguin]

You must be going for Memphis and May...I'm so jealous!!!

[grrtch]

Well, kinda... actually headed off to the Ponderosa Stomp. Usually it falls during the week between Jazzfest weekends in New Orleans, but this year it's been reloacted because of Katrina. I'm SO excited! We meet up with tons of friends from all over and see a buncha cool old musicians that a lotta other folks would have mothballed. Oh, my do I ever love me some old soul and R&B!!

...gotta remember, it's about the soul music, not soul food...

[jaten]

Memphis in May is always huge fun. I'm not sure I'll get to any of the events other than the Sunset Symphony this year, but that's tremendous fun. I just googled the Ponderosa Stomp, as I wasn't at all familiar with this. WOW! Looks like great music!!!

If I hadn't just had surgery this week, I'd be there in a heartbeat! Wouldn't ya know....the year it's conveniently close, I'm incapacitated.

[grrtch]

Memphis in May is always huge fun. I'm not sure I'll get to any of the events other than the Sunset Symphony this year, but that's tremendous fun. I just googled the Ponderosa Stomp, as I wasn't at all familiar with this. WOW! Looks like great music!!!

If I hadn't just had surgery this week, I'd be there in a heartbeat! Wouldn't ya know....the year it's conveniently close, I'm incapacitated.

crap about the surgury! I hope you recover soonest! This'll be my third Stomp. Every year it's a real endurance test, but the performances that the Mau Maus get outta these foilks are extraordinary! No namby pamby casino song and dance show. I hope to god I don't get glutened!!!

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

If you get a chance, try Flemings Steakhouse.

It is expensive, but it is awesome.

I actually worked with the Corporate office in determing their gluten free menu selections (they were wrong on a bunch of stuff so I had to intervene and "right the ship")

I love their Bone-In Ribeye, Petit Filet, Roasted Chicken and Pork Chops (they serve the Pork Chops with this Julienne Creole Granny Smith Apple Slaw -- so GOOOOD)

The Flemings Potatoes are gluten free (imagin scalloped potatoes with cheese and smoked jalapenos)

Flemings Salad is gluten free (no croutons)

Cajun BBQ Shrimp Appetizer is gluten free (no crouton), the Ahi Tuna appetizer is gluten free also (no mustard soy sauce)

Creme Brulee is gluten free...

They have many more choices as well (fresh veggies, steamed vegetable plate, grilled veggies)

Enjoy!

[grrtch]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot! Well, leaving tomorrow. yippeeeee!

[grrtch]

So I made it to and back Memphis without getting glutened! ... er, often I skipped meals while everyone around me was goofing over Gus's Fried Chicken or pulled pork from Interstate barbecue, but I got a good breakfast at the Arcade... eggs, grits and bacon. they forgot and brought teh biscuit and gravy which I promptly handed over to my husband the gluten trash disposal... We did find a dynamite Thai restaurant on Union a block towards the river from teh Peabody, a place called Sawaddii, probably the best Thai food I'd ever had! Also, at the Cupboard I got a grilled chicken breast with three safe veggies: "Italian" spinach (with some parmesan cheese grated over it), a baked sweet potato, and simple white beans. We also ate at a yummy little Mediterranean joint next to Goner Records on Young Ave right near Cooper. Really tender lamb! Other than that, I was feeding myself from the picnic basket full of nuts, dried fruits, and gluten-free muffins that I had picked up at Whole Foods when we passed thru Atlanta. For alcolhol, I stuck to wine, but the Gibson Guitar Factory only served the shortes pours of that wretched Yellowtail red stuff... and I LIKE cheap red wines, but that was just yucky! The Hi-Tone on Poplar was much more generous pouring their tasty merlot.

and the Ponderosa Stomp was killer diller, but for getting my buzz on, fer sure I'm gonna start carrying a flask!!

Oh, and we stopped in Oxford on th eway into Memphis and had a nice meal at the Ajax dinner, grilled pork steak with jerk sauce... comes with sweet potato souffle with a few marshmellows baked on top. Looked like like it was prepared in a whole huge pan, but I just had my husband eat that part. So I guess someone with a huge sensetivity oughta be more careful.

Really, I'm surprised that my innerds didn't get bubbly like I had expected! Either I was real good, or I am not as sensetive this week as I was last? wha?

[jaten]

I got a good breakfast at the Arcade... eggs, grits and bacon.

Where is this?

We did find a dynamite Thai restaurant on Union a block towards the river from teh Peabody, a place called Sawaddii, probably the best Thai food I'd ever had!

What did you have here? I love Thai!

Also, at the Cupboard I got a grilled chicken breast with three safe veggies: "Italian" spinach (with some parmesan cheese grated over it), a baked sweet potato, and simple white beans.

And where was this? Sounds really good.

We also ate at a yummy little Mediterranean joint next to Goner Records on Young Ave right near Cooper. Really tender lamb!

Oooh, sounds like you found several good places. Were the staff comfortable with your needs? Or was it toally new to them?

Oh, and we stopped in Oxford on th eway into Memphis and had a nice meal at the Ajax dinner, grilled pork steak with jerk sauce... comes with sweet potato souffle with a few marshmellows baked on top. Looked like like it was prepared in a whole huge pan, but I just had my husband eat that part. So I guess someone with a huge sensetivity oughta be more careful.

Now you're talking!!! We live in Oxford. We used to eat at Ajax really often. Great food if you like it a little on the spicy side. Alright, so you didn't eat the sweet potato souffle? I haven't tried Ajax or any of the wonderful restaurants on the square since dx, but when we walk around the square sometimes in the evening, those amazing aromas are beckoning me.

[grrtch]

The Arcade is Memphis's oldest restaurant, on Main a block or so south of the civil rights museum at the corner of GE Patterson. Great neon and deadly cool forminca inside! The scrambled eggs were lightly cooked, ya know kinda soft, not pebbley. They were totally cool about subbing grits for the biscuit/toast. I can't say I checked the rest of the menu too closely, kinda starved for a real meal and excited to land on something I could eat.

At Sawaddii I had the tom yom soup, spicy but real good for that cold I was fighting off, and then a huge bowl of pad thai that I coiuldn't finish. Huge shrimp in that, stuffed myself full with the rice noodles. 121 Union. So go see the ducks, sip on a nice Chopin vodka and then walk a block to the river and quaff Thai!

The Cupboard, on Union like at 1400, was recommended by a pal who knew what I was up against eating in Memphis, and he's hip cuz his mom has Celiac. Maybe 16 veggies on the menu, not all of which are safe, but the only meat not breaded or smothered in gravy was the grilled chicken. Maybe they had a salad, too, but I was on th ehunt for cooked veggies. There might have been a language barrier between me and the server as English was her second language, and I had finally gone and lost my voice, but she seemed to get it. Admittedly, I didn't quiz her too hard on teh chicken marinade, as I had no voice and it was my last day away from home. I didn't react tho!

Same goes for the Mediterranean place, I had my doubts, but the server was confident assuring me no gluten.

Ajax was A-OK with me!! Tasty and the waitress there was *very* accomodating, a real sweet girl. ...and I did eat the sweet potatos but left a perimeter around the marshmellows. Kinda risky, yeah, but I left like half. They also have a grilled chicken salad that oughta work as well as a nice selection of veggies. So chomp away!

[jaten]

Ajax was A-OK with me!! Tasty and the waitress there was *very* accomodating, a real sweet girl. ...and I did eat the sweet potatos but left a perimeter around the marshmellows. Kinda risky, yeah, but I left like half. They also have a grilled chicken salad that oughta work as well as a nice selection of veggies. So chomp away!

I may have to try them. I'm just not sure since they really spice up everything they cook....yes, they do have a very nice selection of veggies. Pre-dx I use to love their veggie plate, but being very familiar with their food, I'm just not at all certain that their veggies would be gluten-free.

[Miss Samantha]

just a fun little note about the cupboard, a friend of mine painted that mural on the side

we just moved away from memphis (the week before the stomp!) did you get to see el dorado and the ruckus? they're always fun

[grrtch]

just a fun little note about the cupboard, a friend of mine painted that mural on the side

we just moved away from memphis (the week before the stomp!) did you get to see el dorado and the ruckus? they're always fun

That's cool about the mural, but we stuck with just what was on our plate at the Stomp... music gluttony for nine or so hours every night! On back to back days, we caught Jeffry Evans at Shangri-La and Rockin' Enoky's One-Man Band (from Tokyo) at Goner. But I checked the El D's site and they sound cool!

If only the Gibson had served decent wine, I coulda had even mo' fun! How freakin' hard is it to keep a bottle of potato vodka on hand? (pout)