Welcome back to Table Talk, where Daily Memphian food and dining editor Jennifer Biggs sends the latest food news (along with a dash of this and that) to subscribers every Wednesday.

If you’re not a subscriber, we hope you’ve enjoyed free access to this column last week and today, and we appreciate you being a loyal reader. If you want to continue getting the subscriber-only version of Table Talk, enjoy 20% off on us. Simply go here, choose a subscription and enter the promo code THANKSGIVING. 

Today is my birthday, and it’s a milestone one. My normal routine is to do a mental recap of what I’ve learned in the last year and compile a personal gratitude list.

But this year, I have a decade to review, and it was a doozy, full from the beginning to the end with major events, good and bad, heartbreaking and life changing, and I’m going to take some time to process it all. Maybe on a beach in January.

And instead, I’m going to give you advice. I’m 60; I’ve reached that age where you should listen to what I have to say, particularly if you’re younger. (And also if you’re older, because it’s good advice.) Here we go. It’s just three things.

I don’t know who came up with that “no regrets” nonsense, but forget it. It’s a good name for a tattoo parlor, not a motto for living your life. Take chances, listen to your heart, spend the money, give second chances (or however many it takes). If you’re living a rich life, you’re going to make decisions you’ll regret. Don’t wallow; own up, fix it if you can and move on. (And, haha: Of course people regret tattoos and my advice there is don’t put anyone’s name on your body. Not even mom. How well do you really know her?)

Next: People come and go, for good and bad, and most things in life don’t last forever — but that doesn’t make them less important. If you married your high school sweetheart and it’s ‘til death do you part, that’s beautiful.

But if that didn’t work out for you, life can be just as wondrous. Fall in love twice, or thrice. The house you bought to live in forever? Let it go if you’re ready. Change your job if you’re unhappy. There’s nothing wrong with an episodic life; live a series with discrete seasons instead of a movie that moves A to B if that’s what suits you.

Finally: Pay attention. This might take me a lifetime to learn, because I’m always thinking of something I missed. What if I’d said this instead of that? What if I’d truly listened to what someone told me? Who is in need of my help? The older I get, the longer my memory becomes and I wonder about things from years ago: What could I have done if I’d only been paying attention? I think this is about being present, fully focused in the moment. It’s hard to do, but we’ll all be better for doing the best we can here.

It goes without saying that we should enjoy life, take good care of our bodies, our hearts and our spiritual welfare, tenderly handle the hearts of those we love, and, yes, this one is trite, but it’s true: Be kinder than you have to be. That’s something you’ll seldom regret. (You can start with telling me I can’t possibly be 60! That would be very kind.)

Now to food. What a great early birthday present: The return of my favorite Summer Avenue Mexican restaurant. Crazy Cactus is back, in every way except the name. I am so glad to see Francisco ‘Poncho’ Gonzales and his menu at Antigua Mexican Bar & Grill, where Pancho’s was for years. 

Francisco “Poncho” Gonzales. The entire Crazy Cactus menu is now being served at Antigua Mexican Bar & Grill. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

You already read Chris Herrington’s Memphis Coffee Shop Guide, but he’s recapped it for us here, and we have a podcast that goes along (mostly) with his recap. You can read and listen; we do it all for you because we care. 

Jordan Arellano catches up with Ali Manning, who will be on the Netflix show “Snack vs. Chef,” which drops tonight. Read about it here, and more about Manning in this story Arellano wrote earlier this year.

“Snack vs. Chef” participants will try to imitate iconic treats like Hot Cheetos, Pringles, Oreos and more. (Courtesy of Netflix)

Bogie’s Deli Downtown reopened this week, two months after it closed because of the broken water main on Monroe. To celebrate, the good folks there are rolling back prices to 2000 on two sandwiches a day for two weeks. 

Bogie’s Deli Downtown owners Teresa and John Ehemann recently reopened their sandwich shop after a water main break had them closed since September. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Christin Yates brings us a nice story about Cassandra and Christopher Gray’s Quintessential Sweets, their new Downtown location and their back story. 

And I hope this is in my near future: I shared a recipe for the Best Carrot Cake, which lives up to its name and is my favorite birthday cake. Hold on to this one for your holiday cooking. 

I don’t quite have our December Friday lunch together yet, but you can mark your calendars for Dec. 16. Check back here next week to find out where it will be; details are close but not ready just yet.

Have a great week, stay warm (I definitely did not order this cold weather for my birthday), and I’ll be back with you next week.

.....