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 your inbox every Wednesday.

The misery came, and I’m sure you’re no happier about this nasty weather than I am. I bet you also wish that if we have to suffer, we’d have snow instead of ice. For longtime Memphians, I know you’re on the edge with me, remembering the ice storm of 1994.

I hope I never hear those dark-of-night cracks of tree branches again, loud as gunshots, one after another, that roused us from sleep to find that we were without power.

And that lasted for two weeks. If you were there, you know what I mean. Almost 10 years later, Hurricane Elvis blew through, and it was 11 days without power at our house, though believe me, I’ll take it in the summer instead of the winter any day.

Other than that, I’ve never been without power for more than a few hours. But once you’ve been through it, you never feel completely secure again. I’ve been lucky this time around, with not so much as a flicker of lights, and my fingers are crossed. I have friends who are in the cold, though. Let’s hope we’re about done with this, and as soon as it’s safe to get out, remember our local restaurants. Many have shut down, and that’s lost revenue. Help them out by enjoying a meal out this weekend.

The new Elwood's Shack location will be at 4040 Park Ave., the former site for a Leonard’s Pit BBQ and Consignment Music Store. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

But here’s a ray of sunshine for you: Elwood’s Shack is opening its second location at 4040 Park Ave., where Consignment Music Store lived for years, and I know from your comments on our website and social media that you’re happy about it. Here’s something some of you have shared with us: Back in the 1970s, that building was a Leonard’s Pit BBQ. So it’s 50 years later, but you’ll be able to get pulled pork there again, plus plenty more, come March 1.

Did you see B.J. Chester-Tamayo represent Memphis and her restaurant, Alcenia’s, on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday? Could she have been any more adorable with her Emeril Lagasse bams and her sass?

“Betty Joyce will feed your head, your heart, and, baby, I got your stomach,” she says, among many other B.J.-isms, including “Quit looking! Don’t be trying to copy my recipe.”

You can click here to watch her segment, and I won’t spoil whether she wins the showdown with Lavinia McCoy of Gourmet Soul & Catering in St. Louis, but I have to share this: Marcus Samuelsson, one of the best-known chefs in the world, was one of the judges and he picked her.

I’m willing to bet Samuelsson would also love the buttery biscuits from the much-missed Porcellino’s, which were ours for the asking. When I tell you to ask for recipes, I mean it; Enjoy AM co-owner/chef Andy Ticer was glad to share for Recipe Exchange, just as most chefs are. Chris Herrington couldn’t wait; with his mom and grandmother in town for the weekend, he made the biscuits on Sunday, and we talked about it on this week’s Sound Bites, which you can listen to at 11 a.m. Thursday on WYXR-91.7 or on our website after that.

You want the recipe for Reny Alfonso’s haggis? Don’t discount it. I was there last week when he made it for Celtic Crossing’s Burns Supper, and you can call me a fan. Why wouldn’t I be? Made with ground lamb shoulder, chopped chicken livers, onions, spices and Scottish oats, it’s very good. 

Celtic Crossing chef Reny Alfonso made haggis with ground lamb shoulder, chopped chicken livers, onions, spices and Scottish oats. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint is coming to Midtown this summer, and while a few people say we don’t need more burgers, commenters who have eaten at Jack Brown’s say we’re going to like it. 

Crispy tofu is an appetizer at Asian Eatery but can make a satisfying light meal. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

Last week’s $10 Deal took me to Asian Eatery in Germantown for one of my favorite dishes: The fried tofu appetizer. Man, it is so good. But to make it a “real” meal (though I could eat the tofu and leave happy), we also ordered from the lunch specials and feasted for $10.25. Don’t worry about the extra quarter. 

Sad news last week, too, but there’s a silver lining: David Grisanti’s in the Sheffield Antiques Mall has closed, but Grisanti is reopening in a larger space that will just be his restaurant, a place where he can have a bar and set his own hours. The bad news is that he won’t be able to do that for months, maybe a year, as his new place is prepared, but he’s open to a temporary restaurant space if you happen to have one handy. 

Finally: I can’t stress enough how quickly you need to get your tickets for our Friday reader lunch at Panta on Feb. 17. We’re going to try to figure out additional seating, but right now, there are only 40 tickets available, and they’ll go fast. Click here for more information and to get your subscriber discount. 

Until next time, stay warm! Stay off the streets if you can, and when driving is safe, remember to spend a little money at restaurants and other local businesses that have had to close because of this weather. Next week will be better.

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