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.

Last week I spent about an hour going through old Memphis cookbooks with a local chef who was overloaded with all kinds of cookbooks. As someone who got rid of hundreds just a couple of years ago, I felt his pain and had zero interest in any except the local ones. But I got lucky and left with a box full of old spiral-bound copies, marked up with notes (something I love to find in a cookbook, by the way).

What this means for you is that we stand a better chance than before of finding old recipes, so put me to work (or whatever you want to call it because I admit it’s fun) and get me rummaging through those old pages. I’ll share something nice with you Saturday in this week’s Recipe Exchange.

I have some tidbits for you this week and would say I’m sharing this one prematurely, but it’s such a tiny nugget that it’s OK: You might’ve noticed there’s a sign that says “contract pending” in front of Bhan Thai on Peabody Avenue. 

If all goes well over the next few weeks, Molly Smith will sell the restaurant property and the building next door, and that’s about all I can say on that because Smith doesn’t “want to jinx anything” and is keeping her cards close. 

But I sense good things coming and am delighted for Smith, who closed the beloved Thai restaurant early in May 2021 and has been looking for a buyer. Fingers crossed for her.

You might also have seen this sign, which has been up a while, that Little Italy is coming to East Memphis. I stopped by earlier this week and was lucky enough to catch co-owners Riccardo and Molly Marciano inside. There’s still paper on the glass and the inside is a dusty construction zone, but things are coming along.

“We hoped to be open by the end of March, but you know how construction goes,” Riccardo Marciano said. “It’s not official, but I hope by the end of May, we will open. Our fingers are crossed.” (As are mine, twice so far in this newsletter.)

The Marcianos are teaming up with Giovanni and Brooke Caravello, who own Little Italy on Union Avenue, and it’s a 50/50 partnership. We’ll have plenty more to come as opening day approaches — East Memphians are excited about this new pizzeria — but can tell you to expect about the same menu as the Union location.

“The same, but with some twists,” Marciano said. “We can’t have subs, for instance, because we’re next to Lenny’s, but we’ll have paninis. And we’ll be making our own dough for pizzas and bread, so they will be very good.”

They need employees, too. If you’re interested or know someone who is (you know kids need summer jobs), send an email stating your interest and providing your contact information to littleitalyeast@gmail.

Tamboli’s Pasta and Pizza, located in Midtown at 1761 Madison Ave., is providing a limited takeout menu. (The Daily Memphian file)

While we’re talking pizza: Tamboli’s Pasta and Pizza, 1761 Madison Ave., is now providing a limited takeout menu on Mondays and Tuesdays, 5-9 p.m.; Wednesday through Sunday hours remain the same, 4-10 p.m. Call (901) 410-8866 or visit tambolis.com for more information.

It looks like Phillip Ashley Chocolates is growing. Owner Phillip Ashley Rix has just made two new hires to help with his expanding business: Elizabeth Lemmonds is the general manager, a new position, and Khemba Poole has been hired as Rix’s executive assistant.

Owner Phillip Ashley Rix named Elizabeth Lemmonds as the new general manager of Phillip Ashley Chocolates. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

“I am elated that my first of several future senior management and executive level hires is a woman who will be instrumental in helping this company and brand grow and increase its market share in the luxury chocolate industry; in all areas,” Rix wrote in a social post about Lemmonds’ hiring.

We can’t wait to see what he has planned.

Shout out to chef Kelly English and Kevin Brewer of LEO Events for winning a prestigious industry award for Le Bon Appetit, the semi-annual event that returned in 2022 to Crosstown Concourse. It was voted the best fundraising catered event of the year — officially the Achievement in Catering Excellence Award — at the annual Catersource Conference & Tradeshow held a few weeks ago in Orlando. Congratulations!

Eli Townsend is the chef at the Dos Herman’s Kitchen, a cafe inside of the newly-reopened Cossitt Library. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Now, on to the news you still need if you haven’t read it yet: Click here to read my profile of Eli Townsend and find out about Dos Hermanos Kitchen, the cafe that will open in the Cossitt Library in May. Townsend is an impressive person, as you’ll see, as much so for his kind nature as his accomplishments. And this isn’t a food story, but man, the library renovation is soooo impressive. Click here to read what Bill Dries wrote about it last week and look at the pictures. Talk about a cool place to work that is outside the office and outside your house.

Christin Yates tells us about Vinculo Coffee, a new coffee roaster in town that is coffee with a mission — literally. Click here to read her story and find out how to get your hands on these beans.

For years, Moma’s B-B-Q served up guess-what from a little corner restaurant in a strip center on Stage Road. Now, it’s two restaurants, and Michael Waddell has the scoop. For breakfast, it’s Bartlett Breakfast Factory. For lunch and dinner, it’s Chef Flavas — two different restaurants, different owners, but they’re sharing space. I think it’s a great idea.

At Pupuseria Anita, at 658 Stratford Road, there are an array of pupusas that come with curtido, which is a Salvadoran slaw. (Joshua Carlucci/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Joshua Carlucci introduced us to Pupuseria Anita with last week’s $10 Deal, then told us about the Etowah dinner series that Josh Conley and Cole Jeanes are hosting in different venues around town a few times a year, roughly every quarter or as food seasons change. 

And the former Bluefin restaurant on S. Main Street is back, sort of, with a new name: Momoya opened last week with some of the dishes from Bluefin and will refine the menu over the coming weeks based on customer demand. 

For those of you joining us at Cocozza for lunch this Friday, the weather looks too iffy for a patio mingle, so we’re not doing that. I’ll still be there early and you’re welcome to come at 11:30 a.m. instead of noon if you like, but we’re calling the patio off for now; any mingling will be done inside.

And when that’s done, I’m taking a week off, so for the third time, fingers crossed for good weather next week as I have a big yard project to do (or at least oversee). So you have a great two weeks, and I’ll see you back here May 3.

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