Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Sophia Surrett

Table Talk: Farewell barbecue week, it was nice to meat you

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 20 May 2026 18:03:15 -0500

I polled The Daily Memphian’s staff on what our barbecue team’s name should be, if we had one. The answers were pretty incredible.

After six years, a new Enjoy A|M restaurant to open

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:19:57 -0500

“We’ve always wanted a cocktail, steakhouse-y kind of restaurant,” said Andy Ticer of the second-floor bar at his and Michael Hudman’s new restaurant.

How three brain surgeries led to a 13-year-old winning at barbecue fest

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 19 May 2026 06:13:07 -0500

Winning pitmaster Jacey Blurton, 13, began manning the grill five years old, taking up barbecue after three surgeries left her with limited mobility.

For the first time in 42 years, MIM has a back-to-back winner

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sat, 16 May 2026 22:49:35 -0500

For the second year in a row, Heath Riles BBQ claims top prize in the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. The team also won first in the ribs category.

Memphis in May: Contestants' stomachs grumble from the Rib Rumble

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sat, 16 May 2026 14:59:59 -0500

For Dude Wipe’s rib-eating contest, four contestants were lined up in front of tin dishes filled with 5 pounds of ribs and an extra pour of Cattleman’s BBQ Sauce.

Holy Smoke! This live-fire team is just getting started

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sat, 16 May 2026 04:00:09 -0500

Atlanta-based pitmasters Dakari Akorede and Justin Robinson took on 19 other teams from around the world in Thursday’s Open Fire World Championship.

Memphis in May: Scenes from Ms. Piggie Idol

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 15 May 2026 19:18:41 -0500

The winners performed to songs such as Wreckx-N-Effect’s “Rump Shaker” and Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” in the contest at Liberty Park.

Wherever the barbecue is, that's where these teams will be

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:33:08 -0500

For some barbecue teams, the annual Memphis competition is mostly about spending time with family and friends.

Food Files: Bain Barbecue to open Germantown location a little early

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:12 -0500

The restaurant will open a month early, while Kura House Asian Cuisine is closing and Downtown’s The Artist Table is looking for a new location.

MIM barbecue contest off to a saucy start

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:32:28 -0500

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest kicked off with the parade of champions followed by the event’s traditional sauce wrestling.

Table Talk: It's homecoming at Memphis in May

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:37:02 -0500

It’s the 48th year for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and it’s a homecoming of sorts for some of the teams that participated in rival barbecue festival SmokeSlam for the past two years.

Downtown coffee, cocktail bar to offer ‘pause' in the day

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:17:57 -0500

The former longtime home of Downtown’s Bluff City Coffee will soon be home to coffee again, but this time, with cocktails, too.

Briza adds Houston's-style chicken tender special

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:03:44 -0500

“Because we haven’t had it in so long, it seems that much better. Nostalgia comes back in a way and is something to hold onto,” one customer said as Briza launched its new Houston’s-style chicken tenders.

Ghost River goes back to its beginnings — and adds music

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:47:50 -0500

“Really, Beale became redundant,” said Ghost River owner Bob Keskey after the company made a number of improvements at its original location.

Pitmasters, start your smokers! Memphis in May's barbecue contest is back this week.

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Mon, 11 May 2026 06:51:52 -0500

The 200-plus teams in MIM’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will compete for a share of $200,000 — as well as bragging rights. Here’s all you need to know.

Moms raising kids in a restaurant: Math, taste-testing and time together

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sun, 10 May 2026 04:00:05 -0500

For these three female entrepreneurs, their businesses grew as their families did, alongside challenges, memories and meals.

Food Files: High tea in the front, par-tee in the back

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 8 May 2026 04:00:01 -0500

HighTee is leaning into high tea, and Raymah Café opens in a long-vacant former Applebee’s.

Table Talk: How about a squid pro quo?

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 6 May 2026 15:54:18 -0500

“I normally would have said no to a skewered sea creature, but as The Daily Memphian’s new food reporter, I know there are times I’ll need to get out of my culinary comfort zone.”

Downtown hotel-Airbnb hybrid won't be your average one-trick pony

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 5 May 2026 23:50:46 -0500

Giddy up, Memphis. The Stallion, which blends the hotel and Airbnb experience, will open in a former apartment complex in Downtown Memphis.

Kick back and relax, The Front Porch is officially open

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 5 May 2026 16:36:41 -0500

“We’re trying to combat loneliness,” said the operator of Second Helpings Cafe.