Loaf is leaving the Brooks even earlier than expected, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. 

This week, we salute the people behind three small-scale attempts at something new on the Memphis food-and-drink scene, three related attempts to fill a major need and another for a meaningful endeavor coming to a close.

Chris Herrington writes of the new BBQ festival: “When I saw that this event would take the form of a contest ... and that it would also take place the same week that the Memphis in May barbecue contest is set to happen at Liberty Park … well, I laughed.”

As Chris Herrington writes this week: “If I would never throw a turkey from a helicopter, I would (and have, many times) tossed one in the oven.” Did you get the reference? 

In a changing world where institutions and ideals are ever fragile, your dining room table is the place to hold the line.

For Downtown Dining Week, Chris Herrington visited Momma’s and said the restaurant’s fried chicken sandwich just might take the title for the city’s best.

Memphis is checking some popular food-trend boxes while others, such as a Brazilian restaurant, still elude the area.

This week’s restaurant news brings us a spate of openings and closings as well as the sale of a longtime family business. 

In tribute to Memphis dining habits, Chris Herrington offers not “hot takes” on our latest food stories, but instead “hot (wing) takes,” dividing the heat level of his opinions into “Honey Gold,” “Regular Hot” and “Suicide.”

Taco Cat follows in the tire tracks of El Mero, Sugar Ghost, New Wing Order and Loaf with its new, planned location. 

Tacos, beer and keg relay racing — it’s time to celebrate fall. 

Bagels, barbecue and beyond — new restaurants open across Memphis. Plus, there’s a tropical-themed bar on the horizon for Cooper-Young. 

Fall fairs are coming to the Mid-South, Buster’s Butcher on Highland Street is having its grand opening, El Pollo Latino comes to Summer Avenue, ranking the best ways to prepare chicken and more.

Frankie Perry and his wife Kaye opened Primos meat market in Hernando, offering quality cuts and longtime family recipes.

Whether at Tom Lee Park or one of the many fests, get outside this weekend. And here’s hoping you find some good eats and drinks when you do.

“Perch is like my own little personal Cheers,” said restaurant owner and longtime caterer Ragan Oglesby-Phillips.

Grab a plate because we’ve got “Green Onions,” “Bar-B-Q,” “Beans and Cornbread” and “Sugar Puddin’” coming your way.

Germantown Parkway and Cordova Road, just across from the Cordova International Farmers Market and its adjacent growing food truck scene might suddenly be a “most interesting food intersection in Memphis” contender — and perhaps most unlikely. 

As we continue, in Jennifer Biggs’ great absence, to cover food and dining in Memphis, there’s a lot for us to figure out. But Jennifer’s generous, interested spirit — her insistence on taking the time and energy for a visit — will guide us. 

Was the supermarket a good idea? Like Holiday Inn, another Memphis business with a feel for the future, Piggly Wiggly tapped into the changing habits of a century that would be defined by cars.

The products being sold are charcuterie boards, “lunchables,” doughnuts and a variety of other sweet and savory items.

Health soapbox aside, fermented food is delicious. Natural fermentation unlocks surprising flavors that are otherwise unachievable from cooking alone.

East Memphis’ Bog & Barley is adding another ‘b’ to its offerings: brunch.

On this week’s Sound Bites, Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington talk about some food stories they’ve each recently written and one recent Memphis food event they both missed. 

Ryu’s kimchi dumpling soup comes in a size somewhere between a cup and a bowl. It’s pretty to look at and even more fun to eat.