Andy & Michael head to WGC with Birdies & Bubbles
Michael Hudman (left) and Andy Ticer will have a concession on the course at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational next week. (Jennifer Biggs/Daily Memphian)
Best friends and business partners Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman are enthusiastic golfers, two guys who can be found on a course whenever they have some free time.
But for the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational next week at TPC Southwind, you’ll find them doing what they do better: Cooking for a crowd, at Birdies & Bubbles.
“We’re basically doing a big concession stand on the course,” Hudman said. “To tell you the truth, I’m pretty nervous. There could be up to 40,000 people there.”
The duo, who own the Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group that includes Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Hog & Hominy, Catherine & Mary’s and The Gray Canary in Memphis, and Josephine Estelle in New Orleans, have been a part of the tournament for several years with Courses & Cocktails. They’ll still do that this year.
“Saturday (July 20) is basically the kickoff, and we’ll do Courses & Cocktails,” Hudman said. “We’ll have dishes from each of the restaurants, and Andy and I will play with people, do like a putting contest, see who can get closest to the hole and things like that. We’ll give away prizes. I think we have a pizza party at Hog & Hominy and something at Gray Canary.”
But on Wednesday, when the tournament starts up, they’ll be in their tent around holes 14, 15 and 16, serving up food and drinks at Birdies & Bubbles.
“And shade,” Hudman said. “We have a great spot in a pine grove with a great view of the 14th hole, which is sort of a signature par 3 hole, and the 16th, which I think is a par 5. So it’s a good spot to be, and we’ll have a big tent, and TV, food, wine, cocktails, and again, shade. That’s important.”
The menu is still under development, mostly to pare it down.
“We originally wrote a large menu, but we’re dialing it back,” he said.
Look for dishes like a watermelon salad, easy to eat items like a take on country ham hushpuppies similar to the ones at The Gray Canary, and a chicken biscuit “that’s a cross between the one we had at Porcellino’s and Chick-fil-A.”
Frosé, a frozen drink made with rosé wine, will be served, along with wine, Aperol spritzes and Love Me Ginger, a signature cocktail created by Enjoy A|M general manager Nick Talarico.
Birdies & Bubbles will open Wednesday through Sunday at 11 a.m. and close 30 minutes after the last hole is played.
“We want this thing to be as amazing as it can be and we’re super excited,” Hudman said. “And I guess we’re just silly enough, stupid enough, whatever it is, to take on yet another thing.”
Topics
Andy Ticer & Michael Hudman Birdies & Bubbles FedEx St. Jude InvitationalJennifer Biggs
Jennifer Biggs is a native Memphian and veteran food writer and journalist who covers all things food, dining and spirits related for The Daily Memphian.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.