“Our kids having a mentor makes their stay with us even better. They have someone who is looking out for them, advocating for them, loving them, caring for them, and it really means a lot for their mental health.”

These tamales are a bit of work and they take time, but the reward is a freezer full of some mighty fine tamales. 

Tasia Vergos, the widow of Rendezvous founder Charlie Vergos, came to Memphis for an arranged marriage and lived a long life in her adopted city.

Nachos? Pizza? Salad? Spaghetti? Germantown Commissary offers another way to serve up Memphis barbecue. 

We continue talk of cakes not just fit for but named for kings and talk about the food news of the week on this week’s Sound Bites.

For something a little different before Lent begins, go the Shrove Tuesday route with a pancake supper.

Once you know what the squiggles on top of the chocolates mean, you’ll know exactly what’s inside.

Frogmore Stew, a soup fashioned from a Lowcountry boil, comes to us from Restaurateur of the Year Ryan Trimm and his former restaurant. 

The former Union Avenue police station in Midtown will be home to a new Whataburger location. 

The restaurant won’t become SOB Broad, however. 

Mardi Gras cometh and with it, king cakes, pancakes and all manner of delicious food. And can broccoli win a cage match with Brussels sprouts?

Whatever you do, don’t sleep on Germantown Parkway’s Bombay House. Just make sure you take a friend with you. 

For Don Gaines and Stephanie Blanda, their pastry, sandwich, cake, soup, bread and bagel business is rooted in what they’d sought as consumers but struggled to find locally. 

Chef Ryan Trimm has also been named Memphis’ Restaurateur of the Year, and it comes with a big party. 

Father Ben Bradshaw and his team at St. Michael Catholic Church are ready to bake about 700 king cakes. And it may be fitting: It was actually Bradshaw’s previous life as a baker that led him to the priesthood. 

Biggby Coffee will open on Germantown Parkway with a longtime Memphian as the local franchisee. 

This was a typed recipe, so we’re not sure if it’s a copycat or the real deal from the Atlanta Bread Company — but we know a good recipe when we see one.

When the moon is full, it’s time to empty the discount freezer at Sugaree’s Bakery in New Albany.

Memphis Pizza Café has a menu full of $10 Deals, from sandwiches to calzones, pizzas and combos.

On this week’s Sound Bites, Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about the Porcellino’s biscuit recipe (Chris made ‘em) and plenty of this and that.

Plus, Alcenia’s B.J. Chester-Tamayo killed it during her “Good Morning America” appearance: “Betty Joyce will feed your head, your heart, and, baby, I got your stomach.”

Our February readers lunch is Feb. 17 and, a word to the wise, space is limited. 

A former member of the Memphis Sandwich Clique is taking the reins as general manager, too.