When West African chef Bala Tounkara noticed all the barbecue drama in Memphis, a proverbial light bulb came on.

A race for doughnut lovers, a brand-new cocktail festival and a brunch day party round out the April 2024 guide to food and drink events in Memphis. 

Spencer Lane’s taste of Duck Donuts “felt like fate.” He’s satisfying his craving with a new shop for the Memphis community.

Sen Trang opens March 29 in the old Pho Binh building, Bojangles is settling into an old Zaxby’s, and Rock’n Dough is having its grand opening soon in the Edge District.

Getting out of a “health food” restaurant for under $20 feels like a grand accomplishment, and this chicken-and-egg sandwich hits the mark. 

Josh Burgess, who founded Lucy J’s with his wife, joined Eric Barnes to talk about Lucy’s J’s support of families working to get out of homelessness and the many ways the bakery supports these families.

The lawsuit accuses Collierville of an illegal denial, causing harm to site trustee Bob Cartwright.

Last year’s Asian Night Market event was packed, and organizers have a plan for how to handle for this year’s crowds. 

“Today I don’t want to own (a restaurant), but I can never stop cooking,” Chef Tamra Patterson said. “Cooking is in my blood — it’s all I know to do.”

Midtown’s new tropical-themed bar, from the owners of Cameo, will have its grand opening Saturday, April 13. 

Penny’s Nitty Gritty has been rebranded into Courtside Grill amid a restaurant ownership change, and Chipotle and Scooter’s Coffee Shop have come to Arlington. 

At Cole Jeanes’ Kinfolk restaurant, he’s blended the seemingly divergent influences of Japan and the American South on the menu and in his mind. For him, they are in culinary harmony.

This Daily Memphian food writer looks for a fine balance between quantity and quality in everyday sushi, and he said Sekisui straddles that line with the best of them.

On this “Sound Bites,” Holly Whitfield and Chris Herrington highlight a few favorites from the Black Restaurant Week slate and go deep on where they’d eat and where they’d send visitors within walking distance of FedExForum.

The Terrace menu is also an indication of what’s to come with both Paulette’s Restaurant and Tug’s Casual Grill. 

Abraham Valenzuela got his start in the food business playing mariachi music in local restaurants. Now, he owns two restaurants in Olive Branch, one in Memphis and another on the way to Germantown. 

The Genre, known for its musical atmosphere as well as its food, is one of the many local businesses participating in the ninth annual Memphis Black Restaurant Week. 

Plus, Rendezvous will have special hours for March Madness. 

In this week’s episode of Sound Bites, Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield discuss “100 Things To Do In Memphis Before You Die”.

Nearly all of Global Cafe’s starters are under the $10 deal mark.

The Junior BBQ League founded by Memphis in May barbecue grand champion Melissa Cookston is also coming to the rival barbecue contest in Tom Lee Park along with a barbecue boot camp.

In past visits, Publix has praised Collierville on the town’s organization, accessibility, design and cleanliness.

“If you’re in coffee long enough, you need to learn how to source the coffee yourself,” said Tina Tatum, who owns two coffee shops in north Mississippi and is now operating an Arlington roastery.

Back in 2008, Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” had Lou Martin of Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken in tears.

Sweet Musings will serve Asian-French pastries made with less sugar than traditional American desserts, plus coffee and boba tea at 1890 N. Germantown Parkway in Cordova.