The Bluff City is in the bottom spot in the worst-pizza-city list, according to an Associated Press article. It said, “Memphis is no stranger to the blues, which is fitting for its shortcomings as a pizza scene.” 

This week on Sound Bites, Chris Herrington and Holly Whitfield follow up with the Jerry’s Sno Cones rumors discussed last week and share impressions from last week’s dueling barbecue contests.

Chick-fil-A Uptown construction is moving forward, Villa Castrioti is expanding to Nashville, JamRack is now open and Belltower Coffee is serving food at Shelby Farms Park and introducing a membership program. 

At Zio Matto, American flavors such as peanut butter chocolate chip and honey vanilla ride sidesaddle to classic Italian flavors like stracciatella, pistachio, gianduia and fior di latte.

Within six years of graduating from culinary school, Terry Taylor had owned and operated two restaurants. But he also had almost 40 years of retail experience under his belt. 

The new location for the chicken tender chain would be the first in the area.

The upcoming Downtown game bar will feature 20 arcade games, an 8-foot Lite Brite and an authentic Philly, with rolls shipped from Philadelphia. 

In the final installment of our barbecue series, we’ve got a look at winners from SmokeSlam and Memphis in May’s contest. Plus, we share recipes to extend barbecue month out all year. 

Crosstown Concourse announced in a release on Monday, May 20, that a new restaurant highlighting Vietnamese culture and cuisine will take over the Wolf River Brisket space, which concluded its operations on Sunday, May 19. 

“Everything I have been studying tells me that we are definitely going to be, within my lifetime certainly, back in a place that chocolate is something you will have for a very special occasion,” said Muddy’s founder Kat Gordon. 

After a week of two simultaneous barbecue-cooking competitions, the victor is clear: hungry barbecue lovers and fans across the city of Memphis.

“We’re on top of the world,” Brooke Lewis said to a crowd of hundreds a few moments before fireworks erupted over the stage in Liberty Park. 

Organizers said the $250,000 in prize money is the biggest purse in barbecue contest history; the Grand Champion took home a $50,000 prize.

“Memphis in May is here to stay,” new President and CEO Mack Weaver told the crowd Saturday at Liberty Park.

One of only six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles in the world is coming to two Memphis-area Krogers Sunday, May 19, and Monday, May 20.

The owner of Chloe’s Giant Cookies, who has 2.2 million followers on TikTok, has joined a federal lawsuit to try and overturn a recently passed law that would either ban the popular video app or force its sale.

“We didn’t want to split up,” Sweet Cheeks team captain Alex Boggs said. “Winning is great. That’s not what this week is about. This week is about cutting out from work for a little bit, hanging out with some of your best friends in the world.”

BBQ War is the team that traveled the farthest for this year’s MIM, and despite the team’s name, they’re making new friends left and right. But what they really want are the bragging rights.

You can find only two teams competing at both barbecue contests this weekend: Hank’s BBQ from Columbus, Mississippi, and Pork University of Clarksville, Tennessee. 

Several restaurants have opened in Memphis this week, including a “breakfast, lunch and brunch spot,” a high-end Mexican restaurant, a Taiwanese-style bakery and something new in the old Local on the Square. 

“I’d never really thought of lamb as much of a sandwich meat, outside the context of the Basque food or in a gyro. This one, though, is full American style, on a hero roll with mayo, lettuce, tomatoes and onions.”

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is officially underway, with 129 teams from 22 states and four foreign countries vying for the crown.

Related stories: 

A first look at SmokeSlam on the river

Battle of the Barbecue: Where to eat Memphis barbecue

Barbecue teams, food vendors and cooking demos are set up in Tom Lee Park ahead of the inaugural festival’s opening day.