Jennifer Biggs says that Flame Ramen is crowded, convenient at a well-traveled corner in Midtown and the food is fresh and MSG-free, but that comes at a cost.

Dr. Jeff Warren believes it’s time for mandatory masking; Deni Reilly worries restaurants are going to bear the brunt of high COVID numbers once again.

Memphis Dining Week is in two weeks; have a look at menus online now and make your pick and reservations from the 13 participating restaurants.

Ghost River Beale Street opened earlier this month on the east end of the street, bringing food, live music, its local beers, a nano brewery and a full bar to the new taproom.

Jennifer Biggs: A follow-up tip for last week’s apple cake; a visit to an Uptown brewery; My Favorite Things comes back this week after a visit to Dory and Slim Chickens hired errybody.

Jennifer Biggs: “It’s the best time of the year to eat local, we talk about tomato pies, quiche, beer — and this: Do grownups eat cereal?”

Elwood’s Shells might be closed, but now you can make the same shrimp and grits at home whenever you want.

A zero-waste goal and humble leftovers come together to make a stellar dish for the bar menu at Dory.

The third area Slim Chickens opens at Wolfchase, with big shoes to fill if it plans to keep up with the other two in international sales standings.

Bryant Bain starts a dinner series to raise money for a bigger smoker, and Peggy’s Healthy Home Cooking has moved about a mile west, from Cleveland to Crump.

Through a partnership with Whole Child Strategies, Memphis Area Transit Authority offers Klondike and Smokey City residents bus rides each Tuesday and Saturday to nearby locations where healthful food is available.

According to Lakeland’s economic development specialist, a Downtown Memphis business owner who resides in Lakeland wants to bring a venue like Railgarten or Carolina Watershed to the suburb.

Grind City Brewing Co. sits on a hill in Uptown that provides a spectacular view of Downtown Memphis and the bridge, and the artisan taproom has about a dozen beers on tap.

An unsolicited recipe that you’ll appreciate is in this week’s Recipe Exchange; two new Midtown restaurants are on the way; food truck news for you too.

The Daily Memphian is in its new office and we’re back in the studio to record podcasts for the first time since March 2020, which means we had a lot to say this week. 

Fresh Apple Cake is simple enough for anyone to make and it’s delicious, like pineapple upside down cake without the pineapple.

Today is the third Wednesday in July, also known as National Hot Dog Day; Jennifer and Chris tried a few to come up with some recommendations for you.

Chef and restaurateur Kelly English’s former Restaurant Iris, near Overton Square, will be reborn as Pantà.

Kelly English has joined the Memphis Food and Wine Festival lineup for October; James Beard-winning cookbook author Martha Foose will sign books at the Beauty Shop July 31.

Mary Claire White has long sold jewelry and candles in the Broad Avenue Arts District. With Sugar Ghost, she’s brought bubble tea to the neighborhood, and has an ice cream shop coming soon.

Street Food checks in on local food trucks old and new, with finds including Thai catfish and “street taco” hot wings. 

Whataburger plans to hire more than 530 new employees in the greater Memphis area by the end of this year. The number is to reach 930 by the end of 2022.

Crosstown Brewing Company sits at the far west end of Crosstown Concourse and turns out a variety of local beer, from year-round to seasonal to show-off brews.

Memphis Food and Wine Festival, derailed by COVID in 2020, returns to Memphis Botanic Garden on Oct. 16; tickets on sale July 15.

Recipe Exchange is back with a good one from Amerigo; Erling’s is temporarily cutting service by two days due to staffing; and a Downtown bakery is returning.