Tennessee’s first-ever Playa Bowls opens in Memphis, Itta Bena and B.B. King’s Blues Club are renovated, and Central Station Memphis adds a Conductor’s Club.

An Asian restaurant food tour, a Laotian happy hour and dinner, a night market and two art exhibitions are on the calendar for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Memphis.

While the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and SmokeSlam dominate Memphis’ May food-event lineup, there are other things to eat this month, too, from food-truck fare to high tea.

Suffice it to say that Aldar Cafe owner Hassan Alwadi takes his coffee seriously: He used to watch his grandmother pick coffee cherries from the family garden, dry them, crush them and roast them. 

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and Memphis-based B.R. Distilling Co. has struck a multi-year deal to spotlight its whiskey portfolio during Major League Pickleball events nationwide. 

The Memphis-based artisan coffee roaster, is closing its Downtown coffee shop and roastery. 

Smoke is back on the water in Downtown Memphis with the inaugural SmokeSlam barbecue contest. We’ve got the details on what food comes with your ticket and what else you can do at the event.

Siblings Teddy and Tiara Jasper, who grew up in Frayser, are bringing their successful tequila line back to their hometown. 

Mochi and Mi is opening in Southaven in May, but it’s already serving bahn mi sandwiches, vermicelli bowls and — of course — mochi donuts in Memphis.

Saturday marked the 29th year for the Midtown event that merges Memphis and New Orleans cultures, with a bounty of beer, vendors and crustaceans.

“Eclectic” is an overused term, but it’s a good word for when hamachi crudo, chicken liver pate, spinach dip and a double cheeseburger all appear on the same menu.

Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield riff on Memphis barbecue and hot slaw as the Tennessee state foods, wine menus and water pet peeves.

Plus, Casarap is closing, and the Starbucks in Millington is remodeling.

There are quite a few variations on the Bandeja Paisa, but at Mi Tierra, it’s a heavy plate.

The Germantown location opened last year, and Chloe Sexton has continued to be honest on TikTok about the challenges she’s faced with her business. 

Let the barbecue wars begin! Memphis will play host to not one, but two (!!), barbecue competitions in May — on the same weekend. So, we’re launching a new barbecue newsletter series with festival tips, recipes and more.

The owners of The Dame, which will be located in a den-like space inside the renovated Hotel Pontotoc, say they plan to fill a niche for people looking for a nice glass of wine outside a high-end restaurant. 

Chandler’s stories and recipes have been featured in national publications such as Real Simple, HGTV Magazine and Woman’s World. She’s also appeared on a number of national broadcast cooking segments including the Food Network’s “Dinner: Impossible” and Ducks Unlimited TV. 

The chefs affectionately known around Memphis as the “Patty Daddys” are opening a new restaurant where they can support their families and “not have to work for the man.” 

“Overall, eggs fluctuate like the stock market did in 2019 – up 500, down 400,” said Jeff Zepatos, owner of Downtown’s Arcade Restaurant. “I’m not sure if we are winning at points or breaking even.”

Lucky Dog opened Monday, April 8, at Silo Square, and the reception has been so popular that during the first days some patrons didn’t get seated. 

“He feeds the fish, he harvests the fish, he processes them, he sells it and he delivers it,” restaurateur Ben Brock said of Earl Lake. “It’s not even mom-and-pop; it’s just pop.”

Hot takes, date ideas and breakfast opinions are all on the menu for this week’s special edition of Sound Bites, featuring quick interviews with Daily Memphian staffers.

901 Hot Pot is expanding its Bartlett location and also moving into the East Memphis market. Crave Sweets Bake Shop is looking for a third location, maybe in Southaven or Franklin, Tennessee.

Zio Matto Gelato, the popular gelato that has been seen in grocery stores, restaurants and even FedExForum, now has a storefront on the ground floor of the Central Station Hotel.