A sprawling collection of mostly historic buildings and farmhouses makes up Charlene’s Colony in Halls, Tennessee, which is decked out with more holiday decorations than you’ve likely seen in one place.

Tawanda Pirtle tells us about the steak sandwich at Jack Pirtle’s Chicken, which Jennifer Biggs ate this week for the first time.

The president of the Memphis Restaurant Association doesn’t know of any local restaurateur who has been contacted and told that a diner in their place of business tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Adherence to new mask rules is spotty on its first day, though some diners in East Memphis restaurants seem to know they should stay masked until they start eating.

Restaurateurs wonder if they’ve paid a higher price than other businesses during COVID, and fear another shutdown could be coming as virus numbers rise.

Spencer McMillin’s ‘The Caritas Cookbook’ is available and he’ll sign copies today at Bounty on Broad; Sugar Avenue treats are in Tops Bar-B-Q.

Like everything else, a safe Thanksgiving dinner is small and distanced. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorites, and you can support local restaurants while making the day easier for everyone.

Memphis chocolatier catches Oprah’s attention; Phillip Ashley Rix’s over-the top chocolate turtles make Oprah’s Favorite Things 2020 list.

Torchy’s Tacos, long a favorite in Austin and now expanded through seven states, is bringing its first “craft casual” location to Williamsburg Village.

Coletta’s has been around almost 100 years and will make it through COVID, just like he did, owner Jerry Coletta says.

The fund plans to award grants monthly through the end of the year.

Taste of the District gives restaurants in the Medical District a chance to show their neighbors what they’re cooking up.

Jess Hewlette expected to be running radical.tacos now, but COVID came, things changed, and now she loves her new role as executive chef at SOB.

One of the South’s legendary chefs is opening his first Memphis restaurant. John Currence plans to open Big Bad Breakfast late this year or early next.

Because of COVID, Desiree Robinson of Cozy Corner received her award from the American Barbecue Hall of Fame outside the lobby of her restaurant on N. Parkway, but she was excited anyway.

With rising COVID numbers in Europe, loss of holiday parties, outdoor seating concerns in winter and diners who are increasingly canceling, restaurateurs worry about the coming months.

Coming events include a reinvented St. Ann Fall Fest with food from Coletta’s, and another Restaurant Phoenix Project event, this time to benefit Claire’s House. Plus, New Asia and Sakura dining rooms reopen.

Reopening a restaurant as large as The Majestic Grille isn’t in the cards just yet, not when we’re playing a COVID hand, but Patrick & Deni Reilly are getting by with a little Italian place.

High Point Grocery isn’t trying to compete with liquor stores, but has added a small wine section to give shoppers a convenient option.

Nick Scott talks with Jennifer Biggs on our new Sound Bites podcast/radio show about what it was like to have Alchemy closed for 11 weeks and about his plans for Salt | Soy, opening soon on Broad.

A weekend hoe-down on a farm raised money to help Johnny Kirk’s Third Plate Pastures get through a tough spot, and the Restaurant Phoenix Project has three more events planned for the year.