What to order: Boiling Fish at Petals of a Peony earns Michelin attention with fiery finesse
Petals of a Peony has a location on Overton Square. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Ellen Chamberlain
Ellen Chamberlain is a global citizen who is happy to call Memphis her forever home. The Michigan native has worked in media for nearly 25 years as a radio broadcaster, journalist and ghostwriter. As The Daily Memphian’s food and restaurant writer, she gives readers inside perspectives of their favorite restaurants and the people behind them, suggestions for the best bites around town and the latest food news from in and around Shelby County.
Steam billows from bowls of rice, sizzling stews, and skillets of beef as they make their way from a busy kitchen to an equally bustling dining room. Diners chat about their chopstick skills and chuckle when an observant server discreetly sets a fork on the table.
The din of conversation and clinking of glasses raised in toast make Petals of a Peony in Overton Square feel like the heartbeat of the neighborhood. Dishes glide across sleek conveyor tables while bartenders pull taps of crisp, Asian beers, a blend of novelty and comfort that keeps the dining room buzzing.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
what to order Petals of a Peony Little Petals Michelin Subscriber OnlyIt’s GivingTuesday week! Will you join the celebration?
Donate now to help power our free community news access program.You know the value of having unlimited access to The Daily Memphian’s news. When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians with quality, in-depth local news through
- free access at over 300 schools and libraries
- free podcasts and radio broadcasts
- free newsletters
- and more!
Thank you for keeping up with local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Related stories
Petals of a Peony’s all authentic menu gets Michelin nod
“We thought authentic Chinese food would go well in Memphis, so we opened up. At the beginning, we didn’t have a lot of business, but after a while, the word spread,” said general manager Bo Zou.
Michelin’s Southern debut: Memphis restaurants recognized at historic ceremony
Michelin held its first-ever awards ceremony dedicated to the American South. When the stars were finally revealed, Memphis made its mark. 5 Memphis restaurants recognized in Michelin’s American South guideRelated content:
Table Talk: Michelin guide whets Memphis chefs’ appetite for stars
More from the Michelin Guide’s American South 2025 event as well as how the recognition has energized the Memphis honorees.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.