Memphis on My Mind

Ardie A. Davis

BBQ Hall of Famer

[email protected]

The 42^ndAnnual Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest theme is “Game of Bones.”  This year’s Memphis in May Salute honors the 200^thAnniversary of the City of Memphis. Like they said in 2017, “It’s a Pig Deal.” When meat fire smoke blankets Tom Lee Park and wafts upward to nearby Beale Street, it is Mardi Gras Barbecue time in Bluff City!

The Memphis in May barbecue cooking contest has been my can’t-miss destination since 1987, minus a few years when other priorities intervened. In 1987 I was a gofer for Team Kansas City. After that, I took the Memphis in May judge certification class and have had the honor of judging whole hog, shoulder, ribs and Patio Porkers over the past three decades. In addition to the quality of the barbecue and the sights and sounds of the city, it’s the people of Memphis and the barbecue community that make Memphis in May so special. It feels like a family reunion.

The 42^ndAnnual is extra special to me. My son, Lee, will experience Memphis in May with me for his first time at the barbecue contest and the City of Memphis. Of course I have a long to-do list of people I want him to meet, places to eat and places to visit. I will share some highlights next month.

Meanwhile, check out the recipes in this month’s National Barbecue News and plan your Father’s Day menu. If you’re lucky, a loved one will prepare it for you. If your loved ones are lucky, you will prepare the menu for them!

Ardie’sMemphis To-Do-List (complete with links)

BREAKFAST

• Bryant’s

3965 Summer Avenue – 5 am to 2 pm, Wed. thru Sunday

901-324-7494

• Arcade– Memphis’ oldest restaurant

540 South Main Street

LUNCH/DINNER

• Rendezvous (dinner) (John Vergos, Charlie’s brother; Calvin, head waiter; Nick, Charlie’s son….)

52 South 2^nd

• Payne’s BBQ (lunch)

1762 Lamar Avenue

• A&R Bar-B-Q

1802 Elvis Presley Blvd.

• Cozy Corner

735 North Parkway – Tues. – Sat. 11 to 8

 (Raymond & Desiree Robinson, founders)

• TOPS Bar-B-Q

1286 Union Avenue (Regular pork shoulder, $3.95)

• The Bar-B-Q Shop (November 1987; Frank & Hazelteen Vernon)

1782 Madison Avenue  – BBQ Spaghetti (Brady Vincent of Brady & Lil’s)

• Leonard’s Pit Barbecue (Dan & Janet Brown)

5465 Fox Plaza Drive

• Pearl’s Oyster House

299 South Main Street (near the Civil Rights Museum)

PLACES

• Sun Studio – 10 a.m. to 6 pm; tours optional: $14 per ticket 

706 Union Avenue, at the corner of Union & Marshall

• Peabody Hotel lobby ducks– 11 am & 5 pm daily

149 Union Avenue

• National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel $16 Sr: $14 – 9 to 5

450 Mulberry Street

gift shop on Main near Pearl’s

• Schwab Trading Company – open 12 to 6

163 Beale Street

• Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid– 8 to 10

1 Bass Pro Drive

Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest

Tom Lee Park