Faced a wait for a table at two different spots for lunch… first Bhan Thai, which has its capacity reduced when the weather turns cold and you can no longer eat on the pretty deck.

Then, went to Sekisui in Midtown and no tables… we talked about going to Krystal, but decided to give it five minutes and, sure enough, got seated. (But then waited and waited for the sushi!)

We’ve talked about waiting for a table at dinner, but how often are you faced with a wait at lunch?

On a completely unrelated subject: Does anybody know where to buy goat meat in/around Memphis?

Went to the new Cost Plus World Market in Cordova over the weekend and spotted some Northwest food items I hadn’t even realized I had been missing: Tim’s Cascade Chips, Jones Soda, Coffee Crisp (OK, those are Canadian…)

The Tim’s are small-batch kettle fried and thicker than the average chip. I am just crazy about the salt and vinegar flavor…

What’s your favorite brand of chip? Favorite flavor?

Saw something unsettling while eating dinner at Cafe 1912 on Friday… the staff was getting ice out of a cooler, the same cooler that was chilling bottles of wine!!

Can we talk about cross contamination here?? Hands touching the bottle, the bottle going in the ice, the ice going in your ice water??

I’m no germ-phobe, but this just doesn’t seem right…

Hey Stones! I’m available to chew on a few bones with you while you’re in Memphis this weekend…

Just let me know when you’re available and we’ll go ‘q-ing!

Just had to pull over at the Corky’s on Poplar for this photo op… This Tom Turkey was really working it! But doesn’t he look more like a chicken than a turkey?

Anyway, they were doing a brisk business selling those BBQ birds…

… for going a little Hallmark card on you. I promise I won’t go all the way to maudlin with my list of things I’m thankful for…

Baked chicken and cornbread dressing (on Thursdays, but not tomorrow, of course) at Little Tea Shop.

The fried peach pie after a sliced barbecued pork sandwich at Payne’s.

The Nashville Roll at Sekisui.

The sight of that smiling mascot at Piggly Wiggly.

Being able to order BBQ at the Memphis Redbirds and the Memphis Grizzlies.

The honey-dipped fried chicken at Uncle Lou’s.

Being able to discover the joys of fresh Lady Peas from Easy Way.

Brim’s tortilla chips.

The local BBQ sauce shelf at Miss Cordelia’s.

Small plates at Tsunami.

Drive-thru BBQ at Corky’s and Tops.

The burger at Alex’s Tavern.

India Palace’s buffet.

The new, improved Viet Hoa Market on Cleveland.

Miss Joyce’s exquisite bisquits at Bryant’s.

The spring rolls at Bhan Thai.

First Wednesdays at The Brooks Museum.

Red beans and rice at Bluff City Bayou.

Fried chicken and a hug at Alcenia’s.

My “usual” (Bun, the Vietnamese pasta salad) at My Thanh.

I could go on and on, but you get the drift… I’m especially thankful that after living here for two years I can still (barely) fit into the same size I arrived in… thanks to my membership at the gym.

Finally, I’m truly thankful to the people who make this space so much fun by weighing in with entertaining comments. Have a great holiday!!

I was just thinking of New Orleans, as I have many, many times since those awful days in August. I’ve been wanting to get down there as soon as possible, to pump some $$ into the economy and to eat some fantastic food and listen to the music.

In the meantime, I’m savoring some pralines, made by Jean… who has been working out of a temporary kitchen in Memphis until she can get back home next month. They are so good! I’m sending some for Christmas gifts.

Check out her lineup by clicking here. For details on what NOLA restaurants are now open, click here.

Former Chez Philippe chef Jose Gutierrez just opened his Encore this weekend… a “soft” opening. But I just had to stop in and get a load of the place… it’s so beautiful.

And I’m thrilled with the menu. Entrees are under $20. Shared a couple of appetizers — a wonderful pissalerderie and a very nice warm goat cheese salad — along with a glass of reasonably priced bubbly.

This spot will definitely join my regular rotation of places where I spend my money.

… got into Lolo’s Table.

Lunch was very good, a grilled tuna steak with a blue cheese polenta and tender-crisp asparagus. But I had entree envy: Mr. CA Spy, Michael Donahue, ordered a bone-in pork chop with dried cherry sauce. Well, next time.

What was the last meal you had where you wished you could swap plates?

Are you ready to put your game face on? To queue up early for those door busters? To shop til you drop?

I went out searching for sustenance after a shopping marathon… and came up with a pretty lean selection of places. My criteria was that it be fast and cheap, and preferably, not a chain…

My favorite find was La Hacienda at Town Center in Southaven, Miss., a chicken enchilada that wasn’t smothered in cheese for under $4!

I realize I’m casting a wide net, but where’s your favorite place to refuel after pumping money into the local retail economy?