In a recent comment, Jeff basically told me to hit the road, get lost, let somebody else work this space, somebody who is in Memphis, somebody like Fredric Koeppel… gotta say, it stung.

But on reflection, and given the hectic pace of my work/eating load in Seattle, I think I’m going to take Jeff’s advice and bow out. For now… you never know what the future holds.

Hopefully, some of you will follow me on my eating adventures in the NW on the Post-Intelligencer’s site.

It sure was fun while it lasted…

My very favorite Booker T & the MGs song… huge high five for the well-deserved lifetime achievement award presented at last night’s Grammys to these soul survivors.

If you haven’t already, be sure and read Bob Mehr’s excellent account of the evening. What a great moment for Stax! And da original house band.

What’s your favorite Booker T tune?

Claire’s now a Bulldog, going to Garfield High (famous grads: Quincy Jones, Kenny G)… and the word is that the school lunch offerings are better than your average cafeteria fare. Today’s menu: Gumbo, yams and cornbread… So Southern! I’m going to sneak in there and try it next time…

The only gumbo I’ve eaten in Seattle was thin, no okra… terrible…

My favorite school lunch had to be turkey/gravy/mashed potatoes, hated the sloppy joes…

My first dining column debuted in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer today, along with my new blog. Check it out by clicking here. Let me know what you think.

Kim asked in an earlier post where to find this twangy ingredient… I suggest Viet Hoa on Cleveland, north of Madison. They look like shiny bay leaves…

Other Asian groceries to recommend??

Lost in the mountains of unpacked boxes from the big move — my beloved cookbook collection. I’ll find them, but until then, I’m winging it.

Last night, I made black bean chili and served that over a sweet potato (or yam, as they’re sold in this part of the world…) This is prime chili weather for sure. Anyone care to share their favorite recipe to chase away the chill?

So, I was talking to the guy who was scheduling me to get hooked up to my satellite TV, and the subject of Food Network came up… he said he loved Paula Deen, that she cooked him dinner once. But that he really loved Rachel Ray.

Really?

Lots of folks feel the opposite, even going as far as dedicating a lot of energy to a site called rachelraysucks.com… He said she was young and she makes dishes that seem do-able. Where do you come down on the burning question: Love her or hate her?

I got so hungry reading Jennifer Biggs’ review on a new hot spot just down the road from Memphis… I’ve been eating lots of Thai food in Seattle, thinking that of all the Asian cooking traditions to carve out a place in the mainstream, Thai surely tops Korean, Vietnamese, maybe someday soon, even Chinese…

What’s your fave Thai eats? Has anyone been to the place Jennifer wrote about? Do you agree or disagree with her assessment?

My furniture arrives today!

Moving stinks… the packing and unpacking. There were some boxes that never got unpacked after the last move. And yet, I continue to buy stuff…

Here’s some of the beautiful Memphis things I will fill my new home with — a George Hunt painting (see his work at D’Edge on South Main), a Jay Etkin piece, bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Kentucky bourbon and Cane rum from New Orleans, a fat collection of Southern cookbooks, an antique Persian rug, stones picked up on the banks of the Mississip, delicious photos by my friend Dave Darnell and a dozen bottles of barbecue sauce.

I packed my bags for my flight, filling an extra suitcase with a few perishables I know I won’t be able to find in Seattle… including 12 pounds of King Cotton bacon (seasoned rightly!)… if you had to leave town in a hurry, what Memphis edibles would you squirrel away?

I’ve really been enjoying reading comments from fellow food lovers on a site called Yelp, but Memphis is sure underrepresented there. Just a handful of restaurant listings, and mostly one line opinions.

Sounds like just the forum for readers of W&D… or better yet, serve up your opinion right here. Give me a short review of the best meal you had in the month of January. Oh, and just wondering if anyone is still keeping up with their New Year’s resolutions to, say, lay off the fried pies??