Jerry Lewis had Dean-O. Johnny had Ed McMahon. Bert and Ernie. You get the picture.

Some of the funniest teams rely on the gifts of a straight man. Or woman.

For Calvin Trillin, who writes so entertainingly about food, that was his late wife, Alice. Unflappable, affable, no matter where Mr. T dragged her in his quest for interesting edibles. He has written a new memoir about his wife, and he’s going to discuss it tonight at the University of Washington bookstore in Seattle.

I’m a big fan. I’ll be there… in the front row, if possible. Maybe I’ll even ask a question if there’s a chance… what would you like me to ask Calvin Trillin?

How do you feel about a long distance relationship?

It could work, right? With good communication and some TLC, I can still keep my finger in the pot of that interesting Memphis stew, can’t I?

In the 11th hour, the CA’s online guru threw me a bone: Why don’t I keep writing the blog? It could evolve to include more general food/cooking type chatter. I could encourage some close-to-the-ground feedback from the loyal readers who have been so great about weighing in with opinions. What do you think?

I’m still plugged in, still hearing the scoop. I’ve heard glowing reports about Interim… the place that Viking’s Fred Carl opened when Wally Joe said so long to that venue. (But what an unfortunate name! Let’s serve them up some alternatives, yes?)

I’ve also heard raves about Judd Grisantis’ Spindini… who’s been? What did you eat?

Send me tips or/and photos of the best meal you’ve eaten, and I’ll send out a monthly treat from the great Northwest — can you say world’s greatest smoked salmon? — for the best/hottest/coolest item. Send it all to leslie.dines@gmail.com.

Let’s just see what happens… I’m game!

Back in Memphis for a few days and have been savoring a few of my favorite things… had a wonderful osso bucco at Encore, a bacon and egg biscuit at Bryant’s, BBQ spaghetti at the Bar-B-Q Shop (love that sauce!), the blackened catfish at Soul Fish, some most welcome comfort food prepared by my friend Kate.

Looking forward to one last lunch at Little Tea Shop before I’m headed back to Seattle… to start eating!

A sincere thanks to everyone who popped onto this space, and especially those who participated with thoughtful, delicious comments… So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu…

Met Mark Dolan at last year’s Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest… a man on a mission, armed with a camera and an appetite for colorful stories…

Had an e-mail from him letting me know he had posted his pics from the Superbowl of Swine at bbqpilgrim.com, and just mentioned he was in Seattle… happy coincidence… so we met over, what else??, some Q… at a place called Rowdy Cowgirl… definitely not Memphis, but much better than I expected, especially the ribs.

Dolan, who teaches photo-journalism at Syracuse University, and had spent the past few months in London, was heading south… to California… following leads on BBQ oysters and a former Black Panther with a passion for the pits…

He has spent some time in Seattle, eating some BBQ and said it’s better than many people give it credit… great news!

Here are a few pics from Seattle…

The scary-looking thing in the middle is a geoduck, on display at Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe, a funny spot on the waterfront…

What’s new in Memphis? I’m coming back for a few days… to meet the movers, and sneak in a couple of biscuit/BBQ/chicken-and-dressing meals… any suggestions?

Went out for apps last night, at a stylish spot called Ten Mercer… just up the road from the Opera House… lots of well-dressed opera-goers doing the pre-theater thing.

Asked the bartender if he poured a sauvignon blanc by the glass, and he cracked that “good choice” smile before offering a beaut from New Zealand… this isn’t the first time a server has been “impressed” with a request for this steely white… which made me wonder if it had become the pinot noir of the whites…

Not that I’m counting, but it was the second time in two days I had received an “all right” from behind the bar… at the Elvis Invitational at EMP Friday night, my order of a shot of Jack’s prompted the man holding the bottle to do a little show-and-tell… pulling up his shirt and flashing me a pie-pan size belt buckle featuring the logo for the Tennessee sour mash. OK, cowboy, just hand me my drink…

Back to SB, anyone have a particular fave of this food-friendly wine? The name of the lovely selection bartender Brandon poured at Ten Mercer was hard to forget:

… stopped at an Italian place in our new neighborhood (after groaning at the pathetic showing at the Elvis Invitational at EMP — where there was a thin line between tribute and mockery)…

The sandwich board outside said the restaurant was open until 11, it wasn’t yet 10, but we were shooed out the door before we could say cappuccino…

I cannot stand it when any business plays fast and loose with stated hours of operation. All I can say: Thank goodness for those double chocolate Milanos at home.

There’s a Whole Foods in my new neighborhood!

Is this the sign of a true food nerd? Getting a thrill about cases of pretty produce (are those chiogga beets??)… and pristine seafood (smoked scallops? oh, yeah…) and MRTE that look as if they belong on an upscale menu.

Fellow shoppers probably thought Claire and I were some kind of bumpkins, taking pics… don’t care.

Course I’ve heard the “Whole Paycheck” yuck-yuck rub, but some things are worth paying for, no? Last night, roasted a “free-range” Rosie chicken (the door’s over there, guys if you care to check out the barnyard… or, that’s right, you’re not smart enough to figure out how to roam range free…), with baby creamer potatoes and glazed carrots… all tasting so fine with a Waterbrook chardonnay, on sale for $9.

Saw an ad for the 11th annual Elvis Invitationals at the Experience Music Project Friday at the Seattle Center… with backup by the Memphis Mafia band!! Special emcee: DJ Leslie!! Not me… maybe I’ll be there… course, my favorite ETA (Elvis Tribute Artist, that is): Radford Ellis, E Factor, his pic above. He’s a hunka hunka… Second fave: my bro in Maui!

Seattle might be justifiably famous for its coffee scene, but today Claire and I had the most wonderful hot chocolate… at Dilettante’s in Westlake Center downtown… waiting out a rainstorm.

This mocha hot spot had half a dozen options including extra dark, white chocolate, milk chocolate, Viennese and Mexican cocoa. One of each, please. I ordered the house special, which has a little caramel. Oh, yeah.

Claire got whipped cream on hers and the barista (oh, or is it a cocoa-ista?) put blue sprinkles on top… “for the Seahawks”… mmmmm, the Hawks’ deflated defensive line might want to hoist one of these to prepare for the playoff game this weekend.