cafe keough

I spent today in Memphis for my sales job.  Part of sales is schmoozing the customers, and the loveliest thing about my clients is they all appreciate good food.  Thank goodness, as it makes my job kind of awesome!  First stop was lunch downtown at a newer place with a French twist called Cafe Keough.  My dining partner was a young architect at one of the bigger firms who also happens to be a blogger and food photographer!  Small world, eh?  (Or is everyone secretly a blogger and I’m the naïve one??) Café Keough is located just off the trolley line on the corner(ish) of Main and Madison.  I ordered the chai tea and the roast chicken sandwich.  My customer ordered the portabella mushroom sandwich.  My toasted sammie had melted swiss, peppery arugula, succulent roast chicken breast and a schmear of pesto.  Accompanied by a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, my warm, crusty sandwich hit the spot on a cold blustery day.

roast chicken sammie

My chai was just how I liked it, on the sweeter side.  The barista went the extra mile and sprinkled ground cinnamon on top.

wish I had one right now!

The architecture of the old building was a bit crumbly, but I think it is part of the Memphis charm.  Huge beautifully preserved doric columns stand out and run the length of the restaurant.

The architect told me she doesn’t normally finish her meal but the portabella goat cheese sandwich she ordered disappeared rather quickly!  She had a side of quinoa salad; it looked fresh and tasty.

the portabella

I can’t tell you how happy this photo makes me feel.

Onward to dinner, where I met with a midtown firm for happy hour at Hog & Hominy.

yummah

The H&H is a laid back bar-restaurant that bakes awesome pizzas in a brick oven.  They have a heavy emphasis on pork, which is fine by me.  The restaurant has a rustic, clean feel to it.  The space melds metal and wood nicely, with a single yellow painted metal chair popping at each table.

I’ve been jonesing for H&H’s Red Eye pizza ever since I last left Memphis.  The Red Eye pizza is a masterpiece of pork belly, fontina cheese, celery leaf, sugo, with a yummy, runny, fried egg smack in the middle of it.  After you cut the pizza, the egg yolk bursts and runs over the tips of every piece.  SO GOOD.

We also tried the Flying V pizza.  One wouldn’t think Brussels sprouts work on a pizza, but oh man, pair those sprouts with duck confit, caramelized onions, taleggio cheese, and balsamic apple cider and it is like instant mouth happiness.  It is so hard to describe; sweet, acidic, and rich, so many flavors bursting at once.  I want to try to recreate my own version of this at home.

the Flying V

The pizzas went quickly and everyone ooh’ed and aaah’ed over both choices.  Ok, maybe those were my own noises in my own ears I was hearing, but my belly was happy for sure.

Since it just so happens to be across the street from my hotel, I of course HAD to polish off the evening at Muddy’s Sweet Shop after dinner.  Muddy’s is a bake shop always filled with happy children all fired up on sugar.  I opted for a pumpkin cupcake.  Muddy’s cupcake got the job done and satisfied my sweet tooth.  On that note, I’m calling it a night!