The Organized Eater | Eating food, ticking lists

Mar 10 2013

Margherita Pizza from Trolley Stop Market

We drive past Trolley Stop Market almost every day, and for the longest time I’ve wanted to go there. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the food, and everyone raves about the pizza. If I was forced to eat one type of food forever, it would pizza. I HAD to eat at Trolley Stop Market before I left.

#59 on 100 Things to Eat in Memphis Before You Die & #110 on 100+ Things to Eat in Memphis – Margherita Pizza from Trolley Stop Market.

This story takes place March 9th, 2013. The day after my birthday.

It was a Saturday evening. We had done a little shopping earlier in the day to get presents for our friends as they were having a joint birthday party (I had already had my party the day before by going to Tunica with my wife, my mother-in-law and her husband). Their theme was Black & White, so I bought a black and white Memphis Tigers hat to wear as well. We were all dressed up and thought the perfect pre-party meal would be some pizza from Trolley Stop.

We arrive at Trolley Stop around 7.30pm. There’s a party going on at the back, so people are a little busy, but eventually we’re seated. 5 minutes later and our order is taken. One medium margherita pizza, one water, and one sweet tea. Our drinks arrive quickly, and we chat while listening to the karaoke in the back. My wife uploads the photo of us below on Instagram after getting the wifi-password.

30 minutes or so later, our server comes to tell us that our pizza will be out soon, and the reason for the wait was because of the parties. At that time we ask if we can have the cheque and get it in a box to go so we won’t be late for the party.

1 Hour After Ordering Our Pizza

Thanks to the Instagram photo, we know that 55 minutes after my wife posting that photo we still hadn’t received our pizza. So we went to see the manager. He said he’d heard of the situation and that the pizza would be ready soon, they were just boxing it up, and it’s now a large. We still had to pay for the pizza. When the pizza came, our server apologized and said apparently someone had taken our pizza to another table. I asked her if she thought it was unreasonable to wait an hour for a pizza, and she agreed it was. The manager was basically uninterested by this point.

Our server was very nice, I don’t fault her at all. The manager, however, could have tried to make some recompense for the screw-up.

So, how did we get to enjoy our pizza? Cold, late at night, in the car on the way home from the party because we did’t want to spill any on our clothes before getting there. And I did not want to share a photo of cold, soggy pizza.

Here’s the sad thing about all of this. The flavors were delicious. The dough tasted like, had it been hot out of the oven, it would have been amazing. Margherita is the true test of a good pizza, and they do a good margherita. A very well balanced pizza.

I have one more thing to eat from Trolley Stop Market on the lists, but I won’t be dining in their establishment again. Not the fault of our server or the chef, but the manager absolutely soured the evening.

If you’re going to eat at Trolley Stop Market, I’d phone your order in, pick it up, and eat it elsewhere. Just to be safe.

Tagged pizza

Mar 08 2013

Disorganized Eats – West Coast Burger from Huey’s

There are going to be times when I’ll want to talk about something I ate that doesn’t appear on any list. This is one such time.

I mentioned in my last post that we had gone out to eat at Huey’s Poplar, thanks to Shannon Little, who gave us a $25 gift card. Well, we certainly made good use of that card!

Shannon, in her card to me, mentioned two of her favorite burgers were the Bluff City and West Coast burger. Before this trip to Huey’s, we ate at the Midtown location with a friend and I got the Bluff City burger. It definitely wasn’t my favorite burger I’ve had from Huey’s. This time I was intent on giving the West Coast burger a spin.

Huey’s Poplar is the 4th Huey’s location I’ve been to, and it’s a lovely place! Very busy during dinner, for sure. We were seated after a small wait, and ordered drinks. I had been craving Ghost River beer since I’ve been back in Memphis, and thankfully Huey’s has it on tap, so a pint was the go for me.

As an appetizer, I decided to order Mozzarella Sticks. I’ve never eaten them before and they sounded cheesy which always appeals to me. In my mind I was thinking a breadstick that was covered in cheese… how wrong I turned out to be. Now for those who have already had these, this is no surprise, but essentially they’re breaded and deep-fried string-cheese! What a revelation! Such cheesy deliciousness had never before touched my lips, and I was converted. I actually preferred it without the dipping sauce.

Then came the main event, the West Coast burger. A whole-wheat bun and guacamole were the key difference makers in this burger. What possible difference could they make? Oh, quite a lot, actually. There was actual flavor in the bun, a sort of yeasty/grainy sweetness that you miss in typical white buns. The texture of the bun made the burger much more interesting too, with a little bit of chewiness. The guacamole didn’t do much in terms of flavor (there wasn’t very much on there at all), but it did add a creaminess that I really appreciated.

The West Coast burger is a very fine burger indeed. However, what I didn’t realise while eating was that my wife had ordered one of the most delicious burgers I have ever tasted in my life. She had ordered the Texas Toast Burger, and after giving her a bite of mine, she gave me half of hers (she’s so lovely like that!). I was floored, and I almost regretted my choice of the West Coast burger. Next time I’m DEFINITELY getting a Texas Toast burger for myself.

Just to throw a little organization into this disorganized eats post, here is my mini-ranking of the burgers I’ve eaten at Huey’s.

Texas Toast Burger
Blues 57 Burger
West Coast Burger
World Famous Huey Burger
Señor Huey
Bluff City Burger

Let’s be clear, I would eat ANY of these burgers, any day of the week. There are just some I prefer more than others

There will be a Texas Toast Burger review once I return from New Zealand.

Tagged burgers, huey's, mini-ranking

Mar 05 2013

5 Comments

100 Things to Eat in Memphis Before You Die

Prozac Cupcake from Muddy’s Bake Shop

Previously on The Organized Eater…

The last item I had eaten from Muddy’s Bake Shop was the wonderfully-balanced Capote cupcake. I still had one more item left to cross off.

#28 on 100 Things to Eat in Memphis Before You Die – Prozac Cupcake from Muddy’s Bake Shop

This story takes place February 22nd, 2013.

We had just eaten dinner at Huey’s, thanks to the lovely Shannon Little who provided us with a gift card, at the Poplar location (this marks my 4th location, 3 more to go, haha) which placed us close to two of our favourite dessert spots… Gibson’s, and Muddy’s. I needed some chocolate medication, so Muddy’s was the plan.

The thing with Muddy’s is it never seems to slow down at all. We’ve been there during the day, late at night, there are always people who want their cupcake fix. We arrived to a line, as usual, and waited patiently for a glimpse of the decadent delights. A quick peek around the people in front of us revealed there were Prozacs on sale! Boom goes the dynamite!

As I mentioned, it was a little busy inside Muddy’s, and with nowhere to sit we decided the best place to enjoy our treats was on the couch, at home, watching some t.v.

I previously stated in my Capote Cupcake post that:

Every cupcake I’ve had from Muddy’s is a lesson in what cupcakes SHOULD be.

I stand by this assertion with the Prozac, too. From top to bottom, it is what all chocolate cupcakes aspire to. The chocolate frosting was creamy velvet on the tongue. No graininess, just silken pleasure. Where the Capote showed restraint, the Prozac storms you with a barrage of cacao flavor that you cannot escape. Nor would you want to.

The cupcake itself was delicate. Light, moist, with a more reserved chocolate flavor, the cupcake is art itself. This is, I believe, the same cupcake used in the Capote. The same bitter notes of coffee and burnt caramel gingerly nudge their way to the foreground of your mind before retreating again with each bite.

Together… it’s a symphony of chocolate. The dynamics are dramatic, the harmonies impeccable. Quite simply, it is the perfect chocolate cupcake.

There is a reason why they call it Prozac.

Now, as this was the last item from Muddy’s on my lists, I will be doing my own mini-ranking of the treats at Muddy’s. Now, I’ve had a few more cupcakes than just those I’ve posted about here. As I mentioned previously, we had Muddy’s do the cupcakes for our wedding. Without further ado, here is my mini-ranking of Muddy’s Cupcakes.

The King (Banana Cupcake with Peanut Butter frosting. Seasonal.)
Frankly Scarlett (Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese frosting.)
Prozac
Pink Lady
Capote

If you have not been to Muddy’s Bake Shop, you are missing out on LIFE. Literally the BEST cupcakes you will EVER taste. Pick up a Prozac and you will be cured.

Tagged cupcakes, dessert, mini-ranking, muddy's, sweets

Mar 01 2013

All-in-One Fajitas from Las Delicias

Previously, on The Organized Eater…

On January 28th, 2013, we decided to eat at Las Delicias for dinner. I knocked off a couple things from my lists with the amazing guacamole and savoury steak burrito, but I had one thing left…

#89 on 100+ Things to Eat in Memphis – All-in-One Fajitas from Las Delicias

This story takes place on February 16th, 2013.

It was a lovely Saturday in Memphis. The sun was shining, the birds were somewhere where I couldn’t see, it was 2.45pm, we had just been shopping for various needed items for the home and kitchen, and we were hungry. The important part.

I wasn’t thinking too hard about what I wanted – food was the main preference – and an El Toro Loco was coming up. I remembered one of Mary’s co-workers saying their wife loved it, so we pulled into the parking lot. My wife wasn’t so sure, and suggested Las Delicias. A quick scan of my memory banks revealed I had completely forgotten that I still had one thing left on the list to eat there! Fantastic! Sorted!

We arrived at Las Delicias and it was relatively busy. As usual, we were told to sit anywhere we liked. I love that about this place. It instantly welcomes you to a sense of comfortability. Our server, Nino, was quickly over to our table to get drinks order, and seeing as we already knew what we wanted we ordered our food as well. Boom, roasted!

We opted not to get the guacamole this time, which in hindsight I’m sad about because it IS that good, but it gave me time to appreciate their salsa. I knew it was good, but it was overshadowed by the guac last time. Once again, that magical ingredient of cilantro pushes it above many other salsas I’ve had. People, if you don’t like cilantro (coriander), you’re wrong. You do like it, you just don’t know it yet.

Our food was out very quickly which is always greatly appreciated. I was greeted with this plate of mystery and intrigue. I knew fajitas involved tortillas, but I couldn’t see them right away. My wife pointed out to me that the basket with the towel in it that Nino left on the table had the tortillas inside. Yeah… lets just say I’m still a relative newbie to Mexican food

For my sake, mentally, I’m going to break my meal down.

The tortillas. White corn. Approximately 8 of them (MORE than enough for the fajita mix on the plate).

The fajitas. Grilled steak, marinated pork, strips of pork chops, bacon, green peppers, and onions, covered in cheese. A grilled pepper is served as a garnish, I believe, but I don’t believe in garnishes so I ate it. There was little to no heat at all which is a safe choice.

My first bite I decided to go with everything. I piled a little corn tortilla with everything it could handle, sans garnish-pepper, and put my mouth to work. What I got was a whole lot of corn tortilla flavor with a hint of bacon. This was… not-so-good. I finished that handful and set about tasting the individual components. The meat was fantastic and full of flavor. The peppers and onions gave that little bit of sweetness that makes them a staple in so many dishes. The cheese was… well it was cheese, and I love cheese, but it didn’t feel like it was adding much in terms of flavor. It definitely added structure to the dish, which I appreciated.

So the culprit in this culinary mystery were the tortillas. I don’t know why, but they overpowered the fajitas for me. Maybe my palette is not as nuanced as I presumed. The meat and pepper mix was so good, though, that I decided I would finish it off without the tortillas.

If I were to eat this next time, I would order it without the tortillas, and maybe without the cheese too? Ah, who am I kidding, I’ll always order it with cheese.

So, with this being my last item from Las Delicias on the lists, I thought I would do my own mini-ranking as I did in my last Gibson’s Donuts post.

Guacamole.
Steak Burrito.
All-in-One Fajitas.

My wife would like to add that she loved her tacos and chicken burrito too.

Las Delicias is a fantastic Mexican restaurant. You have to visit, EVEN if it’s just for the guacamole. Highly recommended!

Tagged fajitas, las delicias, mexican, mini-ranking

Feb 18 2013

2 Comments

100+ Things to Eat in Memphis

Red Velvet Donut from Gibson’s Donuts

In January I posted about my first trip to Gibson’s Donuts. It was an awakening of sorts to what donuts could be, and a flavour experience of epic proportions. I managed to sample three donuts from two lists. Unfortunately, I was unable to taste the last donut from Gibson’s left on the list. Until now…

#15 on 100+ Things to Eat in Memphis – Red Velvet Donut from Gibson’s Donuts

This story takes place on February 2nd, 2013.

It was a Saturday morning. The weekend was finally here. Time to kick back, relax, and take it easy… Oh wait, no, things to do! Heading to Target? Close to Gibson’s? Early enough to beat the rush for Red Velvet Donuts?!

The stars had aligned, and unlike December 21st, 2012, this was set to be an apocalypse of awesomeness. See, since heading to Gibson’s donuts, I’ve become mildly obsessed. The Maple Bacon donut, what should rightly be an abomination to the senses, has infected my mind with salty, sweet and smokey memories. I loved ALL the donuts I’ve tried, but that one… it was special. And having that prior trio and NOT having a Red Velvet? It was too much to bear.

We pulled up at Gibson’s around 10.30am and it was PACKED. The line wasn’t out the door, but it would have made the patrons inside more comfortable if it had been. I was worried we were too late and scanned the display… SUCCESS! They had a good amount left. I pondered snapping a photo of the line at Gibson’s but decided against it… people wanted donuts, not to be in photos.

While snaking through the line, my wife decided she wanted an Apple Fritter as well (she had eyed them up during our previous trip), and I decided to relive my private moments with the Maple Bacon donut. With those three donuts, the order came out to just over $3. I still can’t believe how cheap these donuts are! We split them all, but I only took photos of the Red Velvet for my records.

Firstly, the Red Velvet donut itself is like a well-made red velvet cake. Prior to the Buttermilk Drop, I had had no experience with cake batter donuts, but it seems like it is characteristic to have a slightly-crispy outershell… which I just LOVE. This donut, in contrast with the buttermilk drop, was surprisingly moist! Red velvet cake isn’t noted for its intense flavour, and its donut cousin follows in this tradition, but the frosting (I hesitate to call it a glaze, it was so thick!) more than makes up for it! And the texture… oh my goodness, I think that donut had the best mouthfeel out of all the donuts I’ve ever had.

I’m hesitant to do this, but, as it is the first multi-item store that I’ve “knocked off” (to quote Sir Edmund Hilary), I thought I should rank them. This is just according to my personal preference:

Maple Bacon Donut
Red Velvet Donut
New Orleans Buttermilk Drop
Blueberry Donut

I know that before I go back to New Zealand, I’m going to be eating another Maple Bacon Donut. If I could take them on the plane with me, I would!

Truly, if you find yourself in Memphis, Gibson’s is a must-visit. Take a trip to 760 Mt Moriah Rd and order a Red Velvet donut. You won’t be sorry.

Tagged dessert, donuts, gibson's, mini-ranking, sweets