I’m going to start right off with “what I had for lunch yesterday” before getting on to the news, because this is a particularly good one: Co-workers and I had lunch at The Capital Grille. Look who else joined me!
It was a staff development day at work and at the end of the day we played bingo. My troll was in my pocket both times I interviewed and I got the job, so I thought maybe she’d bring me luck at bingo as well. The clam chowder was a yummy start to my meal. The main course:
Seared citrus glazed salmon with Marcona almonds and brown butter. I had not had salmon in a while and this was excellent, cooked to perfection. It came on a bed of onions and green beans. For dessert:
Flourless chocolate espresso cake with cocoa powder and fresh raspberries. This was a perfect ending to an excellent lunch.
It was my first time at Capital Grille and it lived up to its reputation. Service was impeccable and we were in and out in an hour, impressive considering we had a large group. Due to the price point this won’t be on my regular weekly list of lunch spots, but for special occasions like a co-worker’s work anniversary or a friend’s birthday celebration I would highly recommend this restaurant.
One caveat, though. As I always do, I checked out Capital Grille’s lunch menu online before we headed out there. I found plenty to like on the menu, but I have co-workers who are Indian and who have a vegetarian diet. There is nothing on the menu entree-wise they can eat. If you have vegetarians in your group, you might want to call in advance and see what they can do for them. They are very helpful and willing to work with you on dietary needs once you tell them.
The Saturday before BBQ Fest, a trolley crashed into a Sprock ‘n Roll party bike on the Main Street Mall. Action News 5 has now released video from the trolley’s camera taken of the crash. The party bike was not parked on the tracks where the trolley driver had plenty of time to see it, as has previously been claimed. The bike pulled out right in front of the trolley. The bike driver was ticketed and rightfully so, in my opinion.
Patio Sweat makes their debut at the Ghost River taproom tonight from 7:00 to 9:30.
Get Fresh with Us is the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market, the place to shop local for the freshest goods. The Art Project Memphis will have a table there 8 to noon where you can make thumbprint fruit and veggie art. Live music all day long. The Market runs every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson. It should be beautiful outside tomorrow morning and I plan on being there!
The Downtown Kooky Canuck will host a Cerrito Live Kickoff Party for WWE Smackdown Live starting at 5 PM next Tuesday, June 12. Join Kevin Cerrito, Dustin “Five” Starr, and Maria Starr before you walk with Elias (wait, he’s on the Raw brand) to Smackdown at FedExForum. Kooky Canuck is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, so come enjoy great food as well as drink specials including $2.50 well drinks, house wine and bottled beer, $5 34 oz. specialty drinks, and $5 34 oz. Molson and Bud Light.
As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it’s my pleasure to link to this Memphis Business Journal article about a $20 million building permit for construction on the former Wonder Bread site at 400 Monroe. 286 market-rate, Class A apartments and a 480-space parking garage are planned for the location. Orion Federal Credit Union and Leo Events have already been announced as tenants for this or surrounding sites.
It’s Free Stuff Friday at the Redbirds, with prizes every inning and one lucky fan getting to roll the dice for $40,000, since no one won the three previous dice rolls since the prize pot started at $10,000 back in April. $2 beers and live entertainment in the Plaza before the game. Gates at 6:00, first pitch 7:05.
Back to my vegetarian co-workers who joined me at lunch yesterday… I recommended that the next time they come Downtown with their families, dine at Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick. Chef has a different vegetarian appetizer and entree each day, and there are plenty of other regular menu items that are meatless. There’s plenty for us meat-eaters to love about the place too.
In 2005-06, we had a chef living in my building and he’d cook for us on the rooftop grills. I got to know his family and became “Uncle Paul” to his 6-year-old daughter Dara and 2-year-old son Max. They live in California now, but we stay in touch on Facebook and Dara graduated high school yesterday. Congratulations Dara, Uncle Paul is proud of you.
Did I not tell you the G7 summit would be a shitshow with Donald Trump there? Trump had a Twitter tantrum about tariffs, criticizing the leaders of Canada and France. He will pull out of the summit early and miss sessions on climate change, the oceans and clean energy, which is probably for the best since he has nothing of substance to offer on any of those topics. Preferring to be with another world leader as crazy as he is, Trump will head straight to Singapore for the summit with Kim Jong Un. Trump also said Russia should be readmitted to G7, which should make his boss Vladimir Putin very happy.
Max’s Sports Bar is first on my agenda once I get back Downtown after work. With Arkansas in the Super Regional, I will spend a lot of time at Max’s this weekend. May pop over to Earnestine & Hazel’s as well. Weekend!