Memphis, Tennessee is more than just Elvis Presley and Barbecue Ribs. Memphis is part of Shelby County Tennessee and sits on the Mississippi River as part of the Mississippi Delta on a bluff (high ground) called a "Chickasaw Bluff."
The cuisine consists of its own distinct version of BBQ along with blends of Southern styles and Soul Food. Celebrities such as Elvis Presley, Al and Tipper Gore and Tennessee Ernie Ford have also made their own contributions to the Memphis Style cuisine. Memphis style barbecue is one of the top four styles of barbecue popular in the United States, the other three being Carolina, Kansas City and Texas. The Memphis style of barbecue is distinguished by using pork that has been smoked in a smoker over a long period of time: usually several hours. The sauce is typically a dry rub for the ribs but wet sauce is also used for sandwiches and other nontraditional dishes such as pizza, spaghetti and nachos.
Memphis holds an annual Barbecue Festival on the banks of the Mississippi River blocks away from Beale Street.
Beale Street is a touristy street in the heart of Memphis that is a lot like a mini Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are many restaurants and pubs located along Beale Street including the famous Rendezvous and Peabody Hotel where trained ducks come down the elevator every morning to festive music while a red carpet is rolled out to lead them to the large fountain in the lobby. The red carpet is again rolled out for them to go back to the elevator and led to the roof of the hotel where they are kept at night.
This cookbook contains traditional dishes that truly represent Memphis style cooking. I hope that you enjoy!