Traditional Memphis Recipes

By: Laura Sommers

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Traditional Memphis Recipes

Memphis, Tennessee is known worldwide as the home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll. It is known for such great artists as Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes and Johnny Cash.

Memphis is known for barbecue. Memphis style barbecue is one of the top four styles of barbecue popular in the United States. The Memphis uses 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 a few 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. At night, 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 represent Memphis style cooking as well as many inspired Memphis dishes. Enjoy!