Southern Fried

We went to Memphis with Leigh & Robert (aka BellWood) last weekend. Other than the southern fried heat, it was the ideal way to spend a Saturday. My only other complaint was that I couldn't get truly hungry for our second meal. Terrible, I know.

We started at Gus's Fried Chicken. I can say with certainty that it is the best fried chicken I know. Leigh said "foodgasm". OTM! Crispy, juicy, molten. It dissolves in your mouth! ATM & I agreed that one shouldn't overindulge in Gus's, maybe enjoy it once or twice annually.

They have superb fried green 'maters, which are filled with lava.

Would it be indecent to use this as a screensaver? Please note the fork, warped by fried green tomato lava-filling:

After eating, we drove over to the Cooper-Young district so BellWood could smell see for themselves the House Of Mews. They were actually open, so Leigh and I stepped inside. Briefly. I love the House of Mews for their work, but the odor of cat urine is so strong, I was openly gagging in there. I managed to get a couple of snapshots before I ran back outside. Look at this sweet pea's fluffy toes!

Smart guys, outside, breathing air:

The fellas went on to Goner Records to dig through crates while Leigh & I went oot & aboot. First stop? TAX Museum.

I've been to the Stax Museum several times before, but I'll never get tired of it. We debated whether we should go to the actual museum part w/o the guys, but thought better of it. Not enough time. Instead, we drove over to the National Ornamental Metal Museum, a previously unknown destination. Thanks be to Leigh for enlightening me! While I probably wouldn't always pay the fee to see the exhibit inside, the grounds are great for wandering around. It is across the street from a park that has mounds very similar to the ones at Toltec Mounds State Park. We thought how it'd be nice to bring food there and dine underneath the behemoth hardwoods. Anyway, the entry gate to the museum? You could probably spend a half-hour just looking at it. It doesn't look so special here, but...

A full English:

Pinky waaaaaaaaay out:

The museum has a grounds kitteh! A sign of intelligence and progressiveness.

We wandered into the Schering-Plough Smithy where everything has a blackened tint coating and they have samples of metal work. Neat!

Oven and anvil:

Pretty!

Wacky!

The museum is situated on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. Of course you can't capture this view with a camera:

After leaving the museum, we went to pick the guys up @ Goner. The rest of the day was spent hopping from one air-conditioned watering hole to the next. It was. so. hot.

Drinks @ Otherlands:

Drinks @ the Peabody:

We did try to work up an appetite by walking around downtown. It was a little challenging as we had to deal with the 6 (and counting) "B's". BBQ, Beale St. bullshit, Bieber-mania, beer, blues, baseball, etc. We agreed on Rendezvous for supper, since Robert has never been, but after discovering that the wait for a table was over an hour, we decided to go to another institution. A very wise decision!

This photo spooks me a little.

ATM lightens the mood:

Interstate is the current reigning champ as far as BBQ dives in Memphis go. I am not a huge fan of Rendezvous, even though I understand the appeal, so I'm glad that I've finally, FINALLY, found my joint. My chopped pork sandwich was so...perfect. It really was. I cannot wait to have another. Don't attempt to pick the sandwich up, it is too loaded down with cole slaw, pork & sauce. Forklift.

No. I didn't have room. I pretty much forced it down. No regrets. I love sweet potato pie:

Wall of Fame:

After eating our perfect meal, we left town. It was a full circle kind of thing; we passed Gus's on our way out. It was nice of ATM to drive. Sometimes I-40 can be charming. We were sleepy, full of food, listening to Memphis radio, and looking at the stars. We did get to listen to ATM's special day-trip BBQ mix before we dropped off BellWood at their home. I always am missing Memphis! (Next time: Earnestine & Hazel's, the Lamplighter)

This is what you eat the next day: