It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us, but I count the days down in the number of sections we print and guess what? There are only two food sections to go before Turkey Day is here. (And only seven dining reviews until the year-ender. Time flies.)
This week's column will be short so we can run a list of Thanksgiving Day openings and places where you can order your turkeys ahead of time. If your restaurant is open and not on the list, please e-mail biggs@commercialappeal.com. We'll try to run the list again next week, at least online and at whiningdining.com.
But first: Congratulations to I Like Big Burgers and I Cannot Lie. This team (a sub-team of Smoke Masters BBQ) won the Best Memphis Burger contest in September, which qualified it to enter the World Food Championship in Las Vegas last week. They came in fourth. In the world. Way to go!
Wednesday wine
Join us at whiningdining.com at 7 p.m. Wednesday for an online wine tasting with Angela Moon of Kirby Wines & Liquors. We'll drink a wine that is great with spicy food: Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2010. I've recently had this wine with gumbo and chili, and can recommend either.
This and that
Have you liked us on Facebook? You need to visit and see what we're doing, and to win cool stuff. Go to facebook.com/sotastes on Wednesdays to find out what you can do to win a cookbook. We give away at least one a week, and sometimes more, at random. Plus, every time I clean my desk I find things to give away. Come join the conversation.
Don't forget that this week is Downtown Dining Week. You can eat a three-course meal at more than 30 Downtown restaurants for $20.12. Go to downtowndiningweek.com to see a full list of participating restaurants, look at the menu (a few places offer a different choice from the three-course dinner). and see where you can park on the cheap. Just be sure to make reservations.
Contact food writer Jennifer Biggs at biggs@commercialappeal.com or (901) 529-5223. Her blog is whiningdining.com. The Southern Tastes Facebook page is facebook.com/sotastes.