Heading to Memphis Thursday

Suggesting places to stop and eat would depend on the meal you were thinking of eating. I would load my GPS with places I like. For west of Texas, there are the regionals you are used to, for Texas and further east, it will depend on your tastes. If you like BBQ, then try the BBQ POI. Cracker Barrel is good for comfort food and the menu is limited so can get old fast. Same for Bob Evans. The Diners, Drive-ins and Dives will always give you a great variety but the quality can vary greatly from what they were reviewed for and what you are served.

Personally, I would stay away fro the truck stops for food. They run from bad to awful as their clientele are pretty much a captive audience in the long-haul drivers.

Thank you Box Car, I like BBQ but not a big fan of Texas BBQ, I have stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Las Cruces and I agree with your comment. Maybe I will find a good mom and pop diner or two during the trip.

Once in Memphis if you have time go to the Gibson museum just a block south of Beale St.

I will check it out, Memphis will be my new home for at least a couple years. Thanks Don B for the information.

Wow. In my youth, before there were dedicated truck stops, you would gravitate to these places, since it was thought that truck drivers knew the best places to eat.

At lunch time the Dixie Cafe has great lunch specials with fast service. We have visited one in Little Rock and in Conway AR.
Lots of BBQ in Memphis. We tried many but like the Corkys on Poplar avenue the best.

Just check their menu. While they are getting better the bulk of the offerings are deep fried or griddle fried. Some are offering salads and other alternatives but they are still heavily loaded with salt, sugars and fats. Just what you need when your job has you sitting behind a steering wheel 10 or more hours a day.

As for knowing the best places to eat, a great many lived on red beans and rice. It was nutritious from the beans and filling from the rice - and it was hard to screw it up.

....I had red beans and rice for dinner last night!

However, my wife screwed it up by putting jalapeno's in it. I can't tolerate them.

For about 20 years we would stop in Memphis for an overnight stay on our way either to or from a blues fest I shot picture for in Arkansas. If you are into blues music they have street bands that setup in Handy Park and play for tips, some great bands. The Blues Foundation has a yearly competition for amateur bands the blues societies from all over the U.S. sponsor. They used to have it the Sunday after the fest in Arkansas which is held in October and we would drive up Sunday, listen to music until almost midnight then head for home Monday morning. They moved the competition to January so that screwed it up for us. They also have Memphis in May which is a BBQ competition and music fest. Some of the best BBQ you'll ever eat. I'm sure you'll find enough to keep you entertained in Memphis.

Thanks spokybob, I did have some BBQ at Neeley's in March. I will try Corkys next week. Dixie Cafe is a new one for me but I will give that one a try too.

My wife and I both love the Blues, She was born in Arkansas. She is aware of these events and has already told me we WILL be attending.

If your wife isn't familiar with the King Biscuit fest in Helena, Ar thats one of the biggest in the U.S. and is only about 70 miles from Memphis. That's the one I shot pictures for. I still have a website that I have pictures from the Biscuit going back to 1992. When I quit shooting pictures for them I got lazy and haven't done much with it the last couple of years. The url is:

www.pbase.com/dwbur

Thanks Don B. After many delays I'm on the road. Will take a look at your site. I should be in Memphis Tuesday Morning.