When I was growing up in Cordova, the closest sushi restaurant was the Sekisui at Humphreys and Walnut Grove.

Despite working downtown on and off for about two years and getting countless recommendations from friends, I hadn't been to Frank's Deli on South Main until yesterday. Frank's Deli is right next to the Green Beetle on South Main.

One of the few things I miss about my old office job in East Memphis was being within walking distance of Mosa. Mosa is a local chain (if you can call two restaurants a chain) of Asian diners run by the former owners of legendary Memphis restaurant Formosa.

Ed. Note: PaPa Pia is closed. In its place is Agave Maria. It's Friday, the sun is shining, and I was feeling a little indulgent around lunchtime, so I walked down to PaPa Pia on Union Ave.

I can't remember who named the Young Ave. Deli's French fries as some of the best in the country, but they were totally right.

Southern people are big fans of the meal known as the "meat and three".  A typical meat and three includes some kind of meat (think fried chicken or catfish, maybe turkey and dressing) and three vegetables of your choice on the side. Usually, the vegetables are distinctly Southern - fried okra, slaw, green beans seasoned with salt pork, and fried green tomatoes are usually on the list. But in Memphis, there seem to be a few items on the vegetable list that aren't quite like the others.

Apparently, the diner near the University of Memphis commonly known as the Chinese Sub Shop is actually called the Super Submarine Sandwich Shop. My mom (who used to eat there while she was a student at the U of M in the 1970s) calls it the Sub Wash Pub.