Taste the Mediterranean in Memphis.Petra Cafe

Jennifer Biggs and Logan Guleff

Not too long ago Jennifer Biggs a good friend of mine asked me to come with her to taste the Mediterranean at the new Petra cafe on Sanderlin Ave.
Its a slightly fancy place with an inviting atmosphere. They have a very beautiful lamp from Syria and I know a big secret about it too.
We ordered a sampler appetizer it had hummus,eggplant dip and taboulleh.
The hummus was high quality. It was smooth and creamy and very nice, the eggplant dip was very flavorful it had some tomatoes and olive oil. The tabolleh was a new flavor for me, it tasted very green. It had bulgar in it.

For the main course I had a Gyro with no onions, Jennifer had the Sicilian Panini, and my Mom had the Spanakopita a Greek spinach pie. We also got the lamb salad and the lamb shank.
My Gyro was very good the taziki sauce was very tasty with dill and other flavors and I really, really liked it.It was loaded with meat and over all very tasty. I would order it again. I just wish it had a bit of lettuce to add some crunch.  The Panni had salami, provolone cheese, spicy mustard and basil on a ciabiatta bun. It was a favorite but the best is yet to come.

The lamb salad was beautiful and just as the name says it was a salad with chunks of lamb on the top. It was loaded with goodies. Tasty!

If you want a treat you have to get the lamb shank! It was clearly the best thing on the table. A braised lamb shank on a bed of rice. The rice was high quality round rice not the cheap flat kind. The meat was so tender you did not need a fork. It fell right off the bone. It had hints of cinnamon and other spices and was slightly sweet, complimenting the lamb flavor. It was so exquisite that the next day Mr. Douba let me into his kitchen to watch how he made it!!! Can you Believe it?

Now I love being in the kitchen and restaurant kitchens are the coolest ever. I diced up some veggies and watched the secret stock form before my eyes. The smell was delicious and I was honored to be there, learning the ins and outs of the exquisitely delicious lamb shank!  Now the recipe is top secret and if I tell you he wont let me back into his restaurant and that would be terrible. So go now and have that lamb shank before he sells out!


Off to find some lamb shanks to cook.

Love the cabbage leaf,
Logan

If you were a Panda in Memphis where would you go ? I'd go to Panda Garden.

Panda Garden is one of my favorite places, it's on Summer Ave.
Its a Chinese food place and I have gone there many, many times, I just love it because it's Chinese food and it's the best.

One of my favorite items is the Wonton  soup its so tasty but I don't get the green stuff in it (cabbage and bok choy).
When I was four I ate all of my soup and Mama's too, it was just too good and I had two more bowls.

I usually go for lunch because you get an egg roll, chicken wing, fried rice, and donut.

I usually order the Da Chen chicken- a nice spicy chicken dish with a rich brown sauce and chunks of veggies. Then again I love the lo main a Chinese noodle dish with a nice sauce-yummy.  I also enjoy the szechuan beef ( it is a dinner item and comes with a fancy cut carrot.) It is very good. The sesame chicken is thin strips of fried chicken plain but tasty. and the sweet and sour chicken as the names says sweet and sour ...pretty good. 

When I eat my egg roll I eat it with some kind of red sweet sauce I don't know what its called but it adds a tangy taste.

WARNING: Beware of the SPICY mustard it can really bite you.

 I have to tell you that just being in Panda Garden makes me happy! I love the people who own it and work there. They are so nice. When I go I just feel happy.

Love The Cabbage Leaf,
Logan

When one eye is good: Patricks

Well, you remember when I did the post about the best burger contest, I went to the next years contest but never wrote about it. I am not to sure why. 
It was a great time, sun, burgers, food, dogs, kids- Burgers!
We were walking around looking to try burgers and one was a clear stand out for me a Burger by Patricks. It had an egg on it. It seem to me that eggs on unexpected  food are popping up more and more. 


My Dad just had a craving for that wonderful burger and luckily Patricks still makes it. I
My Dad and I both ordered the One Eyed Jack it was really good. The burger and egg go together like two pieces of a puzzle.

The burger was nicely seasoned but with out the egg it would have lacked every thing, The eggs a key piece of the burgers success. 
The curly fries were great and seasoned well.
Patrick's is an older place and had a sporty atmosphere decorated with licence plates and signs. It did take a  while to get the food out but the grizz were on a projector screen and it was a good time. 

My Mom got the club smokestack but they forgot the cold cuts and so that was a bummer. 

Go try this local burger in a local hangout it is sure to make you smile.
Love the cabbage Leaf,
Logan

Patrick's Steaks and Spirits

1 Burger and 5 Friends= 5 Guys Burgers and Fries

I go to Five Guys Burgers and Fries when I need food and I need it Fast. Now, this is not the most special kind of place, first off it is a chain. A good one: serving better quality food at a slightly higher price. I mean we all need fast food sometimes and that is when you want to go there.

They have a simple menu of Burgers built to your order and cooked fresh, Hot dogs, and Fries. I think because it is so simple it is easy to keep the food quality high and the customers like me happy. I usually get 2 patties that is there regular. The one patty just isn't as meaty. I like cheese, pickles, ketchup, lettuce, and tomato. Some of the other choices are mushrooms, onions, grilled onions, A1 sauce, mustard just to name a few.
 I also get the seasoned fries. They have a a little bit of bay season with a bit of cajun and I really like them better than the plain. I also LOVE that they tell you where the potatoes come from. It connects me to the farm and makes them seem fresher and tastier.
They have one of those cool coke machines and i love all the buttons.

Bonus- At Five Guys you can get a big scoop of roasted peanuts to munch while they cook your food. How fun is that?

Love the Cabbage Leaf,
Logan


Five Guys Burgers & Fries