Little Italy

Chillin' At Home

With almost the entire world on some degree of a lockdown because of Covid-19, being a food blogger got a lot harder. For me, getting the best sense of what I'm eating requires dining in at a restaurant where the food is hot and fresh from the kitchen. Being that I'm a fair guy, I usually refrain from getting out take-out for the blog unless that's the only way to get food from a particular restaurant (example: Roxie's Grocery). However, given the circumstances surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic, I will have to adapt both as a blogger and in life in general. So for this phase of the blog, I will try to focus on restaurants that either do a lot of take-out or aren't (in my opinion) "dine-in friendly" as far as atmosphere goes. With that in mind, I knew the first place I had to talk about is one of my favorite take-out joints, Little Italy.

NOTE: This review might be a bit dated, for this was written before some of Memphis' restaurants (not including Little Italy) reopened under Mayor Jim Strickland's "Back to Business" plan.

For years, Little Italy has been a go-to whenever I want authentic Italian cuisine. Not to be a snob, but I haven't found a restaurant in America that matches an Italian ristorante in food quality or atmosphere that I experienced during my four years in Italy as an Air Force airman. I have been to a few places that come close (unfortunately not in Memphis) but they are not quite there. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it could be that actual Italians (as opposed to Italian-Americans) aren't running it. Hopefully in my lifetime, I will go to New York to dine in a "genuine" Italian restaurant in America, but I'll have to make do until then. Although I can't get the complete Italian experience in Memphis, I rely on restaurants like Little Italy to serve some of the best Italian food in the city.

Rigatoni Rustico with salad and garlic bread (all included)

One of the things that I love about Little Italy is the pasta. While it isn't on par with most restaurants in Italy, Little Italy does a very good job with what it serves. An example of this is Rigatoni Rustico, a pasta dish with chicken and Italian sausage mixed with sauteed onions and red peppers in Little Italy's signature marinara sauce. As you can see in the picture, Little Italy doesn't drown the pasta in sauce, but rather adds just enough to bolster everything in it. The rigatoni was fresh and firm (as in "al dente") that didn't seem like it came out of a box. The chicken and sausage were also good and even better with the red peppers, onions and marinara sauce. Compared to what one can find in Italy, this is a very good dish that doesn't overwhelm with sauce but rather strikes a balance that allows all the elements to flourish. Those who aren't used to this kind of pasta might find this foreign, but the Rigatoni Rustico embodies the essence of genuine Italian cuisine.

The white "arrow" in the middle isn't a "play" button

In addition to great pasta, Little Italy serves fabulous pizzas. I'll admit that I usually go to Aldo's Pizza Pies as a first option because of convenience (usually after having drinks either there or some other Downtown establishment), I also like to mix it up occasionally with "pies" from Little Italy. They both offer New York-style pizzas that are far superior to the Domino's and Pizza Huts of the world. One of my favorite pizzas from Little Italy is the Parmigiana Pizza with meatballs. It comes with marinara sauce and topped with meatballs (or either chicken or eggplant) and mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. Contrary to what I said about the rigatoni, it wouldn't ruin my day if I got it swimming with marinara sauce. On the "Parm" pizza, the tomato and garlic in the marinara sauce is really good and a great foundation for the rest of the pizza. The ricotta is creamy with a sharp flavor that is very good by itself and awesome with the rest of the pizza. As for everything else, I have no complaints (I'm saving that for later in this review), for everything from the soft crust to the flavorful meatballs were excellent and very enjoyable. It's because of pizzas like this that make Little Italy stand out among the many pizzerias in Memphis.

SIDE NOTE: Because my pizza was under fifteen dollars, I had to add something to cross the threshold for delivery. For that, I chose the tiramisu as a dessert. Little Italy's version met my expectations as a creamy and coffee-flavored dessert that nicely hit the sweet spot.

Accidental Pleasure

Little Italy had always been one of my favorite places for takeout even before the current environment surrounding Covid-19. Even when I'm out at other bars that serve great food, I get that occasional itch for Italian. For the most part, the restaurant comes through without a hitch but not during my last visit. During a past Saturday, I attempted to order the Sausage Parmigiana Sub. The lady taking my order asked "you want an Italian Sub?" I confirmed I wanted the SAUSAGE Parmigiana sub, with the emphasis on "sausage." Then the lady asked me what kind of potato chips I wanted: plain or barbecue? I clearly replied by saying "plain" potato chips (I actually would have preferred French fries but wasn't offered that option). So, what happens next?

As you can see, I didn't get the sub that I asked for. Instead, I got the Italian Sub with Lay's barbecue potato chips (I swapped the Lay's with Brim's that I will talk about later). Needless to say that I was disappointed in not getting what I ordered, feeling like Leo Getz in getting screwed. Like Leo, I wasn't driving back to get the right sub, so I resigned myself to eating what I got.

As it turns out, the Italian Sub is a really good sandwich. It has pepperoni, ham and salami bonded by quite a bit of mozzarella cheese. Also with lettuce and tomatoes, the sub is a cheesy delight that almost made me forget that it wasn't my choice. The sub comes with an olive oil-infused Italian vinaigrette that surprisingly makes the sandwich tastier. In all, the Italian Sub is a great sandwich and a nice consolation for a botched order.

SIDE NOTE: For "plain" chips I swapped the Lay's BBQ chips in my order with Brim's Classic Potato Chips. In comparison to Lay's and other major brands, Memphis-based Brim's is just as good and a greater value. When you buy a bag of Brim's, you are not only contributing to the local economy but you are also keeping employed people who are in need of a second chance. Some of Brim's employees are people who had been in trouble with the law and want to get back on track with a good job and a stable life. There aren't a lot of companies that are willing to hire "troubled" people but Brim's has stepped up in a big way to help out. Brim's is a good company that I hope remains successful, especially with its BBQ Rib Chips that totally outclasses Lay's barbecue chips. I talk more about the chips on Tumblr, one of the many social media platforms (along with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) that you can follow Ken's Food Find.

Calzone vs Stromboli

I was about to end this review when I was reminded that Little Italy sells calzones and strombolis. Because I was stationed in Northern Italy, I never had a calzone that is a staple in the southern part of the country. As for the stromboli, it is a creation of Italian-Americans like the muffaletta and cioppino (they were created in Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco, respectfully and (with the exception of "N'awlins") places that I'm not familiar with). Until writing this post, I've never had a stromboli and on one hand could count the number of times I had a calzone (all from Little Italy on the recommendation from my Atlanta-based sister). Now, what is the difference between a calzone and a stromboli? A calzone is basically a pizza folded in half with the sauce, cheese and meats stuffed inside it while a stromboli consists of meats and cheese rolled up by pizza dough (kinda like a burrito). To get a sense of what both are like, I decided to get both and compare them.

To start things off, I chose the calzone that has been a go-to in the past. As you can see above, it's basically an Italian version of a turnover filled with a lot mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. At $5.25, that's all you get and additional toppings cost a dollar each. For this calzone, I chose sausage because it's my favorite meat topping at Little Italy. Unfortunately, the sausage was smothered by all the cheese in the calzone. For someone looking for a meaty meal, this calzone wasn't it. The cheese to meat ratio seemed like it was 5 to 1, something that I wasn't looking forward to. Now this is not to say that I didn't like the calzone, especially when I dipped in marinara sauce and eaten with garlic knots. Still, the calzone seemed more like a big Hot Pocket than a pizza. I appreciate the quality that went in to it, especially the dough used to make the buttery crust that enclosed the calzone. Despite that, I probably won't order it again unless I get it loaded with enough "toppings" to make worthwhile that will cost as much as an actual pizza.

"SIDES" NOTE: The garlic knots are a great side item for calzones and almost everything else on Little Italy's menu. Freshly made, the knots are soft and kinda sweet even with the garlic in it. It comes with marinara sauce (one cup, despite what's depicted in the picture; the other cup came with the calzone), although the knots were so good that I didn't need it (which was a bonus given that I used a lot of it on the stromboli that I ate later). Even though the knots were good, if I had craved for a meaty side instead, the fried calamari (as in squid) is not a bad option. Compared to other places that I've had it, Little Italy's version is tasty with a decent amount of crunch that's not on par with restaurants like The Majestic Grille but it's good enough to balance a really cheesy calzone. Regardless of which side/appetizer you choose from Little Italy, you'll be reasonably satisfied.

A day after the calzone, I switched it up in getting the stromboli. Unlike the calzone, the stromboli is leaner and more meaty. Despite being wrapped in pizza crust/bread, the stromboli felt a lot like a burrito. After taking a couple of bites, I took a picture of its inside to see what was in the stromboli. Unlike the calzone, it had a lot more sausage in it with just enough mozzarella cheese to make it interesting. As with about everything else I mentioned so far, it comes with a cup of marinara sauce for either dipping or pouring. I eventually opted for the latter, pouring in the sauce to make the stromboli more pizza-like. For my side, I got French fries that were okay (not that crispy) that matched up well with the stromboli and helped me finish off that cup of marinara sauce that I kept from the day before. At $5.25 that includes the sausage, the stromboli was a better value in terms of a meal that satisfied my appetite without leaving much of a mess. As far I'm concerned, the stromboli won me over, for it's a better fit for what I'm looking for, an inexpensive pastry that's meaty and filling. When I get the stromboli again, I will eat it with potato chips to get the most for my money.
Overall, Little Italy offers excellent food that is high in quality and great in value. In terms of authenticity, it's as close to Italy as one can get while living in Memphis (there are a handful of others that are just as good, such as Aldo's Pizza Pies). As much as I like the food, Little Italy has never been a place to dine in. I can't quite put my finger on it, but maybe the restaurant has more of a Sbarro-like feel to it. It's not a place that you can hang out in, but more like a store where you just come and go. Fortunately, that's not a bad thing when it serves great food and excellent (but not perfect) service.

With the "dine-in " option not appealing (and unavailable due to COVID-19), there are other ways to get grub from Little Italy. The most obvious method is calling the order in, which comes in handy when heading home after having a few drinks at a nearby bar. It typically takes between fifteen to twenty minutes for the restaurant to prepare the order so waiting is minimal most of the time. In addition, you can order online thru its website that's really easy to use, much easier than a lot of fast food apps that can be frustrating (service is the same as calling it in, but better accuracy in getting the order right). For those who prefer delivery, Little Italy covers most of Midtown and Downtown Memphis with its two restaurants in those neighborhoods (Little Italy also has a location in Bartlett although the menu and ordering process are slightly different from its sister restaurants). Even where I live that's barely within the confines of Midtown (my home is almost borderline North Memphis), Little Italy delivers hot food in a timely manner (it usually takes an hour to deliver, which is comparable to other restaurants). However you get it (including dining in which I'm not discouraging), Little Italy offers a great experience that few restaurants can match. I hope you stop by one of its restaurants to get a taste of the old country (or as close as possible for Memphis). I promise you won't regret it.

Website: LittleItalyPizzaMemphis.com



Labels: Appetizers/Bar Food, Bartlett, Cheap Eats, Commentary, Dessert, Downtown, Midtown, Multiple Locations, Pasta, Pizza, Sandwiches, Snacks

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Youth Villages' Soup Sunday

NOTE: Because of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, I feel a little weird blogging about food given that Memphis-area restaurants were ordered by city and state officials to cease in-house dining, coupling it with "stay at home" orders for the public at large. While take-out and delivery are still available from most restaurants, it doesn't have the same feel as sitting at a table in a dining room and enjoying food in a nice atmosphere. I'm hopeful that Memphis and the rest of the world will get through this, but in the meantime please stay safe and if possible, get tested for the virus.

Helping Children

For a long time, one of the goals of this blog was to write a review of Youth Villages' Soup Sunday, a yearly event for some of Memphis' best restaurants to showcase its soups. Because it's a fundraiser, a ticket is required to attend the event at the FedExForum where the proceeds obviously benefit Youth Villages, an organization devoted to providing "help for children and young people across the United States who face a wide range of emotional, mental and behavioral problems" (part of its official mission statement). It's definitely an organization that I wanted to support but was unable to until recently. It seemed that every time Soup Sunday occurred, I was too broke to buy a ticket. And with no one providing a "hookup" to me as a food blogger (something I've been doing for almost a decade), I pretty much had to admire from afar. This year, I made sure to purchase my ticket well in advance to ensure my attendance at the event (which at twenty dollars was cheaper than I thought). Speaking of that, Soup Sunday had many attendees who were anxious to try some the many soups and other treats served up by the participating restaurants.

SIDE NOTE: I assumed one of the participating restaurants would be Rizzo's Diner and its Chef Michael Patrick. I was looking forward to tasting his Cheeseburger Soup but it wasn't meant to be (he was there helping out but I didn't see him). Although Rizzo's wasn't participating, there were many other fine restaurants that more than made up for diner's absence.

As I expected, most of "Soup Sunday" takes place in the concourse of FedExForum where people line up to get samples of soups, breads, desserts and other foods (labeled "specialty items") from participating restaurants. Using a tray provided by the organizers, the portions are doled out in small cups that are consumed at tables within the concourse. At least that's how it supposedly works, but in reality the lines are really long so you might be tempted to eat while waiting for the next sample (which you can see in the picture below). Of course, that makes sense if you don't want your food (especially soup) to get cold and spoil your meal (however as a blogger, it's hard to document the evidence if it's in your belly). If I was organizing the event, I would apportion a certain amount of space to each participating restaurant and direct attendees to line up to them (sort of like what happens at the Southern Hot Wings Festival). With many of the restaurants/caterers clustered in groups of three or more, the process for getting served seemed a bit inefficient. To be fair, some of the attendants informed me that there were shorter lines in other parts of the arena, but I and others were hesitant in leaving one line for a potential wait elsewhere. In time, I tried most of the soups at the event but some of the restaurants either left or ran out of soup before I could get to them (I really wanted to taste something from Char, the new steakhouse has gotten a of buzz in Memphis).

Clockwise from the top: Crabmeat and Crawfish Bisque (nearly empty), Braised Cabbage & Roasted Potato Soup, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Hot & Sour Soup

In the first round of soups, I had a variety of flavors from an eclectic group of servers. Some of the soups here were among the best at the event, such as the Crabmeat and Crawfish Bisque from Marshall Steakhouse in Holly Springs, Mississippi that was creamy and very flavorful. Another noteworthy soup was Huey's Chicken Tortilla soup that was spicy and gave the sense that I was eating an actual tortilla. A little less impressive were the Braised Cabbage & Roasted Potato Soup from Hog Wild Catering that tasted like pea soup (not a bad thing if you're a vegetarian) and the sweet... err, Hot & Sour Soup from Germantown's Mosa Asian Bistro that was indistinguishable from what you could get at a Chinese restaurant. Overall, the first round of soups were great and well worth the wait.

Because of the many participants at Soup Sunday, I won't bore you with everything I had at the event. However, some of more notable soups were Silky O'Sullivan's Red Beans & Rice Soup (bottom right in picture), the seafood gumbo from Blues City Cafe (top left in picture and best gumbo at the event) and the Irish Vegetable Soup (top right in picture) from Celtic Crossing, a popular Irish pub in Midtown Memphis' Cooper-Young neighborhood. These were among the best at the event along with a soup from an entity that's neither a restaurant or caterer. The Chicken Tequila Fiesta Soup (next picture below) from Sysco, a restaurant food distributor, really impressed me with its corn flavor and creaminess.
I guess when you have access to a wide variety of sources, it's inevitable that you can make a great meal out of the finest ingredients. The one restaurant that I expected a lot from was the Stone Soup Cafe for obvious reasons. While its not-so Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (bottom left cup in picture above) was decent, it didn't make the impression that I expected. As a whole, none of soups I had were disappointments, for all the restaurants/caterers put out strong efforts that were memorable.

SIDE NOTE: Speaking of memories, one reason why there aren't more pictures in this post is the result of a mishap. While trying to take pictures of the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo from Lakeside Behavioral Health System (another non-restaurant entity), I dropped my phone on a table. Despite my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge being enclosed in a case, it hit the table pretty hard. At the time, I didn't think much of it and went on about my business. Eventually, I discovered that all the pictures I took that day along with other photos and files on the phone became inaccessible because the phone's SD card was corrupted. Bearing in mind that photos taken after the "drop" were saved in the phone's internal memory, I will assume that the "corrupt" SD card was the result of me dropping my phone. Granted, I'm not a tech expert on cell phones but I'm also not a believer in coincidences. If there's a lesson to learned here, it is to use a "cloud" service whenever you're saving something that you can't afford to lose. It's especially important if you're archiving photos, videos or other stuff on a phone that can be subject to damage, theft or loss. This is the second time that something like this has happened to me (the other instance being after an event where I lost my phone due to drunkenness on my part). Hopefully, this won't happen again if I can find a suitable "cloud" service.

In a side note to the "SIDE NOTE," the reason I was able to salvage some of the photos was because I posted them on social media. In the past, the blog's social media presence was limited to Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest, media sites that aren't nearly as popular as the two social media platforms that the blog is now a part of. As of now, Ken's Food Find is now on both Facebook and Instagram, places where I will post photos and (with regards to Facebook) links to blog posts and other relevant stuff. I hope you follow me as I share my experiences in great culinary adventures in Memphis and beyond.

In addition to soups, the event has three other categories: bread, "specialty items" (all encompassing that can range from lemonade to pasta) and dessert. Because of my focus on soup, I didn't get into any of those categories that much but I managed try a couple of items. The very first thing I tasted was the savory Lobster and Shrimp Bruschetta from The Half Shell, a legendary restaurant in East Memphis. Unlike bruschetta served in Italian restaurants, the creamy seafood mix seemed more like a chunky dip atop a small piece of bread that would have been messy to eat while holding a tray and standing in line. If I ever decide to go to The Half Shell, I hope that the bruschetta is on the menu. By the way, this is considered a "specialty item" even though it's bread-based (it was good enough to win the "Specialty Item" category for the "downstairs" portion of Soup Sunday). For a dessert, I tried the bread pudding from Eat At Eric's Grill & Catering that I just wasn't into. In terms of taste, it was pretty much bland. To be fair, I'm not into bread pudding so take my assessment with a grain of salt, but given that I had waited in a very long line to even get it (not intentionally) I felt it was worth a try (I actually wanted the chicken alfredo but "Eric" ran out of it by the time I got there). I wish I had photos to show all of this, but clumsiness ruined the day.

SIDE NOTE: The soup winner for the "downstairs" portion of Soup Sunday was Marshall Steakhouse's bisque. As I found out later, Youth Villages divides the Soup Sunday event into two categories, VIP and "downstairs" in the arena concourse for those not fortunate enough to go big time.  Given that I could barely afford twenty dollars, going "VIP" was never going to be an option. Maybe someday I'll get up there, but my finances will keep me "downstairs" for the foreseeable future. To see a list of all the Soup Sunday winners, click here.

Overall, I really enjoyed my first Soup Sunday and look forward to many more. The atmosphere was joyous for nearly everyone there, knowing that we were there for a good cause. Youth Villages does great work helping children with mental and emotional disorders get the help they need to get back on track to stability and a happy life. As an alternative to mental institutions and juvenile detention centers, Youth Villages is making a positive impact on kids and the communities where they live. If you wish to help Youth Villages in its mission, you can donate via its website. Of course, you can also support it through events that the organization hosts during the year, such as the fabulous Soup Sunday!

Website:YouthVillages.org

Labels: Charities, Commentary, Dessert, Downtown, Soup, Vegetarian/Vegan

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