International Flavor
If there was ever a place with a misleading name, it is The Liquor Store. A diner on the eclectic Broad Avenue district, the restaurant serves breakfast dishes with American and Latin (mostly Cuban) influences along with coffee and cocktails from a fully stocked bar. Typically, I lean more toward "traditional" places like The Arcade and Brother Juniper's (along with one of my favorite hangouts, Bardog Tavern), but I don't mind trying something different occasionally. Particularly if it's something exotic, I'm definitely game for that.
NOTE: The Liquor Store has another location in East Memphis.
One of the entrées that I had at The Liquor Store was the Filipino Breakfast. A dish that has both Filipino and Spanish influences, it consists of two fried eggs over rice, fried plantains and tocino (according to Wikipedia, this dish is called "arroz a la Cubana" (Cuban rice) despite it not originating in Cuba). Despite not being a fan of fried eggs (except when its on burgers), I liked the eggs yolks mixing into the buttery rice. The combination was savory and delicious, with scallions adding a little extra kick. While the rice and eggs were impressive, the tocino (Spanish for bacon) was cured pork belly that proved to be a bit chewy. Although it didn't melt in my mouth, the charred flavor of the tocino matched well with the rest of my food. The fried plantains (aka "cooking bananas') added a hefty sweet element to the entrée, ensuring a complete meal that satisfied my hunger. I left The Liquor Store with a full stomach and the satisfaction that I got my money's worth.
Another entrée that I got was the Big Memphis Burrito. It has a lot going on, for it is stuffed with scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, fries (in the burrito) and Circle B Smoked Sausage. As you can see, that's a lot to put in a burrito, for it's a complete breakfast wrapped in a tortilla. By itself, the burrito is very tasty and really hits the spot, something that's convenient when you have to eat on the go. Throw in a fruit bowl, sour cream and pico de gallo and you have a tremendous breakfast. I want to mention that according to The Liquor Store's menu, I should have gotten Arbo's Cheese Dip instead of pico de gallo, something that look forward to getting the next time I visit the diner.
It seems that The Liquor Store is a good place for breakfast and brunch if you're looking for something that's off the beaten path. Even for most Memphians who aren't into alternative cuisine, they can get a nice bowl of grits while sipping on coffee at the diner. Personally, I prefer the pineapple mimosa that adds a bit of Caribbean flair to just about anything. The Liquor Store is a cool place to dine so give it a shot.
Website: TheLiquorStoreDiner.com
NOTE: The opinions expressed below are from me and nowhere else. In other words, this commentary isn't affiliated with The Liquor Store. Para la versión en Español de esto, haga clic aquí.
As we all know, November 5, 2024 will be the day that America decides its future. Its citizens will either choose to remain a democracy or follow a fascist into autocracy. Given what we know about the presidential candidates, there is one clear choice for those who believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, something that no one is immune to (the other candidate wants to "suspend the Constitution"). In a race where there's a former prosecutor running against a felon with 34 convictions and counting should be a no-brainer, yet the 2024 U.S. Presidential Race is statistically tied. I could literally list a hundred reasons why one of the candidates is unfit for the office but I know that it wouldn't sway anyone's opinion. Given that, I urge you to check out the political playbook for one of the candidates. If you believe that Project 2025 (aka Agenda 47) is something that you're cool with, then have at it (click the link to download the "Mandate for Leadership" pdf). For those who believe in bodily autonomy and the right to privacy without government interfere, then Project 2025 is not for you. If you believe that the police should be given carte blanche to stop-and-frisk (whether the accused "fit the description" or not) with impunity, then Agenda 47 is for you (by the way, if you're cool with that while allowing the president and his cronies to go hog wild with law breaking, then you're a hypocrite). If you want the government to keep you informed of the weather as opposed to abolishing NOAA (along with other government agencies) and privatizing the National Weather Service, then you should be opposed to Project 2025. As you can see, I could literally go on and on about the dangers of Project 2025/Agenda 47, but it won't matter to those who don't mind sacrificing America's essence for what they believe will be a better economy. They want to go with the guy who wants to impose high tariffs on all imports (including from Canada and Mexico), with China getting hit with 60% tariffs. Just about every economist who isn't "MAGA" says that tariffs will ultimately be paid for by consumers. Uh, DUH! That's everything from cars to TVs to avocados that you have to import because most of America's farm workers would have been deported (Alabama tried to deport its workers and got miserable results). Now if anyone has a problem with that or anything else regarding Project 2025, good luck in protesting against a president who is anxious to use the military via the Insurrection Act to put down any opposition. In the end, America will become a dystopian nightmare if Vladimir Putin's biggest fan (who also is a fan of that tiny mustache guy from World War II) becomes the President of the United States. I would much rather have the other candidate who, while far from perfect, is a much better and saner choice. I hope that the two-thirds of Americans who aren't "MAGA" will follow uber-conservative Dick Cheney's advice and vote for Kamala Harris. For those who are thinking about voting "third party" or not voting, you might end up helping Kamala's opponent (it would be nice if Harris and a filibuster-free Congress can enact reforms like Ranked Choice Voting so voters aren't stuck with two choices that they don't like). If she wins, America and the world can breathe a sigh of relief while drinking pineapple mimosas.
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