Sure, it would be nice to be on a beach and enjoying the surf and the sand, but if COVID is keeping you from escaping the cold weather, there’s always soup. Soup will never let you down.

Grocery store shelves are bare, produce departments are all but empty early in the day, and whose fault is it? Yes, it’s COVID.

Blue Plate Café to close after the death of its owner, Memphis Pizza Café goes to shorter hours due to staffing issues and we’re trying Kind January instead of Dry January. 

With hopes for a better 2022, we look to new places and a return to dining reviews; catch up on food stories you missed over the busy holidays. 

José Andrés was in my kitchen, via Zoom, and I forgot to tell you about it (but now I am). McEwen’s is open, a Guinness record is coming to Memphis, and so is a Hy-Vee grocery.

Pralines, milk punch and Frank Grisanti’s tiramisu recipe all delivered this week; Melissa Cookston’s Southaven BBQ store has opened; McEwen’s opens next week. Why, Merry Christmas!

Like Santa’s list, the annual baking checklist has to be checked twice and the result is usually the same: Scratch. Too much trouble, not enough time. But this year, a few new things make the cut.

When you talk to a 90-year-old about one story, chances are good you’ll get to hear another one or two, and what a privilege that is.

It’s Thanksgiving and if you’re not ready, you’re not alone. The best of plans often go awry, but hey, there’s always New Asia, right?

If you can’t bear going to the grocery and cleaning the house, you can always go out to eat on Thanksgiving instead. Why not?

Hog and Hominy served its first meals at a soft opening on Tuesday and we were there to try it; Pantà is open and we were there, too. Pancho’s is still serving in West Memphis, for now, and Sweet Grass has an apple pie you gotta try.

Pantà opens this week, Hog & Hominy reopens next week, and it looks like the Pancho’s era has come to an end.

Reny Alfonso cooks for his first whiskey tasting at Celtic Crossing next week, then the Irish pub takes on Cider Fest two days later; FedExForum shows off food lineup for the season.

Memphis Food & Wine Festival, Brewfest and Brunchfest are this weekend, Downtown Dining Week is set for Nov. 1-7, and Big Bad Breakfast brings its bad self to East Memphis.

Mashama Bailey of The Grey comes to Dixon Gallery & Gardens for a special dinner; fall means festival season and plenty are coming.

There’s a late announcement for a Wild Turkey dinner next week, and, it turns out, a lot going on that involves whiskey or beer.

Dan Brown finishes up a 59-year career at Leonard’s, Molly’s La Casita has been sold, and La Baguette has reopened after renovation.

Organizations throughout Shelby County are hosting events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Memphis took a punch with the death of Tommy Peters; ‘Mrs. Louise’ turned 98; your spicy tomato soup recipe is delivered.

We’re talking about masks, because what else? Really, though, wearing them properly could be what keeps our restaurants open. But is it enough to keep our kids safe?

It’s one thing to get rid of bookshelves; getting rid of the cookbooks they held turns out to be a little harder.

Three local restaurants/bars require vaccine cards, an idea for giving new life to leftovers, prosecco on tap has us giddy, and everyone loves a good sandwich.

A pleasant surprise on the scale inspires a renewed interest in cooking at home.

Jennifer Biggs: A follow-up tip for last week’s apple cake; a visit to an Uptown brewery; My Favorite Things comes back this week after a visit to Dory and Slim Chickens hired errybody.